As a new brand we are curious about where our collection and brand values will resonate the most, and where we are able to offer the most value to potential partners and the women we collectively serve.
The Northern Rivers region of NSW is known for its natural beauty and is a popular retreat destination. With this in mind, we set off to explore new opportunities and to immerse ourselves in all this region has to offer.
Ours was a relatively short visit - here are some of the places we visited and people we met . .
Even though Halcyon House was closed briefly for winter renovations we stopped in to get a feel for the luxury beach vibes! It was a stunningly beautiful blue-sky day and Cabarita Beach could not have looked more spectacular and deserted. What was a unique beachside motel was purchased in 2011 and exquisitely refurbed, with each room uniquely designed by Brisbane based interior designer Anna Spiro. A dining experience at Paper Daisy and a treatment at the Halcyon Spa will be worth the wait!
We couldn’t stop in Byron without indulging in just a little shopping at Rowie the Label. ROWIE was founded by its namesake designer, Rowie Moore, in her hometown of Byron Bay. She first began selling handmade pieces at market stores in 2003. She offers classic, elegant and timeless pieces with an ethos of sourcing sustainable, natural materials wherever possible and engages in artisanal craftsmanship and small-run productions. We loved meeting Shana who is from Provence and represents the brand so well with her chic French style and her 'joie de vivre'.
Continuing the French theme we visited our friends at Deux Belettes - the French House. Deux Belettes is best known as an exclusive, luxury guest house and wedding venue. The ‘chateau’, inspired by quintessential French farmhouses is hidden on a quiet country lane surrounded by tropical fruit plantations and rainforest and is a rich and evolving tapestry of pebbled pathways and stone walls.
40 years on and thousands of trees later, this farmhouse and its outbuildings are a rare example of “slow building” …. where one can only proceed when the right reclaimed materials become available, or the first trees planted are ready to use as building materials!
To share a personal story, Karen and her husband George were married at Deux Belettes in 2002 after a wedding proposal at Crillon le Brave in Provence. They were the first couple to be married on this enchanting property. Could the next chapter include exclusive wellness retreats? Stay tuned ..
Our friends, Ross and Sharon were close friends and neighbours of the late Olivia Newton-John and were with Olivia when she first visited the land on which Gaia is now situated. Sharon remembers fondly Olivia sketching in her sitting room, the curved lines of the letter G that subsequently became the logo for Gaia. We loved listening to this story, among many, on the eve of our visit to Gaia Retreat.
We were warmly welcomed and invited to share our story and collection. We enjoyed learning about Gaia’s renewed commitment to enhancing and elevating their guest’s wellness journey. We sat on the deck in the tranquillity of the space savouring beautiful herbal tea and freshly made gluten-free rhubarb and pecan muffins.
Gaia Retreat and Spa offer beautiful retreat facilities - natural and sustainably designed, personalised retreat packages and a serene day spa offering if a day is all you have available. Majestically poised on the highest point in the Shire, Gaia, meaning the Spirit of Mother Earth, will invite you to surrender, slow down and simply be.
A contemporary twist on a traditional European bath house in the Main Street of Mullumbimby … expect the unexpected! A social dining and bathing experience you won’t want to miss together with an indulgent spa menu.
The Banya opened at the end of 2022 so is relatively new on the scene and is popular with both the locals and out-of-towner's. Mid-week is definitely the best time to visit if you can.
Mukti Organics - The Beauty Rooms
Indulge yourself at The Mukti Beauty Rooms, a treatment space that is in the industrial area of Mullumbimby, together with Mukti Organics Flagship Retail Store - experience the range and book in for a treatment to nurture your body and soul.
Enjoy lunch afterwards at Tombo - fresh, Japanese inspired bowls and Allpress coffee. Thank you for the fabulous reco Megan Morton.
Nestled in the Koala sanctuary, in the beautiful Tallebudgera Valley, Gwinganna is a wellness destination to soothe the soul and inspire a healthier life. Retreat packages invite a complete immersion and vary in length from two to seven days.
We loved the opportunity to learn more about Gwinganna’s unique and advanced body nurturing treatments and to share our collection in their carefully curated Gwinganna Store.
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We can't wait to plan a return trip and create something unique for our Inu8 tribe! Let us know if you are interested to retreat with us and with so much goodness on offer in the region we'd love you to share your favourites . . .
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Discover the Inu8 collection - celebrating the art of living well!
