Welcome to
The Eco Retreat

A Nature Retreat on the Surf Coast Victoria

A nature-based retreat for restorative well-being, community arts
& ecology in the Otways at Boonah on the Surf Coast, Victoria.

Tucked into 70 acres of undulating land in Boonah, Victoria, The Eco Retreat is a living, breathing sanctuary for remembering our place in the web of life. Nestled where ancient forests meet the coastline of Aireys Inlet—just two hours from Melbourne—this quiet wilderness offers space to slow down, breathe deeply, and listen to the natural world.

Here, we explore the restorative magic of the land through holistic retreats, expressive arts, and practical spiritual ecology. Through nature-based mindfulness, soil stewardship, organic farming, and community gatherings, we cultivate a deeper, more resonant way of living.

Tending the Seedlings: Phase One

We are currently laying the foundations for what is to come. As Phase One unfolds, we are tending to the land’s core infrastructure—establishing our organic kitchen gardens and heritage orchards, discovering quiet walking trails through the bush, and bringing regenerative land projects to life.

If you feel called to put your hands in the earth and lend a hand, we would love to welcome you to our seasonal community volunteer days. Looking ahead, as our dedicated creative studio, workshop spaces, and gardens flourish, we look forward to hosting intimate, immersive retreats.

Thank you for your interest in The Eco Retreat.

Holistic Retreats & Gatherings

Immerse yourself in the ancient rhythms of the Otways.

Step away from the noise and sink into the restorative quiet of the wild. Our retreats and gatherings blend nature-based mindfulness, ecotherapy, creativity and deep spiritual ecology to help you untangle from daily busyness and awaken mind, body, and spirit.

Explore our retreats

Explore our online offerings.

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Slow Acres

Tales of soil, season, and sanctuary.

Welcome to Slow Acres—a running journal of life on our Boonah farm.

We had a great day planting part of the orchard today at Boonah farm. Thank you to @multiflora_nursery for the barerooted fruit trees and great advice to first soak them in seasol and then mix compost and soil into the holes. We planted sugar plum, nectarine, naschi, pink lady, blueberry, and lemon.

We also planted a memorial pomegranate tree with our late beloved Samson (cat) ashes who passed early in the year and we buried, now in his forever ground.

We had some very interesting conversations about herbs, ethnobotany, plant medicines and the next thing that will replace coffee right here in Australia. Really keen to keep exploring the world of plants for food, medicine, beauty, materials and supporting local ecology. Looking forward to getting the community involved here in nature 💚

#orchard #organic #farmlife #Australia

Happy Monday 💚 When the whole community is on a mission 🦘🦘🦘

#naturelover #australia #natureretreat

A little golden hour update from @marionmiller_ at Boonah farm. ☀️

#mindfulness #naturelover #naturetherapy #countrylife #Otways

Meet Wally our resident Wallaby at @theecoretreat They are unfazed by our presence as they are too busy enjoying the sweet grass in our garden.

A bit of a different temperament to the mob of kangaroos who hang in the back paddock and only venture up here at night and always in a group. They are curious but quite skittish. There’s a few baby kangaroos and the adult ones are taller than me!

I have a deep respect for these wild animals and their habitat and beginning to develop a sense of kinship and community on the land. We also discovered native wood ducks in the dam which is nice and full. Good to be back home in nature 💚

#nature #natureretreat #wilderness #otways

Scarlet Robin, 2026. Acrylic paint on A5. By @marionmiller_

A scarlet robin at Boonah farm and can often be spotted sitting on the sundial just outside the kitchen window.

#art #artist #nature #otways

At Boonah farm were share the land with many species of wildlife. We’re interested in understanding what species are already here, which ones are endangered and finding out what we can do to regenerate and protect their habitat.

We’ve been working on a digital field guide to track and catalogue our wildlife encounters and new flora and fauna we discover. We are also creating a guest book for visitors to share reflections on sit spots, walking the land and wildlife encounters with photos, drawing, scientific knowledge or poetry.

Here’s a small collection of photos of some of the species that have been spotted here and are now shared on the wilderness field guide page on our website.

It’s been awe inspiring to encounter our wild kin in their natural habitat, we should always keep a healthy distance and aim for a harmonious relationship with the whole web of life.

#landcare #wildnerness #otways #ecotherapy

Hearts full and an almost full house this weekend! Incredibly grateful for the past few days with the young ones visiting at Boonah farm while Richy is away. Sharing meals, stories and slow moments together. So nice to see them resting and connecting with nature.

Now for a bit of a self retreat with some local Pondalowie red, a great book, roaring fire, art, study and some longer meditations as the clouds set in low over the ranges. Some work to do on the gardens this week too! ☁️

#naturelover #otways #retreat

Happy Friday friends 🌻 at Boonah farm Lewis and I have been gardening! We’ve bought lots of beautiful native and indigenous flowering plants from Bambra Native Plants. Next week we have a week of rain so perfect timing and all the plants have lovely flowers the birds, bees and humans can enjoy! This is the first garden bed and the entrance to the house and soon to be studio/gallery. Lots of inspiration, colour, perfume and beauty growing just out front.🌷🪻🌸💐🌺

#gardening #countrylife #slowliving

Stage one of @theecoretreat project we’re calling Beautify and today I got back to what we started at Easter and removed more of the blackberry brambles.

I dug up a bucket of roots from one garden bed and started cutting back the brambles on the other side of the house to discover an old cattle yard. All the clippings are being gathered for our first bon fire ritual this winter!

Cutting back the brambles thoughts of old folktales went through my mind but alas no damsel in a castle was found, just a rusty old gate that had collapsed in on itself.

Later, I experimented with crushing some berries to make natural paint and I’m fond of eating them too!

The other task I got onto was planning out the orchard and staking the places for nine fruit trees to be planted early spring. I’m creating a digital calendar to manage the fertiliser, watering and harvest. But first some soil improvement.

I’m bemused that there is a cauldron outside the laundry door at the entrance to the orchard. Double, double toil and trouble. Perhaps I can brew some fruit and herbs to create a potion to stop the blackberries from spreading?!

A magical end to the week when we walked the land and saw two deers and a mob of kangaroos grazing in the back paddock. Happy Friday!

#farmlife #organicgardening #slowliving

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Follow us on Instagram

@theecoretreat

Welcome to
The Eco Retreat

A nature-based retreat for restorative well-being, community arts
& ecology in the Otways at Boonah on the Surf Coast, Victoria.

Our Vision

Remember our true nature.

Online Programs

Slow Acres

The Restorative Power of Nature Therapy for Groups

Follow us on Instagram

Welcome to The Eco Retreat

A nature-based retreat for restorative well-being, community arts & ecology in the Otways at Boonah on the Surf Coast, Victoria.

Our Vision

Remember our true nature.

Online Programs

Slow Acres

The Restorative Power of Nature Therapy for Groups

​

Follow us on Instagram

Welcome to
The Eco Retreat

A nature-based retreat for restorative well-being, community arts
& ecology in the Otways at Boonah on the Surf Coast, Victoria.