Anyone who lives and breathes fashion will tell you that it doesn’t start at the boutique and end in the wardrobe. Style adorns our hands in the form of jewellery, or homes in the form of interiors, and our day-to-day in the form of our go-to café or gym class. It’s also where we travel (and how).
It’s not about excess, but about the curation. Creating something tailored, that is balanced and ‘just right’.
It’s this unique equilibrium that we embrace on the Land Rover Defender Experience, an opportunity to dip our toes into the spirit of adventure but also the heart of wellness; the best of both worlds.
As we drive to the accommodation in the comfort of Land Rover’s new Defender vehicle, the land’s lushness begs us to head out and explore the ruggedness and freedom of nature around us. Yet, as we wind our way towards the famous Soma retreat, a cosy peace settles on us, quietly tugging, telling us to turn our phones off and embrace inner tranquillity.
If Soma rings a bell for you, it’s probably because the state-of-the art retreat provided the backdrop of hit series 9 Perfect Strangers, starring Nicole Kidman. It’s also the scene of our stay.
Soma’s DNA was woven by master Vedic meditation practitioner Garry Gorrow and entrepreneur Peter Ostick. Gorrow is a lauded wellness expert, who has worked with the likes of Cate Blanchett and Zoe Foster-Blake to perfect wellness practice. Meanwhile, Ostick made the conversion from business professional to wellness advocate, living and breathing what Soma asks us to do: switch off and reconnect with ourselves.
Onsite, expansive views over the hinterland vista, mooching cows and misty mornings to lull us from the hamster wheel of life. One morning, we meandered down bamboo-lined pathways, heading toward the clear geodome, the location for both a sound bathing session and yin yoga.
During sound bathing, the swaying branches and descending leaves create nature’s soundtrack, while the calm vibrations of singing bowls and our instructor’s gentle singing command the room. This is a kind of stillness that is hard to access, especially in the chaos of everyday life.
We’re met, after sessions, with an array of delicious whole-food meals and encouraged to top off our day with a sauna or ice bath, both of which reside on premises.
By the end of our stay, we’d managed to master two minutes in the freezing cold ice bath, using breathing and meditation to quiet the body’s distress and sink into a deeper, smoother stillness. It’s a gift, this ability to quiet the mind despite discomfort, and one we’ll be bringing into high octane meetings and deadlines moving forward. A kind of enduring calm.
Throughout our stay, the two-story timber and steel building brings the outside in, designed with the help of Gorrow’s brother George and Balinese architect Rieky Sunur. But as the building soothes, so do we feel called to explore.
On location at Soma is the Defender Pacific Blue Edition. It’s one of just 15 vehicles crafted for the Australian market by Land Rover, offering a sophisticated Pacific Blue matte finish, white roof and custom surfboard. The car entreats us to head out to the peacefulness of the countryside and immerse ourselves in nature.
There’s no denying it’s a stylish vehicle.
“Defender follows our reductive design principles and takes inspiration from the first Series Land Rovers, with an unmistakable silhouette that makes it instantly recognisable the world over,” says Mark Cameron, managing director of Defender and Discovery at Jaguar Land Rover.
“Its clean body sides contrast with its vertical front and, particularly, its rear, and contribute to its purposeful stance…Innovative features include a dash-mounted gear shifter to accommodate an optional centre front ‘jump’ seat, which provides three-abreast seating across the front – like early Series Land Rovers.
“A choice of four accessory packs is also available to help clients express their personality and ensure Defender is perfectly suited to their lifestyle.”
Inside the luxury vehicle, which offers a sliding glass panoramic roof, 12-way grained leather seating, and an upgraded Meridian sound system, the heart seizes with the beauty of the country surrounding it. Capable of handling all terrain, we’re able to get off the beaten path and to the crux of what nature has to offer.
Rainforest scents waft by as folky songs play on the stereo. The more challenging parts of the drive command a sense of adventure that makes you want to grip on to that exhilaration for weeks to come. Offering a 3.0-litre twin turbocharged Ingenium six-cylinder diesel engine, the vehicle handles beautifully through each turn and eddy.
“All Defenders deliver unstoppable all-terrain capability and a host of advanced off-road technologies, including a choice of smooth and efficient powertrains with plug-in Electric Hybrid capable of driving up to 27 miles with zero tailpipe emissions,” says Cameron.
“Our Pivi Pro touchscreen infotainment is another reason why clients love Defender. It provides intuitive control of all the major functions and, with built-in Amazon Alexa and embedded Spotify, allows drivers to use natural voice commands to select everything from their music choice to the cabin temperature.”
Cruising through Byron in the Defender, we stop in to gently peruse the local boutiques such as Nagnata and Venroy. Soon enough, we’re spirited back to Soma, where yoga in the Geodome and fresh, nourishing meals made by the likes of Rustic Rishi and Three Blue Ducks beckon.
A swim in the pool and a massage that can only be compared to a spiritual experience later, and we’ve well and truly unyoked ourselves from the chaos of modern life. Returning to the ‘big city’ of Sydney and pace of life, we still feel lighter, more centered. That our thirst for adventure and peace has been well and truly quenched.
Explore more Land Rover Defender experiences at landrover.com.
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