Mind, body and soul: 6 ways to factor wellness into a business event

There’s nothing quite as invigorating as feasting on fresh produce in the very location it was sourced. In South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, just 45 minutes from Port Lincoln airport, guests can don a pair of waterproof waders and savour plump oysters from a semi-submerged deck at Oyster Farm Tours Coffin Bay. Groups of up to 25 guests wade out to sit on The Saltwater Pavilion, where they’ll learn to shuck oysters before washing them down with a glass of Australian sparkling wine. In Tasmania, seasoned adventure specialists Pennicott Wilderness Journeys take groups of up to 12 guests on an exclusive ‘Seafood Seduction’ tour, which involves cruising the pristine southern waters from Hobart/nipaluna down to Bruny Island on the hunt for wild abalone and sea urchins, which are then served up onboard as part of a spectacular seafood lunch. On Australia’s west coast, pop-up dining company Fervor takes ‘straight from the source’ to a new level by staging exquisite degustation experiences in remote locations, starring locally sourced native ingredients. The team works closely with local communities and Traditional Owners to showcase produce that celebrates the destination, season and people from which it was sourced.

A central aspect of the wellness world, yoga is easily incorporated into an incentive program and Australia’s stunning scenery makes the perfect setting. Groups staying on a tropical island like InterContinental Hayman Island Resort or Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, or Lizard Island – one of the Luxury Lodges of Australia – near Cairns, can enjoy the unique experience of a guided yoga session on the beach overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. In the Red Centre, corporate groups can connect with the spiritual heart of Australia with a private yoga session set to the ultimate Australian backdrop of Uluru, arranged by the team at Voyages’ Ayers Rock Resort. In Hobart/nipaluna begin the day with a short drive to kunanyi/Mount Wellington’s summit to watch the sunrise and ease into the day with a cultural wellness and yoga experience hosted by local Yorta Yorta Aboriginal song woman and storyteller, Ruth Langford. Groups can salute the sun in the heart of the city, too, on Adelaide Oval’s stadium rooftop with RoofClimb Adelaide or surrounded by famous works of art in Melbourne/Narrm at Australia’s first permanent digital art gallery, The Lume.

Spa treatments and wellness go hand in hand. For groups heading to the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne/Narrm, the newly opened Alba Thermal Springs boasts 31 unique indoor and outdoor pools ranging from geothermal mineral water to rainwater and soothing herbal-infused botanical pools. The venue is available for exclusive use for up to 200 guests and includes the use of 22 spa treatment rooms and the elegant onsite restaurant Thyme, by Australian chef Karen Martini. Just 90 minutes north-west of Melbourne lies the region of Daylesford, which is known for its abundance of day spas and lodges harnessing the restorative powers of the local mineral springs. Lake House Daylesford, one of the Luxury Lodges of Australia, is the perfect 34-room base for a revitalising corporate retreat with an excellent day spa onsite that offers mineral soaks, massages and hot volcanic rock treatments. Near Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, the Healing Waters Spa at the exquisitely refurbished Silky Oaks Lodge – also part of the Luxury Lodges collection – offers Indigenous-inspired botanical body treatments with lush rainforest views.

For a healthy dose of fresh air, get groups out and about exploring Australia’s wide-open spaces. This can be done on foot with a walking nature tour, like those offered by Two Feet and a Heartbeat in Perth/Boorloo who run tours of the stunning urban oases of Kings Park and Queens Gardens, as well as Heirisson Island on the Swan River which is home to a mob of wild kangaroos. For a water-based experience, kayaking is a leisurely way to discover a destination; try Sydney by Kayak’s sunrise kayak tour for views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, or take a clear-bottomed kayak out from Moreton Island off the coast of Brisbane/Meanjin and admire the iconic Tangalooma Wrecks without getting your toes wet. For groups looking for something more challenging, learning to surf is an invigorating activity that teaches essential aspects of wellbeing like patience, mindfulness, resilience, and confidence. Recruit the help of the expert teams at Let’s Go Surfing (Sydney/Warrane and Byron Bay), Gold Coast Surf Academy in Queensland or URBNSurf in Melbourne/Narrm at Australia’s first surf park – and surf those stresses away.

Australia’s Indigenous peoples have been practicing wellness for thousands of years. An experience that connects guests with Country, like the Ngala Walk on Country Tour at Canberra’s National Arboretum, is an enlightening way to provide insight into the Aboriginal Australian approach to wellness and wellbeing. Available for private bookings, groups of up to 25 guests explore the Arboretum's Bush Tucker Garden where they’ll learn about the culture of the region's Traditional Owners in a beautiful bush setting. In the Margaret River Region south of Perth/Boorloo, Josh Whiteland from Koomal Dreaming shares the secrets of the Wadandi and Bibbulman peoples’ wellness methodology, both medicinal and spiritual, and tells yarns of the plants, animals and Dreaming spirits of Australia’s south west. For an incentive program in Queensland, the Mossman Gorge Centre is an essential stop for groups wishing to understand the local Kuku Yalanji culture. Nestled deep in the Daintree Rainforest near Cairns, the Centre offers guided and self-guided experiences like the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk where guests will connect with the sights, sounds and stories of the Daintree Rainforest.

Engaging a lifestyle and wellbeing expert as a guest speaker is a clever way to incorporate wellness into a program. Health – both mental and physical – has become a hot topic when it comes to choosing a guest speaker for an event, and reputable Australian talent agencies like Saxton Speakers, ICMI and Enhance Entertainment have access to a wealth of professionals in this area, from Australian tennis champion Jelena Dokic to nutrition entrepreneur and Boost Juice founder Janine Allis. Barry Markoff, Founder and CEO of ICMI, says there’s strong demand for wellbeing-focused speakers for business events. “Health and wellness are popular topics these days, with speakers covering an array of subject matter from meditation to positive thinking, healthy diet, exercise and sleep.”