Hinterland Reset at Living Valley
Jodie Cameron discovers a place where tired souls pause, deep healing begins, and your true self waits to be found again…
Step away from the noise, become aware. You are standing exactly where you should be. The daily juggle and the daily struggle are just a part of life. Some find it easy to ask for help; others know exactly when to prioritise self-love. Either way, retreating to heal, finding strength or rediscovering a lost part of yourself takes courage and time.
Living Valley Health Retreat in Kin Kin provides somewhere to listen, reconnect and truly reset – a home away from home, that opens its arms and holds you, so you can get back on track, feel lighter, and more aware, not through quick fixes or fleeting indulgence, but through a philosophy built on real, lasting care.
Living Valley CEO and Managing Director Giselle Martin says their philosophy is not about quick fixes.
“Life is busy, stress builds, and unhealthy habits creep back in, whether we notice or not,” she says. “Healing is a journey, and we’re helping people feel healthier, stronger and more energised, not just once, but throughout different seasons of their lives.”
Sober in the Country founder Shanna Whan first walked through Living Valley’s gates almost 14 years ago, on the recommendation of a friend. At the time, she was in the grip of a serious alcohol addiction, unsure how to escape it.
“I walked in not having a single earthly clue what to expect,” Shanna says. “But I was instantly at ease among a beautiful family-styled home that felt warm, friendly, and so real.” “I needed proper care and support to learn how to prioritise my health, and that’s what I immediately felt when I arrived at Living Valley,” she says.
Support is structured with hands-on care from day one – educational lectures and one-on-one consultations with the retreat’s allied health professionals, backed by tools like live blood cell analysis and body composition scans to track real progress. The team includes therapists, naturopaths, health educators, personal trainers, psychologists and chefs, working with each guest one-on-one to address the root of what’s brought them there, not just the symptoms.
“I just knew it was where I needed to be,” Shanna says. “I was utterly fascinated, it was like an entire new world was opening up before me.”
Having grown up in rural Australia, where health-consciousness made you a ‘mad hippy’ as she puts it, the depth of care on offer to Shanna became a revelation in itself. She arrived anxious, exhausted, and feeling absolutely defeated and beyond help. A month later, the transformation wasn’t just internal – it was profoundly life‑changing.
“The day my husband picked me up, his eyes almost popped out of his head,” she says. “He said I was radiating good health and energy. My skin was clear, my eyes were bright, and I felt like I could run a lap of Australia with the energy I suddenly had.”
That renewed sense of hope became the seed for Sober in the Country, a support network she went on to found for Australians in rural and remote communities affected by alcohol dependence. Her work has since earned her an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) and Australian of the Year Local Hero honours. Now 13 years alcohol-free, Shanna has sent countless others through Living Valley’s iconic front gates, having seen firsthand how deeply the retreat can change a life.
“I now deeply believe in the power the body has to heal, even after the worst adversity,” Shanna says.
Living Valley sits on 145 acres of rolling green hills and valleys, just 40 minutes from Noosa, yet a world away from the bustle of daily life. Programs run from day retreats to 28 day programs, tailored to individual needs – whether that’s a short reset or a deeper, structured stay like Shanna’s.
For over 35 years, guests have become part of something much bigger than a single stay. If you’re ready to feel more like your true self again, Living Valley and the Kin Kin hinterland are ready when you are. It’s never too late to transform your life – every body deserves it.
