She SUPs ‘Connect To Country’ Retreat, Gumbaynggirr Country

NEW DATES COMING FOR 2023/2024
Gumbaynggirr Country (Red Rock, Coffs Harbour)

3 (VERY full) days, 2 nights

Join She SUPs for a truly magical experience on our ‘Connect to Country’ Retreat on Gumbaynggirr country (Red Rock, Coffs Harbour).

We have worked closely with our local partners to turn this 3 day, 2 night jam-packed trip into a magical once-in-a-lifetime experience for 7 lucky paddlers full of cultural delights and incredible paddle opportunities.

We will be spending 3 full days and 2 nights on Gumbaynggirr country paddling an area called ‘Red Rock’. Red Rock is a small hamlet in the northern beaches of the Coffs Harbour coast.

All of our amazing local guides for this trip are Gumbaynggirr people or Aboriginal people who have strong familial ties to Gumbaynggirr country, so they will be sharing all of their knowledge and stories with us on and off the water during our stay.

  • To ensure you feel comfortable on this trip we recommend you can stand-up paddle comfortably for 1 hour, and can move between standing and kneeling/sitting on your board.

  • All ages (18+) and backgrounds welcome.

  • The cost of this trip includes board hire. You are welcome to BYO board for this trip, however, the cost does not change.

  • $200 non-refundable deposit needed to secure the booking, payment due a minimum of 28 days before the trip. If you have not paid the full fee at least 28 days before the trip, you will lose your spot.

 
 

REVIEW:

“I am beyond grateful that I was able to join a Connect to Country She SUPs trip. From spectacular sunrises where we were encouraged to take time and set our intentions for the day and being entertained by whales and surfing dolphins to laughing into the night playing card games….with a few beverages of course. For me, a key to the success of this trip was Vikki’s ability to bring together local guides who shared their knowledge and stories to make the connection to country complete. My sister Shesuppers were another integral part of making a memorable trip, new friendships forged. My advice, be kind to yourself and join the next one, I have no doubt you will love it.”

- Dianne, from Sydney

 
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Itinerary

Friday:

  • Everyone will meet at Coffs Harbour airport (or Red Rock if you’re arriving via car) around 9:30am. Transportation from the airport is provided for those who need it. If travelling from Sydney, we recommend the 8:20am Qantas Flight, arriving at Coffs Harbour at 9:35am or some ladies prefer to arrive the night before and we can pick you up from your air bnb/motel.

  • We’ll have a couple of hours on arrival to unpack, settle into our accomodation and get changed before our first adventure in Red Rock!

  • We will start with a guided cultural walk collecting & tasting seasonal bush tucker, learning Gumbaynggirr language and stories on our way.

  • We will stop for a quick lunch break at a local cafe before continuing our cultural immersion on the water with a 2.5-hour paddle adventure around Red Rock.

  • Friday will be a big day on and off the water, so we’ll take things easy that afternoon/evening with a sunset dinner at our waterside home (provided).

Saturday:

  • We will start our Saturday with a beautiful Sunrise Paddle before breakfast. Watching the world wake up around us.

  • We will then come together in a traditional weaving circle and learn the basics of this ancient craft while having a yarn and making connections in our own private weaving workshop.

  • The main focus of our day will be the spectacular Giingan Experience. The Giingan Experience is about Gumbaynggirr people, language and culture. The Cultural Experience takes place at an important cultural site of the Gumbaynggirr people, the stunning location of “Niigi Niigi” (Sealy Lookout) within the Orara East State Forest. Guests bask in the ambience of 360 degree views and immerse in the Gumbayngirr culture through stories, songs, language and the uses of native plants.

  • After an amazing day of adventures, we’ll take things slow with a relaxing dinner together.

Sunday:

  • We’ll take things easy this morning, enjoying a big cooked breakfast before we say goodbye to our holiday home as we set off early to maximise our final day of cultural adventures!

  • We will set off to a 1 hour cultural walk and explore a new paddle spot with another 2.5 hour guided paddle adventure with our local guides.

  • The trip will conclude at 2pm on Sunday afternoon, transport to the airport provided if required. (If travelling back to Sydney, we recommend the 3:25pm Virgin Australia Flight, arriving in Sydney at 4:35pm)

Where we are staying

We are staying at a beautiful river-side home, just a stone throw from our paddling spot in Red Rock!

With sensational verandah views towards the river, this house will be the perfect spot for you to sit back with a drink and/or a good book on a sunny afternoon, and enable you to be easily on/in/alongside the water during our downtime!

  • Rooms are a mix of Queen and twin.

  • All linen and towels provided

There are limited facilities in this area, but with most meals provided, you shouldn’t need much extra. However, if you fancy a coffee, ice cream or even an extra sandwich, we are just a short stroll from the Red Rock Shop (general store).

 

REVIEW:

"It's difficult to mention just ONE highlight! But really, mostly it was the company! Getting to share these amazing experiences with a group of women, whom I hardly or didn't know prior to the trip, and experience us coming together over a shared love for the water, nature and stand up paddle boarding.

I love that the groups are usually quite small and intimate and with enough down time for even an introvert like myself, to be comfortable and for everyone to feel relaxed in each others company. Vikki is such a great host. She knows how to make everyone feel welcome from the get go and her trip organising skills are like no other I've experienced. Every trip I've been on with her and She SUPs so far has been perfectly balanced, with time for paddling, socialising as well as relaxing. And she knows how to cook too!"

- Louise, from Sydney

 

Investment & Inclusions

3 (VERY full) days, 2 nights She SUPs ‘Connect To Country’ Retreat - $1059pp

Inclusions:

REVIEW:

“Red Rock is the most magical place where we connected to nature and re-connected to ourselves. Vikki had arranged some amazing tour guides to teach us about their land, language and their tribe. It was amazing to hear how they lived in harmony with the earth and their neighbours. It was like going back to a simpler more fulfilling time. I can't wait to visit again and learn more!”

- Sam, from the Gold Coast

  • 3 full days of hosted activities

  • 2 Nights stay at our water facing accommodation

  • All bed linen and towels

  • Mix of Private Queen Rooms & Shared Twins

  • All SUP equipment: board, paddle, leg rope

  • 2.5 hour guided paddle of Red Rock with our aboriginal guides

  • 1-hour guided cultural walk of Red Rock

  • 2.5 hour guided paddle of other location (e.g. Moonee Beach - location decided on weather) with our aboriginal guides

  • 1 hour guided Sunrise Paddle

  • 3 hour Giingan Experience

  • Guided Sunrise Walk

  • 1-hour guided cultural walk of Moonee Beach

  • Private Weaving Workshop (all materials included)

  • 2 x Breakfasts provided (Sat, Sun)

  • 2 x Evening Meals (Fri, Sat)

  • Photos and videos of your trip shared amongst a WhatsApp group after the trip

  • Transportation/ Shuttles between Airport and Accomodation, and between paddle locations

  • 3 x Qualified SUP Instructors + She SUPs Host throughout the trip

  • Upgrade to a double/queen bed for $1109pp (only 4 available)

Cancellation Policy & COVID19

She SUPs highly recommends paddlers take out their own holiday insurance before this trip.

If we have to cancel this trip due to COVID19, we will work with our partners to postpone this trip to a later date.

If you are travelling into NSW for this trip, please make sure you check the NSW Government Travel Advice HERE prior to booking to ensure you are safe to travel from your state. If you become impacted by COVID19 prior to the trip (e.g. have COVID19 symptoms, travel to a COVID19 hot spot or come into contact with anyone who has COVID19, please contact She SUPs immediately to discuss your refund options, and/or allow us to open up your spot to someone else).

For more details on the She SUPs trip cancellation policy, please see here.

How To Book

NEW DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST 2022. Please ensure you are signed up to our email list (HERE) to be notified first.

Clicking on the booking button below, you will be required to pay a $350 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot. The remaining amount will be due a minimum of 28 days prior to the trip. If you do not pay your full fee before this time, you will lose your spot. There is a maximum of 7 spots on this trip and they are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.