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A down-to-Earth retreat dedicated to deepening our nature connection.

Come and relax in a beautiful setting, with other forest-loving women, deepening your connection with nature and giving your nervous system what it needs.

We'll stay in self-contained cabins at a beautiful, end-of-the-road, eco-certified nature retreat.

It's about an hour and a half's drive from both Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

The retreat is on Jinibara Country, the traditional lands of the people of the 'Jini' or the lawyer cane vine, across valleys of forest. We recognise the tens of thousands of years of ways of being and relating which uphold nature connection and the rights of nature in Jinibara and across First Nations cultures.

There will be a day of opt-in group activities for grounding in nature and a supported solo wandering day.

There will be time to explore the many rainforest trails and waterfalls, listen to the bush, watch the campfire, share laughs and quiet moments.

This will be a nourishing, simple and sacred retreat to look forward to, enjoy and then to remember.

Testimonials - Summer Retreat (February 2026)

"The facilitators were brilliant - gentle, subtle and effective. The invitations were welcoming and expansive. The venue was fantastic."
"It was a gift to myself. … A gift of time and space and opportunity to unwind, clear out the noise of busy life/traffic/wifi … etc, so that the only buzz you hear is organic sounds - bees, crickets, cicadas."
"The facilitation allowed each of us to find our own depth and adventure and then share it in an environment of welcome and acceptance."

See more about the Summer Retreat here.

What to expect

The group will be made up of 9 - 15 women, on a private property of 400 acres, bounding on Bellthorpe National Park.
Bellthorpe Stays is a wonderland of gorgeous rainforest, waterfalls, creeks and meadows. It is a popular location for birders and froggers because the native biodiversity is very high, and the owners continue to work on restoring the ecosystems. There are many kilometres of tracks throughout the property which bounds onto Bellthorpe National Park.
Group activities will all be invitational (opt-in), with no pressure to tick it all off or show up if you'd rather nap or sit watching the sky.
An example schedule is as follows and will be shaped by the land, the weather and you:

Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday
2pm Arrive and settle in Welcome circle, collective acknolwedgement of country & forest ceremony Collective dinner Fireside introduction to weaving	Wake up with birdsong and slow breakfast on the deck Guided rainforest bathing walk Picnic lunch outdoors Nature journaling, weaving and wandering time in the meadows, by the fire or down the creek Earth based yoga sound bath meditation at dusk for winter solstice Collective dinner Wildlife spottingwalk	Early land tending wander Breakfast with the pademelons Opening fire circle Whole day solo, silent journey or rest Circle of return & integration Collective dinner Campfire conversations and star gazing	Morning stretches and last misty morning breakfast Plant steward ceremony, planting & weeding for our reciprocity project to give back to the land Closing circle (ends 11am) - option to lunch, one last walk here or depart

We'll be accommodated across 5 fully self-contained cabins, each with lounges, deck and beautiful views. Bathrooms are shared by 1 - 4 people. View cabins.
You can choose to book your own private cabin, room or twin share
There will be multiple opportunities to practice reciprocity - giving and receiving from the group and the land.
Breakfasts and lunches will be self-catered (bring your own), and there will be time to prepare them in your cabins.
Dinners will be all vegetarian and dietary requirement-friendly wherever possible, and catered for by the collective. This will be one way of offering something to our group. You'll nominate to bring one dinner dish (serving 4) for one of the dinners, as well as snacks or a dessert for one of the dinners.

The background

The big picture

We think many of us long for a deeper connection with the more-than-human world.

We want to make time to just sit and watch ants, listen to waterfalls and stroke moss. We know it's good for us in so many ways, and will help us live better with all beings. But we don't do it as often as we'd like.

So: we're booking a beautiful place, carving out a little time, inviting good people and preparing some grounding, creative and inspiring activities, held by simple ceremonies to help us tend to our nature relationships.

Who this is for

Women who have strong or growing relationships with the nature,

who want to spend whole days outside developing that relationship,
with the safety and comfort of an organised group, on private land, with simple food and affordable accommodation,
while sharing with and being influenced by other likeminded and likehearted women.

What this retreat isn't

It won't be a luxury, action-packed schedule of culturally appropriated activities, run by super confident insta-styled gurus making a profit out of participants' vulnerability. (Of course, not all retreats are like that either! We just want to make it clear that we're aware of that kind of thing and also to recognise our privilege to even consider going on or designing a retreat at all).

It is also not about survival skills*, an educative course*, therapy* or individual health.

*although developing your relationship with nature may lead to improved resilience, learning and personal growth and physical, mental and spiritual health. See this summary of the research into benefits of time spent with nature, for a start.

Things to note

A moderate fitness and mobility is required to fully participate, due to the hilly terrain and there are a few stairs into cottages.
You can stay offline the whole time if you want to! Otherwise, there is limited phone signal, but access to phone and WiFi if required at a shared indoor space, separate from the cabins
This is the forest, there are spiders, snakes, ticks and leeches.
The property hosts have two gorgeous cattle dogs who are very friendly
Travelers from afar, if requested we will do what we can to coordinate carpooling between participants if you need a lift. Book your groceries to pick up from a supermarket on the way.
It's in the hinterland, i.e. colder than you think. And we'll be outside a lot. You'll want to pack all of your warm clothes!

Payment

Please get in touch if you want to arrange to share with your friends, or have other specific accommodation needs.
Registrations online with $50 per person and you'll be sent an invoice for the deposit via bank transfer (this avoids the exorbitant online booking fees, but makes sure you're keen).

	Early Bird & Up front Offer ends 31 March or until sold out. Full payment due within 7 days of registration.	Early Payment Plan Offer ends 31 March or until sold out. Deposit of 50% due within 7 days of registration,with remaining payment due by 30 April.	Up front Offer ends 5 June or or until sold out. Full payment due within 7 days of registration.	Payment plan Deposit of 50% due within 7 days of registration,remaining payment/s due by 19 May.
Shared room (individual)	$1200	$1400	$1400	$1500
Shared room (two people twin share)	$2200	$2600	$2600 special from 15 - 17 May $1950 for two	$2800
Own room in shared cabin	$1400	$1600	$1600	$1700
Own cabin	$1700	$1900	$1900	$2000
Plus one	Two in the bed? Add $600 to an own room ticket.

Payment and refunds policy

Your registration fee of $50 is not refundable
Failure to make payment within the time frame on invoice may incur a late fee.
Tickets are 100% refundable within 7 days of payment, less $50 registration fee, up until 31 March 2026.
Tickets are 75% refundable if cancelling before 31 March 2026.
Tickets are 50% refundable if cancelling before 19 April 2026.
Tickets are not refundable after 19 May 2026.
If severe weather or other catastrophe cancels the event, tickets will be refunded less $700 to cover costs. It is highly recommend that you get personal travel insurance for cancellations due to weather, illness, COVID etc.
Retreat requires minimum 6 participants registered by 19 May 2026 to go ahead. If event is cancelled before this date, tickets will be refunded less an administration fee.

About your hosts and guides

This retreat is coordinated by Jay Ridgewell and supported by Monique Ross and Sara Aiken. We three women friends share a love for the more-than-human-world and being immersed in nature.

The retreat is hosted at Bellthorpe Stays Nature Retreat.

Jay is a nature connection guide and advocate with a background in science education and a love of napping under trees.

Monique Ross is a Forest Therapy Guide and basket weaving teacher who believes nature offers each of us a path home.

Learn more about Monique.
Monique is the owner/found of Heartwood Nature Bathing
Connect with Monique at Heartwood_with_Mon

Sara Aiken is inspired by the wild and sacred rhythms of nature ... of soft ferns, lush mosses, and dappled sunlight. She guides forest bathing yoga flows and immersive sound meditation baths.

Connect with Sara at Essential Nature Connection

Contact the host of Nature Connection Women's Retreat 19 - 22 June

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