Allana Ferguson’s guide to the Gold Coast’s Currumbin Valley

Fuel up before winding down

There’s no shortage of artisan makers and nourishing eats in the Currumbin Valley, but few can beat Pasture & Co, positioned amongst lush greenery and endless foliage, and home to an abundance of cheeky native wildlife waiting to say hello. It’s a vibe that can only be described as nourishment-meets-relaxation.

“It was all organic foods – fresh and local. I ordered the chicken and kale salad bowl with a freshly-squeezed juice and let me just say, the fruit in Queensland is so much better than anything I’ve had before. Seriously, the juice was amazing,” she laughs. And it’s not just the food and fruit that Pasture & Co has nailed – their coffee was so good that Ferguson stopped in for another on her way back to the airport.

Check into “the most amazing place on earth”

Any woman juggling motherhood, a full-time job and the million other life admin tasks that can seemingly consume their entire existence should know the importance of taking a well-deserved break from the daily grind. The perfect remedy? Eden Health Retreat.

Set across 400 acres of peaceful and lush green rainforest, this is where Allana called home during her stay. “Eden is the most amazing place on earth. As soon as I got there, it was like a breath of fresh air,” Ferguson says.

The five-star wellness escape offers everything you need to pause, reset, and heal your body from within, with treatments that can be tailored to your goals. As well as enjoying top-notch yoga, Pilates and gym sessions and a heavenly full body massage, Ferguson tried out new things like a breathing class and an abdominal healing treatment. It was life-changing.

“None of it was too woo woo – I’m not very woo woo, I’m an ex-football player so I like to get the job done. But what Eden did for me was help open my eyes into how holistic health can be, and it doesn’t actually take much time.”

Eden equipped Ferguson with new tools for looking after her mind and body – and she left feeling like she’d had “the best few sleeps of my life”.

“But also, just completely wound down,” she adds. “I have a pretty busy life with young kids, and it gave me the opportunity to be really present. I definitely left feeling relaxed and calm.”

Scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find something unexpected in Queensland. For more inspiration, visit Queensland.com.