Reconnect. Reset. Re-energise.
The ultimate way to unwind with your team by immersing in nature, focusing on gratitude, learning about conservation - with some good old-fashioned fun mixed into the recipe.
Over two days and one night, engage through a mindful hike while learning about the largest mainland ecological island in the world. Know how it feels to float through millions of glowworms at night time, and learn something new on a wild food foraging workshop.
Group size: Up to 16 people
The programme below is a guide only. We can tailor this to your team's needs.
Programme overview - DAY 1
Mindful hike, 2 - 4 hours: The morning begins Focus on being mindful in nature to destress, tune in to the rhythm of your intuition and reduce cluttered and unproductive thinking. Kylie will give your team all the tools they need to engage all their senses, and tap into the unconscious wilderness of our brain. This is a powerful way to destress, reconnect and promote divergent thinking ready for the planning session.
We have options for shorter or longer mindful hiking experiences depending on the fitness and ability of the team.
Morning tea: Hot drinks and light refreshments on the maunga.
Ancient forest highlights tour, 1 hour: Hear from Sanctuary Mountain staff about the birds and the bees, the flowers and the trees and what makes the conservation project at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari truly special as the largest mainland ecological island in the world!
Lunch: Buffet-style lunch served at our one-of-a-kind bush boardroom with the birds for company!
Among giants: Short walk to the forest canopy tower to be among the canopy followed by a light stretching session in the forest shelter.
Afternoon tea: Healthy refreshments
Dinner and glowworm kayaking: Dinner on the banks of lake karapiro, followed by a glowworm kayak tour. Explore the Waikato river by kayak with the team and enjoy the magic of the Pokaiwhenua canyon with Lake District Adventures. As night arrives over Lake Karāpiro, paddle slowly up the stream and through the canyon carved out by water over many hundreds of years. When darkness falls, float silently back downstream, being guided by the glow worms on either side sparkling like fairy lights.
Back to accommodation. We have relationships with a number of local accommodation providers and can organise this for you, based on your team rooming requirements.
DAY 2
Wild food foraging workshop with our expert: Discover nutrient dense wild plants which help to strengthen your immune system and aid in harmonising our bodies and minds. You will discover the nutritional benefits, culinary, medicinal and survival uses of plants and 'weeds' as you wander through Maungatautari.
Lunch: Sample a nutritious foraged fare spread for lunch!
Afternoon: Options to add a Breathwork session with Sandro Mota (see below), a facilitated session by Andrew Millar (see below), give back to the conservation work of the maunga by getting hands on, or round off with some local food and wine tasting depending on the focus for your groups retreat.
All packages INCLUDE a built-in contribution from your company to the
incredible conservation work of the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust.
OPTION: Add or substitute a workshop on the mountain with one of our experts...
Wild food foraging experience with Ashley Budd
Ever wondered how ancient civilizations knew what to use plants for?
As an elite ex-military operator, Ash will take you on a journey through to help you understand the lost language of plants and discover edible weeds and natives you never knew existed! Learn about the nutritional benefits, culinary, medicinal and survival uses of plants.
Connect with nature and discover nutrient dense wild plants which help with weight loss, strengthen your immune system and aid in harmonising our bodies and minds in a busy life. Touch, smell, taste and reconnect the missing link with wild plants.
Leadership & corporate culture with Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller – Roar Coaching
Andrew supports organisations and teams to create and live their desired culture. Not nice words on a wall, but real, heartfelt, passionate environments where we ‘show up’ and create something meaningful.
With experience with a number of professional sports teams and corporates, Andrew is an ideal fit for your facilitated leadership or company cultural session in our bush boardroom if you are looking to connect more deeply with yourselves, and each other as a team. Get the team environment right, and you’ve laid the foundation for awesomeness!
The power of breathing: Breathwork with Sandro Mota
Experience the amazing benefits of mind set coaching.
Quieten your inner critic, ground yourself, spark inspiration and refine your focus. Sandro’s mind workshops are perfect for people looking to:
- Change your mindset
- Stress & anxiety management
- Sleep coaching
Sandro is an award-winning wellness coach with over 16 professional qualifications, crowned top 5 Mr Universe, professional physique athlete in 2017. With over 20 years experience in the wellness industry he has helped thousands of clients throughout his career.
More optional inclusions
- Do you have your own external facilitator? Why not suggest a session with them at our bush boardroom following a 'walking primer' - a little more exciting than a four-walled room and whiteboard!
- Give back to conservation: Is your team feeling fit and strong? Get hands on with giving back to conservation by lending a hand to the rangers by clearing monitoring tracks.
Tell me more about...
Transport: How do we get there?
All all packages are bespoke so we can either arrange transport for you from Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu or surrounding areas, or you and the team can meet us at Maungatautari. Although we base our packages primarily around Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (20 minutes from Cambridge) we can also create a package for you at a different location within the Waikato or Coromandel accessing one of the over 20 walking tracks we operate on, or visiting one of the several artisan foodie producers we have great relationships with.
Rain / weather policy
We will go ahead with the agreed programme if there is rain on the day(s), as long as it is safe to do so. If your group has booked the bush boardroom for a session, we will make a call no later than 2 hours before this session whether to move it into the covered (open-faced) events centre in the Southern Enclosure.
Fitness requirements
Hiking: We know that not everyone will be experienced when it comes to the outdoors and hiking, and that's fantastic. Getting a little out of comfort zone in safe hands is what it's all about. We can cater to most fitness levels and abilities and will work within your groups capabilities. As a rough guideline, individuals should be able to walk for an hour continuously with some steep incline at gentle pace.
Kayaking: This activity is suitable for all skill levels and you will be given a basic tutorial before getting on the water.
Accessibility
Sanctuary Mountain tracks all have gradients which makes wheelchair access difficult or impossible, depending on the ability of the person using the chair, their supporters and the sort of chair. The tracks are metalled but not smooth so it can take quite a lot of strength to move a wheelchair. There is an unavoidable gradient down to the entrance through the fence. We would like to be more accessible but the terrain makes this difficult and, being a Charitable Trust, we need to find funding for any alterations and additions.
100% New Zealand owned and operated business
We are a family run business who have been running highly rated hiking and food tours since 2017. We're approved DOC concession operators and we've achieved a GOLD Qualmark endorsement for our experiences.
Say hello
hello@natureandnosh.co.nz
Phone: +64 204 130 5060
