::Gwinganna:Lifestyle Retreat::

‘You can build fantastic facilities, but for an amazing Retreat you also need incredible staff’.
Tony de Leede,
Founder & Owner Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat.

Tony de Leede
Founder & Owner
Tony de Leede, a native of the Sydney beach suburb of Cronulla created Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat to fulfill a lifelong dream. “Gwinganna is a very special place that I discovered several years ago”, said Mr de Leede.“ The first time I stayed at Gwinganna, I found that the serenity and soulof this hidden mountain retreat captured my desire to live a better life”. He purchased the property from publisher Kevin Weldon who had privately owned it for many years. To preserve its original charm, Tony retained most of the distinctive pieces which he thought to be fundamental to Gwinganna. Beautiful Heritage houses and unique buildings from around Queensland now act as guest accommodation and activity areas and bring a warm Australian feel to the property.

As Managing Director of Fitness First Australia and one of the owners of Fitness First Global, success continues internationally with over 70 clubs currently in Australia and over 500 clubs worldwide. But for Tony, Gwinganna is where his true passion lies. Highly regarded around the world as an innovator in business and a regular keynote speaker at conventions, his aim is to spend more time with his wife Catherine at Gwinganna and continue his own personal health journey.

Sharon Kolkka
General Manager
Based in Queensland most of her life, Sharon Kolkka is a lifestyle specialist and a highly skilled and experienced facilitator for both individuals and groups. For the past eleven years she has worked in the heath retreat industry in a variety of key roles and has seen the concept of a health holiday dramatically increase in popularity during this time. “More often now people are seeking lifestyle solutions and a place to restore their energy and refocus their priorities” said Ms Kolkka.

As General Manager of Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, located in Queensland’s Gold Coast hinterland, Sharon is fulfilling her goal of creating a new and unique lifestyle retreat. Gwinganna opened in March 2006 and offers nine different program options for 2008.

Advising thousands of people from all walks of life, her inspirational yet practical words are highly sought after and are both motivating and informative.

High on a plateau on 500 acres in a hidden region of the Tallebudgera Valley, the promise of abundance and calm beckons. Since the dawn of time, this place has watched in silence as the weather changes sweep from the south and the west. Surrounded by ocean and valley views, this land’s inhabitants and visitors have listened to the silence of the bush for eternity. The Aboriginal people were the original custodians of the region. It was they who gave name to the place. Gwinganna translates to ‘lookout’, aptly named given its position offering views from Moreton Bay to Coolangatta.

Gwinganna’s steep slopes have protected it from too much devastating timber clearing and settlers in years gone by. Substantially intact, many parts of Gwinganna still retain its ancient past. The silence and stillness of this mountain retreat revitalises tired souls and allows guests to rest and recover from their busy worlds. The longer you stay on this magical mountain, cocooned from the outside world, the sooner you will return to your natural state of having an abundance of energy and vitality.

“I had a fabulous weekend. The staff is great. I am going home motivated and energized to take more time for me.”
Penny Coleman

“The staff – all of you are just so special and perfect as a blend with the peace and love of this whole place.”
Pip Rose