How to: Spend a day at Mt Jukes Eco Retreat

Have you ever wished you could slow down time? To ditch the devices, take a breath, and truly reconnect with nature? Enter: Mt Jukes Eco Retreat.

As I look back on my day at Mt Jukes Eco Retreat, I realise it was more than just a break from routine. It was a chance to pause, breath, and reconnect with what really matters.

Only 30 minutes’ drive north of Mackay, and 1.5hrs drive south of Airlie Beach, this hidden paradise sits quietly beneath the towering peak of Mt Jukes. Offering half day, full day, and weekend retreats, Mt Jukes Eco Retreat is the kind of place that reminds you that the most meaningful gifts aren’t the things you unwrap, they’re experiences you feel and memories you cherish.

Whether you’re craving mindfulness, tranquillity, clarity or simply a pause, this retreat offers the perfect place to unwind, with no yoga experience or flexibility required.

Welcome

From the moment you arrive, there’s a noticeable shift. You can feel a sense of calm. The air is fresh and light. Time slows. Phones are tucked away – nothing to scroll, no notifications fighting for your attention, no calendar telling you where you need to be. Instead, you’re invited to simply be: to slow down, reset, and reconnect with nature and yourself in whatever way feels right.

Yoga, breathwork and meditation

Throughout the day, you’ll be guided through mindful movement, grounding practices, and moments of stillness that feel rare in everyday life. The space itself does half the work for you. It’s open, peaceful, quiet and beautifully curated. By midday, the noise in your mind starts to soften. By afternoon, you’re coming back to what true relaxation actually feels like.

You don’t need to speak the “wellness language” or master every pose, I certainly don’t and didn’t. You just need to show up and let the day guide you.

Nourishing food and sustainable living

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at Mt Jukes Eco Retreat. You can see it in the 350+ fruit trees planted and cared for, which in turn provides your delicious teas, incredible lunch and afternoon snacks. You can see it in the off-grid sites, the solar power, the rainwater tanks, the eco-conscious amenities. It’s intentional and yet seamlessly blends into the surrounding landscape.

Why this experience stays with you

Hosts, Dave and Aune, have created more than a retreat. It’s a sanctuary, an escape and an open space for transformation. The grounding practices and gentle lessons I learnt on my visit have stayed with me long after I drove back through their gate and returned to everyday life. I remember them when I decide to leave my phone at home, when I tried my own version of chickpea curry (nowhere near as good as Aune’s) and when I lower my chin and breath calmly through my nose.

It’s the kind of day that gives you more than you expect.

Want to extend your stay?

If one day isn’t enough, extend your stay with a full weekend retreat, or treat yourself to a night at the retreat’s beautiful glamping tents. If you’d prefer an eco-escape with no set schedule, you can also book glamping or supreme lodge accommodation without participating in a retreat.

Sometimes, the best gift you can give to others, and ourselves, is time. And Mt Jukes Eco Retreat is a place where time feels beautifully well spent.

Author: Andrea Busiko