Our ultimate staycation guide

While travel plans to exotic overseas destinations may be on hold, there’s no passport required to bring your holiday to you this year and vacay in the comfort of your own home.

They say home is where the heart is, but with international flights out of Australia grounded for a while yet, home is where the holiday is too.

To this end, let’s start with part one from the Islands of Tahiti. And stay tuned for the foothills of the French Alps and the ancient Redwood Forest in California.

To satisfy your wanderlust without leaving home, we’ve curated some of our favourite sensory products that will have you feeling as relaxed and stress-free as you would on holiday (well, almost!).

Take me to Tahiti

Blue lagoons, white-sand beaches, island time. Who’s with me? The Islands of Tahiti have long been revered as pockets of paradise, filled with soft white-sand beaches, warm tropical breezes and the smell of fresh Taha’a vanilla. And while we may not be able to jet to these idyllic archipelagos just yet, creating a space that replicates one of the most incredible places on earth is definitely do-able.

First, find yourself a deliciously decadent vanilla-scented candle. Scent plays a big role in transporting you to a blissful destination. A vanilla candle captures the essence of Tahiti – Taha’a, which is one of the 118 Islands of Tahiti, is known locally as the Vanilla Island, because of the vast vanilla plantations and the gorgeous natural smell that surrounds the area. The scent is used in Tahitian spas and with a candle you can bring it right into your home.

Source some frangipani and hibiscus (really any tropical flower) to add a touch of Tahiti to your home, and fill your ears with the sound of paradise by turning on your favourite chill out summer playlist. Better yet, check out The Islands of Tahiti playlist on Spotify.

Of course, to really whet the appetite for a jaunt to a tropical paradise, head to tahititourisme.com.au and plan your trip!

Create your Tahitian Coconut and Monoi Body Exfoliator

Ingredients:
Grated flesh of half a coconut (or half a cup of coconut flour)
3 tablespoons of Monoi oil (or virgin coconut oil)

1. Mix the coconut flesh or flour with the oil in a bowl. If you use coconut flour, you will need more oil. Add your flour to the bowl and gradually add in the oil until the flour is completely covered. Leave to rest for 15minutes.
2. Starting with your upper body, massage the exfoliator into your skin in circular motions. Gradually move down your body to your lower half.
3. Leave for a few minutes and then step into a warm shower and gently massage the scrub off your body. Be careful not to let too much of the mixture go down the drain, aim to collect as much of the mixture and place it in the bin.

In Tahitian spas, customers lie on a massage table while a vichy shower rinses them. While that’s not readily available for most of us, the vanilla and coconut scents and relaxing music will transport you into true tranquillity.