Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Gold Coast Hinterland: Gwinganna's new meditation suites

In what's claimed to be a world first, Gwinganna​ Lifestyle Retreat, in the Gold Coast Hinterland, has opened three new meditation suites designed to help guests practice mindfulness – the therapeutic art of being present.

The 120-square-metre suites, by Sydney-based Poune Design, are aimed to meet a growing interest in meditation and counter what marketing manager Tracy Willis says is an alarming rise in guest stress levels.

Bathed in natural light and decked out in a calm, neutral palette, the open-plan suites feature a private deck with day bed, deep bath, king-sized bed, private laundry facilities and specialty inclusions such as a yoga mat, meditation cushion, and iPod with meditation sessions and music. The stand-alone suites are set apart from Gwinganna's other buildings, and overlook bush land and a billabong frequented by wallabies.

The retreat's owners hope the suites will encourage guests to explore different forms of meditation, as well as yoga and mindfulness, helping create practices to implement back home.

"Along with an increased desire by guests to learn about mindfulness, we're also seeing increased demand for premium accommodation. We'd never make our whole property like that, we want to ensure Gwinganna's really accessible, but sometimes guests want something extra special," says Willis.

To this end Gwinganna, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in March, will also open an additional two high-end villas this month, offering increased space and privacy, with either a plunge pool or private steam room. One of the new villas offers panoramic vistas of the Gold Coast, the other surrounds native bush land. This brings its villa offering to seven. Willis said the meditation suites sit somewhere between its top tier villas and the rest of Gwinganna's accommodation, akin to an airline's premium economy offering.

Meditation suites start at $1510 a person twin share inclusive of all organic meals, two nights' accommodation, all activities, wellness seminar, airport transfers (at set times) and a massage. See gwinganna.com