Hello, happy Sunday!
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes — including you.”
(Anne Lamott said that, not me – but how perfectly it captures our theme this week: the restorative magic of a short, sweet getaway.)
Yes, we’ve had a run of LOOOONG weekends lately – but if your house is anything like mine (full), extended time at home can feel… well, long.
Maybe it’s time to plan an escape that’s actually for you.
In the world of travel, tropical lifestyle is an almost obsessive pursuit. Dreaming of swaying palms, water so blue it seems invented?
If so, this Wellbeing Guidebooks Issue is for you.
Think of this as your very own mini gap year – compressed into a weekend.
The Whitsundays, a place where mountains meet sea, and your only real decision is reef or rainforest. Kayak the turquoise shallows. Cruise to Whitehaven. Or take a helicopter over Heart Reef. Whatever you choose, novelty is guaranteed – and that’s the magic ingredient for a reset.
Let’s get untethered, shall we?
Monique xx
Our nervous system is a little like a phone battery, often flashing warnings by the end of the week. Running low. Slightly twitchy. Enter: the short escape. It’s less a luxury, more a reset button.
The science backs what we instinctively know: even brief changes of scene reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), boost parasympathetic activity (your body’s ‘rest and digest’ mode), and improve heart rate variability – a key indicator of resilience and wellbeing.
In plain speak? A couple of nights away – moving, eating nourishing meals, getting out in nature – helps you breathe better, sleep deeper, and feel more like yourself.
Our desination this week – Airlie Beach in The Whitsundays (North Queensland) – offers just the right mix of seclusion, sunshine and soulfulness to make even a two-night stay feel like a full-body exhale.
Escaping with a focus on joy and rest is not frivolous, it’s functional.
I call it a ‘travel prescription’.
ADVENTURE | Airlie Beach (Solo) Escape
Airlie Beach: the mainland gateway to the Whitsundays in North Queensland.
A short flight (two hours, give or take) from most Australian capitals, it’s where I come to hibernate from inbox pings and city buzz. Still under the radar, still unspoiled – mostly National Park, mostly uninhabited.
I’ve lived here part-time since 1987 and still get a thrill as the plane dips and those first flashes of North Queensland’s islands and tropical blues appear.
We’re not glossy. We’re not curated.
Wellbeing seeps into the fabric of daily life – each shell pink sunrise, every turquoise bay (yes, all the well-worn tropical clichés in technicolour).
Nature takes the lead. This is the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.
Paradise, with a pause button.
Two airports serve the region. I usually land at Hamilton Island – closer to my place in Shute Harbour – but Whitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine) a great option if you’re staying in Airlie Beach.
Naturally, I’ll suggest going solo.
Swimmers. Kaftan. Journal. Sunnies. A great book. No companions required. Just stillness and spontaneity. (A.K.A. the exact opposite of your to-do list.)
Plan nothing. But if you’d like a local’s guide, there’s a loose 72-hour itinerary below. It works solo or with company. The islands are rightly world-famous, but give the mainland three or four days and time starts to stretch.
The Airlie vibe is quietly intoxicating. You can hike a mountain before breakfast and spend the afternoon horizontal by the pool. No pretence. No hurry. Just space.
As locals say:
“We live where others go on holiday.”
The Whitsundays are less about the ‘see and be seen’ and more about simply being.
DAY 1 | Zen, Breathe, Recharge
7:00 am Yoga at The Fitness Venue. Ease into your getaway with gentle yoga – the team here will have the incense burning and arms open. A community hub and one you can walk to along the boardwalk (if you are staying centrally.)
8.15 am Sit Still for a Coffee with a View
RUFUS CAFE: Exceptional coffee, delish wholesome menu, water views – and a lovely team.
BOHO CAFE: Palm beach vibes in The Whitsundays – best ‘freshly made, insta worthy’ breaky bowls. Perfect for lingering.
Then if a Saturday
10.00 am Spa Time Qare
Rave reviews, chic calm space, book your treatment and leave your relaxation in the hands of Earng and her team.
12.00pm Pop Into Oasis Lifestyle Boutique
Think ‘South of France-worthy’. Owners Florence and Mikael (partners in business and life) are French and oh-so-chic. Fashion and homewares.
1.00pm Poolside with a Book (…go on have a snooze too)
5.00pm Sunset Cruise or Sunset At Coral Sea Marina.
OTHER SUNSET VIEWS:
Coral Beach, Shute Harbour
DAY 2 | Go on an Adventure
MY ‘WELLBEING IN THE WHITSUNDAYS’ FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO:
Whitsunday Islands ‘Clean Up’ Barge trip:
If you are in town when they go out – DO sign up. A feel good ‘environmentally healthy’ day with fabulous founder Libby. You will meet wonderful people, do some good, AND discover hidden spots most visitors do not.
6.30pm Dinner at Belvedere
THE dining spot in town with elevated views, interesting food, and sometimes live lounge music.
DAY 3 | The Final Untethering…
8.00am Honeyeater Trail or Foreshore Boardwalk: an invigorating hike up Honeyeater Trail (allow three hours) or a leisurely stroll along Airlie’s scenic boardwalk. Or you could try a Pilates session with Melinda (FIT HIIT Pilates)
12:00pm Brunch at Rufus & Co or Boho Cafe before catching your flight home.
Florence, a French-Australian, made the move to The Whitsundays years ago in pursuit of that ever-elusive work-life balance. With her young family in tow, she traded the city for sun, sand, and serenity. Today she owns Oasis Lifestyle Boutique, a go-to spot for pieces that channel South of France, by way of the tropics.
The Tropical House Whitsundays
P.S. My secret spot?
Our ground floor is a self-contained, poolside two-bedroom (half house), available to rent for part of the year. The full four-bedroom house opens up over Christmas and New Year.
Space to unwind, stretch out, and fall in love with those breathtaking views.
The perfect escape when the Southern winter chill sets in.
Coral Sea Resort
Resort style accommodation just steps from the Airlie Beach main street. The ocean laps the edge of the resort (not suitable for swimming, but the large swimming pool is fab), best sunset views, an upmarket restaurant, and a poolside bar.
Pinnacles Resort
Apartment-style comfort meets panoramic ocean vistas. An elevated position in the middle of town, convenient and deservedly award-winning for service and facilities.
Q: “Is dining solo awkward?”
A: At first perhaps – however here’s how to ease into it; Bring a good book, ask for a spot with a view, and savour the joy of your own company. Trust me, everyone else is too busy enjoying their meal to notice or care. Solo travel teaches you to follow your instincts, make spontaneous decisions, and find joy in the unexpected. Yes, there are challenges: being stuck at the table near the loo or paying the dreaded ‘singles tax’. But it allows the freedom to advocate for yourself, ask for what you need.
Have a great week – and as always, hit reply if you feel like saying hi (or ‘escaping somewhere’).
Any destinations you’d like me to get to the heart of – with help from a Chic Local and zero tourist traps?
And if you enjoyed the book, a short review over here would earn you a virtual hug and my eternal gratitude. Maybe even a mock/cocktail, if we meet in person.
Here is to sunshine and spontaneity,
Love & hugs,
🎧Podcast: The Small Business|Big Marketing Podcast: The voice of Siri, Karen Jacobsen, on building a personal brand you love.
Fun interview with talented Airlie Beach local and Director of The Whitsundays Song Writers Festival – great topic, personal branding.
📺 Watch: Love is in the Air – ok so it might not be the movie you rave about or admit to actually watching – but its a little (secret) slice of pure Aussie girly nonsense all set it the Whitsundays. The perfect watch when you don’t know what to watch but want to escape!
‘A Grown Up’s Gap Year’ – The Guidebook for mid Lifestyle. Welbeing. Adventure. Chic!
This week’s issue features Hydra-based artist Desiree Prinsloo, who embodies reinvention on her own terms. After her husband’s passing, she bought and restored a farmhouse on the Greek island, now hosting artist retreats and embracing what she calls “middle youth.”
Sunday nudge: Review A Grown Up’s Gap Year, dream up your Mother’s Day, try a solo adventure, or reset your chic—do it for you this week!
There is much to explore in Japan and it is easy to dip into a wellbeing experience. Here are three guidebooks I’ve personally found invaluable: