The Golden Door – Elysia
Health Retreat and Day Spa – Hunter Valley (visited by Mandy)
In February I was lucky enough to be spending a few days in the Hunter Valley, approximately 2 hours’ drive north of Sydney, and while I was there I treated myself to a spa treatment at The Golden Door’s Day Spa. I also took advantage of an offer to have a personal tour through the Retreat. “The Golden Door offers health and wellness programs which have been developed to motivate change and provide lasting results when continued back in everyday life.”
I was staying at Cypress Lakes Resort in the middle of the Hunter Valley, which also is situated below the hill where The Golden Door sits. The weather was amazing, but a fiery 36 degrees as I drove up the dusty road to a large security gate where I called for access. Driving up to the resort you could be mistaken for arriving at a corporate office block with no windows and large concrete parking facilities, but once through the oversized front door you are taken into a very feug shui entranceway and you realise that you have walked into a totally new world.
The Retreat offers many 3, 5 and 7 day package retreats along with some specialty weekend retreats. The weekend I was there they we having a “Healthy Cooking Master Class” with David Hunter the National Executive Chef for The Golden Door. The Golden Doors Wellness Centre puts together an individual plan for everyone who comes. You could be going there to, detox and start a weight loss programme, get fit and toned, improve your tennis with one of Australia’s top tennis coaches or just unwind and relax. While I was there I noted a mix of both men and woman and they were all there for different reasons, but were clearly enjoying the time to take care of themselves and their needs, as that is what they are there for.
The Day Spa is another treat in itself. Meeting Kristie, the Manager of the Day Spa and a couple of her staff you know that they have chosen the right people for this place. They were very welcoming and cheerful and clearly were accommodating to everyone’s needs. Kristie took me on a tour of the Spa, which is the largest day spa in NSW with 26 wet and dry treatment rooms, purpose built vichy showers, manicure and pedicure beds (yes beds!), separate male and female steam rooms and spa baths, a large relaxation room, private gardens & outdoor pool and a Watsu pool room for an amazing floating massage. You don’t have to be a guest at The Golden Door Retreat to use the Day Spa.
I loved being in the Day Spa and could have spent all day there and yes they would have been happy with that too. My massage was incredible and I came away feel extremely relaxed. Imagine how I’d been feeling after 7 days at the retreat?
