Truth be told, I didn’t realise how much stress we carry in our shoulders from city life until I felt it dissipate from my body the moment I set foot on this lovely rainforest property and I totally recommend a little getaway from all the end of year madness.
Pressing pause at Spicers Tamarind Retreat might look different to each of us. It can be a retreat for sleeping in, reading books you never quite finish at home, and recalibrating your nervous system.
Your villa is surrounded by rainforest and designed so that you never have to leave. The freestanding bathtub opens out toward the treetops, a kitchenette means you can stay in and eat nourishing snacks or teas… and simply do nothing at all.
If you want to lean into the wellness element, Spicers Tamarind offers SONNA red-light therapy masks for in-room hire, which is a calming, anti-inflammatory treatment for skin and stress. Combine that with long baths, silence, and slow mornings and gentle walks and you’ve built yourself a private retreat without lifting a finger.
Nourishing No Alcohol Options
Why not allow the retreat’s chefs to take care of you. The retreat restaurant has incredible Asian-inspired flavours in a serene setting using the freshest ingredients, and the drinks list includes kombucha, fresh juices and immunity blends, herbal teas , hot chocolates and chai, non-alcoholic “mocktails” and spritzes.
Forest Bathing
The retreat has lovely gentle walks among rainforest tracks, strolls past a lazy elongated waterfall, and easy loops accessible directly from the retreat. If you’d like to venture beyond the retreat, the nearby town of Maleny has pilates, yoga including YIN and seniors or all-level yoga sessions that are slow, grounding and welcoming. Just a stroll up and down the main street allows you to discover tarot card readings, Aboriginal healings, drumming sessions and local music.
If you’re keen for something more expressive or emotionally uplifting, nearby local towns and villages including the Noosa Hinterland host ecstatic dance and breath-led movement events, creating a beautiful outlet for release and joy in a supportive group setting.
You’ll find an entire cottage industry of healing therapies,within 5-20 minutes drive from Spicers Tamarind Retreat including therapeutic massage, reiki and energy work, naturopathy, meditation circles , skin and facial therapies and whole-body recovery treatments. You can build as much (or as little) into your stay as you like and go home replenished. Spicers Tamarind Retreat is offering yoga and health retreats from 2026 so keep an eye on their website for updates. You can also duck up to Clovelly Estate in Montville for a day spa (make sure you call and book ahead).
How did I spend my time at Spicers Retreat Tamarind? I was lucky to experience the true ‘rain’ forest experience for 24 hours, a true nervous system reset. The rain belted down, the frogs croaked like ducks quacking, I enjoyed Oysters on the restaurant’s verandah watching the rainfall then wrapped myself in a rug and devoured gourmet delights and slept the night in restful sleep.
I also experienced a bright sunshine post-rainfall day and lazed the morning away down at Gardeners Falls, an easy walk at the bottom of the retreat. I shared my swim with two turtles and had to tear myself away from the sun-warmed rocks, dangling my feet into gently tumbling falls. Pure bliss.
This is the place for easing stress, quiet contemplation and disconnecting from responsibility and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Getting There and Away
Fly from Sydney to Brisbane Airport, then it’s approx 1hr 20min by car with plenty of car rental options.The alternative is flying into the Sunshine Coast Airport (Maroochydore), also approx 1hr 15min by car and vehicle hire is easy.
Give yourself or a loved one a gift of doing something different. Just a quick flight from Sydney followed by a little over an hour’s drive, delivers you into a different world, this one is a green, quiet, rainforest focused on and designed for exhaling.
Head to https://spicersretreats.com/retreats/spicers-tamarind-retreat/ for info and note there is a 25% off sale for accommodation.
