Evolve Sanctuary rainforest retreat in Northern Rivers NSW, featuring creekside meditation, eco cabins, and wellness retreats hosted with Pete Evans.

Men’s Wellness Retreat at Evolve Sanctuary with Pete Evans

Scrolling in bed isn’t recovery. It’s digital loitering. Evolve Sanctuary is what happens when you drag men out of the inbox and drop them in the Byron hinterland with nothing but rainforest, ritual, and chef Pete Evans on the pans. Expect breathwork that smashes stress, hikes that torch complacency, and ice baths that remind you you’re still alive. Then sit down to communal feasts built on pasture-raised meat, wild seafood, and produce so clean it makes supermarket aisles look like a landfill. This isn’t mindfulness wallpaper — it’s a full-bodied system reboot.

Location

Evolve Sanctuary
Far Northern NSW hinterland (exact address provided upon booking)
NSW 2484

Dates

Next Event: Fri 3 Oct – Sun 5 Oct 2025
Frequency: Seasonal
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
Website: evolvesanctuary.com

Price

All-inclusive package: accommodation, meals, retreat activities, and full access to the sanctuary’s facilities.
Package Cost: $1,850
Availability: Strictly limited cabins. Booking essential. Adults only.

Accommodation & Facilities

Cabins That Actually Let You Sleep

Forget soulless hotel rooms with buzz-lightbulbs and polyester sheets. Evolve Sanctuary has six freshly renovated eco-cabins tucked into the rainforest, each built for proper rest, not just somewhere to drop your bag.

What You Get

A queen-size bed from The Natural Bedding Company with eco-linens that knock you out cleaner than melatonin
A spring-fed water shower and private bathroom (yes, the water literally comes from the mountain)
Your own balcony with a front-row seat to rainforest theatre — birds, creeks, and zero traffic noise

Going Double

Rolling with a mate? The two-bedroom cabin has two queen beds, the same eco-linens, a spring-fed shower, and plenty of space to breathe without bumping elbows.

The Vibe

This isn’t “glamping” or “eco-adjacent marketing.” It’s proper rainforest living — cabins perched among trees, air that tastes different, and the magnesium pool, sauna, ice baths, and creeks only a short wander away. Privacy when you want it, connection when you don’t.

Photo Credit: JET RE / Evolve Sanctuary - eco-cabins in the Northern Rivers hinterland, featuring newly renovated one-bedroom cabins with private bathrooms, spring-fed showers, and eco-linen queen beds. Outdoor communal dining area with wood-fired oven and rainforest surrounds.

Food Philosophy & Cooking School

Fresh, Local, and Anything but Basic

This isn’t spa food that leaves you Googling Uber Eats after dinner. At Evolve Sanctuary, the kitchen is tuned to Pete Evans’ food is medicine philosophy, which means everything is organic, wild-harvested, and grown by the kind of local producers who actually know their soil. Less packaging, less rubbish, fewer fake ingredients — more flavour, more density, more reasons your gut will thank you later.

The Line-Up

Think fuel, not fluff:

Water tapped straight from the spring on-site
Seasonal juices and smoothies that taste like they were poured straight from the orchard
Local fruit, no filters
Bone broths and soups that go deeper than your average cleanse
Vegetables roasted, smoked, or stir-fried until they hit peak flavour
Pasture-raised meats cooked low and slow
Wild seafood, raw or grilled to perfection
Fermented and pickled everything — because your microbiome likes a party too

The Pete Factor

Over three decades, Pete Evans has cooked a million meals (literally) and written the kind of cookbooks that sit on both wellness blogs and actual kitchen benches. Here, he runs informal cooking classes that double as live masterclasses in self-love through food. It’s equal parts chef’s table, nutrition lesson, and a reminder that sustainable health doesn’t come in a packet.

Photo credit: Evolve Sanctuary - A showcase of Evolve Sanctuary’s food philosophy — nutrient-dense meals made with fresh, organic, and locally grown produce. The image features vibrant sushi-style wraps with seasonal vegetables, alongside cucumbers growing fresh on the vine.

Getting There

Guests will need to arrange their own transport. The closest airport is Coolangatta (Gold Coast), around an hour’s drive. Ballina is just over an hour, and Brisbane is two hours south. From any airport, car hire is recommended — the sanctuary is 25 minutes inland from Murwillumbah. Precise directions and address are provided upon booking.

The BioHax Take

This isn’t a retreat where you sip herbal tea and pretend emails don’t exist. Evolve Sanctuary is a full-sensory men’s reset. Picture this: yin yoga under rainforest canopy, sweat rolling in the sauna, the shock of an ice bath cracking your system awake, then a feast of local beef and seasonal veg cooked by Pete Evans himself. Every corner of the sanctuary hits different — magnesium pools, spring-fed creeks, firelit evenings — designed to strip you back to human basics and rebuild you stronger. You’ll leave cleaner, calmer, sharper, and probably wondering why you ever settled for “weekend downtime.”

Who It’s For

Men chasing a nervous system reboot
Wellness seekers chasing breathwork over boardrooms
Paleo warriors, ketogenic eaters, and clean-food converts
City blokes who secretly crave forest silence
Anyone ready to swap Netflix for waterfalls and fire pits

What’s On Offer

Daily yin yoga sessions and guided breathwork
Bodywork treatments and tea ceremonies
Guided rainforest waterfall hikes
Sauna, ice bath, mineral spa and magnesium pool
Six one-bedroom eco-cabins with queen beds + one two-bedroom option
Pete Evans-led paleo/ketogenic communal feasts featuring local meat, seafood, nuts, seeds, fruit and veg
Spring-fed creeks and private downtime in lush rainforest surrounds

Photo credit: JET RE/Evolve Sanctuary - Infrared sauna, ice bath and magnesium pool — Evolve Sanctuary doesn’t do “basic spa.” This is a full rainforest recovery zone where you sweat, freeze, float, and reset with a backdrop of rolling hinterland hills.

Sustainability Snapshot

Evolve Sanctuary isn’t just scenery. The retreat runs on natural spring water, promotes farm-to-table sourcing, and leans on local Northern Rivers growers and fisher-folk. Every detail, down to the eco-friendly beds in the cabins, is tuned to tread lightly on Wollumbin’s ancient ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is accommodation included?
Yes — all stays include eco-cabins with queen beds and private bathrooms.

Who is catering?
Chef Pete Evans leads the kitchen, with a paleo/ketogenic menu built on local, seasonal produce.

Do I have to do all the activities?
No. Opt in or out — whether that’s the hike, the ice bath, or just lying by the magnesium pool.

What’s the nearest airport?
Coolangatta (1 hr), Ballina (1 hr 15 min), Brisbane (2 hrs). Murwillumbah is the closest town.

Is this retreat only for men?
Yes — this program is men’s only. Private mixed or family bookings can be arranged via info@evolvesanctuary.com.

Is everything included in the ticket price?
Yes. No hidden extras. Accommodation, food, and activities are all part of the package.

Can I extend my stay?
Yes — additional nights can be arranged directly with Evolve Sanctuary.

What’s the food philosophy?
Paleo and ketogenic focused: meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds — all sourced from local farmers and fishers.

Do I need experience with yoga or breathwork?
Not at all. Everything is beginner-friendly and guided.

Is alcohol or coffee included?
No. The focus is on clean eating, hydration, and natural energy resets.