Does it matter what religion you are to book a retreat?

No. Gembrook Retreat was set up by a Quaker woman, Maggie Dunkle, and she wanted to welcome anyone who was seeking retreat and spiritual renewal, regardless of faith or no faith.

Does Gembrook Retreat have disability access?

We are on steeply sloped bush block, but have made efforts towards making our buildings as accessible as possible. See our Accessibility page for more information, and if something is not clear or you have suggestions to help with access and inclusion, please let us know!

Do you take emergency accommodation requests?

While we care deeply about those in urgent need, we are unable to take emergency accommodation requests, as our service is not designed for crisis or same-day housing support.

We do not offer or take referrals of this nature.
We do, however, offer our accommodation to people of all circumstances – with a maximum stay time of up to two weeks, depending on availability. This is with the same facilities as all other bookings. Be aware that we have cold showers only and that there is limited electrical capacity in our retreat spaces. Read the descriptions carefully to make sure they will suit your needs.

Do you welcome LGBTQIA+ people?

Yes, we warmly welcome anyone who wishes to retreat on this land.

Will I run out of power?

Good question! It obviously depends on how much power you use, how sunny the day has been, and whether the building has been used by others directly before your stay. We encourage you to turn off lights when they are not required, charge devices during the daytime (or leave them turned off!) and turn off the fridge when not required. However, there should be enough power to leave a light to the toilet on overnight. In the Meeting House, the inverter box in the Meeting Room shows how full the battery is, so check to see if you are running low. If the power does run out, you can still access water from the outside taps because they are gravity fed.

Can I pick flowers?

We often have flowers in season for sale at the Gate 1 entrance - ask us if you want to buy more.

What is your cancellation policy?

We know that stuff happens! Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel or postpone your booking so we can offer the space to someone else. Your booking is confirmed when we receive payment, unless specific arrangement has been made. For cancellations more than 24 hours before your stay, we will refund your payment minus a 10% or $10 admin fee, whichever is higher. For cancellations less than 24 hours prior to your stay, refunds will be at our discretion.

Are pets allowed?

Aside from authorised assistance animals, we generally limit the number of pets on the land to prioritise wildlife, and minimise cleaning. Currently, we are offering Blackwood Pod for guests wanting to bring a dog. Dogs must be on a leash when outside the building and are not allowed on furniture in Blackwood Pod or the Meeting House.

What kind of retreat can I undertake?

Over our time here we have hosted many guests undertaking a range of different retreats. Whether the focus is silence and contemplation, nature connection or a bit of space to hone in on a writing or artistic practice, we can accommodate your needs for up to two weeks.
We also have the facilities to provide accommodation for small groups in our range of cabins which can accommodate about 6-12*. Previous groups have used the space for silent retreats, seasonal gatherings, bushfoods workshop, weaving/singing workshops and strategy/team building.

(*A few more can be accommodated in our small tent area if needed)

Is Gembrook Retreat suitable for children?

Yes! Children are very welcome at Gembrook Retreat.  Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult who takes responsibility for their supervision. There are many places, birds, animals, insects and plants on the land to discover and explore. As for adults, there are risks to be aware of on a bush block (we have occasional snakes, some plants are prickly, we have burning off piles and woodfire stoves for heating). Please talk to us if you have particular concerns.

Do you offer communal meals or time with the residents?

Guests are welcome to join residents for daily prayer 4 days a week, and/or morning and afternoon tea. Guests can book in to join us for lunch on most Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. However, retreat guests generally need to be self-sufficient unless they have booked a Day Retreat or another activity which takes place in the main house, or have made specific arrangements beforehand.

Is there any work I can do during my stay?

You can always ask us! It’s always helpful to have the wood and kindling topped up in the Cabin, Hut and Meeting House. However, we may not able to direct and supervise work during your stay.

Can I bring plug-in items?

Our retreat buildings do not have regular 240v power points, so you cannot plug in CPAP machines, laptops, heaters etc. There are 12v usb outlets which are suitable for charging phones.

Will I need to bring a torch?

Buildings at Gembrook Retreat have solar powered lighting. If you arrive after dark, we recommend that you bring a torch or use your phone to find your way down the hill to the retreat buildings as there is minimal lighting.

What if there is a bushfire near Gembrook?

Gembrook Retreat has a bushfire policy for the safety of guests and residents. When travelling or living in bushfire prone areas, individuals need to take final responsibility for their own safety.

Fire Danger Ratings are forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology during the fire season to provide an indication of the level of risk of bush fire on any given day. At Gembrook Retreat these forecasts are used as part of our bushfire survival plan and will impact on our ability to host people.  The ratings are as follows:

Moderate: guests are encouraged to remain vigilant and aware throughout the bushfire season.
High: Day will be monitored.  Leaving may be necessary.
Extreme:  Day will be monitored.  Leaving may be necessary.
Catastrophic: All guests will be required to leave before 9am.  Guests will be encouraged to leave the night before and asked to leave a contact number.  Guests should contact us by phone to see when they can return.