Discover Golden Door in NSW

The facilities

As a purpose-built health retreat, Golden Door is not simply a lifestyle resort, but rather a retreat offering an exceptional health and wellness program that has proven results with a skilled team of professional staff and practitioners. The accommodation at Golden Door features 74 stylish villas with one, two or three bedrooms.

Golden Door Health Retreat & Spa Elysia is a place for you to take time to reset your mind and body and gain a wealth of knowledge for a healthier, happier and more motivated you.

Golden Door’s world-class retreat facilities include a gymnasium, indoor and outdoor pools, indoor activity centre, tennis courts, three yoga and fitness studios, male and female steam rooms and spas, meditation hill, wellness centre, relaxation lounges, theatrette, library and more. The day spa has more than 24 treatment rooms including a purpose-built Watsu pool, where you can indulge in Golden Door’s signature treatment.

Golden Door Health Retreat & Spa Elysia is a place for you to take time to reset your mind and body and gain a wealth of knowledge for a healthier, happier and more motivated you.

The wellness programs at Golden Door have been developed to motivate change and give you the tools you need for lasting results. Your stay will include everything from informative seminars, a huge range of activities, spa indulgences, relaxation and nutritious meals.

The treatments

Golden Door is where you can connect your mind, body and spirit, try new activities or treatments and discover a balanced life. It is a great place to learn about health and wellness and its benefits, kick-start a fitness and healthy eating program and relax in the tranquillity of the venue’s world-class spa.

The programs

The retreat offers three-, five- or seven-night all-inclusive programs or you can try a two-night healthy lifestyle weekend for a taste of Golden Door.

A full program of activities takes place each day such as empowering workshops, low-, medium- and high-intensity fitness activities, cooking demonstrations and mindfulness classes that guests can choose to participate in. Guests also have the option to book one-on-one wellness sessions with some of Australia’s most skilled practitioners in the fields of naturopathy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, hypnotherapy and Feldenkrais.

If your stay is more about relaxation and winding down, you can choose to restore in the day spa for some much-needed you time. Here, you can indulge in massages, facial and body treatments and the signature Watsu water treatment.

Evenings are spent at your leisure and you can choose to read by the open fire, play board games, solve puzzles or borrow a DVD from the library.

Guests return to their rooms each night after a nutritious dinner to Golden Door’s signature turndown. All villas and suites provide a sanctuary in which guests can completely relax with all the five-star amenities you would expect from a world-class resort.

Elysia Day Spa

Elysia Day Spa is a haven of relaxation, Beauty and healing located within the health retreat. Elysia Day Spa is also open for guests and locals who would like to enjoy an hour or two — or even a full day — of relaxing and rejuvenating spa and wellness treatments.

The food

The Golden Door believes food is one of life’s greatest sources of pleasure and that embracing and eating the right kinds of foods, exploring new tastes and textures and preparing foods in the healthiest possible way is essential to wellbeing.

At Golden Door, you will be eating sensibly portioned, healthy, nutritious wholefoods at well-spaced mealtimes. A stay at Golden Door gives your body a rest from red meat, alcohol, caffeine, sugar and saturated fat. Guests are less likely to go back to their usual excessive levels once they have had the opportunity to have a break from these foods and will then reintroduce them sensibly and in moderation.

By sharing meals in a communal environment with fellow guests and without the distractions of technology and day-to-day life, mealtimes are a chance to enjoy the simplicity of food and life. Mindful eating is also encouraged to help you appreciate what you have, to slow down and to be more in the moment.

Nutrition, exercise and relaxation are the cornerstones of the Golden Door philosophy and combined, they deliver a holistic approach to health and nutrition.

Things to remember

Golden Door is a smoke- and alcohol-free environment. Only guests over the age of 16 are accommodated. With the exception of the two-day weekend taster program, all programs start on a Sunday.

Getting there

Golden Door Health Retreat & Spa Elysia is located in the beautiful Hunter Valley, two-and-a-half hours from Sydney or an hour from Newcastle airport. There is car parking available for guests on the grounds. Golden Door also offers a shuttle from Newcastle airport, Sydney airport and Chatswood train station on Sundays. Private transfers can also be arranged by the retreat.

At the time of publishing, transfers are $50 per person one way to/from Newcastle airport and $75 per person one way to/from Sydney airport or Chatswood. Transfers are complimentary for seven-day program guests.