Join us for a weekend retreat next Spring from 22nd - 24th September 2023.  Take time out of the busyness of life and gift yourself an opportunity to embrace the flourishing Spring energy, to transition from Winter's rest and create space for wonderful new beginnings.

Why Retreat with us?

Nature's Spring energy is about change, growth, renewal and transformation. Our Spring Retreat is designed to encourage people to experience and discover through movement and stillness; food and medicinal plants; information, discussion, creativity and self-exploration how to connect to this naturally rising seasonal energy.

Spring is the time to make plans, to take action, to respond to cravings of wanting to make changes to how you are currently living your life. We understand that often this is easier said than done and that sometimes it's hard to know even where to begin.

Our retreats provide a safe space in which to be held and nurtured while giving yourself time for self exploration.  This is a mind, body, spirit "spring-clean" - allowing you to identify within yourself that which no longer serves you physically, emotionally, and spiritually or is in need of release.   We will provide a supportive environment, teachings, techniques, teas, tonics and oils to assist and encourage you to tune in and truly listen to your own unique needs.

Wherever you are at in your life right now you are most welcome at our retreat, no need to wait for a right moment or think you should be a certain way before attending. For us there is no “right way” to be before attending our retreat, just embrace your courageous heart and show up for yourself. We will acknowledge any vulnerability or uncertainty you may be feeling and provide a caring compassionate haven in which you can be as you need to be.

You will be nourished by fresh lovingly-prepared vegetarian food. We will provide you with recipe ideas that you can easily cook at home to provide continued nourishment and support after the retreat.

We encourage and support you to engage in opening up to new ways of being and thinking.  Try something new, be it food, yoga, mediation, Qi Gong, aromatherapy or drinking herbal tea. 

We acknowledge that there can often be resistance to trying something new, however we will gently and respectfully guide you to allow yourself to move through any resistance and create a new beautiful space in which change can take place.

Wonderful things can naturally occur when you take time away from your everyday living, to make space to truly listen to your body, mind, heart and soul, to connect with your inner landscape.  Along with the experiences, information and insights you received when on retreat can come a fresh sense of clarity all of which sets the scene for cultivating the changes you intend to make in your life.

Our seasonal wellness retreat offerings are based on the simple principle of living a life in harmony and flow with nature which in turn creates harmony and flow within yourself. Embody wellbeing as a way of life.

What can I expect? What is The Longhouse?

Sometimes you just need a break in a beautiful place … enter The Longhouse. Nothing soothes the soul like a walk on the beach, getting on your “Blue Mind”, sleeping restfully at night under a star studded sky, detaching from the busyness. Our casa is your casa when you arrive. Keep your shoes at the door as this is a Barefoot Lux Accommodation. A perfect seaside coastal atmosphere with an epic mix of new and vintage, with authenticity and history at it's heart.

This extensive historic property has been sensitively renovated throughout ensuring modern comforts are luxurious and biophilic by design. Fresh white interiors ensure the space is light-filled and modern joinery & glazing provides for jaw dropping views whilst maintaining period features throughout such as battened high ceilings, heart rimu flooring and tongue & groove panelling.

Just 30 minutes north of Dunedin -- We are a home away from home where you can explore, connect & reset. For more information

Our Event Programme

Investment

Bring your bestie or come solo and treat yourself to a luxurious reset for the Mind, Body & Spirit.

Cost on a shared basis: $1150 per person

Own room/ single occupancy basis $1299 per person

Early Bird Booking by 1st August : $999pp on a shared basis

20% payment due on confirmation.  Balance of payment due 10 days prior to retreat.

Optional Extras 

Infra Red Sauna: $65 for up to 2 people for 1 hour

Aromatherapy Massage: $90 for a 1 hour session

Please book these prior to retreat for scheduling purposes.

Food

You will be nourished by fresh lovingly-prepared vegetarian food. We will provide you with recipe ideas that you can easily cook at home to provide continued nourishment and support after the retreat. Pricing includes all meals - breakfast, lunch & dinner. Afternoon tea & snacks included. Seasonal fruit platter available all day.

Retreat Hosts

Sharyn Crawford is a qualified Aromatherapist and has been offering Aromatherapy services for the past 25 years. She has studied many aspects of Aromatherapy as well as wide variety of other complimentary teachings including Ayurveda, TCM, Alchemy of Menopause, Qi Gong.

She considers herself very fortunate to have received these teachings from such amazing teachers worldwide. Her greatest teachings of all has been her own life experiences and her greatest learning was to take care of herself and make her own wellness top priority.

She has had the privilege to have been alongside thousands of people on their life journeys offering support, guidance, encouragement, a friendly listening ear and alongside aromatherapy treatments and consultations.

Ilse Erasmus has qualifications in finance and accounting and a post grad in viticulture & oenology. It was during her years working in the wine industry that she developed a real interest and passion for organic food production and started asking questions about conventional chemical agriculture and human health. More recently her own health journey instigated a rotation into more holistic integrative health & lifestyle practices which have prompted further study as a qualified integrative nutrition health coach and certified yoga teacher.

Our own life experiences are certainly our greatest teachers - without our health we have nothing. My own journey taught me that to fully heal we need to be the proactive protagonist in our healing. Vibrant wellness addresses all aspects of our lives; nurtures the mind, body & soul so that we can embody wellness as a way of life.

She is grateful every day for the opportunity to share, love , learn and journey beside her fellow humans. As the owner of The Longhouse she is passionate about creating a retreat that allows you to reconnect with nature (te Taio); reconnect with your inner consciousness and reconnect and celebrate each other.