6 Day Yoga & Hiking Retreat in Whangarei Heads, New Zealand
16 Reotahi Road, Whangārei Heads, New Zealand
Yoga
Practise yoga every morning, hike coastal trails in the afternoon and recharge with fresh vegetarian food and ocean views in Northland, New Zealand.
Yoga, Hiking and Healing on New Zealand’s Northland Coast
Start each day with a morning yoga class, then set out to explore the pristine beaches, native bush and dramatic landscapes of the Whangarei Heads Peninsula in Northland, New Zealand. This 6-day yoga and hiking retreat welcomes all fitness levels, with hikes ranging from flat beach walks to five-hour mountain trails, so you can choose how much to challenge yourself.
Between adventures, take in the water views, book a massage or Reiki session, and end the day with meditation or a soak in the ocean-view spa pool. Your comfortable room comes with all linen, and the guest lounge opens onto a private deck with panoramic views.
Your host, Jo, loves healthy food and brings creativity and flavour to the fresh vegetarian meals she prepares each day. Food sensitivities and special diets are easily catered for, and you’re welcome to join her in the kitchen, swap recipes and chat about nutrition over meals.
Find your own balance of quiet time and activity, and leave feeling relaxed, energised and motivated.
Meet the instructors
Jo Woollacott
Jo Woollacott is the founder of WHY Retreat in Whangārei Heads, where she shares a gentle, holistic approach to yoga shaped by over 40 years of practice and study. Drawing on her extensive background in yoga therapy, Pilates, personal training and energy healing, she focuses on tailoring individual guidance to help clients ease chronic pain, regain mobility, and find relief from stress. Her deep appreciation for mindfulness and well-being was profoundly enriched by her love of travel, including years spent navigating the beauty of the Pacific Ocean alongside her husband on their sailing adventures. Today, she feels fortunate to welcome people from all walks of life to her studio at McLeod Bay, offering a tranquil space for physical and mental restoration. Whether connecting online or hosting guests in nature, Jo simply aims to support others in keeping their bodies moving easily and their minds at peace.
Highlights
- Just 3 guest rooms
- All fitness levels welcome
- Evening meditation sessions
- Fresh vegetarian lunches and dinners
- Hosted by Jo, a yoga teacher since 1979
- Guided hikes, from beach walks to mountain trails
- Ocean views from your private deck
- Spa pool and infrared sauna
- Daily morning yoga
Additional information
This retreat is open to all fitness levels, with hikes ranging from flat beach walks to longer mountain trails. Twin-share rooms are available only to two people booking together.
Yoga styles
- Hatha Yoga
- Vinyasa Yoga
- Restorative Yoga
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
5 days with instruction in English
Staff also speaks English
Average daily hours of activity: 5.00
Accommodation
WHY Retreat has just three guest rooms, each with its own private deck. The Manaia Suite has a queen bed, an en-suite bathroom and sweeping views of the bay, with sunrise over Mount Manaia visible from bed. The Bayview Room offers twin beds or a king bed and ocean views, while Rosella’s Nest has single beds, a shared bathroom with an Italian shower and a private deck shaded by a grapevine. Guests share a private lounge, a kitchen, a BBQ and outdoor dining area, an ocean-view spa pool, a far-infrared sauna and a streamside meditation spot surrounded by native bush. Shared rooms are available for friends and family, otherwise you will enjoy a private room.
Food
Fresh vegetarian lunches and dinners are home-cooked every day, often with home-grown produce. You’re welcome to help in the kitchen and join conversations about nutrition around the table. Food sensitivities and special diets can be catered for.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Lunch
Food types
- Vegetarian Food
- Other Dietary Requirements
Program
Thursday – Arrival
15:00 Check-in
Afternoon Hike and orientation
Evening Dinner and meditation
Friday to Monday
Morning Yoga
Midday Lunch
Afternoon Hike
Late afternoon Gentle yoga or free time
Evening Dinner and meditation
Tuesday – Departure
Morning Yoga and Pilates
12:00 Departure
Activities
Included
- Daily morning yoga
- Gentle afternoon yoga
- Guided afternoon hikes
- Evening meditation and relaxation
- Pilates session
- Nutrition talks
Available at an additional cost
- Massage
- Reiki
- Health coaching
What's included
Included
- 5 nights' accommodation
- Daily vegetarian breakfasts, lunches and dinners
- Daily yoga sessions
- Guided hikes
- Evening meditation
- Pilates session
- Bed linen
Not included
- Flights
- Airport transfers
- Travel insurance
- Massage and Reiki
Availability
Arrive on any Thursday and depart the following Tuesday at midday. The retreat runs from October to May.
Important information
Check-in is between 15:00 and 17:00 on Thursday, and departure is at midday on Tuesday. There’s no public transport to the retreat, but transfers can be arranged. Buses run from Auckland to Whangarei in about 2.5 hours. Twin-share rooms are available only to two people booking together.
Retreat location
Open in Google Maps16 Reotahi Road, Whangārei Heads, New Zealand
WHY Retreat sits in McLeod Bay on the Whangarei Heads peninsula in Northland, beneath the rocky peaks of Mount Manaia. Native bush, pristine beaches and short walking tracks are right on your doorstep, and Whangarei town centre is about 35 minutes’ drive away.
Getting there
Nearest airports:
- Whangarei Airport (WRE) · 14 km away
- Auckland International Airport (AKL) · 135 km away
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6 Day Yoga & Hiking Retreat in Whangarei Heads, New Zealand