Individual healing stays
A quiet place to rest, in your own time
Women’s Healing Sanctuary offers private, individual stays on six secluded acres in Port Stephens, NSW. If you are carrying grief, exhaustion, or overwhelm, this is a gentle space to pause, breathe, and reconnect at your own pace.
Your retreat. Your way.
About the experience
Rest, privacy, and care without pressure
An individual healing stay is a private retreat designed to feel supportive, not directive. The Sanctuary is an Australian not-for-profit, created so women can step away from daily demands and rest in a calm, non-judgemental setting. The environment is intentionally human and uncluttered, so you can move at a pace that feels right for you.
Our model blends paid and supported stays so more women can access restorative time when it matters most. If cost is a barrier, you can ask about supported options. Every guest is offered the same care, privacy, and warmth, regardless of how their stay is funded.
A peaceful setting designed to reduce overwhelm from the first moment. The Sanctuary focuses on rest and recovery rather than activities or outcomes.
You choose how much quiet time or gentle connection you prefer. There is no expectation to participate in anything that does not feel right for you.
Clear next steps and warm, unhurried conversations. Nothing is pushed or pressured. You move at the pace that feels comfortable.
The Sanctuary recognises that healing cannot be rushed. Your stay is shaped around what you need, not a program or a set of outcomes.
01
A women-centred environment
A peaceful setting designed to reduce overwhelm from the first moment. The Sanctuary focuses on rest and recovery rather than activities or outcomes.
02
Privacy and choice
You choose how much quiet time or gentle connection you prefer. There is no expectation to participate in anything that does not feel right for you.
03
Supportive communication
Clear next steps and warm, unhurried conversations. Nothing is pushed or pressured. You move at the pace that feels comfortable.
04
A rest-first philosophy
The Sanctuary recognises that healing cannot be rushed. Your stay is shaped around what you need, not a program or a set of outcomes.
Who this is for
For women seeking space, safety, and support
Individual healing stays are designed for women navigating experiences such as grief and loss, burnout, emotional overwhelm, caregiving fatigue, major life transition, or simply the kind of tiredness that quiet weekends do not touch. They are also for women who feel ready for meaningful rest and reconnection without a particular reason attached.
If you are not sure what you need, that is okay. You do not have to have it all worked out to come here.
Emotional safety
Safety comes first, always
Everything at the Sanctuary begins with feeling safe. Communication and care are calm, respectful, and free from judgement, so you can move at your own pace.
The Sanctuary is a supportive environment, not a medical or crisis service. It exists to create the conditions for rest and recovery, not to direct a process. We honour each woman’s story with dignity and privacy, and we keep next steps clear and low-pressure so you can choose what feels comfortable for you.
Common questions
What is an individual healing stay?
A private, women-centred stay at the Sanctuary that prioritises rest, calm, and emotional safety, without pressure or expectation.
Do I need to know what I want to do while I'm there?
No. You can move gently through your stay, choose quiet time, and shape each day around what feels right. Healing does not need to be rushed or structured.
Is the Sanctuary a crisis or medical service?
No. The Sanctuary is a supportive, non-medical environment. It is not a refuge or emergency service and is not a substitute for medical or psychological care.
Are supported stays available?
Yes. Supported access may be available through referral or application pathways. Every guest receives the same care and privacy, regardless of how the stay is funded.
What happens after I enquire?
We respond with a calm, no-pressure conversation to understand what would feel supportive for you, and to discuss dates and next steps clearly.
Ready when you are
When you're ready, we're here
If you feel ready, we’d love to hear from you. The enquiry process is simple, the conversation is calm, and the next step is yours to choose.