The Experience

Empowerment for healing  - How can simple words describe the health changing experience of a week at Living Valley? After feeling very out of whack and unwell with various health and emotional challenges, I... read more reached out to Living Valley quite tentatively as I am not overly abundant with wealth, however I had a feeling I would really benefit from a stay at the wellness retreat.

I had a conversation with Janine from reception and I feel it may have been the stepping stone which altered the pathway I was on at the time, which was a one way road to an early death due to poor diet and not having enough care for myself to look after me, to look after my one precious life.

I made the commitment to book in and saved every penny I had to make sure this strong internal calling to wellness came to fruition.

After speaking with Janine, my whole mindset and diet shifted just from the wisdom she was able to share and I started to feel better with each week that led up to my stay date, so much so that I almost thought “I’m doing so well now, maybe I’ll use that money on a practical thing and just keep on with this new way of eating”, but that strong internal calling gave me a big NO YOU MUST GO!, so away I went and now I sit with a mind and heart that are clearer and stronger at age 48 than they have been for many years.

On arrival, I was welcomed with such love and care and shown to my room. I was totally not expecting to be upgraded and found myself in an amazingly comfortable room halfway up the hill in a healing building called “Hibiscus House”.

After settling in, I made my way to the Main Centre for lunch and met my fellow journey folk and talked about our various challenges and fell in love with the kitchen staff immediately. The food we were served that lunchtime almost made me lose my dang mind due to the flavours and divine portions! The Chocolate hazelnut brownie desert was our last desert for a week and the memory of it was a sweet taste I walked with till the chocolate fondue at the Saturday feast.

Gisele, the CEO and daughter of the founder came along to greet us and chat about some really important daily rituals we would carry out throughout the week such as the Morning tonic and a sleep ritual. I really enjoyed this talk as it was the start of opening my eyes to how well we could allow ourselves to eat and with each health workshop the naturopaths gave, the knowledge built and built until I felt as though I walked away with a better grasp on nutrition than I had before I arrived.

After a tour of the main facilities we retired and settled into our rooms until dinner which was another gastronomical feast!

On Monday we started to get into our treatments and our initial appointment with the naturopath who would look after us for a week. We did a live blood cell analysis and I fell so very much in love with such minute portions of myself as I watched those little cells on the screen, dancing around and working so hard to keep me alive. This was followed by a rose quartz facial and a nourishing hair treatment. I have a doggie who is difficult to leave alone, so I hadn’t been for any nurturing kind of treatments for such a long time, but with his safely being looked after by other people, I could take all the time I wanted and didn’t feel guilty about how good this facial made me feel. The facial and naturopath treatment was part of the inclusion so I really felt good about them both.

My goal for the week wasn’t anything huge, I just needed to be nurtured for a week as I am in charge and responsible for so many things by myself. This goal was kicked out of the park on the first day and continued to be met and exceeded every single day!

I could write a 40 page review on how each individual member touched my heart and nurtured me in a beautiful way, All of the Naturopaths with their incredible amount of experience and information, Bob with his kind words and protective care; Simone with her wit and truly stimulating conversations during the colonics, Angela with her remedial massage and seemingly more than normal amount of hands and fingers, Gill with her glorious sense of humour and accent plus things that happened and moved inside me during her spinal flow massage was something I have not experienced before. Allanah and our normal everyday conversations on our morning walks, Rowan with her hilarious accent and perfectly cooked food, Peta and her wisdom and nurturing care, Kelly with her profound breathing meditations, Mark in the Pilates stretching classes in the morning, Kyle in the shop and his giggles as I blindly shopped without glasses and asked him to please read everything for me I don’t know what I can say about how each of these people touched my life daily.

Each staff member seemed to deliver a wisdom nugget which helped with the puzzle of life I was putting together over the week. Dear Janine in reception gosh, I can’t describe how grateful I feel for her! Penny is such a resource! Her knowledge of food as medicine was astounding and during her cooking class demo on Saturday I felt a light inside me come alive and I was hungry!!! not for the incredible food she was creating, but the knowledge she was wielding.

I really feel as though the people who made all of this such an amazing experience on top of everything the Living Valley staff gave, was my fellow retreat friends! Every meal we would gather around and laugh and share yarns, and when we were fasting we hungrily watched our friend who was maintaining food throughout the week and lived vicariously through him. I feel they helped me get through some really tough times in the week when I was feeling overwhelmed mentally and unsure about where life could go. The community we created together was my favourite part of the experience. I loved each of them in such a short space of time and for completely different reasons. From chitty chat in the steam room to encouragement to face the cold plunge, we broached topics together that I normally wouldn’t speak on with just any one.

I feel as though the mysterious energy behind Living Valley pulls together the perfect people for who we need on our stay and I feel so grateful to have made these friends. Even if we don’t stay friends for life, the way we held each other through the week was absolutely perfect.

I can not condense this feedback as everything that has happened has been life altering.

I can’t believe that I ever put off going to Living Valley due to a fear of not having enough money how is my life long health not worth this short term investment? I am already planning out my next stay and I am truly yearning for my friends, the land and the staff after my visit.

I left feeling well and also empowered to continue the journey at home.

I lost weight, my blood and mind became clear, I made friends and it was all amazing!
Do everything you can while you're there, go for the forest walks and breathe with your fellow guests, life can change in an instant and you never know who is going to give you that moment of awakening.

Ok, I better stop now before folks reading the reviews think I am a paid commercial. I’m just a little bogan from the bush who truly adored being here and is so grateful for it all!

Absolutely wonderful 🤗  - Feeling absolutely amazing after a week of complete relaxation and me time. Thank you to the creators of this place of healing and nurturing. Feeling fit and healthy. I have... read more already booked my time away for next year and l can’t wait. 🤗
😎🤗😎

Let yourself receive the magic. - Truly life changing stay! I did the 2-week Pure detox program. Living with a chronic health condition I went there to reset my body, mind and even my spirit. What... read more I was able to achieve in two weeks is quite remarkable. It's a really wholistic health and well-being approach. I embraced the full program whole heartedly and feel my health has done a complete 360. I am not cured in 2 weeks but set on the right path to a much healthier, pain free life. I've come home with a professional Naturopath/Nutrition plan to take me further into my healing journey, and a whole lot more energy than the day I arrived there. At Living Valley, you will have nutritional meals, relaxation, high quality treatments of all sorts with a caring team of people who truly care. THE FOOD was next level. Beautifully presented, tasty. healthy and plentiful. I was never ever hungry between meals. THE FACILITIES are just beautiful. I really enjoyed my daily steam sessions and the many treatments and visits to the day spa. THE ROOMS are well appointed, and the bed was amazingly comfy. I had a King bed with a lovely private deck. I also loved the laundry facilities close by to do my washing ;) I cant recommend enough. Let yourself receive the magic.

From Burnout to Balance  - From Burnout to Balance: My Journey to a Healthier, Happier Me

When I first arrived, I was completely exhausted—mentally, physically, emotionally. I hit a wall and quite literally slept... read more for two full days. I needed rest, and I finally gave myself permission to take it.

Just one week later, something shifted. I felt renewed, clear-headed, and more in tune with myself than I had in a long time. I emerged with a lifestyle and fitness plan tailored specifically to me—my needs, my pace, my goals.

Now, just a month later, I can truly say I’m living my best life. The tranquil, supportive environment gave me space to relax, reprogram, and gather my thoughts. It was exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

The detox program played a major role in this transformation. It helped me slow down and become mindful of how I nourish my body. My meals went from rushed and reactive to slow, intentional, and deeply satisfying. Food is no longer just fuel—it’s an experience.

As someone who has never been a big fan of exercise, I was surprised by how empowering movement can feel when it’s aligned with your own abilities. The customized exercise plan was approachable, sustainable, and—most importantly—easy to stick with at home.

This experience has been a true reset. I’m lighter, stronger, and more connected to myself than ever before. And best of all, I now have the tools to keep this momentum going.

Restorative Retreat - From the moment I was met by Bob at the airport I felt that I was going to be in a very caring environment and that is exactly how... read more my week progressed. Each and every member of the staff was welcoming, caring and every attention to my individual requirements were attended to. The facilities were so nice, the grounds beautiful and I felt so relaxed while at Living Valley. I gained a much better understanding of Nutrition and with the help of my Nutritionist Janelle I know I can now make these changes through nutrition as I move forward. The Lectures we were given were informative and well delivered. The Spa facilities were beautiful and the Living Valley staff so wonderful and the treatments I had were wonderful. The Food!!!! Well every meal was Delicious and again my needs were met without any problem which I appreciated so much. All in all my 7 night stay was a Positive, Learning and Wonderful experience. I left feeling completely relaxed and feeling much better than when I arrived. I will definitely come back and will be recommending the Retreat. A complete package!!

Second trip in two years! - This was our second trip to Living Valley in two years, wrapping up an incredible three-week stay. It's like our little slice of paradise in the Noosa hinterlands and we... read more loved everything about it. Our room was super comfy, blending seamlessly into the gorgeous scenery. The upgraded steam room - bigger and better - was perfect for us to relax together. And the overall vibe? Just what we needed to switch off and recharge. We also met some really warm and friendly guests, adding to the pleasant atmosphere. I dropped a whopping 4.5 kilos during our detox. It was a huge win for me! The whole experience reinforced the importance of eating right and staying active. Our naturopath was incredible, and the health education sessions were super helpful. The team at Living Valley? Absolute stars. They were a highlight for us. They made us feel so welcomed and cared for. We're head over heels for Living Valley and are already daydreaming about our next visit. This place isn't just a health retreat, it feels like a big hug for your body and soul. If you're considering a visit, my advice is to just go for it! Dive in with an open mind and soak it all in.

A must of must do's for your well being.  - I would take 7 days here over a European Holiday. I came to living valley without any expectation. I needed some time out and a restart. The staff... read more are so welcoming and warm. They show genuine care for everyone's well being. The retreat itself was so comprehensive and nurturing. The person who arrived was not the person who left. Living Valley changed my life. I cant wait to go back.

Life Changing - Body, Mind and Spirt  - My two weeks at Living Valley have been incredible .even better than last time (which was also great). I attended the Mental Health program and it exceeded my expectations. The... read more location, facilities, food, and treatments are all amazing but it is the staff, every single one, who made my experience truly life-changing. LV staff are genuinely caring, fun, diligent, and kind. My goal was to leave alcohol and other bad habits out of my life .and with the help of the onsite psychologist and naturopaths, I am ready to return to work and life, but with a completely different mindset .a healthy body, mind, and spirit. It is the best money I have spent, an investment in myself .and an investment that will positively impact others in my life. I feel free and full of inner joy. Thank you Living Valley. I hope to return again.

My introduction to L.V.S. Retreat 2022  - 1. My introduction to L.V.S. Retreat - 2022 I was 1st introduced to L.V.S in Aug/Sept 2022 by my niece who has been coming here many times.... read more I was supposed to go to another Health Retreat with a girlfriend, but the sound of L.V.S impressed me more and I am so very pleased I made the effort to come. This trip was to improve my declining 98 yr old health/body - Black mould in lungs, Feet & Digestive conditions. The day I arrived I was driven to my accommodation by the lovely staff in a buggy as I had problems walking. The next day & the introduction to the most amazing, Professional Naturopath, nurse, chiefs, treatments & other caring staff. L.V.S. has some of the best, professional, caring people that did everything they could to help me. My health started to improve so I extended my 7 day stay another 4 days. The results were that I could walk again (not as good as I could 5 years ago during my Bushwalking hiking days) but at least there was a great improvement and I felt good about myself & what I had achieved. On my return back home I continued (as best I could) to keep up with what I had been doing, eating & had learnt at L.V.S.R & also started saving towards my return trip the next year. Thank you to all at L.V.S.R Neta H.