JOIN OUR NOVEMBER RETREAT OR BOOK NOW FOR 27-30 MARCH 2025

Autumn & Spring Cleanse Retreats

Our Ayurveda Retreats offer the perfect opportunity for a deep cleanse in a stunning environment at Parohe on Kawau Island. We invite you to relax and rejuvenate with an authentic Ayurvedic experience during this four day weekend. Ayurveda, a sister science of Yoga, is an ancient holistic healing system from India with a history of over 5000 years.

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Enjoy Ayurvedic treatments from our team of trained and experienced Ayurveda practitioners. Daily yoga sessions and dosha specific plant-based meals, prepared by our Ayurvedic chef will nourish and replenish your body and soul.

The retreat includes an educational talk about Ayurveda with an introduction to basic principles, history, and philosophy, with particular focus on Panchakarma. We will introduce and practice traditional Ayurvedic cleansing and purification rituals together, such as Jala Neti (nasal cleanse), tongue scraping, and self-Abhyanga massage with Dosha-specific oils. These practices can be incorporated into your daily routine (Dinacharya) at home. Additionally an Ayurvedic cooking class will demonstrate the application of Ayurvedic principles to nutrition.

Prior to the retreat, as part of this package, an individual Ayurvedic consultation will be scheduled with the retreat host Sarita Blankenburg, a certified Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioner based in Freemans Bay, Auckland. This will give you the opportunity to address any health concerns and set some goals for the retreat. It will also provide the Ayurveda New Zealand team a better understanding of your health history to tailor your customised retreat program. 

During your spare time at the retreat you can explore the idyllic Parohe Island Retreat with native bush walks, paddleboarding, kayaking, sauna, outdoor baths, swimming in the ocean or the pool, or just relax and enjoy reading a book.

Our Ayurvedic Cleanse Retreat includes:

Personal Consultation

Before the retreat, you will receive a personal Ayurvedic Consultation, in person or online, and a customised treatment plan.

Ayurvedic Treatments

Our Ayurvedic Practitioners will provide two personalised treatments during the retreat, and you can choose to add more.

Introduction to Ayurveda Workshop

Get an introduction to Ayurveda and learn about its history, philosophy and basic principles.  

Ayurveda Cleanse Workshop

In this workshop you will practice Ayurvedic cleansing techniques and learn about Panchakarma, Ayurveda’s deep purification therapy.

Ayurvedic Medicine

Trial any of our Sattva Botanicals products as part of your morning and evening routine. 

Welcome Gift Bag

Receive all the essential Ayurvedic accessories to practice your morning cleansing routine including a sample of your dosha-specific massage oil. 

Dosha-specific Meals

Our amazing Chef, Gawain, will prepare delicious and nourishing plant-based Ayurvedic meals for each Dosha.

Ayurvedic Cooking Class

Learn about Ayurvedic nutrition and how to cook according to your doshic constitution and the season. Watch a live demonstration of food preparation by our Ayurvedic Chef.  

Yoga Classes Twice Daily

Morning and evening yoga classes are a gentle and restorative practice to complement the Ayurvedic therapies.

Relax in Nature

The beautiful natural world is all around at Parohe Resort. Take a sauna, walk in the bush, swim, paddle board, or just relax.

Accommodation Options & Retreat Package Pricing

Twin Share

SEA BREEZE (Harbour View Cabins) 

Dotted throughout 20 hectares of native bush, these Scandinavian inspired cabins with views of Bon Accord blend seamlessly into the landscape of Parohe. An uphill hike to the Enchantment restaurant or the villa for yoga classes will get your heart pumping.

Each cabin has an ensuite and a queen bed which can be turned into 2 single beds. Perfect for a couple or two friends who want to share a room, the Harbour View Cabins can also be booked as a Private Single option.

Book $2495 pp Package

Private Room

TRANQUILITY (Bush Cabins) 

The same Scandinavian design as the Harbour View cabins, these rooms accommodate one person and come with an ensuite and queen bed.

PERFECT SIMPLICITY (Cabanas) 

With peek views of the harbour, these 40m2 rooms are within close proximity of Parohe's alpacas and a flat 5 minute walk to Enchantment restaurant via the boardwalk and glade path. These rooms come with an ensuite and a queen bed.

Book $2995 pp Package

Luxury Private Options

BOHEMIAN LUX (Cabana Suite)

A 80m2 spacious room with an open planned kitchen, lounge and deck, peek views of the harbour and, like the standard Cabana, within close proximity to the Enchantment via a boardwalk and glade path. 

LUXURY ESCAPE (Villa - Main House)

The elegant Villa sits atop a hill, with a mesmerising view of the harbour and bush-clad hills. One master bedroom with ensuite and inside/outside showers offers the perfect escape.  The track is steeper, with 15 minutes walk to the restaurant & venue. 

HONEYMOON COTTAGE

The Honeymoon Cottage sits at the water's edge next to the swimming pool. It is rustic, chic and laced with history.  Built in the 1860s (or so), it famously housed a "good friend" of Governor Grey! With its own kitchen and lounge, the bed is in the loft! Just a 9 minute flat walk to the Enchantment. 

Book $3495 pp Package

Ayurvedic Treatments

Each participant will receive an Ayurvedic Gift Bag and two Ayurvedic Treatments during the retreat.

Abhyanga - a full body massage is performed with a warm medicated and Dosha-specific oil infused with ayurvedic herbs. Gentle strokes with a specific focus on joints and marma (energy) points will improve circulation and the shift of dosha to regain balance. Oelation begins the detoxification process by loosening impurities (in Ayurveda called Ama).

Shirodhara - an experience of timelessness and its effects are often indescribable. It is a blissful therapy beneficial for sleep disorders, stress relief, headaches, depression and anxiety. Warm medicated oil is gently poured on the forehead in a rhythmic, steady stream. The treatment begins with a traditional Indian head massage to sensitise the nerve endings on the skull.

Nasya - this treatment is effective in restoring clear breathing and reducing headaches or other problems caused by sinus challenges. After a head, neck and face massage, steam is applied to the sinus area to "ripen" the site for receiving treatment. Then warm, herbal oil called Anu Taila is applied through each nostril while the head is supported in a position to absorb the treatment. Nasya is effective in chronic sinusitis, migraine and hair loss. It brings clarity to all sense organs and promotes clarity of the mind.

Marma Therapy - is a subtle treatment utilising traditional essential oils according to your Dosha to restore balance through vital energy points. The sense of touch is used as a therapeutic tool to gently massage these Marma points which are delicate junctions points between our physical body and our consciousness. Marma Therapy facilitates a deep relaxation, has a calming effect on the mind and nervous systems and helps to promote sound sleep. 

Garshana - is a traditional Ayurvedic dry massage with natural silk gloves or exfoliation mittens that stimulate the lymphatic system to release accumulated toxins and enhance blood circulation. Garshana means friction. Through invigorating massage strokes, this treatment improves digestion and metabolism. The exfoliation of dry dead skin layers generates a glow and vibrance. It is especially suitable for individuals with a Kapha constitution and those wanting to lose weight. Garshana reduces Ama (impurities) in the body and has an energising effect. 

Yoga Classes Twice Daily

The Yoga classes in the mornings and evenings will be a gentle and restorative practice to complement the Ayurvedic therapies. Each class will include Pranayama (breathing exercises), a slow warm up sequence, strengthening and balancing standing and seated Asanas (postures), meditation, relaxation and some chanting.  No matter if you are a beginner, advanced Yoga student or it is your first time on a Yoga mat, all levels are catered for. The main purpose of these Yoga classes is to come together as a group and practice a spiritual and reflective sequence that promotes the healing and cleansing experience of this retreat.

Sarita, who will be teaching the Yoga classes, has been trained as a classical Hatha Yoga teacher in Rishikesh, India followed by a Yoga Diploma course with Dr Pooja and Dr Shridar Maddela at Wellpark College. She continued her studies with Vincent Boletta and completed a Yoga Therapy course. Her teaching style is very traditional and authentic with elements of Yoga philosophy and therapy.

Your Retreat Team

Sarita Solvig Blankenburg

Sarita Solvig Blankenburg

Sarita, the host of this retreat, is a diploma certified Ayurvedic practitioner and Yoga therapist with over 15 years’ experience. She has studied Ayurvedic medicine in New Zealand as well as India. Areas of focus for Sarita include stress management,...

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Natasha Kotlarevsky

Natasha Kotlarevsky

Natasha has been working as a massage therapist for 13 years and creates treatments that blend eastern and western techniques for a relaxing and therapeutic experience. She first delved into the world of holistic therapies with Ayurveda and completed the diploma...

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Chef Gawain

Chef Gawain

My name is Gawain and I am a chef of 20 years, most recently as Head Chef at Little Bird Kitchen since 2019. Before returning to New Zealand, I cooked around the world for 12 years. Through Little Bird I have expanded the...

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Kayliah McKinnon

Kayliah McKinnon

Kayliah is a seasoned professional in the health and wellness industry, bringing over a decade of experience as both a massage and beauty therapist. Originally from Canada, she trained at the Aveda Institute in Victoria B.C, where she studied Beauty...

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Parohe Resort on Kawau

Parohe Island Retreat on Kawau island is a jewel in the Hauraki Gulf, nestled in 20 hectares of native bush, and incorporates luxurious Scandinavian-inspired accommodation, organic gardens, and orchards with native birds, alpacas and wallabies.

Three different accommodation packages are available (Twin Share, Private Room & Luxury Private) with a selection of 7 Cabins, 3 Cabanas, the Villa, and Honeymoon cottage so you can select an option that suits you best.

Various land and sea activities are available to connect with nature during any spare time, including archery, volleyball, lawn games, pitch/putt golf, sauna, fishing, outdoor baths, swimming pool, paddle boarding and kayaking.

The Parohe restaurant ‘Enchantment’ offers plenty of indoor-outdoor space for dining and relaxation. A short stroll away, you'll find two outdoor baths, a sauna, the massage hut and bush-enclosed yoga platforms.

Easily accessible from Auckland and the short ferry ride, departing from Sandspit near Matakana, makes an enjoyable journey. Once on the ferry, you feel as if you are leaving your busy life and transitioning to a serene and tranquil island. 

See resort Website

Register your interest now

This retreat accommodates a limited number of people to ensure a rich and authentic experience. 

Contact us now

Booking Process & Cancellation Policy

  1. Please register by contacting Ayurveda New Zealand. 
  2. You'll be sent bank details for the  $500 non-refundable deposit required to confirm the booking.
  3. The final payment is due six weeks prior to the retreat. A reminder with a tax invoice will be emailed to you.
    If final payment is not received by that date, your booking will be cancelled.
  4. In the event you are unable to attend, your booking may be transferred if you have someone who would like to tak your place. 
  5. Alternatively Ayurveda New Zealand will try to find someone to take your place and if successful, will refund the final payment.

Directions to the Ferry at Sandspit can be found here.

Confirmed? Pay your deposit here

Watch the video reviews

"I was fortunate enough to have a particularly rejuvenating, inspiring and learning filled experience thanks to Sarita and Ayurveda New Zealand. Having booked into one of their retreats, I spent just under an hour with Sarita to prime my understanding of the Ayuverdic philosophy, and explore my current state through this method. I found the session to be insightful, aligned with my own observations, and professionally delivered. The retreat itself was a superb balance of all of the things I was seeking: environment; replenishment; connection; and knowledge advancing. I highly recommend Sarita, Ayurveda New Zealand, and their retreats!"

- Nathan Taukiri

Read more participant reviews