Visitors need to shower before and after
their float for hygiene purposes and tank
water is cycled through a filter four times
between each participant, with bromine
added for extra caution.
Webb shows me how to open the hatch
to get in and out. “It’s best to go in naked,”
he says, “but you can wear swimmers if you
prefer.” A sign on the wall reads, “Don’t have
expectations. Just go with the float.”
I choose to go with the float and slide
in wearing nothing but earplugs and an
inflatable neck pillow.
The water feels silky, which Webb later
explains is because the salt is magnesium
sulphate (unlike table salt, which is sodium
chloride). I turn off the light before sliding the
hatch closed and settling into the darkness.
Resting on my back, I initially feel like my
body is turning sideways, although I’m lying
still. Focusing on my breathing, I relax into
the water. After a while, the only movement
is the slight ebb and flow of water with
breath. Time passes slowly but, all too soon,
the relaxing music gets louder: Webb’s signal
that the session is over.
Feeling deeply rested, as promised, I’m
off to Oaks Resort and Spa Hervey Bay,
where my room overlooks the 868m-long
Urangan Pier and Fraser Island. The
short walk along the esplanade reveals
run-down fishing shacks juxtaposed with
contemporary resorts, highlighting the
area’s history and development.
Dinner tonight is at The Vinyard,
a multi award-winning restaurant headed
by executive chef Saul Collins, where
modern cuisine is artfully paired with
beautiful wine. Manager Emily, a vivacious
host, serves up Hervey Bay scallops three
ways with Tasmanian bubbly, followed by
grilled Moreton Bay bugs with a Margaret
River chardonnay.
The ocean itself is well worth exploring
and I’m excited to take a half-day Fraser
Island Eco-Sailing Adventure with Blue
Dolphin Tours. Owner and skipper PeterLynch has 30 years’ experience working
with marine mammals.
From October to July, his multi-award-
winning sailing vessel takes visitors dolphin
spotting. We watched pods of delightful
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins frolicking
and feeding in the waters of the Great Sandy
Straits. Some days, bottlenose dolphins,
turtles and dugongs can also be spotted.
July to October is whale-watching season
and Lynch does full-day tours where guests
are almost guaranteed a close encounter
with these magnificent creatures, including
displays of tail-slapping and breaching.
Before heading to Fraser, consider
spending a night at Mango Lodge in River
Heads. Owner Suzanne Denton fulfilled
a long-held dream in building this lovelyself-contained timber-slab cabin on 75 acres
of bushland just minutes from the Fraser
Island Ferry. The block has four kilometres
of bush trails, with plentiful kangaroos as
well as 41 bird species identified so far.
The wheelchair-accessible cabin
features a deep claw-foot bath on a balcony
overlooking a 100-year-old mango tree.
Denton has the cabin stocked with wine and
bath paraphernalia and I fill the tub with
warm bubbles while pouring a glass of white.
After a wonderful night’s sleep, I’m
treated to a lava shell massage with
Catherine Bennett of Holistic Massage and
Beauty. Marshall believes that massage is
not just about releasing knots but relaxing
the nervous system and calming the mind.
My fresh-air break on the Fraser Coast
has inspired me to prioritise spending
time in nature, even if it’s in my own
suburban backyard.Sophia Auld is a physiotherapist and Pilates
instructor with 26 years’ experience in the health
fi eld. She is passionate about helping people
achieve good health using a holistic approach and
believes that small changes can have a big impact
for achieving wellness.Escape Route
On the mainlandWhere to stay
Oaks Resort and Spa. Located on the
waterfront, this modern resort has a lagoon
pool, cafe and day spa, a short stroll to historic
Urangan Pier.Where to eat
The Front Room. Owner Matt Suckling
“fell in love with food all over again” when
health problems inspired him to re-evaluate
his lifestyle. Seeing potential in the area,
he wanted to create a cafe where Hervey
Bay visitors and locals could experience
plant-based food and coff ee on par with
establishments in Brisbane, Byron Bay and
the Sunshine Coast.Where to indulge
Spa Botanica. Situated in Oaks Resort, this
multi-award-winning day spa is a luxurious
haven for relaxation. The experienced staff
wants all clients to feel a sense of peace. They
off er an extensive range of treatments for men,
women and couples, including facial and body
therapies, SpaJET and far infrared sauna.On K’Gari
Where to stay
Kingfi sher Bay Resort. Sitting
harmoniously within the environment, the
resort has accommodation ranging from
standard rooms to executive villas.Where to eat
Seabelle Restaurant. Kingfi sher Bay’s
home of fi ne dining, where the Chef de Cuisine
draws inspiration from the Butchulla tribe,
crafting menus that blend seasonal, local, fresh
seafood and bush-tucker fl avours.
Maheno Restaurant. Overlooking the
resort pool, Maheno off ers buff et breakfast,
espresso coff ees, poolside snacks, lunch and an
evening buff et daily, including a kid’s menu.
The Sand Bar. Casual dining on a deck
with glimpses of the Great Sandy Strait.Where to indulge
Kingfi sher Bay Resort’s Island Day Spa
off ers a tranquil environment for relaxation,
with a range of treatments and spa rituals
using natural Australian products by Organic
Spa and Perfect Potion.Clockwise from top: Kingfisher Bay resort
pool. Enzo’s really is on the beach.118 | wellbeing.com.au
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FRASER ISLAND