Whale Swim & Yoga Retreat
Vava’u Island, Tonga
20-27 September 2025
This special retreat promises to be one of those pinch-me, once in a lifetime opportunities, as you spend an entire week away on your very own private offshore island hidden in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
We’ll also be travelling during the annual pilgrimage of the majestic humpback whales, so you’ll have the rare experience of combining your love of yoga, with swimming in the presence of these magnificent mammals. Imagine one of these soulful beings gliding past you, their playful and inquisitive nature captivating your heart.
Prepare to embark on a spiritual journey of rejuvenation and deep connection with yourself and some of the most breathtaking and untouched natural environment in the world. This precious time will allow Mother Nature to soothe your soul and restore your ability to listen to the stirrings of your heart, reactivating your internal guidance system. If seven nights away on a tropical island paradise sounds like heaven, then I invite you to read on…
Treasure Island Eco-Resort is located on Eueiki island in the northern island group of Vava’u. It has some of the most beautiful powdered white sand beaches in Tonga. The resort is the only feature on this incredible 48-acre private island, which is surrounded by warm transparent waters, making it an ideal haven of peace, serenity and balance.
It’s the perfect panacea for ultimate wellbeing and healing in nature’s wonderland. Treasure Island also has the only two deep water channel entrances into the lagoon which is the calving ground for humpback whales.
As totems for many Indigenous cultures, whales represent family, kinship bonds and guardianship. The spiritual significance of the whale encourages us to explore the depths of our emotions, connect with our spirituality, and embrace the vast interconnectedness of the Universe. Whales also embody wisdom, solitude, and the transformative power of creativity.
The week unfolds…
* Be among the first to greet the sun each morning, beginning the day with a swim in the transparent island waters, followed by a beautiful yoga class
* After class, a delicious breakfast will be served
* At midday, we’ll come together to work on calming and soothing our autonomic nervous system with a variety of different somatic techniques, and also meditation and yoga nidra practices
* The afternoon’s are yours to enjoy – *swim in the ocean, relax under a palm tree with a book, sunbathe on the gorgeous white sand beaches or have a siesta in your fale.
* A late afternoon yin or restorative yoga class will melt your tight muscles and turn you into a puddle of relaxation before a deep, restful night’s sleep
* We’ll end the day with a nourishing 3-course dinner
Inclusions:
- Seven nights accommodation at Treasure Island Eco-Resort
- Healthy and nutritious vegetarian breakfasts and dinners
- Return transfers from Vava’u airport to Treasure Island
- All yoga and meditation offerings
- One whale swim
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- One tropical sarong
- One final evening cocktail
- CT (Consumption Tax) included
* See FAQ below or Terms & Conditions for exclusions
Join me for a Zoom Discovery Call to discuss all aspects of this trip so you can feel confident that you’re making the right decision for you. We’ll chat travel arrangements and a host of other topics related to the retreat. PLEASE NOTE: It is essential to register for this call.
My goal is to create the most relaxing and harmonious space for you on this secluded Tongan adventure, so you can wind down and enjoy all the island has to offer. This experience will encourage you to surrender to the flow of each day, and become fully present to the surrounding beauty.
You’ll go from addicted to your work, phone and latest TV show, to moving in complete synchronicity with the cycles of nature. You’ll not only transform your relationship to yourself, but understand on a deeper level the intrinsic value of living more connected to nature, which greatly impacts your overall health, but also your “santosha” or inner contentment.
It’s the perfect opportunity to ground, centre, balance, release and regulate your nervous system, and they’ll be plenty of time to rest, play, frolic, explore, unplug from the world, and enjoy some much needed respite from the demands of life.
Yoga practices will be intentionally designed to fully support and nourish your inner journey; physically, mentally and spiritually. This might just be the medicine you need to shift any stagnant, stale or stuck energy and break through to your next level of growth and evolution.
Accommodation Options Available
Option 1:
Twin Share Accommodation
King or Two Single Bed Options with en suite bathroom:
$5,797 per person (Twin share)
Option 2:
Single Accommodation
If the retreat does not completely fill, single rooms will open up. Please express your interest if you’d prefer single accommodation.
PAYMENT PLANS CAN BE ARRANGED
*please reach out to discuss this option with me
Limited to 14 places
A deposit of $1,500 is required when reserving your place.
Please enquire at: when you’re ready to place your deposit and bank account details will be forwarded to you.
It is essential to read the Terms and Conditions before continuing on to make your booking.
FAQ’s
How do I get to Tonga?
Because some of the Tongan island groups are so remote, there are limited flight options, so it’s incredibly important not to book your flight travel until I’ve given you more information regarding flight availability and travel dates.
The most likely option is that we’ll travel with Fiji Airways via Nadie.
I’m currently in discussions with Fiji Airways to find the best flight to Vava’u without needing an overnight stay in Nadie. I’m also hoping to secure a group flight price, but this will not be available until October 2024, so please be patient until then. I’ll announce the flight plan as soon as I have more information.
Retreat and travel dates
In order to arrive in Tonga on Saturday 20 September, we’ll travel on Friday 19 September.
At this stage, the most optimal flight (that doesn’t require overnight accommodation in Nadie) leaves from Brisbane. However, because flights for 2025 have not been released yet, there may be other options to consider then. Once I have all the flight options for the 2025 season directly from Fiji Airways, I’ll make a final decision regarding the departure day and departure location. Thanks for your patience.
What's not included in the retreat?
Exluded from the retreat:
- Return airfares from Australia to Vava’u
- All meals, accommodation and transport outside the retreat dates
- Travel and Cancellation Insurance
- Health Insurance
Is there a refund policy?
The initial deposit of $1,500 is non-refundable.
However, I do require a minimum of 10 people for the retreat to go ahead. If I cannot meet this requirement and the retreat is cancelled, you’ll receive a full refund of your original deposit.
Please read the Terms & Conditions carefully and reach out if you have any questions.
This program has been created and designed with the utmost thought for the individual participating. If you’re unsure if the retreat is the right fit for you, please join the discovery zoom call on Wednesday August 28 or Thursday August 29 to learn more.
Are payment plans available?
Do I need a visa to travel to Tonga?
You do not need to apply for a visa to Tonga. Australian and New Zealand citizens will be issued a free visa on arrival (valid for 31 days).
Whale swim
You’ll be required to sign a waiver and medical statement in order to participate in the whale swim. All whale tours are weather dependent, and as we’re in a completely wild environment, there are no guarantees of whale sightings.
Included in your retreat package is one whale swim. If you’d like to go out on multiple days, you’ll be required to pay again for the experience (and as many times as you would like throughout the week on the designated whale swim days).
The resort is located off-shore where the whales are already passing, so chances of sightings are high and the goal on the day of the swim is to be out on the water by 7.00AM.
During whale season the water temperature is between 25-29 degrees. A wetsuit of 2mm is recommended since there’s a lot of time spent waiting on the boat sometimes with rain and strong wind. It’s also recommended that non-booty split fins for less surface splash be used. If you have your own equipment (suit, mask, snorkel and fins) it’s absolutely worth bringing them with you. If you don’t have any equipment, there’s a basic supply at the resort.
Wonderful combination of time to ourselves, a perfect balance of yoga classes of all types and levels in a setting and food heaven that is truly beautiful and serene. It is the innate and ‘lived experience’ that enables Ondine to create the perfect retreat time and time again. Undoubtedly and by far the best ‘top of the line’ retreats that are currently on offer in Australia and beyond – just pure, honest and genuine bliss that comes from a humble soul enabling us to awaken our own! Thank you, thank you, thank you….
I would highly recommend this particular yoga retreat that Ondine organised. Everything was so well planned and everything ran like clockwork, without any stresses at all. The yoga was perfect. Not too much, but enough so you knew you were at a yoga retreat. The food, of course, was vegetarian/vegan, which was excellent. Our chef was top class and great company too. The accommodation I would call 5 star! Just perfect! My fellow yoga colleagues were wonderful company. We had all meals together, so we got to know each other – quite well after a week of meals! The locals were very welcoming and on our last night we enjoyed the entertainment of the local school children with an authentic Balinese concert. They were just beautiful! Thank you Ondine for a wonderful week of yoga and your company.
Very grateful that I had the opportunity to join Ondine’s Bali Retreat. After a week of yoga, meditation, nourishing food and daily massages at Jeda Villas I came away a transformed person, relaxed and stress free. It is also such a delight to spend time with like minded yogis. Ondine’s retreats are medicine for the mind, body and soul. I cannot wait for the next retreat.