Craving a mini break that pairs wine with wellness? This retreat might be the answer

Gazing up at a cloudless blue sky, the silence is uninterrupted, apart from the melodic, steady thrum of bubbles from the natural spring-fed hot pools I’m currently submerged in. I sit upright, look down and see a solitary, large kangaroo silhouetted against the lush valley backdrop as the sun dips below the horizon. I sigh contentedly. Given that I’ve spent my day sipping champagne, quaffing canapés, tasting locally produced cheeses and wines, and generally being spoiled, it’s unsurprising that I’m in a state of equanimity.

Adults-only lodge Sequoia, overlooking the patchwork Piccadilly Valley.

Perched high on Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills and set within 12 hectares of jaw-dropping nature, with the Botanic Gardens on one side and uninterrupted national park on the other, the adults-only Sequoia Lodge is the indulgent getaway you’ve been waiting for. And, given that it’s only a 20-minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD, it’s the perfect destination for both luxe-loving locals and interstate visitors.

Landing in Adelaide the previous evening, I began my exploration of the state’s famed thriving food and drink scene at one of the newest hot restaurants, Olive, where I tasted its critically acclaimed fusion of Mediterranean cuisines before checking into my accommodation for the night. Set among the vibrant streets of the city’s East End, the new Vibe Hotel Adelaide offers both proximity to the town’s most noteworthy attractions plus a slick indoor-meets-outdoor restaurant, gym and suspended heated lap pool. My Urban Retreat room also boasts a freestanding bathtub with views to the Adelaide Hills, where I’m headed next morning on the short drive to Sequioa.

Reaching the luxury lodge, its “Jurassic Park”-style gates open dramatically, and soon I’m ensconced in one of the 14 open-plan suites, each of which boast panoramic valley views from large balconies and expansive daybeds. Inside, there’s a roaring fireplace, large, freestanding bathtub, a wellness shower, and complimentary minibar. Outside, there’s a tennis court, walking trails and the aforementioned two spring-fed hot pools (ranging between 38 and 40 degrees), which are booked for private use. There’s also a main infinity pool perched on the valley rim to take in that postcard-perfect vista.

This visual feast is soon exchanged for an edible one as my travelling companion and I walk across to Sequoia’s adjacent sister property, the grand Mount Lofty House. Built in 1852 by Arthur Hardy, a man described as the Great Gatsby of South Australia, this former playground for the wealthy is now a boutique hotel and home to the triple-hatted Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant. A go-to for foodies across the country, its signature, seasonal seven-course degustation menu (with matching wines) is carefully considered and downright tasty.

Before dinner, we walk through the impressive historic cellar (home to one of the best wine collections in the country) and afterwards, once dusk has settled, we head back to Sequoia for a spot of stargazing via the powerful telescope in the main fire-warmed lounge.

Next morning, the temptation to lounge in a bathrobe and not leave the confines of the property is strong, but some of the state’s best wineries are a short drive away (Penfolds Magill Estate is only a 20-minute drive). Five world-class wine regions lie within 50 kilometres, including the most famous, Barossa Valley, and I kickstart my mini tour of the iconic wine-producing region at its birthplace: Seppeltsfield Barossa, which was established a mere 15 years after European settlement in South Australia.

Steeped in history, the iconic wine estate has morphed into a mini tourism village, offering food, crafts and design, with the winery and cellar door at the centre. Regarded as one of Australia’s most successful wine dynasties, the estate remains the only winery in the world to release a 100-year-old, single vintage wine annually.

At the opposite end of SA’s wine timeline is Alkina, a newcomer where unique micro-terroir wines are the order of the day. Certified organic and biodynamic after 10 years of painstaking soil work, the winery specialises in small-batch, minimal-intervention grenache, shiraz, mataro and semillon.

For an intimate, no frills, one-on-one winemaker experience, Smallfry Wines – which produces nil to minimal adjustment wines – is the way to go. Here, wine hounds can shoot the breeze with winemakers from the comfort of their very casual cellar door on the main drag in Angaston.

Back at Sequoia, I switch wine for wellness at the Jurlique-approved Gatekeeper’s Day Spa. (The farm that grows the organic ingredients for the Aussie skincare brand is located nearby and uses the same pure spring water for its natural botanical-based products as Sequoia and its spa.) Here, a spa menu of treatments spans the facial and massage gamut. Post-massage, I make use of the comprehensive array of facilities, which includes an open-air cedar hot tub, infrared sauna, Finnish-style sauna, and ice bath.

Lapping up our last few hours of luxury while hopping between the facilities, I can feel the tell-tale side effects of one too many vinos dissipate. Indeed, the “detox, retox” has been a bit of a cycle over the past few days. But life is all about balance, right?

The writer travelled as a guest of Sequoia and Vibe Hotel Adelaide, with assistance from South Australian Tourism.