Get back to nature at our upcoming retreats
Connect with nature, your inner self and new friends.
Back to Nature Retreats
Gallery
Check out the photos from past events.
Testimonials
Read the guestbook that past guests have filled in.
FAQs​
Have some questions?
Read our FAQs.
Meet the team
Learn about our teachers, organisers and special helpers
What to expect
Get a full idea of what happens at the retreats.
Upcoming Events
Sold OutFri, 01 MarWangat Lodge Dungog01 Mar 2024, 2:00 pm AEDT – 03 Mar 2024, 2:00 pm AEDTWangat Lodge Dungog, 1938 Chichester Dam Rd, Dungog NSW 2420, AustraliaA soulful retreat that brings together yoga, hiking, and a sourdough making workshop during a weekend of swimming in crystal clear mountain streams, hiking to waterfalls, fireside chats, delicious & nourishing vegetarian food, meditation and plenty of time to do your own thing.
Fri, 05 AprWangat Lodge05 Apr 2024, 2:00 pm AEDT – 07 Apr 2024, 2:00 pm AESTWangat Lodge, 1938 Chichester Dam Rd, Dungog NSW 2420, AustraliaA retreat for, and by, women in medicine. This is a chance to escape the intense demands of looking after everyone else and let us look after you instead!
Mon, 20 MayGlenella Heritage Guest House20 May 2024, 3:00 pm – 24 May 2024, 12:00 pmGlenella Heritage Guest House, 56 Govetts Leap Rd, Blackheath NSW 2785, Australia5 days in the fresh mountain air to rejuvenate and nourish your body and soul.
Wed, 30 OctWangat Lodge Dungog30 Oct 2024, 2:00 pm AEDT – 03 Nov 2024, 2:00 pm AEDTWangat Lodge Dungog, 1938 Chichester Dam Rd, Dungog NSW 2420, AustraliaA week long retreat chock full of workshops and healthy activities to give you the tools and new habits to take back into regular life with you. Join us as we explore our bodies, nutrition, wellness activities and make new friends.
Meet the team
About Francesca
Francesca loves going on Yoga retreats and over the years has enjoyed many, both locally and over seas.
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She has picked the best bits of all these, to bring you .....
Back to Nature Retreats.
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Francesca believes in creating a safe, nurturing space, in nature, where guests can reevaluate their life and perhaps the future direction of their life.
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All this happens organically and in good time over the weekend. Guests may not realise changes that have taken place until long after the retreat. After running Back To Nature Retreats for the past 4 years, Francesca has seen many positive changes in people's lives.
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Francesca is proud her retreats are close to Newcastle, affordable and very welcoming to all.
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Often people attend her retreats, worried about not knowing anyone else at the retreat. Francesca loves hearing all the chit chat and swapping of phone numbers as new friendships are formed.
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Francesca partners with others to deliver a variety of retreats each year.
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Francesca is also passionate that the food at the retreats is awesome.
“ To my mind the food at the retreat is one of the most important things. It has to be healthy, tasty, locally sourced, where possible, restaurant quality and most importantly made with love.
Both Dominique and Kristin have owned their own restaurants and definitely put a lot of love into their cooking"
About Kristin
Kristin and her chef partner, Scott own Mayfields in the Northern Rivers, NSW. They have breakfast stalls at various markets in the area. They often cater for film crews, who are filming in the area.
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Kristin is a lot of fun and people at the retreats tend to gravitate to the kitchen to hang out with her. Much laughter and banter is heard from the kitchen as Kristin makes use of all offers of help. She passes on a lot of her cooking secrets in the processs.
About Kate
Kate is a Naturopathic Nutritionist based in sunny Sawtell.
Kate's clients include those who are proactive in staving off inflammation and illness and those with complex gut/digestive/bowel issues.
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For the past 20 plus years, Kate has had a strong interest in the area of Gut Health.
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She has done extensive study and research into this emerging area of health.
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With Kate's charisma and excellent communication skills she is able to relay complex scientific research into layman's terms and share her vast knowledge in the area of Gut health and nutrition.
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At our retreats Kate gives an excellent presentation on living well and is available for individual consultations.
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After the retreat she is available for ongoing consultations via skype and periodic visits to Newcastle.
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About Melita
Melita, a former graphic designer for fashion magazines and record companies, took up Yoga in her 30’s. Mel is now happy teaching Yoga and cooking up gorgeous meals and healthy snacks for Yoga retreats.
One of Mel’s claims to fame is cooking, with the catering team, for the rock band U2 on one of their Australian tours!
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"Teaching Yoga grounds Me. Guiding students through movement and breath facilitates self-connection, and gives the practitioner an appreciation for the magic of the human body”. “It’s a delight to see this happen”, says Mel.
Most importantly, Mel encourages her students have fun!
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Having recently completed the Milford Track in New Zealand with her family, Mel is inspired to practice more Yoga outdoors in the beauty of nature.
About Sol
Sol Heartman - well-known Sydney singer/songwriter/guitarist and meditation facilitator. He leads us in a guided meditation followed by a blissed-out session of his original music. You can check out his stuff at https://solheartman.com/
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Sol Heartman is a Sydney based singer/ songwriter/ guitarist in a style that could be best described as new age adult contemporary. With lyrical themes of surrender, self-love, forgiveness and letting go, Sol’s warm vocals weave melodies over intricate acoustic fingerstyle guitar music, creating a soothing aural landscape of Self-discovery and Awakening. His songs are experienced as deeply personal and at the same time transcendent, embracing the inner child and hinting of the vast oneness of the Greater Self.
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"My intention is that my music be an instrument of discovery of the source of Unconditional Love that is ever-present within. In my songs I try to encapsulate that feeling of oneness and love while acknowledging the struggles of the personal self on its journey of awakening and surrender."
Sol currently performs weekly at Billabong Retreat and Swami’s Yoga Retreat in the leafy outskirts of North west Sydney and has recently completed a 5 song EP entitled “the Song of Life”.
About Dan
Dan is our host at Wangat Lodge and a regular guide at a range of our retreats across NSW.
As an outdoor educator and practitioner of Bush Adventure Therapy, Dan has worked with schools, universities and the youth sector (with disadvantaged and at-risk young people) over the past 20 years.
Drawing on his own wild adventures that have been formative in creating his passion for educating in and about nature, he focuses on programmes that are hands on, inclusive and laden with adventure.
Dan holds a BA in Environmental History and is also qualified in Adventure Based Youth Work and Outdoor Recreation. Additionally he is the NSW representative for the Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy (AABAT).
He passionately believes in the power of story-telling and creating your own personal story through adventures had. His mottos include, but are by no means limited to, never say no to fruit and you never regret a swim!
Testimonials
What do our yogis say?
"Wow wow wow :) had the best weekend <3 Thankyou to all involved in organising this retreat, I have to say it’s one of the best I’ve been on. Yoga, food, accommodation and all the activities were fabulous. Thanks <3 Vonnie xoxo"
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"I have greatly appreciated this weekend with Frances, Elizabeth and Dom. Yoga is something I will now continue on with in my life, I have enjoyed it greatly. The food was amazing and has taught me so much more about vegan and how versatile and healthy and tasty it is! Thank you so much :) Sonya"
"Francesca, Elizabeth and Dom, what a wonderful experience I have had this weekend. Thank you for being the gorgeous people you are. I know because of this weekend I have started a new spiritual journey in life! Love to you all. x Fiona"
