This wellness oasis in the Gold Coast hinterland is every nature-lover's dream escape

I can't remember the last time I felt this relaxed. The past 12 hours have featured chocolate-chilli espresso martinis, alternating cold-plunge and hot-spring pools, private saunas, personalised body scrubs, charcuterie boards and, well, a symphony of local wildlife singing just metres from my bed.

Yes, I will do this more often. SOL Elements, located at the sprawling Tamborine Mountain Glades nature retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland, has inspired me.

The brand new bush spa, opened in August, is being touted as Australia's first "floating" bathhouse, inspired by the four elements - air, water, fire and earth. In the hands of its creators, Shae and Russell Raven, every last detail has been curated to inspire the soul, right down to the Japanese-style wood panels that shape SOL's hexadecagon (16-sided) design. Each panel of cladding has been hand-burned by Russell, guided by master craftsman Kenji Nishishita. The process took more than six weeks to complete.

"Having the opportunity to spend a week with Kenji San, learning his family's tradition of Yakisugi, changed my life," Russell says.

"His appreciation for the small moments slowed me down enough to take a breath amidst the madness of this project coming to life. No element of SOL has gone without conscious creation and planning. The location and design are just the beginning."

SOL challenges my sense of relaxation, which I admit is often tied to the internet. But here, there is (almost) no reception, so I am left with no choice but to disconnect from my screen and reconnect with myself while surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of Tamborine Mountain.

Enter SOL Elements and immerse yourself in the experience - not just the place.

Three outdoor magnesium thermal pools, two cold plunges, two magnesium float caves (must-book), a cedar wood sauna, steam room, Himalayan salt cave, and outdoor firepit - submerged at lake-level for an extra sense of immersion with nature - complete the communal spaces accessible to guests.

Those seeking a little more privacy - be it alone, as a couple, or with a small group - can also book one of the two gorgeous elemental secluded suites. Both include a thermal mineral bath along the lakefront, an indoor infrared sauna, an ice bath, earth lab and shower. Trust me when I say the ice bath really is reserved for the brave.

One of these suites is also dog-friendly, so bring that pooch of yours (he/she deserves a pamper too).

It was somewhere between my second Cloud Hidden tea and attempting a cold plunge that I was taken to a treatment room two doors over for a full body hot and cold stone massage, one of six Alchemy Spa Rituals offered to guests. The treatment uses stones gathered with permission from Indigenous Elders, enhanced with essential oils distilled from the Australian bush, to connect the mind, body and spirit to the land's energy.

I didn't just feel relaxed when leaving the treatment room. I felt connected; calm - exactly how Shae and Russell intended.

SOL Elements wasn't built down the driveway of Tamborine Mountain Glades by chance. It's surrounded by accommodation options, and to make the most of my visit, I stay in one of 11 glamping tents on the property.

The private balcony boasts views of Curtis Falls and the rainforest. I am in one of two tents equipped with a private jacuzzi to relax in under nearby native flora. A fire pit and basket filled with chopped wood sits on the edge of my balcony.

Shower under the stars, slide on your slippers and gown, zip up the tent, and toast yourself for enjoying a little "me" treat. There's no need to press play on the Spotify white noise track. Rainforest sounds on your doorstep (or tent step) make for the most serene, peaceful playlist to doze off to. The best part? You'll be waking up to a buffet breakfast at the Rainforest Restaurant fully equipped with all the classics plus pancakes, pastries, fruit and a mini smashed avo bar.

The writer was a guest of SOL Elements