In the heart of The Hunter Valley, just up the road from Pokolbin village centre and some of the larger cellar doors, is getaway of a different ilk to the wine-drinking, cheese tasting norm.

The Golden Door Health Retreat is hidden away behind Cypress Lakes Golf Course, enclosed by a high fence and large imposing gate.

Inside here there’s hushed tones, gourmet (organic) meals, massage therapists, yoga instructors and dieticians. And ever so soothing silence.

There’s also no alcohol, no drugs, no food (from outside), no sugar, no salt and no mobile phones. When I read the list of contraband out to the kids they tell me it sounds more like rehab than detox.

My first evening here is spent eating a light organic meal before retreating to my room to drink herbal tea and read a book.

I’m woken at 6am for a tai chi class on “Meditation Hill”, looking out over Hunter Valley vineyards as the sun rises, along with a few hot air balloons.

This is followed by a 5km hike through the vineyards, breakfast, a session of aqua-running in the pool and then a guided meditation class.

Which brings me nicely to lunch and a slower-paced afternoon spent lounging alternately on my bed, in the bath and on the balcony.

Meals at Golden Door are at communal tables, so unless you’re completely anti-social you’ll end up chatting to your inmates. Before long I realise there are two distinctly different types of people who come to health retreats such as this.

Type A. People who want or need to take serious steps to improve their health, whether that’s weight loss, de-toxing or stress management. These people are here for at least a week, some as long as 6-10 weeks. And even though they range in age from mid-20s to mid-70s, they bond, form friendships and are supportive of each other’s efforts. I like Type A.

Type B. Women (100%) who are already living the wellness/mindfulness life, who perhaps lead reasonably pampered lives and are here for the weekend with the girls, maybe a hens weekend, maybe a mothers’ group. They’re all wearing stylish Lorna Jane yoga pants and tank tops in every shade of pastel imaginable (but mainly pink).

They talk about wanting to lose one kilo and the challenges of going “toe-nail naked after 15 years”. (Yes somebody actually said that.) I didn’t realise women could have withdrawal symptoms for nail polish, but maybe that’s because I can’t be arsed to paint my toenails.

I’m far more interested in talking to Type A. The people here who are making a real effort to change their lifestyles for the better, even if I’m a little intrigued as to how they can afford to stay here for 10 weeks.

My second morning starts again with Tai Chi, this time followed by an aqua running class before breakfast and a 10km hike to the highest peak we can see in the distance.

The hike takes us through vineyards and dirt tracks, and it’s mainly low rolling hills, until we reach the final 2-3 kms up a rather steep incline.

We reach the top, red-faced and dripping with sweat (well, me anyway), thoroughly pleased with ourselves as we look out over the valley below.

We’re driven back to the resort just in time for a stretching class and then sadly it’s time to check out.

I know I’ve only been here two days, but I do feel somewhat detoxed, and the thought of eating anything unhealthy makes me turn my nose up. Wonder how long it will last?

Getting there.

The Hunter Valley is an easy 2.5 hour drive from Sydney – and when I say easy – it’s a pleasant, fairly scenic drive, provided you avoid peak hour traffic when departing Sydney.

I got to test-drive a Ford Eco Sport for this weekend away, and I must say I really enjoyed driving it.

The model I drove was manual, and I haven’t driven a manual for quite some time so while at first I was a little nervous, I soon started to really enjoy listening to the engine and changing gears.

Once my phone is synced, pretty much everything on the dashboard responds to voice control, from changing radio stations, choosing music from my iPhone to making a phone call.

There are pockets for storage in every nook and cranny, plenty of drink holders and a USB outlet to charge everyone’s smartphones.

The car has real oomph – or perhaps the professional term for that is torque, but whatever it’s called, it’s extremely satisfying being able to accelerate so quickly.

In terms of fuel efficiency, well it is called the Eco Sport for a reason. Even though I’d been driving the car around the suburbs for almost a week beforehand, we made it from Sydney to the Hunter and back without having to fill the tank. Thumbs up.