Information for Participants of the NZ Contact Retreat.
Dates and Place
2pm 16th January - 2pm 22nd January
Lake Rotoiti Hall
St Arnaud
Nelson Lakes
GETTING THERE
Nelson is your closest NZ airport.
You will need to have a car, hire a shuttle, or organise a lift to get to Nelson Lakes. Its is approximately 1.5 hour drive from Nelson. Last year we managed to coordinate everyone with a ride, so stay in touch if you need transport. Rides back to Nelson seemed readily available at the end of the retreat.
Arrive in time to find your lodgings, unpack, unwind, sign in, meet and greet. Dinner is at six pm, official opening circle and dancing does not start till 7.30. Tea, coffee and snacks with be at the hall on arrival.
VENUE
We will be dancing in the Rotoiti Community Hall. It is a modern facility with wooden sprung floor and plenty of space. It contains the kitchen and all meals are eaten at the Hall.
There is a 15 minute walk via a beautiful alpine stream to Lake Rotoiti for swimming and relaxing. All accomodation is close by and in walking distance
ON ARRIVAL
The first day is for arrival and registration and finding your accommodation from 2 - 6pm. The hall is available for dancing from 4pm.
Dinner will be at 6pm.
Opening Circle at 7.30pm
Dancing till 10.30pm
ACCOMODATION
We have managed to secure a fantastic deal with the Alpine Lodge in St Arnaud.
It is dorm style accommodation in there backpackers lodge.
If 30 people book there accommodation with Alpine Lodge backpackers in our group the rate will be just $25per night! If less then 30 it will be $35 per night.
They have a variety of configurations, all of which are spacious with a mixture of doubles and singles. Good spaces for luggage, and also has a lounge rooms and small kitchen to make early morning or late night drinks and snacks.
Please feel free to check their website www.alpinelodge.co.nz, click on ‘sleep’ and ‘backpackers lodge’. Everything for sleeping is provided, and there is laundry facilities
To book your place you will just need to leave your credit card details with the Alpine Lodge and please tell them that you are attending the NZ Contact Retreat. They will not charge your credit card, it is just held and you can pay how you wish to at the end of your stay.
NB: THIS IS SHARED ACCOMODATION. IF YOU WANT A PRIVATE ROOM YOU WILL HAVE TO BOOK A HOTEL ROOM OR BACH OPTIONS.
Other Options
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Bookabach.co.nz for local holiday homes in the area. Most of these work out to roughly $50+per night per person in a shared group.
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Also AIRBNB has some listing.
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Travers Sabine Lodge.
Rooms can be booked at this lodge, in dorm rooms ($32 per night) or Family Rooms. On visiting this site, it is clean, but basic. Beds are foam on slat. A basic kitchen is available for making tea/coffee snacks and any extra food you may want to have. A walk through the back of the property takes you straight down to the lake, as it is one minute walk to the dancing hall.
Please book this for yourself at www.nelsonlakes.co.nz
In the same motel complex as the lodge are cabins and units for rent. They have full beds, and come in various configurations. If you require more privacy, or want to room with your family. You would book these directly with the accommodation provider. These are more expensive
CAMPING
The campsite is beautiful, and right by the lake. It will book out and needs to be booked asap. Please go to http://www.doc.govt.nz/ and type in St Arnaud. The Kerr Bay campsite has hot showers, and powered sites for camper vans. The west bay is cold showers only and is quite a large walk to where we
Adults are $21 per night, Children are $10.50
Nelson Lakes National Park 7053
Phone: +64 3 521 1887
Email: info@nelsonlakes.co.nz
RETREAT MEALS AND SPECIAL NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
We are stoked to have Linda Ross, from Nourishing Ways aka ‘Lahla’, back to make our food. We all really enjoyed her beautiful efforts last year and they sustained our dancing well. The food is vegetarian. After last years experience and the feedback we had, we are going to order the day in the following way
Breakfast
Larger Lunch, (with longer break from digestion, swimming, relaxing)
Sweet, grounding morsel for afternoon tea around 4pm
Dinner - Light
Dessert - some nights
There will be a rolling tea stand on offer throughout the day.
Please feel free to bring extra snacks for yourself if you think this will not be enough for you. Last year there was plenty! If you have any special dietary requirements or questions please email Linda directly once you have booked your place on the retreat.
ZEN THAI SHIATSU THERAPIST ONSITE
We will have the amazing David Blomcamp or affectionately known as ‘Dingo’ in residence for Zen Thai Treatments throughout the retreat. I travelled to spend time with him and exchange treatments and learnings prior to ACIC this year and it was invaluable and insightful. He is a wonderful practitioner. He is happy to give up to 5 sessions per day, but be in quick as he will book up fast.
His session costs are as follows for retreat participants and also caregivers if they are keen.
So it’s $80 for 1 hour or $110 for 1.5 hours.
PAYMENTS for the Retreat
NZ PAYMENTS
If you are in NZ all payments can be made to NZ Bank Account.
You can also book online
Account Title: NZ Contact Retreat
Name: CF Luiten and KS Gevorgyan
NZ Swift Code KIWINZ22
Account Number 38 - 9002 - 0964728 - 06
OVERSEAS PAYMENTS
Paying from overseas, please use paypal to clareluiten@gmail.com.
If you have any problems, please contact Clare on clareluiten@gmail.com
Deposit
To reserve your place on the retreat a $350NZ non refundable deposit can be paid straight away. Remaining $295 must be paid by the Early Bird Date.
Early Bird Date is 25th October 2017
Early Bird Payment is $645. This includes retreat activities and meals. Full Cost after Early Bird Date is $740
We are introducing some other ticket prices this year to help accommodate families and students, weekenders and caregivers. We would really like caregivers/families to be able to eat together if they wish to at the retreat so Linda has given us an amazing rate to make this possible.
They are as follows:
Family One(2 participating Adults, 2 non participating children, all eating at the Retreat)
Price is based on children aged between 2-9Yrs)
$1300
Family Two (2 participating Adults and 2 participating children 16+ years)
$2100
Students (Full time enrolled)
$490
Single Adult Care Giver or Partner - Non Participating, Eating at Retreat
$260 (18 meals)
Children between 2 - 9 years
$93 Eating at Retreat (18 meals)
We appreciate your promptness with your decision making if you are planning to attend. Tickets are strictly limited. Please be aware that I may take a few days maybe a week to get back to you, as have two young children and life is busy! Any further questions please call Clare on (+64) 021 728475 or email her on clareluiten@gmail.com
Looking forward to dancing and connecting with you all.
Clare and Asho