November Meditation
& Mindfulness Retreat.
Imagine a quiet, nurturing weekend where you can relax deeply, learn to meditate, (or deepen your existing practice), and enjoy mindful movement, lesiurely walks and nourishing food.
7:00pm, Friday October 30 — 10:00am, Tuesday November 3, 2026.
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and join us for a peaceful meditation retreat in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges.
Dates
The retreat is held every year over the four days leading up to the Melbourne Cup.
In 2026 it will run from 7:00pm, Friday October 30 — 10:00am, Tuesday November 3.
Venue
The retreat will be held at the Don Bosco Retreat Centre in Lysterfield, surrounded by the bushland of the Dandenong Ranges foothills — just 40 minutes by car from the Melbourne CBD.
Rest, relax, reset: experience a day on retreat in 60 seconds…
What’s It Like On Retreat
Imagine a quiet, nurturing weekend where you can relax deeply, learn to meditate, (or deepen your existing practice), and enjoy mindful movement, lesiurely walks and nourishing food.
The retreat provides an opportunity to unplug from your busy day-to-day life and have well deserved time away from the constant demands and obligations of work and home.
More than a holiday, the retreat environment offers ideal conditions for self-care, reflection and deep rest.
Teachers & Approach
The retreat is led by two warm, friend and experienced teachers: Matthew Young and Deb Amos.
There’s plenty of time to slow down, rest and enjoy your surroundings, as well as opportunities to explore and deepen your meditation practice.
The atmosphere is friendly, relaxed and informal. There are no early-morning starts, long periods of enforced silence or demanding schedules. Between sessions, there’s plenty of time to sleep, read, go for a walk, spend time outdoors or simply do nothing at all.
All meals are provided, so once you arrive, there’s very little you need to think about. You can settle into a slower pace for the weekend and give yourself some genuine time away from the routines and demands of everyday life.
Meditation sessions are equally relaxed and practical. You’re welcome to sit on a chair, use a cushion, lie down or even make yourself comfortable on a couch. The emphasis isn’t on sitting still for long periods or following rigid rules, but on learning how to meditate in ways that are both effective and sustainable.
Throughout the retreat, Matt and Deb will introduce a range of approaches to meditation, explore some of the ideas that can make meditation easier and more effective, and help you work with any difficulties that arise in your own practice. There will also be opportunities for questions and group discussion, allowing you to learn from the experiences and insights of other retreat participants.
What To Expect
On retreat there will be meditation and deep relaxation sessions, mindful movement practices, as well as talks and group discussion. Free time will be available for you to walk, read or do as you please.
Note that outside of the talks and group discussions the retreat is conducted in silence. This doesn’t mean that you can’t talk; but it does mean that you are encouraged to respect the wishes of other participants for quiet (especially in and around the dorm rooms, within the meditation hall and in the dining area and kitchen).
Meals
Three hearty vegetarian meals are provided each day, along with a variety of teas, coffee and snacks. We can cater for those with special dietary needs, including those requiring vegan or gluten, wheat and dairy-free meals.
Accommodation
At Don Bosco you can choose to stay in a single or twin room (with shared toilet and shower facilities). There are also a limited number of flats (with ensuite) available . The venue is smoke and alcohol free.
“The retreat was exactly what I needed — a place to relax and switch off my ‘doing’ brain. The meditations taught me to make space in my head from all the constant thought and left me much more refreshed than just a weekend away.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
— Rebecca Hale
Getting There
It takes roughly 40 minutes to get to the Don Bosco Retreat Centre from the Melbourne CBD (via the M1).
We will make every effort to arrange lifts for those who do not have their own car.
If lifts aren’t available you can catch the train (Belgrave Line) to Ferntree Gully. Once you have arrived call Matt on 0410 562 843 and we will come and pick you up. The train trip from Flinders St takes roughly 50 minutes.
Reserve Your Place Today
Single Room
with Ensuite BathroomSingle Room
with Shared BathroomTwin Room
with Ensuite Bathroom“Thanks for putting on such a fantastic retreat!
I really enjoyed the way you ran things and appreciated your very skilled way with people. It was so nice to have you working along side us and supporting us in such a flexible and caring way.
Thanks to this retreat, I’ve gone from seeing meditation as inevitable hard work and pain, to something that can be enjoyable, light and relaxing.”
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— Bede C.
“The retreat was excellent. It was priced well. The venue was great and the location and food excellent.
I particularly liked the two hour lunch and all the breaks. This added a component of rest, relaxation and reading to the retreat, which was extremely pleasant.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
— Henry C.
“I wanted to thank you and Deb both for the experience on retreat. I was a little hesitant coming and had no idea what to expect, but you were both so warm and interested that I felt really at ease.
I feel like not only did I get a great crash course in basic meditation but also a deeper understanding of what else could be possible for meditation to do for me.
The weekend was so peaceful and I’ve managed to carry a lot of that home with me over the last few months, implementing some of the techniques you taught us. I’m sleeping better, calmer with my family, feel less stressed by work and am better able to talk about my boundaries where needed, because I understand how vital they are for my wellbeing. I’m practicing self compassion and kindness.
I also appreciated the connection with a group of like minded people and the way you and Deb facilitated that without “taking over” and imposing your way on us as we discovered what worked for us.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
— Sarah P.