Thyme isn’t just a flavourful herb that adds depth to dishes; it’s also packed with health benefits that make it a valuable addition to any meal. Thyme is rich in antioxidants and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for its medicinal...
As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s a poignant reminder to express our deepest appreciation for the incredible women who have shaped our lives – our mothers. Beyond the flowers and cards, this day offers us a unique opportunity to reflect on the profound...
Are you ready to go that little bit deeper? Back by popular demand in 2024, Billabong Retreat is relaunching the Specialist Day Retreat programs. This unique offering is an opportunity to take a deep dive into interesting topics and practices led by highly experienced...
Billabong Retreat held a special retreat to celebrate New Year’s Eve Retreat Hosts Lacie and Natalie led their group for 6 days and 5 nights in what was described by guests as a “life-transforming experience.” Activities included; nature walks, yoga...
In the pursuit of holistic well-being, various alternative healing methods have gained popularity, one of which is iridology. Often referred to as the study of the iris, iridology involves examining the patterns, colours and structures of the eyes to gain insights...
Biodynamic farming is a holistic and sustainable approach to agriculture that goes beyond conventional organic farming. Developed in the early 20th century by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, biodynamic farming is based on the belief that a farm is a...
In the pursuit of optimal health and well-being, individuals are increasingly turning to holistic approaches that tap into the body’s innate capacity to heal and thrive. Two practices gaining considerable attention for their transformative effects are breathwork...
Do you ever feel disconnected from your partner? This does not have to become normal. Feeling disconnected in your relationship can stem from many reasons, one of the most common reasons is due to a disconnection from understating of yourself. If you are detached...
Mums, you will understand me. All of a sudden you have birthed a new level of love but it has come with a new level of stress – a menstrual nightmare. “Why are you doing this to me” – I definitely have said that a few times. This has to change. Your...
Hot stone massage is a type of therapeutic massage that involves the use of heated stones to enhance relaxation, relieve muscle tension, and promote overall well-being. The stones are smooth and flat and typically made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that retains...
Taking a bath in winter can be especially comforting and beneficial for your health. If you don’t have a bath at home why not join us on retreat this winter? All of the Deluxe Cabins feature both indoor and outdoor tubs with complementary epsom salts to improve sleep...
What is iridology? Iridology is a practice that involves analysing the iris (coloured part of the eye), pupil, and sclera (white of the eye). The patterns, colors, markings and other characteristics of the eye are used to gain insights into a person’s overall...
Maintaining a healthy complexion during the winter months requires some extra self care. Cold, windy weather and indoor heating often leave the skin feeling dry, dehydrated and sensitive. To help you keep your skin nourished and protected throughout the chilly season...
Did you know your retreat could be be fully tax deductible? Our programs increase your skills, knowledge and capacity to perform in your current job. At the retreat you will learn how to train the part of your mind used to pay attention and thus be better able to...
Our Head Chef Adam and Cook Oriana have created the most delicious carrot cake and we have the recipe for you. Carrots are not only delicious, but also offer a number of health benefits and that is why we love to bake with them. Some of the key health benefits of...
A sound bath is a type of meditative practice that involves immersing yourself in tones and vibrations of instruments like singing bowls, gongs and chimes. The vibrations and frequencies of the sounds can help to induce a deep state of relaxation, reduce stress and...
Yoga is a practice for everybody… And it is much more than just a physical practice. When most people think of yoga, they think of a series of strenuous, physical postures. Yoga is also a mental, and spiritual practice. It originated in ancient India over 5,000...
The circadian rhythm is a natural, internal process that regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle and other physiological processes over a 24-hour period. It is commonly referred to as the “body clock” and is controlled by a group of cells in the...
The Billabong Breakfast bowl is packed full of goodness. A healthy breakfast fuels the mind and body with energy needed for a busy day. Our bowl is filled with healthy fats, fresh fruit and is naturally sweet. We like to enjoy this recipe year round. Serve the Berry...
Do you want to live a more meaningful life? We suggest setting intentions to help you achieve your goals and create the life you want. Define what you want to accomplish and align your thoughts, feelings, and actions with your goals. When you set your intentions, you...
At Billabong Retreat we love to give gifts, celebrate and share. However, we are always trying to be mindful about our impact on the environment. This festive season we are sharing our top 10 tips on how we celebrate Christmas in a sustainable way. Give Gift Vouchers...
Jolly Vegan Choc Mint slice from the Billabong Kitchen to your Christmas table. Our cook Oriana often makes this Vegan Choc-Peppermint Slice and it is always a hit amongst our guests. We think it is the ultimate after dinner mint. Try the recipe at home and let us...
Short podcast by Billabong Retreat founder Paul about what makes good health (part 1) https://billabongretreat.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/pvb-podcast-1b.mp3 Transcript: [00:00:00] Hi, my name is Paul von Bergen, and this is my podcast. So today I’m gonna...
Mindfulness isn’t about filling up your mind so that your mind is “full”. It isn’t about emptying your mind either… Mindfulness is a practice where you simply bring your awareness to the present moment. Instead of letting your mind dwell in the past or dream of the...
Chocolate is made from the cacao beans of the Theobroma cacao tree. The beans are fermented, dried and processed to make cacao powder. This raw powder is essentially chocolate in its purest form. It is rich in nutrients such as iron, magnesium, potassium, fibre and...
Trauma, Illness, & Healing in a Toxic Culture If you spend any time studying health and wellness you will have come across Gabor Mate. He is an incredible fountain of knowledge based on his huge experience as medical doctor but perhaps more importantly, in his...
Visit us for a Day Retreat before December 23, 2022 and save $80 with this special offer. Indulged in a relaxation massage, reiki session, nutritious lunch, yoga class and wellness workshops for only $295 per person. We know it isn’t always easy to get the night...
Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key), is a Japanese energy technique. The term “reiki” comes from the Japanese words “rei,” meaning universal, and “ki,” meaning life force energy. Reiki as we know it today, was developed in the 1920s by the Buddhist priest Mikao Usui. It is...
Not all styles of yoga incorporate strong, standing, warrior-like postures. Yin yoga offers a slow practice where all postures are undertaken low to the ground, seated and supine. The postures are held for long periods of time, usually 3 to 5 minutes and are designed...
For thousands of years we have enjoyed the health benefits of saunas, from the traditional Finnish sauna (hot rocks) to the Turkish bathhouse (steam room). In recent years we have seen the introduction of new sauna technology known as ‘Infrared’. Unlike the...
During winter we tend to spend much more time seated. This builds up tension in the lower body, especially the hips. As we skip into spring we start to demand more from our bodies. To help you move with ease into the final months of 2022, Billabong Retreat Host...
By Billabong Retreat Host, Kimberly Ashton Kimberly is a 5 Elements Wellness and Energetic Nutrition coach, Hatha and Yin Yoga teacher, sound healer and energy medicine practitioner. Kimberly hosts the Stress relief weekend retreats once a month at Billabong, and...
During wintertime everything begins to slow down. The days feel much shorter and we spend more time seated indoors, usually snuggled up on the couch with a hot cup of tea in hand. As we begin to move towards spring, it’s time to start moving our bodies again....
“IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, THINK IN TERMS OF ENERGY, FREQUENCY AND VIBRATION.” – NIKOLA TESLA We need silence in order to hear sound and we need to experience sound in order to appreciate silence. The dualities of this world that for whatever...
… and just like that, our five night New Year Retreat is over. It was a whirlwind time full of laughter, tears, dancing, insights and connection. We started off the retreat with an opening circle with the intention of getting to know a little bit about each...
Many of our guests at Billabong Retreat come to escape the busy-ness of life and restore more balance into their world. Often guests ask something along the lines of ‘how can I slow down when everything around me is so busy?’ First of all it’s important to acknowledge...
With our beautiful country being ravaged by fires and drought it looks like we are going to be in for a hot summer. We asked around the retreat and here are some tips from our team to help keep you cool, calm and collected. Simon – Executive Chef The food we eat...
When we are compassionate towards ourselves we are more likely to keep trying and keep moving forward. The opposite is also true when we are hard or more critical towards ourselves, we are more likely to want to give up in despair and stop trying. Over the years of...
“There is no teacher that can teach us anything new, they can only help to remind us what we already knew.” Why is it we know many things that are beneficial to our wellbeing, however, for whatever reason we find it hard or challenging to do so? We know many of the...
You probably learnt about the five elements growing up but have you ever considered how they affect us? Our current society rewards doing, achieving and succeeding and all of that physical and mental movement can mean we spend a lot of time with fire and air running...
I remember a few years ago walking past a colourfully painted mural of a rainbow sitting in a blue sky with a quote saying, “Don’t search for happiness, create it!” and I just stood in front of that mural thinking about what happiness means to me and whether I was...
As human beings, we have always been aware that it is important to be healthy but it is only in recent times that we have had such a big focus on wellness. So what does that actually mean? Personally, I think that when people think of being healthy they think more of...
I am not going to lie, I don’t have kids. So perhaps I am not the best person to be writing this article. But, I have supported many students who are parents and I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of what it means to be a parent. You know: the guilt,...
Feeling our emotions can be scary. Many of us are not afraid of our emotions themselves, but of experiencing them. We may have a resistance to the vulnerability that accompanies emotional expression especially when, during our most influential years of life, we were...
Although yoga has been around for thousands of years, it has evolved in the West to often be nothing more than a form of exercise that incorporates breath. Although this is great for some and is the reason why most people come to the practice, we are missing some of...
Eating healthy can be tricky. For most of us, the discourse around nutrition and diet has come a long way since we zoned out whilst being fed the importance of the food pyramid or meat and two veg. Yet somewhat lucky and unlucky for us, many people are now zoning...
I mean really watch them. What are you saying to yourself over and over again on a regular basis? Notice if we say I don’t have this or this always happens to me. I can’t do this or perhaps I can do that. What happens? Does it ironically always happen to you? If we...
Self-abdominal massage can encourage digestion and ease stomach discomfort. Essential oils such as peppermint, ginger, lavender and fennel are great for digestive issues. Combine a few drops of essential oil to some warm carrier oil. Massage the belly in a circular...
If you haven’t already heard of Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions, you should have. For me, it has been one of the most insightful books that I have read for a long time. Written by Johann Hari, this book...
So many are constantly looking outside themselves for love. In the next relationship, chocolate bar, cigarette, drugs, sex, what ever it might be, take your pick. There is a feeling you are seeking whether you realise it or not in everything we do or purchase. Love...
Breathing techniques (also known as pranayama in traditional texts) have been around for thousands of years. The breath is such a powerful tool because it can be both automatic and controlled. See “Pranayama: What is it and why should you include it in your...
You may have heard your yoga teacher talking about pranayama but do you actually know what it is? Most people just think of pranayama as ‘breathing exercises’ which is technically true but pranayama is much more interesting than that. What is Pranayama?...
Statistically, women are much more likely to go on retreat than men. There seems to be a stereotype that retreats mean eating rabbit food, talking about your feelings and getting pampered. Although you can talk about your feelings if you want and, of course, we can...
Sunday 2nd to Wednesday 5th September 2018 Spring is about to arrive and we want to celebrate! Join us for our special Spring Rejuvenation Retreat to welcome the end of winter and the start of spring with open arms. Spring is a time when we awaken from the winter...
The cold of winter is lingering a little longer than we may have hoped. Once winter sets in it’s easy to let health slide as we indulge in rich foods, slow down our outdoor activities and basically bunker down until the cold passes. Winter is actually a beautiful time...
Spring is almost here! This is very exciting news as it means longer days and more importantly, warmer weather. Spring is traditionally a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. Did you know? In Australia we classify seasons in terms of calendar months which means...
Warrah Biodynamic Farm at Dural supplies all of our organic fruit and vegetables and are a registered charity providing services to adults and children with disabilities in Sydney’s North West. They grow a wide range of certified biodynamic/organic seasonal produce,...
We were fascinated by this article about some scientific research in Japan that actually explains why hanging out with trees improves your immune function! The Japanese practice of forest bathing is proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce stress hormone...
We just did some great research to find out what bothered people in their lives and we had nearly 5,000 submissions. It really seems that in today’s world many of us want to find a way to calm our busy minds, reduce the effects of stress and improve our energy...
We believe that good nutrition is one of the foundations of good health and longevity and that it should not be complicated. We serve wholefoods, as nature produced them, free from artificial pesticides, chemicals and antibiotics. We serve vegetarian food not because...
1. Eat Well Eat the right foods. Look after your gut biome. No processed foods – just eat real food and slowly so it can be digested properly. No antibiotics if at all possible. Lots of natural probiotics. Minimise or avoid alcohol and caffeine. Avoid anything with...
By Paul von Bergen, Founder, Billabong Retreat Learning how to set high quality intentions rather than poor quality resolutions is an essential skill for anyone who wants to create change in their lives. How many times have you or someone else set a new year...
By Charlotte Thaarup-Owen We protect what we fall in love with– fall in love with your dear body. Sometimes I think that the relationship we have with our body is like a veil that stops us from stepping fully into life due to feelings of shame and ‘not good enough’....
It’s that time of the year where new resolutions and intentions are set, but how do we actually make them stick? Here are some quick and easy tips. Limit how many resolutions you have to three (If you accomplish them early, then add more) Work out how you’ll deal with...
By Paul von Bergen There is a lot of confusion out there at the moment about what exactly is causing the high rates of cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes that we are seeing particularly in the Western world. Certainly the trend over the past fifty years of...
By Paul von Bergen We have been fans of Bruce Lipton for a while now and the more we read and absorb, the more obvious and simple his teachings become. His core statement is that our thoughts affect our genes. We think thoughts which create emotional chemicals that...
Embarking on the road of chemotherapy treatment for cancer can be a difficult and trying time for anyone to endure. Having gone through chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer just over 5 years ago, here are some tips that I can offer to support you through...
My Understanding During the time I was having chemotherapy, I attended a local movie premiere of Sex In The City. The evening was a fundraiser for breast cancer. Given the nature of the movie, the cinema was naturally full of women with the odd token male. As I looked...
With so much conflicting information around about diet and what to eat or not to eat it is best to try to ignore or not take to seriously information in the media. Simply ask yourself. “Would my ancestors have eaten this food” If not..leave it where you found it, it...
Prebiotics and probiotics (prebiotics feed the probiotics) Fermented foods, kefir and saukraut. Make sure to start with small doses. Gluten free and wheat free diet Try a sugar free diet. Use stevia or Xylitol instead Cook with coconut oil, it is full of...
Tory has just finished reading ‘Magnesium, the Miracle Mineral, by Sandra Cabot Reading this opened my eyes to the incredible healing powers of magnesium. Most of us are aware of magnesium as a mineral to assist with muscle cramps and heart health. I am surprised to...
