Rest, Restore and Re-connect to Purpose:
Restorative Yoga and Mindfulness Ocean Retreat
Thursday 4th – Sunday 7th December 2025
Wongarra (near Apollo Bay), Victoria
“What kind of ancestor do you want to be?”
This four-day Restorative Yoga and Mindfulness Retreat offers a unique opportunity to deeply rest and re-connect with nature and your own unique life’s purpose - “What kind of ancestor do you want to be?” Enjoy your own scenic tour along the Great Ocean Road before check-in and Devonshire tea at 3pm, followed by our first afternoon restorative session. After dinner and our evening session, we will commence a ‘warm silence’ that will continue until our celebration brunch on Sunday. Maggie will continue to provide guidance and support throughout, including short evening talks drawing from traditional buddhist mindfulness and yogic teachings.
The retreat will include: slow flow and restorative yoga and other guided movement, mindfulness meditation, ocean and waterfall walks, guided deep rest Nidras, circle enquiry, guided journaling, delicious meals, and free-time for relaxing and taking in the soothing ocean view. You can also add in a massage session with an on-site local masseur. The retreat offers embodied ways to settle and nourish the nervous system, reflect on and process the year that was, and re-align with your chosen values and purpose for 2026 and beyond. Ideally participants will have completed a foundational mindfulness training such as the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction or Mindful Self Compassion course or a previous retreat, but if you are a keen beginning practitioner, please still be in touch to discuss.
Seacroft Estate is a former Monastery set on 15 acres on the Great Ocean Road, with beach access and stunning 180-degree ocean views. The yoga and meditation sessions will be held in the Chapel, with meals shared in the lovely old guest lounge and dining area – both of these buildings have ocean views, good heating/cooling, and have been restored in original 1920’s style. You will have your own bedroom, basic but warm, clean and comfortable, with shared toilet and shower facilities in two adjoining buildings. Sheets and towels are provided.
The spectacular retreat location (Photo: Seacroft Estate)
Photo: Seacroft Estate
Photo: Seacroft Estate
Photo: Seacroft Estate
The retreat venue across the paddocks
Nearby Rainforest
Details:
Thursday 4th December commencing 3pm at Seacroft Retreat Venue – Sunday 7th December 2025, concluding no later than 2pm. Please plan to be present for our first session on Thursday afternoon.
Seacroft Estate, 4990 Great Ocean Road, Sugarloaf (15kms from Apollo Bay) http://www.seacroft.com/
Cost
Includes 4 days/3 nights accommodation, all practice sessions, use of the Chapel, Guesthouse & Parlour, plus all meals, quality coffee and teas. All participants will have their own room with a range of options available as per below, and shared bathroom facilities.
Early bird (paid in full by 1st November 2025), all prices inclusive of GST. Please indicate room preference when booking and pay deposit to secure your place.
Single bed $1290 /Concession Card $1190. Double, Queen or King Bed $1390 /CCH $1290. Double, Queen or King with Sea view $1490/CCH $1390. 2 Bedroom Cottage for 2 with Ensuite & Seaview $1490per person/CCH $1390 (the larger of these is ideal for 3 friends to share, in which case fee would be reduced), Treehouse $1290/CCH $1190. Glamping Lotus Belle King Bed & Seaview $1490/CCH $1390.
Regular (After 1st November 2025)
Add $100 to above prices
Please indicate your room preference & any dietary or other special needs or preferences when booking & we will do our best to accommodate.
Schedule for Day Two & Three (guide only)
7 - 10:30am Morning Session (Yoga/mindful movement, meditation, journaling)
10:30 – 12noon: Big Brunch
12noon – 2:30pm: Guided walk, then free time for beach, relaxing or massage.
2:30 - 3pm: Hearty afternoon tea
3:30 - 5:30pm: Afternoon Session (Restorative Yoga, deep rest, journaling, meditation, enquiry)
6:30 – 8pm: Dinner
8 – 9pm: Evening Session
Book Now
To secure your place please fill in the booking form below, together with full payment or deposit of $390. Reference your payment with your initials followed by Ocean25.
Direct deposit details:
Account name: Margaret O'Shea
BSB: 633000
Account number: 145643953
Refund & COVID Policy for this retreat
In the event of withdrawal, a full refund is available up to two months prior to commencement of retreat, minus an admin fee of $120. After 01/11/25, no refunds can be provided for withdrawals or cancellations unless your place is able to be filled with another suitable participant or unless reason for withdrawal is Covid or serious illness, in which case a refund may be provided (minus some contribution to costs). If the retreat needs to be postponed, a full refund will be made or, if preferred, transfer to another retreat offered. To minimise risk of Covid transmission, it is recommended that all participants are vaccinated.
About Restorative and Yin Yoga:
Restorative Yoga is about ‘coming home’ to our own selves - re-connecting with an already-here state of ‘being’ and awareness. Props are used to allow the body to fully let go and rest, supporting our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and well-being. According to ancient Chinese wisdom, everything includes both Yin and Yang qualities, but with the negatively biased ‘doing’ mode of mind and the busyness and connectivity of modern life, the often hyper-aroused nervous system needs more Yin practice for balance, ease and the capacity to just ‘be.’ Slow flow and restorative yoga help settle the mind, providing a more resourceful state to meditate skilfully and cultivate more wisdom and compassion for living fully and well.
