ZEN Beach Retreat, is your private group retreat on absolute beachfront in the Southern Great Barrier Reef
Imagine, your own personal, private, relaxed luxury boutique retreat, enjoying quality time with your family, friends or team soaking up the sun and beach atmosphere.
Perfect for small to mid-sized groups, ZEN is easily accessible throughout Australia. Tailor your hosting, service & retreat experience to your needs.
Accommodates groups up to 22 guests. Min. 3 night stay. Free quotation.
The Space
Relaxed Luxury, Private & Exclusive, Absolute Beachfront Retreat.
When nature's inspiration & authenticity meets beachfront elegance and comfort.
Hidden behind high walls of moucharabieh, the tone is set for the warm, private and intimate atmosphere of ZEN Beach Retreat. As you enter the main bamboo gate, you instantly feel tropical relaxation, lush verdant gardens and your senses drift with the melody of the fountains.
Your exploration of a private group retreat and relaxing beach lifestyle starts when you reach the heart of ZEN. Surrounded by 10,000 square feet (over 950 square metres) of indoor / outdoor living on absolute beachfront, you instantly feel at ease.
Panoramic vision awaits, either behind the 180 degree glass wall or slide it open it to enjoy the breathtaking ocean/beachfront views and sea breezes. The South Pacific is all yours!
Professionally decorated in a contemporary style, we are an art & antique loving family. Pascaline's French interior design experience merges natural materials and sophisticated textures throughout the whole of ZEN, providing an extraordinary, private haven for guests.
ZEN Beach Retreat is the perfect venue for a range of group activities & retreats, accommodating up to 22 guests:
Corporate Retreats
Team Getaways
Wellness Retreats
Yoga Retreats
Family Reunions
Friends Gatherings
Celebrations
Weddings
Private Functions
Our Ocean Lounge, a 150m2 open plan space directly overlooking the beach & ocean can be adapted to almost any plan. Enjoy the atmosphere with a quartet of French vintage armchairs / lounges, gathered near natural driftwood and molten aluminium furniture to creating a relaxing, yet professional ambience. Or together, we redesign the Ocean Lounge to your specific needs.
At the heart of the retreat, the authentic Bali Hut provides plenty of space for outdoor entertaining and relaxing. Surrounded by tropical gardens, positioned alongside the refreshing 10m magnesium pool / spa, your private space have never been more impressive.
Dining & Entertaining
The retreat is gifted for space & private entertaining options. Depending on your plans – together we can tailor your dining options specifically to your needs.
Dining on site at ZEN? We can arrange in advance, your own private chef or catering packages, provide facilities for group catering yourselves, link up with local chefs & restaurants - the options are quite endless.
Surrounded by Australia’s fruit and vegetable bowl, our local region’s produce combines with scintillating fresh seafood and livestock options to capture food discoveries like never before. Be ready to be surprised!!
Relax or Play
Whether it be toasting marshmallows around the firepit, soaking up the sea breezes, gazing in awe with the stars and moon, together we can create an atmosphere you will reflect on forever. Enjoy your own direct beach access to a safe and secure beach all year round.
At ZEN, everything is dedicated to connection and relaxation. The ocean views from the deck overlooking the beach. The outdoor whirlpool bath facing the tropical garden. The sky lounge solarium. The cooling Bali Hut and tranquillity gardens. The natural setting hydrotherapy spa & massage room. All are simply sublime.
Elevate yourself above the beach and Pacific Ocean on the Sky Lounge, taking in the plentiful sunshine and waves.
Be ready for a full panorama of the beach and ocean as you enjoy a bright morning breakfast, shaded lunch or late afternoon refreshment on the Sky Deck. Even watching the wildlife play from the comfort of your picturesque, relaxation lounge.
Discover the powers of magnesium bathing in our 10m magnesium pool & spa. Temperature adjustable, to provide swimming comfort all year round.
Feel the gentle sea breeze create a soothing fan effect as it flows through tropical tranquility, with all the shades of green - the perfect haven in the summer heat or winter months.
Your relaxarium spa remains our best hidden secret. Be pampered in a super aromatic, coloured therapeutic relaxation zone, surrounded by tropical plants, enjoying a personal massage.
Entertainment options abound throughout with a dart board, board games, chess and a raft of beach games in bocce, cricket, volleyball, surfboards, SUP boards, kayaks, bicycles, scooters, boogies boards...so many ways to enjoy your free time on the beach!
Sensual Interior Design
Inspirationally designed to capture the artistic diversity from around the world, each residence & villa is laden with surprises. Collected during our world travels, living abroad since 2003 each villa brings a pocket of the globe to life for you.
Tasteful, modern design and eclectic interior decoration personally completed by Pascaline are a feature of your stay. A private beachfront residence & four inspiring villas with direct access to the beach and garden from your sleeping quarters. An idyllic natural setting where you experience endless ocean views, mesmerising sunrises, a real natural therapy in itself!
Peruse the sensual interior design captured throughout ZEN by viewing the Villas, Ocean Lounge, Ocean Residence and ZEN Relaxation in our photos.
Our ZEN Living & ZEN Resting maps help you visualise your stay, before you arrive.
Discover the Best Kept Secrets on the Great Barrier Reef
Conveniently nestled between and within arms reach of two of Australia's UNESCO World Heritage icons - the Great Barrier Reef & Fraser Island, the Best Kept Secrets on the Great Barrier Reef are a destination like no other.
Immerse yourself in these amazing natural wonders, discovering the pristine corals and lagoons of Lady Musgrave & Lady Elliot Islands on the Great Barrier Reef or the amazing natural beauty of the largest sand island in the world - Fraser Island.
Witness the beauty of our unlimited wildlife in their natural habitat with the turtles, whales, dolphins, kangaroos, kookaburras etc surrounding us here at ZEN Beach Retreat. Enjoy the natural surrounding at their best - golf, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding with leading professionals, you are really spoilt for choice.
Taste the amazing culinary discoveries that continue to expand and surround us - a host of world leading beverages and fresh produce, prepared in ways you never imagined.
Discover The Best Kept Secrets before everyone else does!!
Guest Access
Guests hiring all of ZEN Beach Retreat have free access to all retreat facilities including the relaxarium, sporting equipment, beach equipment and musical equipment.
Guest Interaction
Inspired by the natural beauty of the reef, its untouched nature, spectacular coastline and the extraordinary weather - we wanted to bring a whole new experience guests when visiting the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Your welcome and time at ZEN is customised to your needs. At ZEN we find time to connect and form true sincere relationships with our guests and create a personalised hosting experience specific to your needs.
We look forward to seeing you at ZEN!! We can set everything up for your stay and then leave you to your own devices to maximise your own relaxation and enjoyment or we can be available for your needs whilst you enjoy everything ZEN has to offer.
Shane & Pascaline Emms
Other things to Note
We are a 100% smoke and stress free retreat.
ZEN is a member of the Great Barrier Reef citizens and a sensitive eco-friendly venue. We protect our environment and practice a Cut the Glow Light & No straw policy on the premises to protect the Turtles and Great Barrier Reef environment.
We have one TV with Foxtel in the Executive Beachfront Residence and guests have access to High Speed OpenCloud WiFi suitable for streaming. Our villa's do not have TV's - we encourage personal vs digital connection.
Overview
Conveniently nestled between Two World Heritage Icons - ZEN Beach Retreat itself is easily accessible from all of Australia! A short 20-minute drive from the regional airport of Bundaberg or 4.5 hour drive from Brisbane - you will be here in no time!
Our natural icons are close to ZEN, we limit the travel time and maximise the discovery as you explore our fabulous destination. Our stunning part of the world is loaded with a plethora of extraordinary secrets and experiences, discovered by so few.
Getting Around
Drive 4.5 hours from Brisbane.
Fly 25-45 mins from Brisbane, ~3 hours from Sydney, ~4 hours from Melbourne and we will have you on the beach in no time - less than 20 minutes from Bundaberg airport
ZEN is easily accessible from all of Eastern Australia in a morning or afternoon!!
If you arrive at the airport and don't want to hire a car - no problem - let us now and we can arrange a limousine pickup or free shuttle transfer to ZEN.
If driving to ZEN -
Take the Bundaberg Ring Road and follow signs to Bargara. Drive into Bargara until you reach The Esplanade on the foreshore - turn right.
At the roundabout, continue straight onto Miller Street - we are number 54 on your left, just after the golf course grounds....it’s easy to find
