Latest news with #GoldCoastAirport
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Sydney Morning Herald
Yoga at 5am and no meat: The wellness holiday in hot demand
This story is part of the July 27 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories. Outside the idyllic yoga hall, a cool breeze rustles through lush, tropical plants, the gentle sound of birdsong fills my ears, and the sweet smell of essential oils permeates my nostrils. As far as settings for yoga go, you can't really get better. With a greater spiritual awareness sweeping Western society, modern-day travellers are increasingly forgoing their annual beach or city holiday in favour of more meaningful and transformative experiences. And one of the most popular of these 'fit-cations' is a yoga retreat. Ranked as one of the fastest-growing fitness activities in Australia, a raft of retreats has popped up to cater to this demand, including the one I'm on at Krishna Village Eco Yoga Retreat. Retreat guests, volunteers, and spirituality-seekers from all over the world gather to immerse themselves in the retreat's 'love life, live yoga' lifestyle. Set in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, in the foothills of Wollumbin/Mount Warning, (an easy 40-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport), this property of more than 400 hectares comprises a community centred around the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which also opens its doors to those seeking a yogic immersion. Here, a population of retreat guests, volunteers, and spirituality-seekers from all over the world gather to immerse themselves in the retreat's 'love life, live yoga' lifestyle. Soon after arriving, myself and the 15 or so other retreat attendees quickly fall into a routine – albeit a very much 'choose your own adventure' one. Every day there are three regular yoga classes: a gentle 5am sunrise session, a 6.30am Hatha flow, and a more dynamic afternoon Vinyasa one. Throughout the day there are also workshops and lectures. Propped up on bolsters, we dive into 5000 years' worth of yogic philosophy and learn more about modalities like meditation and Ayurveda. At lunchtime, we participate in Kirtan (communal singing). One evening I join an immersive sound-healing experience by candlelight before floating back to my room under a starlit sky. Loading Krishna Village also houses a small wellness centre. Here, amidst the tranquillity, a small team offers treatments designed to complement the yogic practices, from therapeutic massages to energy healing sessions. There's tech-y wellness treatments, such as the LED light therapy bed, alongside ancient practices like Vedic astrology. Beyond the wellness, yoga and meditation, the village offers a glimpse into a different way of life. Accommodation is simple – small cabins scattered among the lush, green grounds – and meals are buffet-style vegetarian and prepared with fresh produce often sourced from the village's own gardens. Over communal tables conversation flows easily among a diverse group of fellow seekers – city dwellers craving stillness, seasoned yogis deepening their practice, and those simply curious about a different way of being. There's a palpable sense of connection here, a feeling of being part of something larger than oneself – after all, the literal translation of yoga is 'union'.
The Age
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Age
Yoga at 5am and no meat: The wellness holiday in hot demand
This story is part of the July 27 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories. Outside the idyllic yoga hall, a cool breeze rustles through lush, tropical plants, the gentle sound of birdsong fills my ears, and the sweet smell of essential oils permeates my nostrils. As far as settings for yoga go, you can't really get better. With a greater spiritual awareness sweeping Western society, modern-day travellers are increasingly forgoing their annual beach or city holiday in favour of more meaningful and transformative experiences. And one of the most popular of these 'fit-cations' is a yoga retreat. Ranked as one of the fastest-growing fitness activities in Australia, a raft of retreats has popped up to cater to this demand, including the one I'm on at Krishna Village Eco Yoga Retreat. Retreat guests, volunteers, and spirituality-seekers from all over the world gather to immerse themselves in the retreat's 'love life, live yoga' lifestyle. Set in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, in the foothills of Wollumbin/Mount Warning, (an easy 40-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport), this property of more than 400 hectares comprises a community centred around the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which also opens its doors to those seeking a yogic immersion. Here, a population of retreat guests, volunteers, and spirituality-seekers from all over the world gather to immerse themselves in the retreat's 'love life, live yoga' lifestyle. Soon after arriving, myself and the 15 or so other retreat attendees quickly fall into a routine – albeit a very much 'choose your own adventure' one. Every day there are three regular yoga classes: a gentle 5am sunrise session, a 6.30am Hatha flow, and a more dynamic afternoon Vinyasa one. Throughout the day there are also workshops and lectures. Propped up on bolsters, we dive into 5000 years' worth of yogic philosophy and learn more about modalities like meditation and Ayurveda. At lunchtime, we participate in Kirtan (communal singing). One evening I join an immersive sound-healing experience by candlelight before floating back to my room under a starlit sky. Loading Krishna Village also houses a small wellness centre. Here, amidst the tranquillity, a small team offers treatments designed to complement the yogic practices, from therapeutic massages to energy healing sessions. There's tech-y wellness treatments, such as the LED light therapy bed, alongside ancient practices like Vedic astrology. Beyond the wellness, yoga and meditation, the village offers a glimpse into a different way of life. Accommodation is simple – small cabins scattered among the lush, green grounds – and meals are buffet-style vegetarian and prepared with fresh produce often sourced from the village's own gardens. Over communal tables conversation flows easily among a diverse group of fellow seekers – city dwellers craving stillness, seasoned yogis deepening their practice, and those simply curious about a different way of being. There's a palpable sense of connection here, a feeling of being part of something larger than oneself – after all, the literal translation of yoga is 'union'.
AU Financial Review
02-07-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
KKR's five very different businesses fit one big and growing mould
Only in financial markets would you find common ground between a big Australian chicken shed owner, a Kiwi charter bus operator, a Western Australian mine site power provider, the Gold Coast Airport, and the company that owns Victoria and South Australia's electricity networks. Don't tell an ordinary person or those in charge of the Oxford English Dictionary, but they're all considered infrastructure. KKR & Co has bought one of each of them for its various infrastructure funds in the past four years.
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Inaugural Gold Coast to Dunedin flight welcomed
The first passenger off the inaugural flight from the Gold Coast was left stunned when she was greeted at Dunedin Airport by a media scrum and raucous applause. The first of Jetstar's direct flights bound for Gold Coast Airport in Coolangatta, Queensland, took off yesterday afternoon, after an almost-full flight from Australia landed at the Dunedin Airport. It touched down about 2.30pm, 15 minutes ahead of schedule. A crowd of family, friends, airport staff, ministers, mayors, media and Taieri College's kapa haka team waited at the airport's international arrivals gate. First to exit the doors was Glenda Paterson, of Dunedin, who was greeted by a collection of television cameras, shouts and applause from the assembled crowd. The kapa haka team burst into action as the Tourism Minister Louise Upston rushed up to Ms Paterson. "I didn't realise I was the first one through ... It was definitely a surprise, I was not expecting cameras and all this," she said. "Thanks for that, everyone." Ms Paterson was in Brisbane for a holiday and booked the flight so she would not have to go through Auckland. The McInnes family — father Reid and his three sons Harry, 17, Charlie, 15, and Kasey, 8, — did not realise they had booked the inaugural flight. Mr McInnes, of Queensland, told his sons after he realised they had booked it that "this is going to be a bit of a different landing". The family is in Dunedin to visit Mr McInnes' parents, Don and Pam McInnes. The Dunedin to Gold Coast flight has a flight time of about three and a-half hours, and the service will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using Jetstar's Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft. Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said return of direct flights was the result of a lot of hard work by Dunedin City Council staff. Ms Upston said she was very "cleanly, bluntly, plainly interested and committed" to delivering more visitors to New Zealand. "We have an amazing country, we have amazing places, we have amazing people and amazing experiences and I just want to share that with more visitors. "For every person that's come off that plane today, it's a wonderful experience for them here and it's a boost for our local economies as well as our national economy." Jetstar New Zealand chief executive Shelley Musk said the new route was a key part of their biggest expansion in New Zealand in more than a decade, and the company was excited to be delivering more opportunities to travel for less. "We know the Gold Coast is a firm favourite for Southerners and it's a great destination for you to enjoy as well as the beaches and the world-class entertainment. "We also know that our Australian friends will really love getting an insight into what Dunedin and the greater Otago region has to offer."
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
International flights return to Dunedin
The JetStar flight is welcomed to Dunedin. Photo: Craig Baxter Dunedin has welcomed its first international flight since 2020. The flight from Gold Coast Airport in Coolangatta, Queensland touched down at about 2.30pm, 15 minutes ahead of schedule. The new thrice-weekly service marks the return of regular direct international flights at the airport, which has been without trans-Tasman services since early 2020. With a flight time of about three and a-half hours, the service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using Jetstar's Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft, delivering up to 58,000 seats annually between the two cities. Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, Tūhura Otago Museum, St Paul's Cathedral and the Dunedin Railway Station's clockface were all lit orange to mark the occassion. Direct travel between Dunedin and Australia was severed when Virgin Australia suspended its New Zealand services at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, having previously offered two to three weekly flights from the city. Dunedin Airport had since offered a couple of one-off chartered international flights, including three Qantas flights for last year's Pink concert and a Fiji Airlines flight, which transported the supporters of the Fijian Drua to watch their team's match against the Highlanders.
