A typical day on our wellness retreats
One of the most common things people ask before they book is: "But what do you actually do all day?"
It's a fair question. A lot of retreat websites show you photos of people meditating at sunrise and then leave you to imagine the rest. We'd rather just tell you.
The schedule below is a real example of how a day runs at Little Farm of Calm. It's not a fixed timetable you'll be handed on arrival — it's more of an illustration of what's available and roughly when. Nothing here is compulsory. Some people do all of it. Some people do two things and spend the rest of the time by the pool. Both are completely fine.
Morning
You wake up in your own cabin with your own bathroom. There's no bell, no alarm, no expectation.
If you're an early riser, there's plenty to do from the moment the sun comes up — walk the property, have a quiet breakfast on the deck, book yourself into a red light therapy or float tank session (both are available from 7am), or just sit with the goats and a coffee. The goats are very available in the morning.
If you want to sleep in, do that. The day doesn't start without you.
9:30am — Movement Class
The morning session is either Reformer Pilates or Aerial Yoga, depending on the day.
Reformer Pilates runs on proper clinical reformer machines and is led by a physiotherapist. It works through the whole body — tight hips, lower backs, shoulders — and suits complete beginners as much as people who've been doing pilates for years. It's strong but also quite satisfying.
Aerial Yoga uses silk hammocks and is exactly as interesting as it sounds. Yin sessions are slow and deeply supported. Flow sessions are more dynamic. Neither requires any experience, and beginners come on every retreat.
10:30am — Breakfast
Breakfast is served indoors or on the deck, depending on the weather. Local and seasonal where possible — fresh fruit, homemade bread (gluten-free available), cereals, yoghurt, eggs, and good coffee and tea. It's a proper breakfast. Eat as much as you like.
11:00am — Goat Time
The goats and pigs are on a schedule of their own and it happens to coincide with this slot. Guests who want to feed them and sit with them usually end up staying longer than they planned to. It's been described in more than one review as unexpectedly therapeutic, which we believe.
It's also completely optional. Nobody is going to herd you toward the goats.
Mini Goat Happy Hour - It makes them happy anyway …
11:30am — Wellness Therapies
This block is when most guests do their red light therapy, infrared sauna, and magnesium salt pool or mineral salt spa time — often in that order, often finished with a cold plunge if they're feeling bold.
Red light therapy uses medical-grade wavelengths to support cellular repair, reduce inflammation, and assist with muscle recovery. There's also solid evidence for benefits to skin tone, collagen production, and hair — which tends to be a pleasant bonus. Sessions run about 20 minutes.
The infrared sauna is a dry heat sauna. Follow it with the magnesium salt pool (great for muscle recovery and sleep) or the mineral salt spa (great for everything else), and you'll understand why this block tends to run over time.
Float tank bookings are also available throughout the day from 7am to 10pm if you'd prefer to schedule yours at a different time.
Midday — Lunch and Free Time
Lunch is included. After that, the afternoon is yours.
The pool is open. The property is walkable. There are hammocks. There are books. There are birds doing things in trees. Napping is actively encouraged and completely guilt-free.
2:00pm — Bike Tour (Optional)
A leisurely guided ride around Benalla Lake — tree-lined streets, public art, the occasional pelican. Bikes are provided in all sizes, helmets included, and the pace is entirely yours. This is not a fitness event.
If you'd rather not, that's completely fine. Stay at the retreat and use the time however you like.
2:30pm — Float Tank
For guests not on the bike tour, the float tank slot is popular at this time of day.
Floating means lying in a private tank of warm, body-temperature water saturated with Epsom salt. It's dark. It's quiet. Your body is completely weightless. Some people find it meditative. Some people fall asleep immediately. Some people have a complicated 20 minutes and then feel very calm afterwards. There is no wrong way to do it.
If you've never floated before, we'll walk you through what to expect. Most guests at each retreat are first-timers.
3:30pm — Quiet Time
This is deliberately unscheduled. Nap, snack, read, watch the kookaburras, sit in the spa again. Whatever you need.
4:30pm — Myofascial Release Workshop
This session combines targeted manual therapy with warmth — working through the fascia (the connective tissue that tends to hold tension when you're stressed or sedentary) while lying under infrared heating panels. It's thorough, it's warm, and most people feel noticeably different afterward.
Follow it with a soak in the hydrotherapy spa with the massage jets running. That's the standard move.
6:30pm — Dinner
Everything is made in-house from scratch. The menus are built around seasonal vegetables and quality proteins, and there's genuine thought behind the nutritional balance — we just don't make you sit through a lecture about it.
Meals are hearty and designed to be enjoyed. You are welcome to add salt, add cheese, or request seconds. Dietary needs are accommodated — just let us know in advance.
8:00pm — Evening Session
Saturday evening is the self-defence workshop, led by Darren, who is an internationally recognised presenter in the Tony Blauer system and has trained law enforcement and the Australian Defence Force.
You can sit through the whole thing with a mulled wine in hand. You can observe, ask questions, or get involved — as much or as little as feels right. Nobody is going to make you throw anyone. It tends to be one of the most-mentioned things in reviews, often with the word "unexpected."
Other evenings offer Aerial Yin and meditation, which is the slower, gentler side of the aerial yoga programme and a good way to wind down.
Red Light Therapy Room
9:30pm Onwards — Wind Down
Herbal tea by the fire pit, or whatever your version of winding down looks like. Outdoor quiet time from 9pm out of consideration for other guests.
The beds are very comfortable. Multiple guests have mentioned this unprompted.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Nothing here is compulsory. The above is a picture of what's available, not a schedule you're expected to follow. Some guests come specifically for the float tank and the food and do very little else. That is a completely legitimate use of the retreat.
Red light and float tank sessions are bookable throughout the day, from 7am to 10pm, so you can slot them around whatever else you feel like doing.
The retreat is all-inclusive. All meals, snacks, beverages, and activities are included in the price. There are no add-ons, no upgrades, and no upselling at check-in.
If you have questions about whether the schedule suits you — a health condition, mobility considerations, something you're not sure about — ring us before you book. We'd rather have a five-minute conversation than have you arrive uncertain.
Call or text: 0417 057 056 Email: [email protected]
Little Farm of Calm runs weekend retreats (Fri–Sun), 4-day long weekend retreats, and 7-day wellness, wildlife and yoga retreats in the Benalla region of Victoria, approximately two hours from Melbourne. All retreats are all-inclusive and led by AHPRA-registered practitioners.
9:30pm onwards: Sleep, catch an episode, a snack before bed, or join us for an ayurvedic tea or mulled wine by the fire pit (to encourage good sleep). We encourage our guests to be quiet after 9pm when outdoors for the sake of others staying with us. And fingers crossed as you lie back into your luxury bedding, listening to the sound of frogs, your mind and body will thank you for coming to a Little Farm of Calm wellness retreat.
