Do you find yourself gazing longingly out the window imagining a lifestyle with the freedom to follow your passions? You are not alone! So many of us fantasize about just that but very few of us actually take that ‘leap of faith’ and follow our dreams.
Tina Arthur took that leap of faith and, trusting in her own abilities, has established an enviable lifestyle in Nelson that allows her to pursue her passions both professionally and personally.
Ocean lover, Paddlefit instructor, Travel Designer, entrepreneur, interior design consultant … the list goes on but Tina didn’t always have this amazing lifestyle. Like so many of us, Tina went on her big OE in the 90’s and spent several years travelling the world from her London base. Returning home she worked as Flight Centre Travel Consultant until, several years later, she made the decision to try something a little different and work from home as a travel broker for New Zealand Travel Brokers.
Discovering she was now location independent, Tina made the decision to embrace her new freedom and move somewhere that would allow her to pursue other interests including paddle boarding, trail running and of course travel. Deciding where she wanted to base herself was a very tough call. After much soul searching the great outdoors called this Southern girl home and, with many good friends based in Nelson, the decision was finally made.
Moving to Nelson allowed Tina to create a new balanced lifestyle designed around her passions rather than a strict time schedule. Although she had achieved her ideal lifestyle it had been a very long journey and Tina found herself in desperate need of a break that would allow her to completely disconnect in order to reconnect back with herself.
Unsure of what she really needed she scoured the web and all her secret squirrel broker forums to find the perfect location, accommodation and package. What she found was a serious gap for simple getaways for women who just want a break and a chance to just be with themselves in a way they feel comfortable with. An opportunity presented itself and Tina jumped at the chance to house sit for friends in Bali and took off in August 2016 for four weeks of unstructured ‘me time’ to revisit and this tropical location and to dive into what this vibrant destination offers.
The change in Tina was instant. She was suddenly able to disconnect from her everyday routine and reconnect in a place rich with soul and energy. It was a little spiritual but the freedom and contentment experienced was down to the wider experience, the food, the accommodation, the shopping and of course the wonderful people she met along the way.
Determined not to miss a beat and utilise the local knowledge she was acquiring daily, Tina made notes about everything that was mentioned, the places she visited, things she ate and everything she did.
When Tina returned home she shared her experiences with friends and suddenly people started to ask how they could book the same tour to have a similar experience. It then dawned on her how much local knowledge she had gathered and that there weren’t any tours or holiday packages that could offer a similar soul enriching escape at a reasonable cost.
Retreats by Design was born.
Offering soul enriching escapes, Tina has designed a bespoke Bali Bliss package for women who need a stress-free break from everyday life but don’t want to travel alone and don’t have the time to organise the holiday they so desperately need.
The Bali Bliss package is specifically designed to take time out from our busy lives in the idyllic location of Seminyak. This beautiful Balinese city gives you the freedom to travel safely on foot to amazing boutiques, restaurants and spas whilst enjoying the exquisite architecture, magnificent temples, stunning beaches and picturesque landscapes. You can take time out to do the things you want to do, when you want to do them or enjoy good company as the mood takes you. You can be assured that Tina’s local knowledge, numerous contacts and passion for the local culture will provide you with a unique, authentic Balinese experience.
Visit www.retreatsbydesign.co.nz to find out more about the Bali Bliss package
If you are looking to destress a bit closer to home Tina takes Paddlefit classes at Tahnuanui Beach on a Wednesday morning at 7am, starting at just $20 including board hire.
If you would like to talk to Tina about Paddlefit lessons or the Bali Bliss package you can call her on 027 244 6781 – she would love to hear from you!
