3 Day Inner Joy Yoga Holiday in the Beautiful Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
Yoga Holiday in Australia
Expert tip: This is one of the most popular yoga retreats offered in Australia.
Join this two-night restorative retreat for your mind, body, and soul in the beautiful Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Happy Buddha Retreats' Inner Joy Retreat is their signature program and the best meditation and yoga retreat in the Blue Mountains as reviewed by their guests. Reset, restore, and rejuvenate in one of Australia’s most scenic retreat locations.
Meet the instructors
Read more
Highlights
- Stretch your body with yoga and movement
- Learn to free your mind with guided meditation
- Feel energized with inspiring workshops
- Learn meditation and stillness for clarity and grounding
- Find your inner rhythm and joy with drumming (and have loads of fun!)
- Explore and feel at one with nature in the healing Blue Mountains
- 2 nights accommodation
- Fresh, vegetarian meals
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Yoga styles
Accommodation
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Dining area
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Labyrinth
- Lounge
- Meditation garden
- Smoke-free property
- Terrace
- Yoga studio
- Free parking
- Library
Stay in simple but cozy rooms
Happy Buddha Retreats has set up their rooms with simplicity in mind, perfect for your nightly sleep or when you need an afternoon nap.
If you’re participating in the Inner Joy program, you’ll be in the retreat center and rooms are twin-share with an ensuite bathroom. Rooms have ceiling fans for the warmer months and when the weather gets chilly, the central heating will be at-the-ready.
There is also a very friendly communal house cat so please note if you have allergies.
Program
Feeling physically and mentally exhausted? Need a break from the nine to five? Want to recharge in calming surrounds with lush greenery and the trilling sounds of Australian bird song?
At Happy Buddha Retreats, they’ll encourage you to take life slower, breathe more deeply and with intention, and soak in the beauty of your surroundings. They’ve created this program specially to help you find and embrace joy, contentment, and self-acceptance, and carry it forward into your daily life.
Choose from a two-night midweek retreat commencing on Wednesday or a two-night weekend retreat commencing on Friday. With fresh, vegetarian meals, yoga, and guided meditation for any ability and energy level, as well as cozy rooms facing a stunning Blue Mountains valley, you’ll feel energized and replenished by the end of your stay.
Here are just some of the moments you’ll experience while on the retreat:
- Fill your cup with a soul-nourishing retreat experience.
- Connect with like-minded people or enjoy solitude.
- Reconnect and recalibrate with how you want to live your life.
- Discover the joys of nourishing meals and mindful eating.
- Sleep well and deeply after a full day of soul and body nourishment.
How the Inner Joy retreat works:
The retreat is perfect for individuals or couples attending for the first time, seasoned retreat goers, yoga and meditation lovers, or those wanting a break from the daily grind. Many of Happy Buddha's guests love it so much that they return more than three times!
They hold the retreat two times a week for your convenience. Throughout your Inner Joy retreat, you’ll have lots of opportunities to participate in different activities, rest, or explore nature walks. It’s a great chance to enjoy your own company or share experiences with like-minded people. It’s your retreat, your way.
Get your body moving in the intermediate Dynamic yoga class. Learn about meditation and experience a unique mindfulness activity. Connect to your heart and find your inner rhythm through a drum circle. Finally, don't miss the closing ceremony, considered to be the highlight of the retreat by many of Happy Buddha's previous participants.
Soak in your natural surrounds, experience different styles of yoga and guided meditation, and eat fresh, healthy food cooked with real passion and care. You can also swim leisurely in the pool or the nearby waterfall.
Everything on the program is optional. You’re welcome to do as much or as little as you would like. All activities and meals will take place at the Blue Mountains retreat center.
Arrival - Day 1
- 16:00 - Official check-in
- 16:45 - 17:45 - Slow flow
- 18:30 - Final check-in
- 18:45 - 19:45 - Dinner
- 20:15 - 21:00 - Welcoming and evening meditation
- 22:00 until breakfast - Whisper time
Day 2
- 07:00 - 08:00 - Dynamic yoga
- 08:00 - 09:00 - Gentle yoga
- 09:00 - 09:45 - Breakfast
- 09:45 - 11:00 - Meditation experience
- 11:00 - 13:00 - Free time
- 13:00 - 14:00 - Lunch
- 14:00 - 14:45 - Drum circle
- 14:45 - 16:00 - Free time
- 16:15 - 17:15 - Dynamic yoga
- 17:30 - 18:40 - Yin yoga
- 18:45 - 19:45 - Dinner
- 20:15 - 20:45 - Evening meditation
Final morning
- 07:00 - 08:00 - Dynamic yoga
- 08:00 - 09:00 - Gentle yoga
- 09:00 - 09:45 - Breakfast
- 09:45 - 10:45 - Closing ceremony
- 11:00 - Check-out
Instructors
Athill Singh
Back then, founder Athil Singh ran his first yoga retreat at a farm-stay near Sydney! At the age of 21, diagnosed with stress and anxiety, Athil decided to try his first yoga class. For him, yoga was a mysterious thing, which promised the excitement of a different kind of life – a life lived with intention. From that first class, he was hooked. Athil remembers with a smile some of his first events, hosting retreats at rented beach-side properties.
Retreat location
A million miles from anywhere, but not far from Sydney
Looking to experience an amazing yoga and meditation retreat close to Sydney? Despite giving the impression that you are far from civilization, the retreat center is only a 90 minutes' drive from Sydney, meaning you can easily factor in a short retreat experience!
Happy Buddha Retreats is situated in a beautiful bushland setting within the historic Blue Mountains town of Wentworth Falls. The Blue Mountains National Park begins approximately 80 kilometers from Sydney’s central business district (CBD) and is a popular weekend destination. Sydney residents go there to enjoy bush walks, native forest, waterfalls, and lakes.
The retreat center is also just a two to four-minute drive from the main township of Wentworth Falls.
Wentworth Falls town was established in 1814 by European settlers. However, carbon dating shows that the traditional owners of the land are the Gundungurra People, who have been on the land for more than 22,000 years. As such, Happy Buddha Retreats pay their respect to the traditional owners past and present of the beautiful Blue Mountains by respecting the nature and community in which they reside.
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
The food at Happy Buddha is amazing! Without doubt, one of the highlights of a Happy Buddha Retreat is the food. Their specialty is vegetarian (and sometimes vegan) cuisine and all meals are prepared fresh onsite in their commercial kitchen, with seasonal ingredients and retreat-grown herbs and vegetables.
Each meal is presented in banquet style with plenty of variety. They easily cater for vegans, those with allergies, and gluten free diets. Many of Happy Buddha’s recipes are unique and the meals you will eat on your retreat will be influenced by the seasonal variety of fresh produce at the time.
What you can expect
A typical Happy Buddha dinner may comprise of a creamy veggie soup or slow cooked dhal, a tasty curry or Mediterranean-style stew packed full of vegetables and legumes, a side of rice, quinoa or rice noodles, a seasonal salad, and an array of toppings including nuts, spices, and seeds.
Occasionally, they may provide cheese and eggs within dishes, but they’ll always let you know and will offer vegans an alternative.
They encourage you to try and detox a little while you’re there on retreat. Try one of the delicious herbal teas, drink lots of water, and if you can’t live without caffeine, support one of the local cafes for a quick cuppa (or have an instant coffee or tea provided).
Happy Buddha Retreats' vegetarian menu
The food style is tasty vegetarian home-cooked cuisine. The chefs are influenced by Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean flavors and occasionally, they may use dairy and eggs. Spices and chili are utilized in some dishes for flavor and medicinal value.
Happy Buddha also loves to use seasonal vegetables and for added protein, they include legume varieties, grains, tofu, and tempe.
Herbal teas and plenty of filtered water are available. They also do have instant coffee and tea for those needing a little caffeine hit.
Made with love
Happy Buddha Retreats has some amazing cooks, chefs, and passionate volunteers who call Happy Buddha Retreats their home away from home. Each cook brings their own personality and passion for cooking nutritious and delicious vegetarian and vegan meals.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Lactose Free
- Whole food
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
- Astrology reading - 110 AUD and to be booked with the crew via email
Spa treatments
Massages are also available and are one-hour in length. More information will be emailed to you upon your retreat confirmation.
- 1-hour massage is 110 AUD, payable in cash at the retreat
What's included
- Workshops
- 2 nights twin-share accommodation with ensuite bathroom
- Vegetarian meals
What's not included
- Solo rooms - supplement of 124 AUD per night
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Sydney Airport (Kingsford Smith Airport)
77 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane
Many of Happy Buddha Retreats' guests come from other locations within Australia for a short break. In addition, some guests come directly from international flights for some rest and relaxation at the beginning of their holiday.
Fortunately, getting to the retreat from Sydney airport is simple via the use of highways and toll roads. Traveling by train or car to Wentworth Falls via the airport adds very little extra travel time, owing to Sydney airport being very close to the city.
Arrival by train
Whilst Wentworth Falls has a train station, Happy Buddha Retreats recommends to catch the train to either Leura or Katoomba for ease of catching a taxi. The train trip is a single two-hour train trip (approximately) from Sydney’s CBD.
Depending on where you choose to arrive, you’ll be able to book a taxi which will then be a five to ten-minute drive to the retreat. Otherwise, the retreat centre is just a 15 minute walk from the Wentworth Falls Station Please note this walk goes up and downhill, is not lit and there is no sidewalk for most of it. We only recommend it for fit walkers, carrying little luggage.
The Blue Mountains Line is an air conditioned train, departing hourly from Sydney’s Central Station and more regularly during peak commuter times. You may also join the train at other stops along the line or connect to Central Station via the train network.
The train has toilets, upholstered seats, limited bike parking, and a silent carriage. It does not have a meal or food service. The train is used by commuters so you may prefer to travel outside of peak hours.
The first and last carriage on the train are “silent carriages.” This means that you will not be able to talk or make phone calls in these carriages. It is quite a peaceful way to begin and end your retreat experience.
Please check with Transport NSW if you require elevators as not all NSW stations have these.
Travelling by train is an affordable and relaxed option. For more information about fares and to check that there are no delays or track maintenance, check the NSW Transport website. In the event of track maintenance or significant delay, Transport NSW will provide bus alternatives for the affected portion of your trip.
Central Station is also the best location to begin coach or bus tours to the Blue Mountains. There are several offices of bus and travel companies located in the Central Station.
If you’re coming from the airport, train is still a great option, owing to convenient connections between the airport and central train stations. There is a regular 10-minute train trip between both Sydney’s domestic and international airports which connects with Central Station.
Once at Central Station, you can catch the hourly Blue Mountains Line train to either Leura or Katoomba.
Arrival by car
Wentworth Falls is approximately 80 kilometers from Sydney’s CBD and the journey by car takes around 90 minutes. Their address is 50 Railway Parade, Wentworth Falls.
The trip is an easy one to make, even for out of town guests not familiar with Sydney’s roads. This is because there is one long road (Parramatta Road) connecting via several highways, tunnels, and toll roads from the CBD directly to Wentworth Falls.
In addition, only the last section of the trip is a mountain road. However, the mountain road is wide, well-sealed, and easy to drive on. And, you won’t miss any turn offs between Sydney CBD and Wentworth Falls because there aren’t any. What’s more, the last 20 to 30 minutes is enjoyable for passengers as it takes in native bush views as the road takes you to 867-meter elevation.
Once you reach the historic town of Wentworth Falls, you might like to refer to your satellite navigation. Happy Buddha Retreats is a simple two to four-minute drive from the center of Wentworth Falls via Railway Parade.
What’s more, the retreat has complementary parking for your vehicle during your stay. If you’re on time, you should get a park at the retreat center in allocated car spots, but if all had been taken, please drive back up towards the entry gate where you can park on the left in an additional designated area. The retreat also has plenty of safe off-street parking for your vehicle during your stay.
If you wish to self-drive, you will find that it is a straightforward and easy 90-minute drive from the airport. Sydney domestic and international airports have all the international, and some local, car hire firms. You will take a ring road (M5) and then connect to the main M4 highway which leads directly to Wentworth Falls.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 100% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.