The surf and wellness retreat on the quiet side of Byron Bay

Slow down. Learn to surf with confidence. Head home feeling more like yourself.

Settle in for four nights in Lennox Head, with just seven guests and your own beachfront apartment. There’s 2:1 surf coaching so you actually learn — plus yoga, wellness, good food and plenty of time to switch off in between.

Group of surfers walking to the waves at Byron Bay
  • Nov 11 – 15, 2026
  • Feb 10 – 14, 2027
  • Feb 24 – 28, 2027

The grown-up way to learn to surf

An adult beginner surf retreat in Lennox Head only 15 minutes from Byron Bay.

If you’re an adult who wants to learn to surf properly, move your body and take a real break, there aren’t a heap of options in Australia.

So we built one. A four-night surf and wellness retreat for adults who want to build real confidence in the water, slow down and enjoy a proper holiday — all in one of Australia’s best little surf towns.

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This is for you if:

  • You’ve always wanted to learn to surf but never quite felt ready to paddle out
  • You want a real break, not a packed tourist itinerary
  • You’re after slow mornings, coffee in hand, watching the light come up over a quiet coastal village
  • You’re travelling solo and craving connection, or here with a partner or friends and wanting proper time together
  • You value quality over quantity, peace over hype, and a barefoot sunset over another crowded bar
  • You’re ready to trade the grind for grounding

This probably isn’t for you if

  • You want a party vibe with a poolside DJ
  • You need five-star resort polish over a real place
  • You’d rather organise every detail yourself
  • You love crowds and Instagram queues

“I’ve been around surfers my whole life but never found the right moment to learn—until now. I improved every day, and nothing beat the feeling of catching a wave to cheers from new friends.”

Julia – Waluaa PANAMA Guest

“This retreat is the most healthiest, most meaningful, and relaxing experiences l have ever had. You don’t require previous experience, and the main purpose of Vickie and Sergio is to make your trip unbelievable every minute.”

Fernando – Waluaa PANAMA Guest

“The surf instruction was by far the best coaching I have ever had, even after many years of surfing. Sergio made me feel safe at all times while also pushing me to take on bigger challenges.”

Julianna – Waluaa PANAMA Guest

“My wife and I were looking for a perfect combination of activity and relaxation and that’s what we got! I don’t think I have had a healthier week in my life.”

Jeff · Waluaa PANAMA guest

Why we chose Lennox Head over Byron Bay

Quieter, more relaxed and more Waluaa. It’s also home for us (hey… Vickie and Sergio here!), so we know exactly where to take you.

  • Lennox Head is a genuine coastal village with a welcoming local community and a relaxed pace
  • There’s a stunning seven-mile beach right on the doorstep
  • Great coffee on the one main street
  • Uncrowded waves where locals still outnumber visitors
  • Seven miles of beach to slow down, walk and enjoy the moment
  • Lennox is home for us, so you get the local’s version
  • Cafés, trails and hidden corners only locals know
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Retreat Breathwork

What’s included

  • 4 x nights in your own private beachfront apartment in Lennox Head
  • 3 x two-hour personalised surf lessons at the best beginner beaches from Byron Bay to Ballina, with a maximum 2:1 guest-to-coach ratio — among the most personalised surf coaching in Australia.
  • Beach transport to breaks along the Byron to Ballina coastline
  • 2 x yoga classes at a local Lennox Head yoga studio
  • 2 x beach sessions with breathwork, stretch, mindfulness
  • Daily surf videos, plus surf theory and video review with your coach
  • 1 x 60-minute restorative massage
  • Most meals included
  • Free time for Seven Mile Beach, the hike to Pat Morton Lookout or a dip in Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head’s freshwater tea tree lake.

Not included: alcohol, transport to Lennox Head.

Note: Two dinners and one lunch are left free, on purpose, so you can explore the cafés and restaurants a short walk away. Some meals are chef-catered on-site, others out together at our local favourites.

What makes Waluaa different

Ten years running retreats in Panama for hundreds of first-timers with five-star reviews and features in Forbes, Condé Nast Traveler and Lonely Planet. A proven experience, not an experiment.

Our 2:1 surfer-to-coach ratio makes these some of Australia’s most personalised beginner lessons… all tailored to your pace. Sergio still leads as Head Coach, so it’s the Waluaa way PLUS the awesome local crew from Let’s Go Surfing in the water too.

Learn how we coach surfing

Men and women, solo or couples, at every adult age. This isn’t Bali or Costa Rica with a party camp bolted on. It’s not a women-only weekend either. We’re one of the few surf retreats in the Northern Rivers/North Coast NSW built for adult beginners.

Vickie and Sergio live a short walk from your apartment and personally host every retreat: Sergio a professional surf coach, Vickie an experienced yoga and mindfulness teacher, with ten years of Waluaa retreats behind them.

Meet your Hosts

Every guest gets their own private apartment with ocean views: the comfort of your own space, with the group right there when you want it. No forced bonding or awkward “get to know you” games. Alone time whenever you need it.

We launch with a maximum of seven guests, because smaller groups mean safer coaching, faster progress and the personalised hosting guests come back for.

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A sample of your week

Day 1: Arrive and settle in

  • Welcome from 3pm
  • Welcome gathering
  • Sunset beach walk
  • Dinner at a classic Lennox surf hotel

Day 2: Find your feet

  • Light Breakfast
  • Morning surf coaching
  • Chef-prepared brunch
  • Yoga for surfers
  • Time to explore
  • Surf analysis and theory

Day 3: Explore and recover

  • Beach stretch & mindfulness
  • Chef-prepared breakfast
  • Morning surf coaching
  • Casual village lunch at Williams Street
  • 60-minute massage
  • Your afternoon, your call: beach walk, lake swim or the hike to Pat Morton Lookout.
  • Surf analysis and sundowners

Day 4: Soak it all in

  • Beach stretch & mindfulness
  • Chef-prepared breakfast
  • Final surf coaching
  • Yoga for surfers
  • Farewell sundowners & dinner at Shelter

Day 5: One last coffee

  • Morning beach swim
  • Chef-prepared breakfast
  • Check-out at 10am

Why this? Why now?

Because a good surf session is nature’s own medicine and you’re never too old to feel it. You drop in, everything else disappears and you head home more like yourself. This is what guests love most about our getaways:

  • You wake up rested
  • You walk to the beach without checking your phone
  • You paddle into waves with confidence (and ride them all the way in)
  • You make memories with people who get it
  • You stretch out what’s tight and tired
  • You sleep deeply for the first time in ages

By the end of the week you’ll feel clearer. Stronger. Calmer. That’s the beauty of Waluaa!

Pricing

Sound like your kind of four days? Our first Australian retreat is this November, with launch pricing available until October 1.

4 x nights private beachfront apartment · 3 x 2:1 coached surf sessions · yoga & mindfulness · massage · most meals

Private, 1 person

AU$3,900 (save $300) · non-participating partner add-on AU$990

Double, 2 people

AU$3,350 per person (save $300)

Private, 1 person

AU$4,200 (non-surfing partner add-on AU$990)

Double, 2 people

AU$3,650 per person

Not ready to book yet?

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Your private beachfront apartment

You’ll have your own beachfront apartment at Lennox Holiday Apartments — not just a private bedroom, but your own living room and ocean-view patio too. Right on Seven Mile Beach and a just a block to the village, it’s your own space to properly settle into for the four nights.
Chef-catered meals, welcome sessions and surf theory happen together at “Waluaa HQ” — a separate apartment set up just for the group — so when you head back to yours, it’s entirely your own.

  • Self-contained one and two-bedroom apartments, light-filled and uncluttered
  • Private balcony or patio on every one, all facing the Pacific, with bi-fold doors that open the living space right up to the view
  • Full kitchen, smart TV, washing machine and dryer, reverse-cycle air conditioning throughout
  • Heated pool, undercover parking, on-site management
  • You wake up to ocean views and fall asleep to the sound of the waves

Frequently asked questions

Getting Started

Yes. This is a beginner surf retreat first and foremost. Most guests arrive having never stood on a board, and our coaches meet you exactly where you are.

Absolutely. This is an adult surf retreat built for 35 to 65s, and plenty of our guests take their first wave in their 40s, 50s and beyond. You go at your own pace, every time.

If you can walk on a beach and you’re comfortable in the water, you’re ready. Not a confident swimmer? That’s fine. We keep you no deeper than waist high in calm conditions, with a coach right beside you the whole time. We coach every age and fitness level individually.

Perfect. Our yoga is grounding, not intimidating, with no flexibility or experience required. Learn more about how we teach yoga.

Your coaches pick the best break from Byron to Ballina each day, choosing the right conditions for your level. Yoga, theory and recovery fill any gaps.

Surf, wellness and yoga

Both. It’s a surf and yoga retreat: daily surf coaching to get you catching waves, plus daily yoga, mindfulness and mobility to keep your body loose and your mind calm.

Most surf retreats in NSW are twenty-something camps or women-only weekends. Ours is a co-ed, boutique surf and wellness retreat for adults that’s beginner-friendly, with a 2:1 coaching ratio, private beachfront apartments and uncrowded waves.

Bookings

Your apartment, all surf lessons, gear, yoga, mindfulness, movement, a massage and most meals are included. Only alcohol, 3 x meals, and transport to Lennox Head are extra.

$500 AUD deposit secures your spot, with the balance due closer to your dates. Full terms are on our booking and cancellations page.

We launch with just seven for our first November retreat. Once they’re booked, that retreat’s full.

Getting there

In Lennox Head, a quiet coastal village in NSW about 15 minutes south of Byron Bay. It’s a boutique surf retreat away from the crowds, with the best breaks from Byron to Ballina on your doorstep.

Yes. Waluaa is one of the few surf retreats near Byron Bay built specifically for adult beginners. With a 2:1 coaching ratio, a maximum of seven guests and private beachfront apartments in Lennox Head, it’s designed around confidence rather than crowds. It’s also co-ed, so solo travellers, couples and friends all fit.

Plenty, all a short walk or drive from your apartment: barefoot walks on Seven Mile Beach, the hike up to Pat Morton Lookout for dolphins and whales, a freshwater swim in Tea Tree Lake and great coffee on the main street. You’ll have free time built into the week to explore at your own pace. And being locals, we’ll point you to the spots only other locals know.

Ballina-Byron airport is 15 minutes away, then it’s an easy Uber for around $45. Or, Gold Coast Coolangatta is about 60 minutes away.

Coming along

Not at all. Most guests come solo, and with just seven of you, you’ll know everyone by day one. Many leave with new friends.

Absolutely. Choose a private room and bring a non-participating partner for AU$990. Their stay includes our shared meals and social experiences. If you prefer separate beds, apartments include a main bedroom plus either a separate queen sleeping area with a privacy screen or a queen Murphy bed in the living area. You’ll see the option to add a non-participating partner when you book.

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Ten years of getting this right. Now it’s your turn.

Hundreds of guests have walked into a Waluaa retreat unsure they belonged, and walked out standing on a wave. That’s not luck. It’s ten years of doing one thing well, and it’s why we can promise you’ll leave healthier, happier and more like yourself.

Right now, you can book our very first Australian retreat this November at our launch price. Just seven spots, with $300 off until October 1.

Adult surfer green wave
  • Nov 11 – 15, 2026
  • Feb 10 – 14, 2027
  • Feb 24 – 28, 2027

We acknowledge the Nyangbul People of the Bundjalung Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we welcome our guests. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, honour their enduring connection to Country, and encourage all who visit to do so with respect and care.