Sine Cera Rainforest Retreat
Find Your Zen Through Art, Connection, and Stunning Surroundings.
Just 2 hours from Brisbane, nestled in the beautiful Border Ranges National Park on the Queensland-NSW border, Sine Cera Rainforest Retreat offers the perfect sanctuary for our 2 day retreat and to immerse yourself in nature and creativity. Set against the spectacular backdrop of pristine rainforest, inspiration abounds and will rejuvenate your soul as you explore the meditative art of dot mandala painting. Sine Cera is not just a retreat, it's an experience. Here, creativity flows effortlessly, and the world slows down, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
Tranquil setting, log fires, beautiful meals, professional tuition, super comfy accommodation, empowering company and the opportunity to build lasting friendships will make this retreat, a real treat!
Over the course of the weekend, you'll engage in hands-on workshops led by Zarah of Z-Dot Designs, allowing you to experiment and explore new techniques and expand your skills in a friendly, supportive and inspiring environment. This is suitable for more adventurous beginners who have some dotting experience to advanced dotters.
I’m Zarah, and it’s my honour to be your coach for the weekend. I am so excited to see this retreat finally come to fruition after years of just ‘thinking about it’. I found dot mandalas 7 years ago and have been obsessed ever since. 5 years ago, I started holding in person workshops with my very dear friend and cheer-leader, Anjela from Happy Dotting Company and have been designing patterns as Z-Dot designs ever since. My true joy comes from teaching others and sharing what I have learnt over the course of my dotting journey, and I can’t wait to share more with you at Sine’ Cera.
What to Expect
- Expert-led workshop and hands-on creative sessions
- All art supplies to complete your practice session and your art piece (including dotting tools, styluses, brushes, cones, paints, wood rounds and practice sheets – and you take it all home with you.)
- Accommodation in a beautiful, serene setting; 2 nights twin share accommodation (single supplements are also available)
- Gourmet meals and refreshments privately catered onsite and made fresh from local produce.
- A supportive community of fellow dot mandala artists
- Stunning surroundings that will inspire and rejuvenate
- Gift bags for all attendees
- Raffles and give aways
Beautiful, family style accommodations surrounded by the calming sounds of nature — the perfect space to relax and recharge.
Fahr House is Sine Cera’s premium accommodation with twin share or double bedrooms, all opening onto huge verandas. A comfortable lounge and meeting area with TV, DVD, Bluetooth sound system, slow combustion fireplace, books and magazines to kick back after a long day of dotting, as well as an infrared sauna. This is a perfect mixture of homestyle comfort and nature. There are also several walking trails on the property for those who love to escape into nature.
Accommodation has been arranged based on a twin share basis, however, you are able to select and pay for a private room as a single supplement – because we know some people just prefer their own space.
Just metres from our accommodation is our huge workspace where all the magic will happen. Flooded with natural light and again, wrap around verandas add to the atmosphere as we create looking out over the running creek to the sounds of all the natural fauna that make this location their home. Sine Cera is bursting with life, seriously, the frogs really sing and Kookaburras are everywhere. It truly is a hidden Eden! With plenty of room to spread out as we create our masterpieces, to a separate lounge area for when you might want to take a break, or sit outside on the veranda and soak it all in. A tea, coffee and refreshment station is also right on hand for whenever you need.
The design created for this retreat is a gentle nod to this beautiful location, so you can take those memories home with you
Our caterer has prepared an amazing menu of buffet style gourmet food, freshly made from local produce. 2 beautiful breakfasts, 2 delicious dinners that includes a soup and a desert (so essentially 3 courses), as well as a light lunch. Morning tea and afternoon refreshments. Vegetarian options have also been included in the menu. Each dinner will also have a signature mocktail in theme with the meal. If you would like a glass on wine with your dinners, this is BYO. On arrival on day 1, we will have a “Welcome’ get together with a charcuterie cup and light refreshment so we can all get to know each other.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please ensure you message me to let me know after making your booking so we can plan for you.
Giftbags and Giveaways:
As a something a little extra on top of all your art supplies (which are all pretty special because there are some secret little special items that have been included) everyone will receive a Z-Dot designs tote bag packed with all sorts of handmade goodies. On top of this there will be a number of give aways that include original artworks, gift cards, gift baskets and many others as well as a lucky dip. We really do have a very supportive and generous community of mandala artists who have selflessly contributed to help make the weekend extra special for everyone.
Facebook group:
All attendees will be added to the private Facebook group where we can keep in contact in the months, weeks and days leading up to the retreat where you can ask questions and keep up to date with what we will be doing over the course of the weekend.
Itinerary:
Friday 25th July
12.00-1.00pm Check in
1.00-2.00pm Welcome
Get to know your fellow participants and decompress after your drive to the retreat with a meet and greet over a light refreshment and calm those ‘meeting new people nerves’.
2.00-5.00pm Afternoon workshop
Let’s jump right on into our painting with a brush stroke masterclass. This is designed to get us ‘into the swing’ of things and practice the elements we will be using to complete our mandala in tomorrow’s sessions using Z-dot designs brush stroke practice sheets.
6.00-7.30 pm Dinner
A symphony of Italian inspired flavours (well except for dessert – that’s an Australian classic)
Saturday 26th July
7-8am Breakfast
Start your day right with a nutritious and delicious breakfast before we dive into our packed schedule. Why not follow it up with a walk along one of the many trails on the property
9-12pm Morning Mandala Painting
We will start our mandalas this morning with everything prepped and laid out ready for you to just dip your tools and get started. I will be painting along with you to show you the various techniques we will use to complete our designs. You will also have a complete printed pattern to follow for those who are more independent
Morning tea will also be provided during this period for those who want a little pick me up, and tea and coffee is always close at hand.
12-1pm Lunch
Lets step away for an hour and catch our breath while we have our lunch out in the picnic area
1-4.30pm Afternoon Mandala Painting
We get back into it with our afternoon session full of dotting, swooping and swooshing as we work our way out on our mandala. Feel free to move about as the mood strikes - remember, this is your retreat. If you feel compelled to take a breather, have a chat or sit by the fire – you are more than free to do so.
Afternoon tea will also be provided during this period for when those afternoon sugar cravings hit.
6-7.30pm Dinner
Tonight’s menu is all about those Greek flavours infused in beautiful low and slow roasted meats and followed with my favourite Messina ice-creams.
7.30pm Campfire
Sine Cera have graciously left us with a fully loaded campfire, so tonight we can take advantage and all come together around the campfire to relax, connect and enjoy the stars.
Sunday 27th July
7-8am Breakfast
8.30-11.30am Wrap-up
As our time together comes to an end, we will use these final few hours to finish off our pieces, take some group photos and draw the winners of our give aways.
12pm Check out and sadly, time to head back to reality.
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to recharge, reconnect, and rediscover your creative spark.
