Escape Haven: The yoga and surf retreat giving Bali a run for its money

'AM I really not in Bali?' That's the first thought that enters my mind when I wake up to Day One of Byron Bay's newest surf and yoga retreat run exclusively for women.

An example of the lunch menu.

AM I really not in Bali?

That's the first thought that enters my mind when I wake up to Day One of the Escape Haven retreat in Byron Bay.

Admittedly, the retreat is modelled on the hugely successful Escape Haven Bali resort, so it's no wonder I'm getting confused. Staying in a beautiful villa within a national park, where you can hear the ocean as you sleep and your phone has no reception, only adds to the feeling that I'm a million miles from anywhere.

The brainchild of Janine Hall, who set out to create a restful, re-energising space in the highly populated wellness retreat market, Escape Haven is Australia's only luxury surf and yoga retreat designed and run exclusively for women, by women.

Set over six nights, your daily schedule is planned for you, with the intention that you leave the retreat totally blissed-out. There's an onsite therapeutic chef and yoga master, a visiting naturopath and bodywork therapist, and offsite surfing lessons for ladies of every skill level.

Escape Haven Byron Bay.

But what sets Escape Haven apart from every other wellness venture is its balance.

The food is delicious, healthy, organic and fresh, but you're also allowed things like coffee with breakfast and a glass of wine with dinner. You might find yourself waking at 7am to do yoga, but you're also just as likely to have an entire afternoon to yourself to get a massage, read by the pool or wander over to the beach. You can expect to be pushed to your physical limit as you try to master daily surfing sessions, but you can also expect long periods of meditation and relaxation.

An example of the lunch menu.

Accepting only eight people at a time, if you're after a retreat involving you and you alone, this is not the place for you. Meals and most activities are communal, and this is an intentional part of the retreat's structure.

But if you and your BFF have been talking about taking some time out for years, Escape Haven is the perfect place to do just that.

One of the rooms at Escape Haven Byron Bay.

Prices for Escape Haven Byron Bay start at $2895pp for six nights, meals and activities included. For more information visit www.escapehaven.com/byron/byron-bay-health-retreat.

The writer was a guest of Escape Haven.