Earth Lodge Australia is an annual gathering held in nature, near Kenilworth in Queensland. For six days each spring, children, teens, adults, and elders come together in community to create a village. Each age group has its own dedicated lodge space, with its own programme of teachings, ceremony, and rites of passage. All meals are included, and provide a beautiful connecting point for the whole village along with morning stories and the evening fire.
Set in beautiful bushland in the Conondale Ranges, Sunshine Coast hinterland, Earth Lodge invites you to step away from routine and reconnect with yourself, with others, and with the natural world. Ancient wisdom teachings and ceremony from the Sweet Medicine SunDance tradition are woven through the gathering. The focus is not on luxury, but on depth, belonging, and time spent in nature.
Our participants travel from across Australia and even overseas to experience Earth Lodge. A loyal following of families and individuals joins us from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Northern Rivers. In just a short drive, the city fades away, replaced by open skies, lush bushland, and the fresh country air of the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Close enough to be accessible, far enough to feel like a genuine departure from ordinary life.
Whether you are seeking a meaningful experience for your whole family, an opportunity to mark a life transition, or simply time in nature with people who share your values, Earth Lodge offers a welcoming space for all ages and all stages of life.
Earth Lodge works because everyone belongs. Children, teens, and adults each have their own lodge space, their own programme, and their own experience of the week. And yet the gathering is shared. The rhythm of communal meals, morning stories, and the evening fire weaves the generations together in ways that are rare in ordinary life.
Every member of the family finds their place here. And the whole is so much greater than the sum of its parts.
Earth Lodge runs from 28th September – 3rd October 2026.
We’d love you to join us.
In Kids Lodge, children spend their days playing, creating, making friends and exploring in nature. Bush play, crafts, games, and storytelling nurture imagination and confidence in an environment where children feel free to be themselves. Kids Lodge offers a first step into community and ceremony, introducing ideas of connection and respect for the natural world in ways that feel age-appropriate and joyful. And while the children are fully engaged, parents can be present in their own lodge, knowing their children are supported and cared for.
Teens Lodge combines adventure with meaning, offering challenges that encourage focus, teamwork and self-belief. Activities such as archery, raft building and fire-keeping are framed by mentoring and reflective practices, helping young people recognise their strengths and understand the value of community. This lodge provides teens with the opportunity to experience responsibility in a safe and supportive environment, guiding them through the transitions of adolescence with care. Teens leave with a stronger sense of direction, resilience, and a deeper connection to both themselves and the world around them.
Adults Lodge offers space to pause, reflect, and reconnect. Teachings and ceremonies drawn from the Sweet Medicine SunDance tradition honour life’s transitions and offer practical tools for navigating what lies ahead. For some, this means stepping into a rite of passage. For others, it is simply the stillness and renewal that come from time in nature and shared community that feels so precious. Adults Lodge is led by Janneke Koole, a certified Sweet Medicine SunDance teacher and ceremonialist with over thirty years of experience.
The next Earth Lodge retreat will be held from 28th September – 3rd October 2026 iin Cambroon, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland. Across six days, participants move through teachings, ceremony, and community life in a beautiful bushland setting in the Conondale Ranges. For those seeking a nature retreat or spiritual gathering within reach of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, or the Northern Rivers, Earth Lodge offers something genuinely rare: six days of ceremony, connection, and rest in nature, for all ages, all together.
Free info session about Earth Lodge Australia’s annual nature camp for all ages.
Earth Lodge in Italy has been running for over 30 years. This year we will be celebrating our third Earth Lodge in Australia
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Your registration fee includes:
~ A rich daily program of teachings, activities and ceremonies for all participants
~ Your camp site and shower and toilet facilities for 5 nights (6 days)
~ Three delicious meals for each full day of the camp plus lunch and dinner on the first day and breakfast and lunch on the final day
~ Transport to and from the venue is not included. You will need to arrange your own transport to and from the event site or to Nambour train station. We will be organising transport options back and forth to Nambour train station. Please speak to us about these. For those travelling interstate or internationally we can support you to organise travel from Brisbane airport.
~ Camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags, bedding etc. are not included. Please ask our team if you would like to hire camping equipment.
If payment of your registration payments by the due dates will be a challenge, please talk to our enrolment people about what payment plan options are available
Participant Cancellations:
Cancellations made more than 60 days before the retreat start date will receive a refund of the amount paid, minus the non-refundable deposit ($400).
Cancellations made 30-60 days before the retreat start date will receive a 50% refund of the amount paid, minus the non-refundable deposit.
Cancellations made less than 30 days before the retreat start date are non-refundable.
Organizer Cancellations:
In the unlikely event that the retreat is cancelled by the organisers, participants will receive a full refund of all payments made, including the deposit.
Yes, tents are available for hire. Please inquire with our registration people on hire costs and tent sizes available. Linen is also available for hire. Talk to us about what you need.
Super early-bird and early-bird discounts are available. Current pricing is the super early-bird discount.
~ Super Early Bird Registration closes on the 31st March 2026
~ Early Bird Discounts close on the 30th June 2026
~ Children under 5 require a full-time carer and are free to attend.
~ The cut-off age for each camp lodge can vary slightly depending on the participant. If you are unsure which camp group will be appropriate for you or someone in your group, please talk with us, and we will help you find clarity.
~ For the purposes of fees, a child is considered 5-12, a teen is 13-17 and adults are aged 18+
The reduced price for the adult who is caring for a child under 5 at the camp is $450
~ Participants will arrive in the morning Monday 28th September 2026. Once checked in and registered, time will be available to set up your camping area. Lunch will be provided on the arrival day and the camp programme will start at 1.30 with an opening circle for all.
~ The camp activities will complete with a closing circle and lunch on Saturday 3rd October 2026
~ Management will be doing regular trips back and forth to Nambour train station. Traveling parties should check in to see if a pickup is possible
Yes. There is a designated area for campers & RV’s. Power hook ups are not available except in cases of special needs.
Dormitory style, shared accomodation is available in the onsite geodesic domes. Speak to our registration team for more details.
Yes.
Participants are kindly requested to refrain from bringing or using alcohol or drugs at Earth Lodge. This is crucial for staying mentally sharp and physically alert, enabling us to fully benefit from the wisdom offered during teachings and the insights gained in the ceremonies.
We warmly encourage everyone to step away from digital media while at camp. Reception is patchy and WiFi is only available in special circumstances, making this a natural time to disconnect and drop into the experience.
For peace of mind, we’ll provide you with an emergency contact number so family and friends can reach you if needed. If you require essential internet access for urgent matters, please speak with us ahead of time or at the camp and we’ll do our best to support you.
For more information on the Earth Lodge Australia event, simply download our Information Pack for all of the details.
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