Reconnect
Overnight eco-escape & yoga retreat at Dundle Hill, Waitomo
NOW SOLD OUT
Welcome to my overnight retreat! This weekend is about reconnecting. To yourself, your innate wisdom, mother nature, like-hearted community, and your life when you return home.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to step away from your day-to-day life, dedicate some nourishing time for you and feel deeply held and taken care of. Ainslie Speedy (founder of I AM Yoga) and Liv Kay (Dundle Hill) have collaborated to bring you an experience that is carefully balanced between reconnecting to nature, and reconnecting to yourself with restoration, movement, meditation, inner workshops and mouth watering food.
This rereat is held in the majestic Waitomo caves, and accessed by a three hour hike through lush native bush, farmland and forests, to lead you to a magical, rustic cabin that awaits for you to rest and reconnect.
This off-the-grid weekend is about switching off your phone, laptop and the loud and chaotic outside noise of life, and reconnecting with your radiant, authentic and whole self.
All you need to do is pack your bag (we will send you the packing list), and we will take care of the rest. We have a nourishing, restorative, spacious and insightful itinerary planned for you (see below).
This is not just a one weekend escape from your busy world. This is an opportunity for you to rest deeply, learn practices and skills and integrate them into your life so you can go FORWARD (not back) into your life when you return home.
We will then provide a space for four weeks post the retreat through a private online group for us to reflect on learnings, integrate the practices and support each other.
Liv and I are so excited to welcome you to this special corner of the world, for a weekend of grounding, repenishment, and reconnection.
Although the cabin can sleep up to 30 people, we have decided to keep this retreat intimate and are offering only 16 spaces total, this allows everyone to recieve personalised care and plenty of space.
Itinerary
Saturday 20th May - Sunday 21st May 2023
SATURDAY 20TH MAY 2023
8.45AM
Meet at starting spot 10mins from Waitomo Caves
9.00AM
Hike begins
9.30AM – 10.30AM
Welcome & cacao ceremony in the native forest: Reconnecting to self
10.30AM – 1.00PM
Hike through lush native bush, unique limestone formations and farmland.
1.00PM – 3.00PM
Arrive and settle in at Dundle Hill & lunch
3.00PM – 5.00PM
Journalling, restorative yoga & nidra to deeply rest your body and mind
6.00PM – 7.00PM
Dinner
7.00PM – 9.00PM
Optional gloworm searching & brief evening practice before early bed
SUNDAY 21ST MAY 2023
7.30AM – 8.45AM
9.00AM – 10.00AM
10.00AM – 12.00PM
Compassionate Communication workshop with Ainslie: learn powerful practices and communication skills that can help you build and deepen connections in all your relationships. Whether you are looking to improve communication with a partner, family member, colleague, or friend, this workshop will provide you with practical tools to help you navigate difficult conversations, express your needs and feelings, and foster greater understanding and empathy.
12.00PM – 1.00PM
Lunch
1.00PM – 4.00PM
Begin the 2 hour hike back before resting for our closing ceremony in a tranquil spot alongside Ruakuri stream
5.00PM
Arrive back at carpark and drive home
Meet your Facilitator, Ainslie Speedy
I’m a science nerd and a lifelong student of life, yoga, mental and holistic health, and love helping others (and myself) thrive in body and mind. I love learning and variation in my life; you’ll see this trickle into all of my offerings – retreats, in-person classes, online studio, workshops and private sessions.
I’ve completed 800+ hours of yoga teacher training in India and NZ, & run an online and in-person yoga business in the King Country. To me, practicing and teaching yoga is about creating space to move out of the monkey mind, stress management, connection to self and community, nervous system nourishment, resilience, being playful, self awareness, listening to our bodies and giving ourselves permission to slow down.
I love bringing real life struggles to our mats and shedding yoga wisdom. The power is when we start to integrate what we learn on the mat (patience, compassion, awareness, sooo much more) and bring this into our everyday life. My most recent fascination (and slight obsession) is how to be with and process emotions via the body-mind system (somatics), the journey from our heads to our hearts, body and innate wisdom (embodiment) and how to communicate effectively and compassionately with others. Which this WHOLE treat encompasses eeeep!
Discover our Eco-Retreat Escape, Dundle Hill
Perched up high, nestled amongst the native bush sits the rustic, kiwi eco-escape, Dundle Hill. Dundle Hill was built by the Kay family, to provide a place to for people to slow down and enjoy this special part of the world.
When life feels like its moving too fast, Dundle Hill offers a place to explore freedom and experience a touch of the wild where technology is put to rest.
The adventure begins 10 minutes past the Waitomo Caves on the Kay Family Farm where you venture along trails that lead you through lush native bush, unique limestone formations, caves and farmland. The hike in is incredibly rewarding and the panoramic views on arrival are hard to beat.
This is a genuine place to relax, unwind and enjoy the simple pleasures that the majestic Waitomo Caves has to offer.
Meet your Retreat Host & Chef, Liv Kay
Liv is Dundle Hill’s very own, married to Oliver Kay, who’s family Farm Dundle Hill is nestled in the heart of. Liv is passionate about animals, nature, and creating space for people to slow down and enjoy the stillness and serenity that Waitomo has to offer. A keen gardener, horse rider and adopter of all sorts of animals, Liv is passionate about the land and environment that makes Dundle Hill so special.
Liv has worked in the health and wellness industry for over seven years, and is extremely excited to be partnering with us to merge her passions of the outdoors, food, fresh produce and wellbeing, for a weekend of rest and reconnection.
The Kai
Just as it’s important to nourish our minds, Liv and I are passionate about setting our physical health up well by nourishing ourselves with delicious, wholefoods.
Food is a passion Liv and I both share, and have been working very hard to create a menu that incorporates fresh, organic farm produce, locally sourced ingredients, and a range of selections to cater for all dietary requirements. A lot of what is on the menu comes from the very farm the cabin is nestled in! Simply let us know your dietary requirements and we will take care of ALL of the rest, so you can be nourished from the inside out.
Details
included
Saturday lunch, snacks and dinner & desserts ($150)
Sunday breakfast, lunch & sweet treats ($150)
2x Yoga, meditation & restorative practices ($300)
Locally sourced, self-care goody bags ($100)
Luggage transfer ($100)
One night accomodation in Dundle Hill cabin & private hike ($95)
Compassionate Communication workshop with Ains ($99)
Opening & closing circles & oodles of cacao ($120)
Optional gloworm sight-seeing ($60)
Four week post-retreat care & integration group ($500)
VALUE = $1579
Investment
Early Bird (until 13th April) – $599
Final Spaces – $699
Contact
We’d LOVE to connect with you, if you have any questions, please email itinerary questions to Ainslie on ainslie@iamyoga.co.nz. For questions about the experience, call Liv on 0273344567.
FAQ
The walk has a great mixture of rolling hills along streams, to a more steeper ascent towards reaching the cabin. A medium level of fitness is required. We will be in no rush when walking – it’s important to take it slow and take in all of the beautiful scenery. It’s around 3 hours each way (approx 6km). Ages from 9 to 81 have all completed the walk, so as long as you have some base level of fitness, you will thoroughly enjoy the hike.
There are 4 large, wooden cabin style bunk rooms, you will be sharing a room with 2-3 others 🙂
No, that is what makes this off-the-grid experience so magic. There is a gas cooker, BBQ, indoor log burner, showers (cold water therapy) and toilets.
There are men and women’s bathrooms with flushable toilets and showers – WIMHOF style for extra wellness (cold).
Carrying your luggage is optional. If you would like the extra challenge of a bit of weight while hiking, you are more than welcome to carry your pack, otherwise luggage transportation is organised. You can make your mind up on the day.
– Warm clothes – thermal top and bottoms, warm socks, hiking socks x2, warm jacket, a spare change of warm dry cloths, beanie, hat & gloves (recommended)
– Water bottle
– Yoga mat
– Hiking boots
– Warm sleeping bag
– Towel
– Toiletries
– Torch/head torch
– Basic pillows are provided, however feel free to bring your own if preferred
No, everything is catered for including snacks. We will have all food taken care of.
Yes. As the retreat unfolds there might be practices, tools and habits you want to incorporate into your life (that of course might feel difficult) going forward, and it’s important to us that you feel supported as you do this. We will create a private online group with all attendees post-retreat (totally optional, like everything else) for support and accountability. Ains will only be active in this 4 weeks post-retreat, after which the group will remain for supporting each other. Ains will also hold a Zoom integration circle 4 weeks post retreat to check in :).
Register & Book
To book your place in this retreat please register your details here and you will be redirected to make payment
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