5 Day Healing with Horses & Wellness Retreat in Victoria, Australia

This retreat is a response to what guests kept asking for: more time. Rachael first ran a 3-day version, and people kept wanting to stay longer, so she created this 5-day, 4-night experience as a deeper immersion. The structure is loose on purpose — there's a rough daily rhythm, but nothing is compulsory. One day might involve a horse forest walk, another might have a guest facilitator leading a group session in the bell tent, and some afternoons are entirely unstructured so you can read, write, or wander the property.

The heart of it is the herd. These aren't riding horses — there's no riding component at all. Instead you'll spend time grooming, leading, and just being with them. Rachael's background in equine-assisted learning means she reads the horses' behaviour and helps you understand what they're mirroring back. Guests often describe feeling seen in a way they haven't before, and the horses seem to know who needs what.

Bodywork is a key part of the week. Each guest gets a one-hour massage or healing session, timed around your needs. There's also daily yoga (no experience needed) and meditation, plus the option of a guided healing visualisation you can take home as a recording. On days 3 and 4, guest facilitators come in to run afternoon group sessions — these vary depending on availability and group dynamics, which keeps the experience fresh even for repeat guests.

The location is hard to beat. The house is 75 minutes from Melbourne, 5 minutes from Malmsbury village, and walking distance from Zig Zag Winery. Fryers Ridge State Forest is a couple of minutes' drive for bushwalking, and the property itself has plenty of spots to sit with a book and watch the light change over the paddocks. It's peaceful, private, and feels a world away from the city.

What's included

- 4 nights accommodation - 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals - Welcome chai - Water, tea, coffee served throughout the day - Daily yoga classes in the beautiful bell tent - Daily meditation session in the beautiful bell tent or outside on the land - Equine Assisted Learning sessions - 1 hour relaxation massage - Group excursions/activities oriented around the horses - Pre and post retreat support with resources shared during the retreat - Gorgeous property to call your own for a few days - Group workshops focused on health/healing/personal development - Wifi connection - Luggage storage - Parking - Guided healing visualisation (recording provided) - Post-Retreat Integration Support (online session) – $200 value

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights costs - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Additional treatments - Horse riding (not part of this experience)