PlayFest Retreat · 2026
Four days in nature to reconnect, move, and play
PlayFest Retreat
A skills-based, nature-led movement arts retreat for curious souls to connect and play.
PlayFest weaves somatic practice, martial arts, ritual, embodied dance, breathwork, and collaborative art in an intimate, nature-connected environment that honours both people and the land.
Now returning for its fifth edition, PlayFest continues to evolve as a grounded retreat experience: rooted in nature and guided by the body, welcoming movers, creatives, practitioners, and anyone with a curiosity to explore, learn, reconnect, and rest.
Participation is always invitational, and no prior experience is required — you are welcome exactly as you are.
2–5 October 2026 · Northern Rivers NSW
Inspired by a nomadic, village-like way of living
What is PlayFest? Inspired by a nomadic, village-like way of living — our community is a space where practitioners, creatives, movers, families, and curious souls come together to share skills, deepen embodiment, and co-create culture.
It is a place to reconnect with our human nature in nature — a place to play.
Here learning happens through movement, sensation, participation, and lived experience — supporting both personal and collective evolution.
PlayFest is part of a growing regenerative wellness network — one that continues beyond the retreat through relationships, collaborations, and shared practice.
Our Intention
To create an intimate, skills-based, nature-led retreat for curious souls to connect and play…
Inspiring embodied expression and community collaboration…
Honouring the land, and nurturing wellbeing.
Our Dream
A movement-arts retreat where curious souls reconnect with nature and play…
Plugging into a growing wellness network of practitioners, creatives, and movers…
A space where connections continue beyond the retreat.
Our Foundations
Harmony
In tune with the land, natural rhythms, and each other.
Play
Rediscovering curiosity, expression, and aliveness.
Embodiment
Learning through the body, sensation and lived experience.
Regeneration
Nurturing connection that continues beyond the retreat.
Gathering — for a collective experience
PlayFest is grounded in embodied experiencing rather than theory alone.
You are invited to move, play, explore, witness, and rest — at your own pace.
Participation is invitational, not compulsory.
Throughout the retreat, you may encounter breathwork, martial arts, expressive dance, somatic practices, ritual, fire dancing, live interactive art, aerialists and acrobats, live music, original artists, and creative exploration.
You can expect nourishing catered meals and meaningful conversations.
Professional bodywork and energetic practitioners are available, including ZenThai Shiatsu, Kinesiology, Reiki, and relaxing massage sessions.
Guest facilitators and additional workshops are announced as the program evolves.
No prior experience is required. You are welcome as you are.
For curious souls who want more play
Who is PlayFest for? Curious souls who want to play — movers, creatives, practitioners, facilitators, and humans drawn to embodied experiences, personal growth, co-creation, and meaningful connection.
It’s for people who sometimes wake up at night wondering where all the time has gone, what they’re waking up to each day, and where the fun, passion, and aliveness went. Many are seeking meaningful community, regenerative connections, and a network of people who value collaboration and shared growth.
Above all, PlayFest is for people looking to build a life around what matters — one that feels more connected, creative, purposeful, and aligned with who they truly are.
Children and families are welcome at PlayFest, and we love seeing multiple generations gather in nature together. Parents remain fully responsible for their children at all times. While families are part of the wider community experience, PlayFest’s workshops, programming, facilitation, and visual storytelling are centred on adult embodiment and play, and there are no dedicated children’s activities.
The people that have shaped PlayFest over the years
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Jill
Collage Mandala Art & Meditation
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Anna
Breathwork & Elemental Embodiment
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Tashi
Kung Fu, Weapon Play & Martial Arts
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Lillian
Contact Improvisation, Animal Flow & Aerials
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Ali
Somatic Dance, Holistic Sexuality & Embodied Connection
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Sabine
SCI-MAA Sacred Guided Linguistic Dance®
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Flo
Primal Play-Fighting & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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Álvaro
Yogisthenics, Handstands & Animal Flow
Location and Accommodation
PlayFest has moved to the Northern Rivers, on Bundjalung Country in Northern NSW. Hosted at Sēlah Valley Estate, we are just 40 minutes from Gold Coast airport and 50 minutes from Byron Bay.
Surrounded by subtropical rainforest, rolling hills, waterfalls, and rich biodiversity, the land offers a naturally held environment for connection, movement, and rest.
Workshops are held in a state-of-the-art function room with an indoor/outdoor, open, dance space — sheltered from the elements while remaining immersed in nature.
photo: Sēlah Valley Estate
Nourishment
PlayFest Retreat includes nourishing lunches and dinners, locally sourced and thoughtfully catered for our guests throughout the retreat. Shared meals become part of the experience — a simple and supportive way to gather, unwind, and reconnect after a full day of movement, workshops, and activities.
Nourishment also includes time to rest, holistic body work and massage therapists onsite, and of course the highlight of a most beautiful, natural setting to really ground and reset amongst nature’s waterfalls and rainforest.
During checkout, please let us know of any allergies or dietary requirements so we can cater to your needs as best as possible.
Please note that breakfast is not included and will be self-catered during the retreat. Complimentary hot beverages will be available throughout your stay.
Practical Details
Accommodation options include camping and limited lodge beds in our creekside cabins. Private room upgrades are also now available.
Facilities include hot showers, toilets, kitchens and state of the art shared gathering spaces.
Optional return airport shuttle transfers from Gold Coast Airport are available for guests who are not driving or arranging their own transport.
Further information, schedules, and shuttle bookings are available via the booking page. Full details, inclusions, accommodation options, and FAQs are available via the booking page.
What people are saying…
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. PlayFest Retreat welcomes all adventurers and explorers and many participants attend on their own. The community is warm, welcoming, and inclusive, and the retreat is designed to support connection while also honouring personal space and boundaries.
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No. All workshops and activities at PlayFest Retreat are invitational. Participants are always welcome to join, pause, observe, or simply witness the arts without taking part. Listening to your body and choosing what feels right for you is fully respected and encouraged.
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Your retreat ticket includes lunches and dinners throughout the retreat. During checkout, please let us know about any allergies or dietary requirements so we can cater to your needs as best as possible.
Please note that breakfast is not included and will be self-catered during the retreat.
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There are 18 beds across three lodges, accommodating 5, 6, and 7 guests respectively. King single beds or twin share configurations are available. If you’re booking with someone you’d like to share with, simply let us know at checkout. We’ll do our best to accommodate requests, subject to availability.
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Yes — a very limited number of private lodge room upgrades are available for guests seeking additional privacy. Private rooms offer exclusive use of your own room within one of our creekside lodges and are subject to availability.
Only a small number have been released, so if this option is important to you, we recommend securing it early.
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Yes, children are welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please note that PlayFest is primarily an adult-focused retreat, and parents remain fully responsible for their children at all times. There are no child-specific workshops or supervision provided.
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Children are welcome to attend PlayFest Retreat at no cost when camping with a parent or guardian. Due to limited capacity, all lodge beds are fully ticketed. If a child requires a bed in a lodge, the full accommodation price applies and there are no child discounts for lodge beds.
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Yes — an optional return airport shuttle service is available between Gold Coast Airport (OOL) and PlayFest Retreat for guests who are not driving or arranging their own transport.
The shuttle departs:
• Friday 2nd October — 12:00pm pickup from Gold Coast Airport (OOL)
• Monday 5th October — 12:00pm departure from Sēlah Valley Estate returning to Gold Coast AirportPlease ensure your flights align with these shuttle times.
The shuttle can be added during checkout and includes both transfers to and from the retreat.
Please note that the shuttle service will run subject to minimum bookings. If minimum numbers are not reached, shuttle tickets will be refunded and we will do our best to help coordinate an alternative shared transport option where possible.
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The venue includes wheelchair-accessible toilets and showers, ramp access to key areas, and accessible pathways. The site is also suitable for prams, with level access across most communal spaces. As with many nature-based venues, some outdoor areas may include uneven ground and limited access but overall the site is designed to be welcoming and accessible. If you have specific accessibility needs, please get in touch before booking so we can support you as best as possible.
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We understand that circumstances can change. However, due to the nature and logistics of this event, all tickets are non-refundable, as significant costs are committed well in advance.
If you’re unable to attend, you’re welcome to resell or transfer your ticket to someone else. Please note that ticket resales and transfers are the responsibility of the ticket holder and are available until 2:00pm, 28th September 2026 due to event admin & logistics.