Mums, forget breakfast in bed: these getaways last the whole week

We all know it: one day is not enough. Considering everything our mums do for us, they deserve much more than a single day of celebration. A week of pampering would be much appropriate – and where better than a spa retreat, where it is all about relaxing your body and releasing your cares? Here are three close-to-home options guaranteed to please.

EMBRACE YOGA IN NSW

Billabong Retreat in NSW.

Some people practice yoga daily. Some scramble to get to their weekly class. And others hate to think how many years have passed since they last did a warrior pose. Whichever camp your mum falls into, a week at Billabong Retreat will help her get back in the yoga groove. Less than an hour from Sydney CBD, surrounded by bush, Billabong Retreat is a great place to find some inner peace.

A stay here includes daily yoga classes, meditation and mindfulness practices, but every activity is optional. So if you wake one morning and feel like lying in bed listening to the kookaburras instead of joining the yoga class, or if you find yourself so caught up in your novel one afternoon that you can’t tear yourself away in time for meditation, that’s just fine.

Billabong Retreat is also known for its terrific plant-based cuisine, so you know you are nourishing your body at the same time as you are stilling your mind.

RESTORE YOUR SOUL IN BALI

Escape Haven in Canggu, Bali.

Everything is easier after a good night’s sleep, which is why at Escape Haven, the women’s-only sanctuary at Canggu, each bedroom is designed as a sanctuary. From the pure linen sheets to the dimmers on the lights and the lavender spray by the bed – plus, of course, the essential blackout curtains – every element is designed to ensure you get a great night’s sleep.

Waking up fully rested puts you in the optimum state to take advantage of Escape Haven’s carefully designed programs. There are 10 different packages on offer, focused on everything from healing and Pilates to surfing, and a brand-new longevity package which features cutting-edge therapies including infrared sauna and hyperbaric chamber sessions.

Additional activities include sunset horse rides and cycling tours to a session with a Balinese traditional healer. Apart from what you do, however, one of the highlights of an Escape Haven stay is the people you meet. Many women head here as solo travellers and the bonds they make with their fellow guests lead to lasting friendships.

BREATHE DEEP IN THE NZ ALPS

Aro Ha Wellness Retreat near Queenstown, New Zealand.

Decision fatigue. It’s a feeling many mothers know all too well, which is why Aro Ha Wellness Retreat near Queenstown, with stunning views of the soaring Southern Alps, keeps things simple. When you check in at this six-day retreat, every guest – there are just 20 at any one time - is given a schedule filled with activities designed to help restore body and mind.

Days start with the delicate chimes of a Tibetan singing bowl calling you to a sunrise yoga session. From there, expect a mix of group and solo activities, from invigorating hikes to cooking classes to mindfulness sessions. In between there are delicious plant-based meals and daily massage.

But here’s the real secret to Aro Ha: just being there will help the stress melt away. Built from local timber and stone, with minimalist interiors that let those magnificent surroundings shine, everything is designed to dial up the Zen factor.

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