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Surrender to the beauty and healing cultures of Gaia Retreat & Spa. Australia's most awarded boutique lifestyle pamper retreat is nestled in the breathtaking Bundjalung Country hinterland of Byron Bay, Northern NSW Australia. Gaia is the perfect place to renew, refresh, and restore. Poised on the highest point in the shire and set on 25 acres, Gaia has 22 beautifully appointed retreat style bungalows, suites and villas set in lush sub tropical gardens. This unique property will seduce you into infinity with its endless views and beautiful vistas. your life... your retreat... your choice...
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Romantic
Location
933 Fernleigh Rd, Brooklet, New South Wales 2479 Australia
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Lovely experience. The staff were wonderful and accommodating in both the booking process and during our treatment, and we felt very welcomed, despite being the only day guests there (which was incredibly appreciated). The venue is, of course, stunning and the treatments decadent. Unfortunately we were underwhelmed with the massages we received as part of our treatment, as well as the lunch provided. While both were lovely, we certainly didn't feel them worth the money. Lastly, unfortunately the conduct of some of the other guests left a lot to be desired, and really detracted from the overall experience for us. They talked unnecessarily loudly both at lunch and by the pool and were inconsiderate of the other guests around them. It was very disappointing and, while certainly no fault of the establishment, diminished what would have otherwise been a beautiful, relaxing, luxurious day.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from GaiaRetreat, Manager at Gaia Retreat & Spa
Responded 8 Jan 2020
Dear Rebecca, Thank you for providing your valuable review about your experience as a Day Spa guest on New Year’s Eve. We are glad to hear you had an overall decadent day of treatments and are open to sharing your concerns with us. All our valued guests’ feedback is a chance for our team to continuously improve our services and ensure we deliver on expectations. We have reached out to you via phone and email to address your feedback directly. Warm regards, Gaia Management
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My sister in law & I have just had the most superb three day stay at the beautiful Gaia . From our welcoming & smooth check in to the charming Thierry taking our luggage to our well appointed rooms , just the beginning of what was a very nurturing & delightful 3 days . I loved the yoga every morning overlooking the magnificent valley with both Danielle & the lovely Claire who were so knowledgeable & experienced, & tailored the class for all levels . Gabby was inspiring with her enthusiasm for her wonderful exercise for life classes which were a really good workout !
The food was excellent, always beautifully presented and so fresh , so much passion in the food from Dan , Rob & Mitch it really showed . The wait staff were delightful , Steve Rodrigo & Thierry it was pleasure to talk to them , nothing was ever a problem .
Then there was the day spa ! A tranquil environment with such beautiful treatments , the little touches of fresh exotic fruit & tea served after was always appreciated. The therapists were really experienced & we enjoyed all our treatments immensely. Basically we were cocooned in this stunning environment & pampered & fed for 3 wonderful days , timing couldn’t have been more perfect with this current environment. Thank you Gaia & Greg & all the wonderful staff for hosting & looking after us , we will be back .
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from GaiaRetreat, Guest Relations Manager at Gaia Retreat & Spa
Responded 29 June 2020
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your amazing experience at Gaia in such detail! We have shared your kind words with our team, because you’re the reason we aspire to provide EXCEPTIONAL every day! Thank you so much for being a part of our extended Gaia family, we loved having you here!
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Highly recommended for a rejuvenating short break. Stunning surrounds, fabulous food and lots of activities, but the staff are what make this place truly special. They take the trouble to remember your name and have a little chat: the service we received was very good. There were quite a few solo travellers while we were there and the dining room staff always took the trouble to make them feel comfortable.
We were in an Acala room and I had a bit of trouble walking to it from the main gathering areas due to recent surgery, but the manager immediately saw the problem and arranged for me to be picked up by a golf buggy whenever I wanted to go anywhere, which made my stay so much more enjoyable. The spa treatments were excellent, but the beauty of Gaia is you can do as much or as little as you like. I was very happy floating around in the pool while my friends were at yoga or a cooking class.
While the food was generally wonderful, with fresh and healthy produce, my only quibble would be that we had fish at every evening meal for the 3 nights we were there. Sometimes for lunch as well! And the vegan at our table had a potato for entree one evening, followed by gnocchi. Our villa, and particularly the bathroom, could definitely do with a refresh and that is why I've given 4 stars, rather than 5. But overall, highly recommended.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gaia advertises itself as a retreat rather than a hotel, but other than the spa, it isn’t clear what is really being offered to make it such. A couple of additional classes in the morning and evening don’t really justify the (exorbitant) cost — over $3000 for a basic room for three days. The room has no bath and no television, and the fitout is dated and tired. For that amount of money I’d expect a lot more. To the good stuff — Claire in the yoga Studio is a total star and deserves more praise. Gaia’s kitchen team is excellent and the meals are plentiful and delicious. Definitely no starvation rations here. They are also adept at catering for a myriad of dietary requirements and the option to include coffee is a good one, though I’d suggest investing in a a Nespresso machine if you won’t hire baristas. Again, touches like this would go a long way to justify the incredibly high prices charged. Spa at staff very pleasant and treatments are great, although the male therapists are much more competent at massages than their female counterparts. The “wellness consult” at the beginning is a bit of a joke and is basically a confirmation of your spa appointments. Would I come back? For lesser prices, yes. But not at current ones. It’s not worth it without more. For the money I could get a five star hotel room and associated spa treatments anywhere in Byron.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Location nice and quiet. I went in winter. Food was 10/10 . Staff in dining room made our stay they were very welcoming, fun and communicative.
However I was expecting a few more activities on offer, The ones they did have were very disappointing. We attended the cacao ceremony early evening , expecting it to be lit with candles and some sort of preparation but instead entered a cold, white stark room (called the yoga room). A few little touches would have made all the difference , candles, soft lights, a wash of warm coloured paint would look good on the walls , perhaps with a few beautiful quotes , mandalas or some interesting artefacts on the walls.
We had our dancing in this room too, again it was cold and bland.
Its a very miniscule investment and would make such a difference. The spa has all the right touches, inviting with texture, warmth, ambience, essential oils burning, they just haven't carried it through to the yoga/dancing room.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gregg Cave, General Manager at Gaia Retreat & Spa
Responded 14 July 2021
Hello Breeze77y, Thank you so much for sharing your valuable feedback with us. We are very sorry to hear that your were disappointed with our Cacao ceremony. We have taken your feedback onboard, and have implemented measures with our practitioners to ensure that this ceremony is practiced with our studio pre-heated, for additional warmth and extra love and light ✨ Thanking you again for helping us to always improve our offering. Warmest Regards The Team at Gaia 🌸
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We stayed for 2 nights and did the yoga class, trails around the grounds, pool, hot tub, day spa and dance class. Overall we had a wonderful experience.
The only negative experience I had was my dinner one night- I don’t eat fish so they just gave me the same main minus fish and the broth which left the vegetables very bland. I would have rathered the meat be replaced with another meat. I asked for some chicken or another entree to eat and they brought out both and were absolutely wonderful about it. We probably just could have avoided the dissapointment with a “like for like” meal but they more than made up for it. I was just embarrassed to have to ask.
The yoga instructor was wonderful, the dance class was hilarious and a lot of fun. My spa treatment was heavenly. We will definitely be back!
A few little tips- *you can have your lunch packed up for a picnic. We went to a day bed with an amazing view for one lunch *the toasted museli for breakfast is delicious
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gregg Cave, General Manager at Gaia Retreat & Spa
Responded 26 Jan 2021
Thank you so much for your detailed review, it sounds like you squeeze a lot of experiences into your 2 night stay! We're so delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience here at Gaia - we look forward to your return! Thank YOU!
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Due to my overseas trip being cancelled like so many other people in this current climate, I felt I needed to stop, and care for myself for a change. I was only able to stay for two nights, but it was just an incredible experience. I was warmly welcomed and check in was super easy. The amazing Thierry (my favourite!!) showed me to my room and then welcomed me for lunch after I settled in. As I was travelling alone, he made sure I felt comfortable and happy. The food was devine!!! Healthy, nourishing and incredibly tasty. The gorgeous Claire was incredible and I loved that she peppered her Pilates class with humor and made sure that every single person was feeling good during the workout. The spa treatments were out of this world! If you are overworked, overwhelmed and it is time for you to take care of you, this is the place. All the staff make you feel that they are there solely for you and your wellbeing. Thank you so much Gaia.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from GaiaRetreat, Guest Relations Manager at Gaia Retreat & Spa
Responded 22 June 2020
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience at Gaia! We loved having you here for 2 nights and we value your feedback so much... This is the reason we strive to exceed all expectations. We look forward to your return!
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If you’re looking for a place to recharge, reconnect and to let your soul take a breath from the past 2 years & all within a visually stunning property and sublime food, look no further than this sanctuary in the Byron Hinterland.
I was to visit Gaia the year it opened but life changed course and we started a new business, in a new state, so we missed each other. Over the years I bought vouchers for my mum and she has now been visiting Gaia once or twice a year for quite some time. It’s such a beautifully presented retreat & you feel the tranquility the moment you arrive in the chauffeured vehicle.
My first contact with a phone enquiry, to last contact on leaving was with the delightful Emily, what a special soul she is. The high level of service from her is to be applauded, she’s just gorgeous. It’s a team effort I discovered, with her husband as one of the incredible chefs who dished out superb meals, that were forever changing day to day. There are so many staff that are exceptional; Camilla looking after the restaurant and food service, Rani, Angelica and Katherine in the Spa(aim to book 1-2 treatments a day), Jarron & Melody on private PT sessions & Tracey the most knowledgeable Natropath, who would have to be the busiest lady there. All the staff were fantastic and showed a genuine care but these staff members were above exceptional and went above and beyond & very perceptive. I appreciate and applaud brilliant hospitality. I would visit again just knowing those particular staff worked there, they are that good.
Gaia has won my heart, my mum already has plans to visit again in April after commenting how glowing I looked and sounded. I might be twisted to take my husband next time but I enjoyed my 10 days of pure healing and solitude by myself. I highly recommend everyone experience the peacefulness from this crazy world. See you again Gaia 🙏
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Get a room close to the main room and spa so you don’t have to walk too far.
I had a Sura...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Josh Langerak, General Manager at Gaia Retreat & Spa
Responded 7 Feb 2022
Wow... Alexandra, thank you for your heartfelt review and for sharing your beautiful feedback with us. We pride ourselves on our ability to make guests feel at home and relaxed, allowing them to surrender into their healing experience. I will ensure that our dedicated team see your kind words to reiterate the wonderful job they do, each and every day. We do hope that you join us again soon with your husband... until then... may your time with us set you on a beautiful journey of healing and joy 🌸
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This was a third time lucky visit as travel restrictions had disrupted two previous dates of my booking and it was definitely worth the wait. I had many telephone conversations with Reception staff and they were helpful and accommodating when I wanted to add an extra night to my booking. The individual fruit platter and tea on arrival as you check in really sets the tone for a nurturing time. I stayed 4 nights in a Komala Villa and it was luxurious and comfortable. The food is outstanding and every meal is an absolute delight of taste and presentation. My daughter had some dietary requests and everything was handled perfectly. I love how the wait staff use you name and patiently explain the ingredients each time. Spa time is calming and soothing and again the tea and fruit is a nice touch. All therapist are respectful and make each treatment feel special. The start of the week was very quiet and yoga and meditation classes were peaceful . The instructor was lovely and individualised parts of the class to the participants. Even though I have stayed at Gaia a number of times I had never managed to make it to a cooking class with Dan, but this time I timed it right! If you get the chance, this is a must. Another wonderful stay. Thank you Gaia. See you next time.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Josh Langerak, General Manager at Gaia Retreat & Spa
Responded 26 May 2022
Beth thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are so glad to hear that you finally made it to one of Dan's cooking classes! I will be sure to pass on your lovely feedback. It is always our pleasure to ensure our guests have a remarkable stay and come away feeling nurtured. We hope to see you again soon. 🌿
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This was my second stay at Gaia, the first time I did a five night restore package with my mum which I enjoyed so much I decided to return for a two night revive package on my own. Initially planned to attend during June, however due to covid-19 was only able to visit around this time.
In spite of this, my stay was absolutely amazing, the food, the service from the reception and staff, the peaceful and relaxing ambience as well as the lovely complimentary gift (I am still using these products :) ). But the main highlight for me was the spa, the service and reception was top-notch, in particular would like to thank Anna and the ladies at the spa for being so professional. I definitely feel renewed during my brief stay after a difficult personal year. I will be looking forward to my next stay at Gaia retreat which will be hopefully not too far away!
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Date of stay: November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gregg Cave, General Manager at Gaia Retreat & Spa
Responded 8 Dec 2020
What beautiful kind words, thank you so so much! Sharing reviews like this with our team give them so much determination to always strive for the best when it comes to service. We absolutely loved having you stay here at Gaia on both occasions, and we look forward to your 3rd visit in the future! Sending big love to you.
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There is tennis, walking around the grounds, yoga and various other activities that you can choose to join in or not. Lazing by the pool is pretty good and there is a heated spa and sauna as well. Also a gym if you choose to be super active.
Hi
There were quite a few day only guests and they were using the spa treatment facilities ( facials, massage ) and use of the pool, sauna and outdoor dos. They also ate lunch at the resort. So pretty much most things.
Suggest you email them or check out website which has a huge list of treatments. As a live in we had yoga and meditation and personal trainer
There are more places to choose from in the Brooklet area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
gaia retreat hotel brooklet, gaia retreat and spa, gaia retreat spa
LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesBallina ShireBrooklet
NUMBER OF ROOMS
22
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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