The silver lining of all this time at home is getting better acquainted with the television and the slew of new shows about to hit our shores. Arguably most anticipated among these is Nine Perfect Strangers, the TV interpretation of a best-selling book by Australia’s own Liane Moriarty.

The Amazon Prime production takes place at a boutique health and wellness retreat where nine burnt out city dwellers seek transformation in just 10 days. Guided by mysterious guru Masha, the retreat is an emotional rollercoaster played out on our screens from August 20.

If the plotline doesn’t entice you then the casting will – it’s a star-studded affair starring Nicole Kidman as Masha, joined by the likes of Melissa McCarthy, Regina Hall, Michael Shannon, Samara Weaving, and Bobby Cannavale.

Just as deserving of your attention is the set itself, with Nine Perfect Strangers filmed in one of the country’s most acclaimed real wellness retreats. Standing in as Tranquillum House is Soma, the architectural concoction of exposed concrete and glass aplenty that sits perched among the rolling hills of the Byron Bay Hinterland.

Just like Tranquillum House, transformational experience is at the core of what Soma does in reality, though the retreats here are led by a far more friendly duo than Kidman’s Masha.

Media and technology expert Peter Ostick and meditation teacher and mindfulness expert Gary Gorrow are the partnership behind the modern wellness space. They’ve conjured up a handful of retreats which embody the essence of Soma, which is ‘consciousness, creativity, and the art of living’.

Attendees are able to choose from a selection of immersive, multi-day packages integrating the likes of yoga, meditation, coaching, mentoring, massage and more, feasting on house-made ayurvedic meals all the while.

However, it’s not just the soul-enhancing offerings but the building itself which will catch your eye, like it did to the Nine Perfect Strangers production team; a 100-strong-crew took over the space for most of 2020.

The statement-making build was dreamt up by Gary’s brother George Gorrow, of Ksubi and The Slow fame. Architecturally it has embraced the features for which Bali’s The Slow has garnered plenty of attention – a brutalist combination of hefty industrial elements, raw woods, and ample windows.

Arguably just as spectacular, are the Ewingsdale resident’s trimmings – a surrounding 22 acre forest, a freshwater infinity pool, communal fire pit and custom-built yoga dome out back, to mention just a few.

“To maintain our health, happiness and high performance, recalibration is key,” says Gorrow of his services, “We need effective resources.” And when the resources look this good, you can’t help but agree.

Can’t visit in person? Soma is launching RISE, it’s first online course for mindfulness and meditation on August 27. somabyron.com.au/