Reconnection Retreats
Inspired by 10 years of hosting nature and culture-based programmes, Arcoora Arts and Ecology Training Ground warmly invites guests to join us for a unique ‘Reconnection Retreat’ experience. This offering has been thoughtfully curated to ensure that you are able to meaningfully connect with nature, community and yourself, all the while being immersed in the richness of a truly extraordinary setting.
Location
Arcoora is based on the precious lands of the Gulli-Bul people of the Bundjalung Nation. A 30-minute drive from Kyogle, NSW; it floats amongst tall eucalypts on a mountain nestled in The Border Ranges surrounded by ancient Gondwana sub-tropical rainforest and vibrant wildlife. Historically, the site has long been identified as a ‘spiritual university – a place of wisdom and learning’. The mountain retreat was established by a Buddhist community and still features buildings from that time, including the treasured Gonpa (temple), where some say the hundreds of thousands of hours of meditation that have taken place is tangible.
Upcoming retreats
Want to use this offering as a way to celebrate an occasion?
Or get a large group of friends or colleagues together?
Contact us here. 😊
Programme
Whilst we’d love you to immerse yourself in everything this programme has to offer, if you’d prefer to take a break or follow your own intuition instead of participating in any scheduled workshops or practices, please feel free to do so.
Whether it's soaking in nature, journaling, or simply relaxing; the choice is yours. Embrace the opportunity to connect with nature, community and yourself in a way that feels right for you!
Please note, programme is weather permitting and subject to tweaking.
2 NIGHT PROGRAMME
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16:00 - 18:00: Arrival
Arrive any time from 16:00, settle into your accommodation, enjoy a cup of tea, meet fellow guests, and get to know all that our beautiful location has to offer.
18:00 - 19:30: Welcome To Country and Cultural Yarn
We officially welcome you to the lands of the Gulli-Bul people, with a welcome to country smoking ceremony held by Uncle Andrew, a treasured elder and custodian of this land.
19:30 - 20:30: Dinner & Introductions
Delight in a nourishing dinner in the dining hall–where all meals are served. During this time, meet the Arcoora team and fellow guests.
21:00 until morning: Quiet Reflection
Enjoy quiet reflection time as you settle in for a good first night's rest on the mountain.
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07:30 - 09:00: Breathwork & Hatha Yoga
After 15 years of Ashram life in India and abroad, Manasa has a unique offering of Vedic knowledge integrated into yoga practice. Start the day off on a high with teachings, breathwork and a vitalising Hatha yoga session in the Gonpa (temple).
09:00 - 10:00: Breakfast
10:30 - 12:30: Milling & Bush Tucker Walk
We dedicate the first bit of this session to a profound exercise taken from Deep Ecology. Come ready with your trail shoes on, as afterwards we take a guided bush tucker walk, where we learn about the native plants of the area. This also serves as an orientation, allowing you to freely explore our walking trails for the remainder of your stay.
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch14:00 - 15:30: Connection Workshop
Join lovely Natalie on a little journey, starting with a body and country connection drop-in. Then, rolling into a session of reflection, involving journal prompts that inspire self-love and gratitude. So bring your journals (paper also provided).
15:30 - 17:00: Self time
Suggestion: stay longer and share reflections found during the Connection Workshop, or relish in some you-time by relaxing with a book, journaling, having a siesta, or finding a peaceful spot to meditate.
17:00 - 18:00: Yin Yoga and Sound Bath
Release, relax and connect deeply with your body in the Gonpa for Yin Yoga and a Sound Bath session. Let the stretching and harmonious sounds guide you into a state of tranquility and rejuvenation.
18:00 - 19:00: Dinner & Sharing Circle
19:00 until morning: Quiet Reflection
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08:00 - 09:00: Breathwork & Hatha Yoga
09:00 - 10:00: Breakfast
- After breakfast, choose between: -
10:30 - 13:00: Summit Hike
Stunning views await on the summit hike, with a special piece of Buddhist history at the top. Roughly 90 minutes of moderately challenging effort gets you to the peak. Meet at the dining hall at 10:30 for this memorable walk.
OR
10:00 - 11:00: Garden Tour & Self Time
Arcoora is trialing multiple food production systems, from market gardens to food forests. Join for a guided walk, where we explore these different small-scale regenerative agricultural practices. Afterwards, enjoy some you-time in any way that feels best.
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 15:00: Closing Ceremony
We gather for a heartfelt closing ceremony to honour our time together. Concluding with a special Arcoora tradition, this marks new beginnings and the lasting connections made with and on the mountain.
15:00 - 17:00: Departure
If your vehicle is in the 2WD car park, ferrying will be between 15:00 and 15:30. If your vehicle is atop the mountain, feel free to depart any time before 17:00. Use whatever time you have to cherish final farewells with each other and the land.
4 NIGHT PROGRAMME
-
16:00 - 18:00: Arrival
Arrive any time from 16:00, settle into your accommodation, enjoy a cup of tea, meet fellow guests, and get to know all that our beautiful location has to offer.
18:00 - 19:30: Welcome To Country and Cultural Yarn
We officially welcome you to the lands of the Gulli-Bul people, with a welcome to country smoking ceremony held by Uncle Andrew, a treasured elder and custodian of this land.
19:30 - 20:30: Dinner & Introductions
Delight in a nourishing dinner in the dining hall–where all meals are served. During this time, meet the Arcoora team and fellow guests.
21:00 until morning: Quiet Reflection
Enjoy quiet reflection time as you settle in for a good first night's rest on the mountain.
-
07:30 - 09:00: Breathwork & Hatha Yoga
After 15 years of Ashram life in India and abroad, Manasa has a unique offering of Vedic knowledge integrated into yoga practice. Start the day off on a high with teachings, breathwork and a vitalising Hatha yoga session in the Gonpa (temple).
09:00 - 10:00: Breakfast
10:00 - 11:00: Down time
Suggestions: Enjoy time in the gardens, practise your choice of movement in the Gonpa, connect with new-found friends over a game (see the Welcoming Area for these).
11:30 - 13:00: Milling & Bush Tucker Walk
We dedicate the first bit of this session to a profound exercise taken from Deep Ecology. Come ready with your trail shoes on, as afterwards we take a guided bush tucker walk, where we learn about the native plants of the area. This also serves as an orientation, allowing you to freely explore our walking trails for the remainder of your stay.
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 16:00: Down time
Suggestions: relax with a book, journal, siesta, find a peaceful spot to meditate.
16:00 - 17:30: 8 Shields Workshop
The 8 Shields is a unique and holistic framework that encompasses deep nature connection, cultural awareness, community building, storytelling and much more. Join us in the dining hall for an easygoing introduction and discussion on these valuable teachings.
18:00 - 19:00: Dinner & Sharing Circle
19:00 until morning: Quiet Reflection -
07:30 - 08:30: Hatha Yoga
08:30 - 09:30: Breakfast
09:30 - 11:30: Down time
11:30 - 13:00: Connection Workshop
Join lovely Natalie on a little journey, starting with a body and country connection drop-in. Then, rolling into a session of reflection, involving journal prompts that inspire self-love and gratitude. So bring your journals (paper also provided).
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 16:00: Down time
16:00 - 17:30: Yin Yoga and Sound Bath
Release, relax and connect deeply with your body in the gonpa for Yin Yoga and a Sound Bath session. Let the stretching and harmonious sounds guide you into a state of tranquility and rejuvenation.
18:00 - 19:00: Dinner & Sharing Circle
19:00 until morning: Quiet Reflection
-
07:30 - 08:30: Hatha Yoga
08:30 - 09:30: Breakfast
09:30 - 11:30: Down time
11:30 - 13:00: Garden Tour
Arcoora has multiple food production systems, from market gardens to food forests. Join for a guided walk, where we explore these different small-scale regenerative agricultural practices.
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 15:00: Down time
15:00 - 17:30: Summit Hike
Stunning views await on the summit hike, with a special piece of Buddhist history at the top. Meet at the dining hall at 15:30 for this memorable walk.
18:00 - 19:00: Dinner & Sharing Circle
19:00 until morning: Quiet reflection
-
08:30 - 09:30: Breakfast
09:30 - 10:30: Closing Ceremony
We gather for a heartfelt closing ceremony to honour our time together. Concluding with a special Arcoora tradition, this marks new beginnings and the lasting connections made with and on the mountain.
10:30 - 11:00: Departure
If your vehicle is in the 2WD car park, ferrying will be between 10:30 and 11:00. If your vehicle is atop the mountain, feel free to depart any time before 17:00. Use whatever time you have to cherish final farewells with each other and the land.
Meals
Enjoy three nourishing meals each day, served in our communal dining hall, where we love to share stories and laughter over the dishes prepared by the talented kitchen crew. Ingredients are sourced as locally and organically as possible. We cater deliciously to vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements outside of these.
Accommodation and Pricing
The base cost for the two-night retreat is $395 per person and the four-night retreat is $785 per person. To keep this offering as affordable as possible, this price includes access to our campgrounds for you to set up your own tent.
We also have modestly priced accommodation offerings for you to choose from when you book.
All sleeping arrangements encapsulate the rich heritage of the former Tibetan Buddhist who lived on this land, as they themselves constructed the buildings. True to Buddhist design; the dwellings are simple, yet comfortable and clean, while also being surrounded by nature.
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The Guest House is made up of four shared triple-single rooms and four private queen rooms, with a communal bathroom housing two toilets, three showers and four basins with mirrors.
Interested in a shared room? You'll be matched with your friends or other solo travellers of the same gender. To ensure all our guests enjoy a restful sleeping experience, we kindly ask that light sleepers or those who snore book a private room.
For couples seeking the most private retreat experience, we recommend one of the two private cabins or the cabin tent option.
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Get even closer to nature and away from the crowds with this glamping option. Surrounded by rainforest gullies and framed by our mountain peak home, our camping ground feels like a field at the edge of civilisation, and the edge of the wild. Each tent can sleep either one or two people.
Choose two comfortable king-single beds or one queen bed
Clean, snug bedding
Amenities block with 2 showers and 2 compost toilets
Bush access for outdoor activities
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The Bodhi Cabin was built to accommodate visiting Llamas’ and Buddhist teachers hosting meditation retreats. It is a quaint space, small in size but large in character. It’s one bedroom can sleep three guests. It is made up of:
One bedroom with a single and a queen bed
Bathroom with shower and toilet
Kitchenette
Cosy sitting area
Private verandah
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The Bower Cabin has large windows with the forest wrapping around it, making it the perfect spot to enjoy nature’s beauty from the comfort of a cosy space. It is made up of a:
Full kitchen
Bathroom with bath/shower and toilet
Spacious bedroom with queen bed
Private verandah
Upcoming retreats
Meet your hosts
MANASA
With over 15 years experience living in ashrams with monks in India and worldwide, Manasa has devoted most of his life to the study and practice of the yogic pathways of self discovery. Alongside his passion for sharing and teaching the practical arts of yoga philosophy and psychology, off the mat he can often be found in the kitchen cooking up a storm.
NATALIE
Natalie is a life-loving young woman, passionate about honouring, caring and standing up for country. As a former organic horticultural farmer, she finds joy in growing food and being self-sufficient. She commits herself to deepening self-discovery, striving to inspire others to do the same. Guests are sure to feel the warm and grounded energy that she radiates.
SHAE
After more than a decade of teaching experience gained across three countries, organisation and coordination are second nature to Shae. When not in the garden or studying Nonviolent Communication, she dedicates herself to the behind-the-scenes work at Arcoora that ensures guests have a smooth, joyful and meaningful experience.
YANNIC
Yannic is our volunteer coordinator and part-time chef. He was born in Europe and enjoys being in nature, playing music, being physically active, as well as chatting about degrowth and other political and economic alternatives. Arcoora guests are likely to be treated to his yummy meals, and his friendly and caring chats.
Suggested Packing List
For your own comfort, we recommend packing the following:
Water bottle
Notebook or journal for workshops and reflections
A good reading book for down time
Warm clothing for the evenings (weather forecast for Collins Creek here)
Torch / phone torch
Rain jacket / umbrella
Hiking/closed shoes for bush walks
Active wear for yoga and bush walks
Small backpack/daybag
Yoga mat (We have extra to lend if you’re traveling light)
Swim wear
Personal supplements & medications
Toiletries (eco-friendly products only)
Sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent
Any recreational items that you’d like to bring along (musical instruments, arts and crafts, slack line, fire poi, indoor/outdoor games)
Getting here
Arcoora is a 2hr drive from Gold Coast and a 3hr drive from Brisbane. All routes offer gorgeous scenery to take in and the perfect opportunity to reflect on your intention for your time with us. Culture, community, connection - what do these things mean to you? We recommend pairing the journey with Tracking Connections, a podcast sharing stories of working intentionally with deep nature connection in ways that transform lives, families, projects, and communities.
More about Arcoora
Arcoora is an off-grid, not-for-profit land project focused on ecological and cultural regeneration. Over the years, programmes have revolved around topics such as permaculture, yoga, meditation, dance, art, men's and women's work, deep ecology, nature connection, primitive survival skills and rites of passage.
The invitation for you to join this Reconnection Retreat comes from our small community of volunteers living on the mountain, with whom your experience will be shared. This fantastic and dedicated core team of 8 welcomes you. Each member brings their own personal passions to Arcoora; but what unites us is our shared commitment and enthusiasm for community, nature, earth-arts, and making a positive impact through social change.
Contact us
For any questions or further information, please contact us here.