LORNA THORNBER

Last updated11:27, June 28 2017

Matt Cardy

Hippies are alive and well in 2017 (just in different guises).

Travel might not solve all our problems but it can definitely help you gain some perspective. In our new series "Where to go if..."we hope to inspire you regardless of the stage of life you're in. From where to go if you're recently heartbroken, to where to go if you love vodka, we've got you covered.

If the daily grind is killing your vibe, it's probably high time you took the kind of physically and mentally restorative holiday that'll really get your groove back.

Say what you like about the hippies, they knew a thing or two about cheap and meaningful travel. Determined not to let the man get them down, they sought out destinations that would help them shake off the shackles of capitalist society and embrace alternative ways of living. Following the fabled "Hippie Trail" westward through Europe, the Middle East and Asia, these free thinkers were chasing spiritual enlightenment as well as a good time.

Raglan: perfect for finding peace, love and quiet contemplation.

Fifty years on from that highpoint of hippie culture - the Summer of Love in San Francisco - there are still plenty of places to go if you feel like dropping out of your regular routine for a while and embracing your inner bohemian.Which isn't to say you need to ditch the shampoo and deodorant and dial a dealer. Unlike the original hippies who sought nirvana in psychedelic drugs, modern day hippies are more about finding peace and happiness through yoga, meditation, clean and sustainable living and embracing the outdoors.

Here are a few places to consider the next time you need to peace out for a bit and indulge in a spot of soul-searching or pure, unadulterated pleasure-seeking.

READ MORE: *Tripping out on the 'hippie bus' of the Wild West *Becoming a neo-hippie in Berkeley, California *Most hippies in Goa are gone, but peace, love and more remain

Raglan, New Zealand

Diehard surfers are often hippies at heart, finding solace and a sense of connection to something greater than themselves in the open ocean. Champion surfer Kelly Slater once described surfing as his religion, likening riding through the barrel of a breaking wave to being in the womb.It makes sense then that Raglan - with its world famous surf breaks set amid stunning native scenery -has become a haven for surfers, modern hippies, artists,environmentalists and alternative lifestylers. Stay in eco-friendly digs and hang ten at broad, black-sanded beaches like Manu or Whale bays before refuelling at one of the many health-focused cafes and restaurants.

Some believe Byron Bay has a special energy.

Browse local artists' creations in the innumerable galleries, take a head-clearing bushwalkto Bridal Veil Falls or simply get your zen on at often deserted Ruapuke Beach. Yogis should check out The Raglan Yoga Loft, where you can flex your way back into alignment in a light-filled studio in the Old Dairy Co-op Building and take special classes such as the divine sounding candlelit yin yoga set to "live music to travel around the world".Nearby Solscape is a modern hippie'sdream with a surf school, yoga centre and holistic therapies and workshops aimed at improvingyour health and wellbeing. Its onsite cafeThe Conscious Kitchen - open November through April - serves up organic, plant-based fare, with many ingredients sourced from itspermaculture gardens. Their food mantra: "Nothing with a face or mother".

Byron Bay, Australia

It's the vibe, locals say, that sets Byron apart from the myriad other surf towns scattered along this long stretch of squeaky white-sanded coastline. Byron it set in the basin of a volcano active 23 million years ago and some say the substratum of black obsidian it left behind has infused it with a special energy. Its original inhabitants, the Bunjalung people, honoured it as a site for sacred rituals and healing and, these days, it'san epicentre of New Age living.It's impossible not to feel at one with the world as you walk the Cape Byron Track, passingBangalow palm-fringed Wategos and Little Wategos beaches and rounding the easternmost point on the Australian mainlandbelowbefore arriving at the century-old Byron Bay Lighthouse. Climb to the top for groovy views of Tallow Beach (long, uncrowded and perfect for a spot of meditation) and the rainforest-covered hinterland. Speaking of which, it's well worth heading out of town to sample the area's lesser known but equally glorious natural assets.

SERGEY PRISTYAZHNYUK

You'll find colourful streets and characters in Christiania, Copenhagen.

Spot koalas, goannas and cockatoos at Minyon Falls, taking a slight detour to the Channon Markets, where buskers are likely to serenade you as you munch your way through fat juicy tropicalproduce and wholesome, homemade fare. If the guys selling "ice cream" made only from frozen bananas and strawberries are there, do not pass it up! If you're in need of a little extra help to get your groove back, book intoone (or more) of the many yoga, meditation and tai chi classes, spas and retreats in the area.Head to nearby Nimbin, the so-called Amsterdam of Australia,for a properly trippy experience. The last time I was there, the sudden wail of sirens in the main street sent locals scampering into the museum (dedicated to hippies no less)to hide their stashes.

Christiana, Denmark

Established by a group of hippies who broke down the barricades of an old army base in 1971 and laiddown their own laws, Christiana is essentially a sprawling commune in the heart of the Danish capital. While it's far from the utopia its original free-thinking inhabitants had imagined, the semi-autonomous freetown is still as colourful as the murals that cover its eccentrically restored buildings.

MATT CARDY

Celebrating the summer solstice at Glastonbury Tor.

Explore the art galleries, artisan workshops, performance venues and organic eateries downtown before following the cobblestone streets that wind past Hobbit-like homes, cosy beer gardens and fairytale-like woodsto the seaside. It sounds idyllic but you do need to be careful. Its drug problem is well known and police have said they don't have easy access to the area. To be on the safest side, take one of the daily guided tours.

Glastonbury, England

Best known for its mind-altering music festival, Glastonbury is also a year-round magnet for those with an interest in spirituality and alternative lifestyles. Some believeit's the ley lines - major energy channels beneath the earth's surface - that give the town its special aura and explain why it has attracted pilgrims for centuries. But whether or not you're a believer, there are plenty of mind-bending experiences here toget you contemplating some of life's greater mysteries.

DOJO

The laid-back hippie vibe at Canggu, Bali remains.

Check out the Abbey ruins and the Chalice Well, under which the Holy Grail is said to be buried. Drink from the healing pool in the Chalice Well Gardens and climb Glastonbury Tor - said to be the gateway to King Arthur's legendary Kingdom of Avalon - before coming back down to earth and exploring the independent shops that line the high street.

Canggu, Bali

On the so-called Island of the Gods, you half-expect to find a path to spiritual enlightenment around every corner. But while the throngs of tourist hotspots such as Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud can make quiet contemplation impossible, there are plenty of places where you can still do your soul searching in relative peace. Canggu, on the province's southern coast, is one such spot. While an influx of upmarket boutiques and trendy cafes meanit's not the scruffy surf town it once was, the mellow vibe remains.

Rejuvenate body and mind surfing, sunbathing, practicing yoga and meditation at one of the many studiosand feasting on healthy fare at eateries such asCrate Cafe and theopen-air Betelnut Cafe. This being Bali, there are also numerous places to get a massage - your shortcut to what every hippie is ultimately striving for. A state of pure bliss.

Travel might not solve all our problems but it can definitely help you gain some perspective. In our new series "Where to go if..." we hope to inspire you regardless of the stage of life you're in. From where to go if you're recently heartbroken, to where to go if you love vodka, we've got you covered. Do you have an idea you'd like to see here? Email travel@stuff.co.nz and we'll get working on it.

-Stuff

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Where to go... if you're a hippie | Stuff.co.nz - Stuff.co.nz