Scenic view of a bay with a curved white sandy beach surrounded by green forested hills and mountains under a cloudy sky.

MICROBIOME RETREAT: 29 OCT - 2 Nov 2026

A slow, nourishing space to reconnect with your gut and yourself.

Imagine 4 nights by the sea on Tasmania’s spectacular east coast. Slow mornings, nourishing meals, thoughtful conversation, and time to breathe in the wild beauty of Freycinet National Park.

Led by naturopath and herbalist Chantel Yates, this retreat is a small, intimate gathering designed to explore the connection between gut health, hormones, and whole-body wellbeing.
All while giving yourself permission to step out of the pace of everyday life.

For 2026, the retreat is expanding.

Many past participants asked for more conversation around hormones, and it’s a topic that deserves space.
Alongside microbiome nourishment, we’ll explore the relationship between the gut and hormonal health across the lifespan.

From menstrual cycles and PMS to perimenopause and menopause, we’ll talk openly about the changes many people with ovaries experience in midlife.
Including hot flushes, sleep disruption, mood shifts, bone health, metabolic and cardiovascular health, and changes in relationships and intimacy.

Everything is explored through a compassionate, evidence-based naturopathic lens.

There will be learning, but also plenty of space to simply be.

Our days unfold at a gentle rhythm with nourishing food, time in nature, meaningful conversation, and quiet moments to reflect.

Every meal is lovingly prepared with microbiome nourishment in mind - vibrant, seasonal food that is largely plant-based and gluten-free, designed to support gut health while still feeling generous and satisfying.

This is a small intimate gathering of people curious about their health and ready for a few days of deep rest, nourishment, learning, and connection.

Places are limited to 10 participants to keep the experience intimate.

reserve your place
Three women smiling outdoors during daytime with mountains, trees, and a lake in the background.
Five wavy pink lines on a gray background.

This retreat is for you if you’re longing to…

🌿 Step out of the cycle of restriction, information overload, or burnout - and find a gentler way forward.

🌿 Learn about your microbiome in a grounded, digestible way (without the overwhelm).

🌿 Experience nourishment as a feeling - not just a set of rules or ideas on paper.

🌿 Be held in a supportive circle of like-minded souls who value connection, compassion, and curiosity.

🌿 Gift yourself time to rest, reflect, and return home with renewed trust in your body and practical tools you can weave into daily life.

You don’t need to have gut symptoms.
You don’t need to know anything about the microbiome.

This retreat is simply an open space for anyone ready to reconnect with themselves, with nature, and with the simple joy of living in harmony with the body’s wisdom.

People sitting in a living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows showing a scenic view of trees, mountains, and a body of water. They are gathered around on couches and chairs, engaging in a group activity or discussion.
Sunset over a beach with mountains in the background, water reflecting the sky, and boats on the shore.
A person is pouring hot tea from a floral teapot into a marble-patterned mug through a tea strainer on a rustic wooden table. There are two other cups of tea, candles, leaves, and a single red flower on the table, with a window and outdoor scenery in
Group of seven people lying on the floor and laughing together in a living room. Four women and three men, some on a black rug and others on a couch, celebrating and enjoying each other's company.
Multiple black bowls filled with colorful salads, including scrambled eggs, green beans, shredded carrots, radishes, lettuce, purple rice, and other vegetables, arranged on a black table.
Four women smiling on a hiking trail with mountains, a lake, and a beach in the background.
Three women in swimsuits walking into the ocean on a sandy beach with mountains in the background and a clear blue sky.
Bowls of pumpkin soup garnished with herbs, served on a rustic wooden table with salt and pepper shakers and potted succulents nearby.
Multiple wavy lines in shades of brown on a black background

What’s included:

  • 4 nights accommodation in a beautiful, private accommodation in picturesque Coles Bay

  • All meals - microbiome-nourishing, and lovingly prepared by the talented Kate Holman

  • Inspiring microbiome workshops and embodied education sessions

  • Soul nourishing practices and processes to help you reconnect

  • Deep rest, optional coastal walks, soulful connection, and plenty of time for integration and a little fun!

  • Take-home tools, handouts, recipes, and small gifts

  • A small, supportive group environment (maximum 10 people)

Every meal is lovingly prepared with microbiome nourishment in mind - vibrant, seasonal food that is largely plant-based and gluten-free, designed to support gut health while still feeling generous and satisfying. Dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Accommodation options:

As part of this offering, our accommodation has been thoughtfully curated with intention and care - providing spaces that support your nervous system, honour your need for rest, and invite deep reconnection.

  • A retreat within the retreat!

    The Escape is the most luxurious room at the retreat and offers a truly restorative private sanctuary.

    With stunning views of the Hazards Mountain Range, a generous king bed, private ensuite and a deep luxurious bath for long, grounding soaks, this space invites you to slow down and fully exhale.

    Light-filled and spacious, it feels like your own quiet haven within the retreat, ideal for those seeking deep rest, privacy and a little extra indulgence during their stay.

    1 person: $2,695
    2 people: $3,895

    Payment plans available.

  • Our queen and king rooms offer a calm and comfortable retreat space designed for deep sleep and gentle restoration.

    These rooms can be booked privately or shared with a friend or partner. With peaceful surroundings and a quiet atmosphere, they offer a lovely balance of comfort, privacy and connection while still being part of the warm, communal retreat experience.

    1 person: $2,295
    2 people: $3,495

    Payment plans available.

  • The shared bunk room is our most relaxed and social accommodation option and the most accessible price point for attending the retreat.

    With comfortable bunks (4 in total) and a welcoming communal feel, it’s perfect for solo guests who enjoy the camaraderie of retreat life.

    Many beautiful friendships begin in spaces like this, simple, cosy and full of the shared spirit of the retreat.

    1 person: $1,895

    Payment plans available.

reserve your place
Sunset view with colorful clouds over mountains, visible through reflections in large glass windows of a modern house.
A neatly made bed with white sheets, a tan decorative pillow, and white pillows, flanked by two modern black and white bedside lamps on wooden nightstands against a beige stone accent wall.
Group of five women sitting on cushions in a garden, having a discussion in the late afternoon, with greenery and trees around.
Living room with large windows offering mountain view, black sofa with pillows, wooden coffee table, two black chairs with pillows, ceiling fans, hardwood floor, and a black rug.
Outdoor deck area with a lounge chair, a rectangular table with benches, and glass sliding doors leading into a modern home, with trees and mountains in the background.
Person barefoot in white pants walking through green grass and clover ground.
Living room with sofa and pillows, large window with mountain and trees view.
A scenic view of a lake surrounded by lush green trees and mountains in the background, with residential houses partially visible among the trees.
Fresh vegetables, meats, cheeses, and spices arranged on a rustic wooden surface, including carrots, tomatoes, avocado, ginger, pistachios, and herbs.
Modern kitchen with island, bar stools, pendant lights, refrigerator, and stove, viewed through glass doors at night.
Living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows showing a sunset over mountains and trees, furnished with sofas, a wooden coffee table with a bowl, and a black rug.
Assorted cheese and fruit platter on a wooden board, including grapes, raspberries, mandarin oranges, cheese slices, blue cheese, bread slices, green beans, and cooked meat with herbs.
A bedroom with large glass windows showing a sunset over a mountain landscape, a bed with white bedding and a brown blanket, and a wooden floor.
Outdoor balcony with a glass table and woven chairs, overlooking green trees and mountains, with cloudy sky in the background.
Wooden bench with a small bouquet of white flowers and greenery on it, outdoors on a wooden platform.
Modern living room with large windows showing mountain views, beige sofas, a wooden coffee table, a wood-burning stove, and a television on a wooden cabinet.
A view from inside a room showing a bed with a brown textured blanket, overlooking a large window with mountains, trees, and a blue building outside.
Breakfast table with bowls of strawberries and blueberries, a white mug, and a plate with berries, set on a balcony overlooking mountains at sunset.

2026 retreat details

Next Retreat: 29 October - 2 November 2026

Location: Freycinet, Coles Bay, Tasmania

Duration: 5 days, 4 nights

Group size: Maximum 10 participants

Hosted by: Chantel Yates

This retreat may be a beautiful fit if you:

  • Feel tired of treating your gut like a problem to fix, and long for a kinder, more compassionate approach.

  • Crave a more peaceful, integrated experience of health - one that honours your whole self, not just your symptoms.

  • Want to learn in a way that includes your body as well as your mind, so knowledge feels lived, not just understood.

  • Appreciate thoughtful food, quiet nature, and the simple, grounding pleasures that restore balance.

  • Are ready to gift yourself time and space to pause, recalibrate, and reconnect.

It may not be suitable if:

  • You are currently in need of intensive medical care or ongoing clinical support.

  • You are seeking a highly structured treatment or therapeutic program.

This retreat is an educational and restorative experience designed to nourish, inspire, and reconnect - but it is not a clinical or medical program.

Five parallel wavy lines on a black background, drawn in a light brown color.
A woman with glasses and long dark hair, smiling, wearing a yellow blouse with a blue leafy pattern, standing outdoors in front of green pine branches.

Meet Your Retreat Facilitator, Chantel Yates

Chantel is a Naturopath, Herbalist and Microbiome Educator who specialises in gut health, food-based healing and evidence-informed natural medicine. She’s passionate about making the science of the microbiome accessible and empowering, and her retreats offer a unique blend of education, nourishment and restoration.

This retreat is her way of bringing it all together - nourishment, knowledge, and nervous system rest - in one of the most beautiful corners of the world. Having grown up in Coles Bay, Chantel holds a deep love for this part of Tasmania, and is excited to welcome you to a place that continues to inspire her work and wellbeing.

With years of experience guiding clients and mentoring practitioners, Chantel brings a calm, grounded presence and a love of practical, real-life tools that support the gut and nervous system.

A slice of cake with a crumbly yellow base, topped with red fruit pieces and decorated with edible purple and yellow flowers, on a white plate.
Three women smiling outdoors in front of a tree, wearing sunglasses and casual summer clothing.
Five women sitting around a circle of rocks and pinecones arranged on the ground in a forested area, engaged in a discussion or activity.
People stretching and exercising in a spacious living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows showing mountains outside.
A rustic wooden table with a woven placemat, a small wicker box, a vase with flowers, a pair of glasses, a paper titled 'Bristol Stool Chart', and several candles, with a window showing a snowy outdoor scene in the background.
Three women smiling outdoors with trees, mountains, and a lake in the background.
Three women hiking on a trail with trees and blue sky.

Reserve your place

This retreat is a lovingly crafted experience designed with your nervous system, your gut, and your need for rest in mind.

Please note that ‘The Escape’ & Queen/King Room options have sold out.

1 PERSON: Shared Bunk Room
$1,895.00
One time
$379.00
For 5 months

The Supported Place

🌿

Apply Now

✍🏼

The Supported Place 🌿 Apply Now ✍🏼

Retreats cost money. For a lot of people, that's where the thinking stops.

Maybe you've wanted to come for a while and already worked out it isn't happening this year.

Maybe you've been unwell for a long time, and being unwell has been expensive.

Maybe you're the one who holds everything together for everyone else, and there's never anything left at the end for you.

This supported place is for you.

One place at the 2026 retreat is fully funded by Chantel Yates and awarded by application.

It also includes a BONUS gut microbiome test kit for the recipient from Microba, and 12 months of access to the Nerva program.

What the Supported Place includes:

  • Your place at the retreat, valued at $1,895. Four nights in our shared bunk room, every meal, all workshops and practices, and all take-home materials.

  • A Microba Microbiome Explorer test kit and report, so you can meet your own microbiome while you learn how to care for it.

  • 12 months' access to the Nerva program, so you can keep supporting your gut-brain connection long after the retreat ends.

  • A lift to Coles Bay if you're in or near southern Tasmania. We organise carpooling closer to the retreat, so getting here can cost you nothing.

Once you're here, nothing costs extra!

  • Every meal, every session, every walk and every take-home resource is part of your place.

  • There are no optional extras to pay for, and you don't need to bring spending money.

  • You don't need special gear either. Comfortable clothes, something warm for the evenings, and shoes you can walk in are plenty.

  • If there's anything you're worried about not having, tell us and we'll sort it out.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you're 18 or over, live in Australia, and wouldn't be able to attend the retreat without this support. You don't need to prove anything with documents. We trust your word.

We especially welcome applications from people in rural and remote areas, First Nations people, LGBTQIA+ people, carers, healthcare card holders, and anyone living with long term gut symptoms who rarely gets access to something like this.

If you're wondering whether your situation counts as enough, please apply anyway. Let us make that call.

Your privacy matters to us!

Applications are read by me and the retreat team, and nobody else. Microba and Nerva provide the test kit and program but never see applications and take no part in choosing.

At the retreat itself, no one will know which place was supported unless you choose to tell them. You'll be one of the group.

Five parallel wavy lines on a black background, drawn in a light brown color.

How to apply:

The application is deliberately small. Answer three questions, either in writing (around 300 words all up) or as a voice note of up to three minutes. Whichever feels easier is the right choice.

  1. Tell us a little about you, and what's drawing you to the retreat.

  2. What makes attending out of reach right now?

  3. What would a few days of rest, nourishment and learning make possible for you?

Send your answers or voice note (or video if you like!) to hello@chantelyates.com.au.

Dates

Applications open midday Wednesday 16 September and close midnight Wednesday 23 September 2026.

It's a short window, deliberately. The person who receives the place will be contacted by Friday 25 September, and every applicant will hear back from us either way.

The retreat runs 29 October to 2 November 2026 in Coles Bay, Tasmania.

The retreat is an educational and restorative experience, not a clinical or medical program. If you have significant health needs, please have a chat with your GP or care team before applying. Dietary needs are warmly accommodated with advance notice. Any questions at all, email hello@chantelyates.com.au.

Group of women sitting outdoors on cushions, engaging in conversation in a lush, green garden with sunlight filtering through the trees.
Multiple wavy lines in a light brown color on a black background.

FAQS

  • Not at all. This retreat is designed for beginners and experienced gut health explorers alike. Everything is presented in an accessible, down-to-earth way. You’ll learn practical tools and insights, no matter your background - all grounded in nature, science, and nourishment.

  • This is a group-based experience. While the environment is small and personal, individual consultations are not part of the retreat. If you'd like to work with Chantel one-on-one, you're welcome to book a consultation before or after the retreat.

  • Yes! We’re happy to support your specific dietary needs. Please let us know when booking, so we can make sure every meal feels safe, nourishing, and delicious for you.

  • Not at all. The retreat is structured gently. You are welcome to attend as much or as little as feels right for your body and energy. Quiet rest time is built into each day.

  • This retreat is perfect for anyone craving deep rest, nourishment, and a reconnection with their body, especially those curious about gut health, food as medicine, or natural healing. Whether you're a seasoned wellness explorer or just starting your journey, you’re welcome here.

  • All meals are gluten-free, predominantly plant-based, and thoughtfully designed to support your microbiome. Expect vibrant salads, warming dishes, fermented delights, and satisfying treats - always with love and intention. We can accommodate most dietary needs with advance notice.

  • We’ll be staying in stunning, light-filled homes right near the Freycinet National Park in Coles Bay, Tasmania - just a few minutes’ walk from beaches, bushwalks, and breathtaking coastal views.

  • This is an intimate retreat, capped at 10 participants. It’s designed to feel spacious, supportive, and personal - a nourishing space where you can really exhale.

  • Your investment covers:

    • 4 nights accommodation

    • All meals and drinks during the retreat

    • Daily workshops, practices, and microbiome education

    • Free time for rest, walking, journalling, or simply being

  • If you have any questions, please contact us at hello@chantelyates.com.au or submit your enquiry here.

  • Not at all. This retreat blends science with soul in a grounded, approachable way. There’s no pressure to be anything but yourself - just a gentle invitation to reconnect with your body, your gut, and what truly nourishes you.

  • Absolutely. Many people come to retreats solo and leave with new friends and deep connection. You’ll be warmly welcomed and supported whether you come alone or with a loved one. That said, best value when shared with a friend!

  • Life happens - we get it. But we don’t offer refunds, so make your decision wisely! Please refer to our full cancellation policy via T&Cs below for details. We always aim to be as understanding and fair as possible.

A person walking on a sandy beach towards the ocean, with footprints behind them and cliffs in the distance.
Seven wavy white lines on a dark background.

“Choosing to participate in Chantel's retreat was the best thing I've ever done for myself. Committing to intentional rest and nourishment over those days was exactly what I needed to reset my mind, body, and spirit - reconnecting with myself through nature and through connection with other inspirational women.

If you're a busy body who finds it difficult to 'switch off' or give yourself time and space to recharge, attending a retreat like this is the perfect way to consciously tune into what your body really needs, and walk away with the knowledge and power to take care of yourself (and your loved ones) better in everyday life.”

-Gabby

A retreat shaped by lived experience

This retreat is deeply personal. It was born from the kind of support Chantel needed during her own healing and burnout recovery - quiet, thoughtful, and rooted in place. It’s not about doing more. It’s about remembering what supports you, learning to listen to your body again, and reconnecting with the things that matter.

Join Now
Explore Other services

Terms and Conditions

    • To secure your spot at the retreat, full payment or the first instalment of the payment plan must be received upon registration.

    • All prices are listed in Australian Dollars (AUD).

    • Payment methods will be provided at checkout.

    • If choosing a payment plan, payments must be made in accordance with the agreed schedule. Failure to make payments on time may result in suspension of entry into the retreat.

    • If you wish to cancel your ticket, please notify us via email at hello@chantelyates.com.au

    • No refunds will be issued except in exceptional circumstances and requests for refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

    • All retreat content, including videos, written materials, and other resources, is the intellectual property of Chantel Yates Naturopath & Herbalist.

    • You may not reproduce, distribute, or publicly display any retreat materials without prior written consent from Chantel Yates Naturopath & Herbalist.

    • We strive to maintain a respectful, inclusive, and positive learning environment. Participants are expected to treat instructors and fellow students with respect and professionalism.

    • Any disruptive, abusive, or discriminatory behaviour may result in removal from the retreat without refund.

    • Chantel Yates Naturopath & Herbalist will not be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages that may result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials and information provided in the retreat.

    • The information provided in this retreat is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

    • Chantel Yates Naturopath & Herbalist reserves the right to make changes to the retreat schedule, content, or instructors if necessary. Participants will be notified of any significant changes in advance where deemed necessary.

    • In the unlikely event that the retreat needs to be rescheduled, participants will be informed, and a new date and time will be provided.

    • Any personal information collected during the retreat registration process will be used solely for the purpose of delivering the retreat and will not be shared with third parties without your consent, except as required by law.

  • These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of Australia, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of courts in Australia for any disputes arising out of or relating to these terms.