Entering the Wild

Meditation and hill walking retreat

This retreat will be spacious time spent in nature along the walking trails surrounding our retreat centre. We'll be meditating in the bush, visiting the remains of ancient trees, their younger offspring and mature groves which continue to thrive and grow, exploring silence, listening and breathing with the forest life that surrounds Sudarshanaloka.

"The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.”

From Lost by David Wagoner

This is how we will spend our days together. Also, we'll have morning meditations, time connecting with our bodies through gentle, restorative yoga, time spent with like-minded friendly people, and of course good vegan and vegetarian food.

We also plan on hiking to Crosbie's Hut (3.5 hours one way) and staying the night there (we have booked all 10 spaces for that night). Nestled in the midst of the Coromandel Forest Park, Crosbies Hut offers spectacular views and beautiful night time star gazing on clear nights - great for a starlit puja! This DOC hut has basic facilities - two sleeping platforms with mattresses in a single room (so bring some earplugs). Water supply is dependent on rainwater, so we'll also need to bring some water in ourselves ... just to be safe.

Here is a full list of gear to bring, for the retreat as a whole and for the overnight at Crosbies.

For the overnight stay at Crosbies we’ll cater for a simple evening meal, breakfast and lunches, and share out the carrying of this and the cooking gear. Feel free to bring your own snacks and other extras.

NOTE: A reasonable level of fitness is required for this retreat as we will be doing (guided) walks for a few hours each day in moderately steep terrain.

Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.