ECOASIS RESORT
NORTHERN NSW
Stay your own way. Could there be a better slogan for a holiday or life reset?
It’s not just a marketing slogan but a reality at the stunning 100-acre Ecoasis Retreat nestled at the foot hills of Mount Wollumbin in the Tweed Valley Rainforest in Northern New South Wales.
It sounds remote. It’s not. It’s only 40 minutes from the Gold Coast Airport and a few minutes longer from Ballina Airport. But the tranquillity is unmatched.
Ecoasis is located in an Aussie wildlife corridor. 60% of the property is now part of the koala trust to help protect, nurture and grow our iconic Aussie marsupial.
Spread throughout the luscious bushland, there are only six stunning chalets on the property made with sustainable timbers and materials, and they recently underwent a major refresh with new handmade daybeds and spa baths.
Two of the chalets have no wifi – so you can literally switch off.
After 20 years of helping people through their personal journeys, owner Iya Roxanne, along with her partner Sandro, are now living their best lives.
“It’s been a miracle landing for us. A lifelong dream actually,” she says.
The couple found this retreat up for sale in mid 2021 and settled immediately to build their little piece of heaven.
The previous owners focussed largely on the “romantic” getaways, but now visitors come for nature, bushwalks, the beach, secret swimming holes, walking and bike tracks, a complete wellness experience, relaxation, spirituality connection, product launches, corporate getaways and even private weddings.
Some of their guests are there for a “change of life” and stay for a few months.
It’s a blank canvas.
On arrival, you enjoy a sunrise welcome tea ceremony with Iya and sit on cushions and enjoy the start of the day in the rainforest.
If that’s not your thing, then you can sleep in too!
The tea was delicious, but more importantly, I learnt so much about the local region in the hour we spent together.
Guests have access to some outstanding local restaurants, but one of the real attractions of this ‘home away from home’ are the hampers that come when you book a stay.
Featuring all local produce, these hampers are delivered to your chalet for breakfast, and for dinner, so enjoy cooking eggs, local seafood and meat on your private BBQ, as you sit on the balcony and appreciate the hinterland.
With Iya and Sandro having lived in the region for two decades, they have access to the best of the best when it comes to local natural ingredients and businesses to choose from.
The mini-bar also showcases the local region, and plans are underway to sell the bed linen, the bathrobes, and the art that are in each of the chalets to support local businesses.
Ecoasis is now partnered with Qantas Holidays as a location of choice.
The northern New South Wales region is well-known for its focus as a wellness destination and one of the ways guests are invited to make the most of their immersive nature experience is through the various services including lifestyle assessments, acupuncture and massage.
Naomi Jansson is a former emergency surgery nurse who is part of the Ecoasis team.
Along with a pure bliss massage, Naomi can provide any guest with ways to improve general well-being (if that’s what you’re after and I was!)
I need to watch my kidneys!
Aussie rugby star James O’Connor is one of the private owners of the retreat and visits as regularly as possible to escape the big smoke of Brisbane.
“Being an owner of Ecoasis has enriched my life in many ways. I’m really proud to be providing a lot of the services which helped me on my journey into wellness,” he says.
James met Sandro when he was playing rugby in France and battling his own life challenges. It set them on a path together to create something that they hope can really enrich people.
The closet major town to the retreat is Murwillumbah right on the NSW and Queensland border which is one of the oldest towns in Australia. There are wonderful galleries, museums, hip cafes, fresh organic food stores and all the modern cons like a cinema and gym.
Uki is a little piece of heaven. With literally only a handful of shops, two are among the most famous in the whole region. The post office has been transformed into a coffee shop with award winning coffee while people travel to the bakery for their pies.
You will need a rental car when you land – there is no transfer bus. But the car is worth the expense to explore the local region during your stay.
There is a real sense of community at Ecoasis – in fact it is central to the community.
It is one of the designated evacuation centres when there are floods or fires in the region.
“We are not a retreat that most people expect,” Iya Roxanne proudly explains.
Remember when life felt like it used to be so much easier in Australia? No stress and no hustle and bustle? Ecoasis is human nature at its best. Is there anything better?
