Everything that happens on our Creativity and Connection retreat

The outcomes are real, and they are powerful. They ripple through our work long after we’ve unpacked our bags.

Curious about what actually happens on retreat? Here’s a behind-the-scenes: from where we stay and what we eat, to the creative workshops, quiet moments, and unexpected magic in between.

Where we stay:

This year we’re in Patonga, a serene seaside village just north of Sydney. We’ve hired a stunning, Hamptons-esque house. Think comfy couches, polished floorboards, bay windows, and wide, sweeping views of the bay. Everyone gets their own bedroom with the same gorgeous view.

How we kick off:

We arrive a cheeseboard and champagne, before our private chef arrives and cooks us a decadent three-course dinner. We stay at the table and talk long after the plates have been cleared away.

How we run our creative workshops:

Amy Lovat, author of Mistakes and Other Lovers (with her second novel, Big Feelings out next week) and Program Manager of Newcastle Writers Festival, leads our first creative workshop. We learn ways to break the blank page, to stimulate new ideas, to consider fresh perspectives. There’s a bit of reflection and a whole lot of unbridled creativity.

The workshops I run tend to focus on two key areas: Wellness, and WonderCulture. For our Wellness workshop, we have reflective exercises like the Wheel of Wellness to help identify which areas feel great and which need a little attention. Our WonderCulture workshop sees us using divergent thinking tactics to come up with big ideas about how we want our company culture to be.

How we unwind:

Every morning, we do gentle yin yoga. This retreat, we also had sound healing with crystal singing bowls. It sets us up beautifully to start the day with calm and openness.

And there’s plenty of free time. Some of us use it to go for nature walks, others head to their rooms to rest (and nap). Every year we say we’ll go kayaking; somehow it never quite happens.

How we eat:

I’ll admit it; I’m a feeder. I believe that food is essential to nourishing the soul, so when we retreat, we eat well. All the meals are catered with beautiful, wholesome and indulgent food, except for one night where the team cooks together. I bake and bring chocolatey snacks and cake. We also have a long lunch out; a chance to dress up and try somewhere new.

Why we do it:

As a business, a retreat is a huge investment, both in terms of the cost of the retreat itself and the time away from working in the business.

But the outcomes are transformative. We’re forging trust and bonds. We’re working on ourselves. We’re up-levelling our creativity. And we’re creating the kind of culture we feel happy to work in every day, and proud to share.

Importantly, it’s also about rewarding the team. They work so hard. They create brilliant work. And they deserve to have that work acknowledged in the most thoughtful way possible.

So it’s not just a company jolly. At the heart of it is thoughtfulness. Intention. Caring. Consideration. Compassion. Words that aren’t just fluff; words that build the company culture we’re creating. Words that build the future of how businesses should be.