Private 200-acre wellness retreat in New Zealand's Coromandel gateway, one hour from Auckland
Marie and Duncan created Earth Energies Sanctuary after careers in mining took them around the world. Seeking balance, Marie trained in natural remedies and physical therapies over ten years while Duncan, a craftsman and man-of-the-land, developed the 200-acre estate from a blank canvas. The journey began twelve years ago with infrastructure—2km of roading, power, dams, fencing, native plantings—followed by farm buildings, then the cabin and botanicals workshop. It took a further six years to complete the main residence and purpose-built therapy rooms, which opened to guests in May 2019. The property sits in the foothills of the Hauraki Plains, one hour's drive from Auckland, Hamilton or Tauranga, yet feels remote. Native bush-clad valleys shelter Tui, Kereru, Fantails and Kingfishers; the land supports a Red Devon cattle herd and beehives. Marie and Duncan harvest native Kawakawa for their own botanical products. The estate was developed organically and sustainably, with attention to soil biology and natural fertilisers that have restored native wildlife and frogs to the land. Guests stay in a modern two-bedroom, two-bathroom cabin set in the property's heart, with 360-degree views over rolling hills and the Firth of Thames. The owners' residence sits more than 800 metres away, ensuring privacy. The therapy rooms occupy the property's summit, purpose-designed spaces where guests access floatation therapy, full-spectrum infrared sauna with chromotherapy, zero balancing, cranial work (Secrets of the Skull), aromatouch massage, clinical hypnotherapy and guided meditation. All therapies aim to bring the body and mind into alpha or theta brainwave states for deep relaxation and rebalancing. Earth Energies hosts only one set of guests at a time. Accommodation packages range from couples retreats and women's weekends to solo stays and athlete recovery programs. Chef-prepared meals use fresh local produce, some grown on the farm. Marie and Duncan offer nature walks across the property and bush meditation followed by home-grown Kawakawa tea. The Sanctuary philosophy holds that nurturing human health and wellbeing is inseparable from caring for the natural environment.
Traditions: Float Therapy, Zero Balancing, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna with Chromotherapy, Aromatouch Therapy, Guided Meditation
Programs: Ultimate Relaxation Retreat (3 nights), Ultimate Couples Retreat (2 nights), Womens Retreat Weekend (2 nights), Athletes Body and Mind Rebalance (2 nights), Ultimate in Self Care Solo Retreat (3 nights), Sanctuary Day Therapies (half or full day), Guided bush walks and meditation, Chef-prepared or self-catered dining