Body Positive Slow Paced Canoeing Adventure - 4 Days (Camp+bunkhouse)

Glenelg River

EY
Escaping Your Comfort Zone Inc
  • Email address verified
22 reviews
Apr 27 - 30, 2023
Group size: 6 - 10
Body Positive Slow Paced Canoeing Adventure - 4 Days (Camp+bunkhouse)
Glenelg River

Escaping Your Comfort Zone Inc
  • Email address verified
22 reviews

Apr 27 - 30, 2023
Group size: 6 - 10

About this trip

 **Trip opens Friday 27th January for members - please see the facebook group for reminders.  Please add yourself to the waitlist to receive an email once the trip has opened (note this does not guarantee your spot)*** 


Come and explore the pristine wilderness along the Bochara/Glenelg River by canoe.  


This wide and slow-moving river hosts abundant wildlife living on its banks, wake up to bird song and witness the glorious colors of a sunrise on the river.


Learn to paddle a canoe with instruction and support from experienced guides, carrying all we need for our journey in our canoes. Travel slowly, soaking in the beautiful surroundings with regular rest stops. Maybe jump in the cool water for a midday swim. Be a part of this traveling community, with time to connect with yourself and with the other women on the journey. Sit around the campfire in the evening reflecting on the day together and sharing a delicious meal.

Participate in gentle practices to deepen our connection with Nature. 

Be a part of this soulful adventure. Finish the journey feeling strong, alive and empowered!


And this is all alongside others who are there for the slow paced, judgement free, body positive adventures!  This adventure is a partnership between EYCZ and Laura from Wilderness Within, with both Laura and Celeste from EYCZ as your guides.



WHAT IS ESCAPING YOUR COMFORT ZONE BODY POSITIVE ADVENTURES?

This is a body positive, slow paced trip, hosted by Celeste at Escaping Your Comfort Zone. 

Escaping Your Comfort Zone is Body Positive Adventures for women and non-binary crew. The outdoors don't care about your size, your speed or your fitness, and neither do we! 100% body positive, no focus on weightloss. Just having fun in the outdoors, cause we can! As always, we walk at the pace of the slowest person, and no one is left behind.


WHAT IS WILDERNESS WITHIN?

Laura is an experienced outdoors guide, and in her own words: 

I am deeply passionate about remembering, reclaiming and empowering the wild and sacred feminine within all of us, remembering our place as a part of nature, creating community and supporting sisterhood. 


I have spent many years working in the outdoors as a nature guide where I have been blessed to explore some of the most beautiful, remote and wild places in nature.

 

Now I am in a place of weaving all of my passions together to create my current offerings. I offer from a place of deep love. If you attend any of my offerings you will be received with an open heart and warm presence.  So come, sit by the fire with me, let us have a cup of tea, share stories and learn from one another.


WHY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN EYCZ AND WILDERNESS WITHIN?

Richelle met Laura at a 4 day intensive Wilderness First Aid course, and was instantly drawn to her warmth, her passion, and their shared goal of opening the outdoors up as a slower, more holistic journey, and using adventure as the vehicle for self growth. After doing this canoe trip independently in 2019, Richelle has always wanted to organise it for the group, but hadn't got around to it.  The meeting with Laura was serendipitous, as Laura organises these trips now, and has all the logistics in place.  On top of this, Richelle recognised that her led adventures are usually more "practical", and less immersive, and that many of the EYCZ members will appreciate the deep connection with nature, with Laura's guidance, on this trip.   



PARTICIPANT ZOOM CATCHUP

We will have a zoom catchup 3-4 weeks before the journey, to answer any questions you have, and to connect with everyone else coming on the trip!


ABILITY LEVEL

In terms of fitness, you need the ability to get in and out of a canoe, and setup, and sleep in a tent.  Please also consider your shoulder and back mobility, whilst we will not be paddling fast, it will be 2 days of paddling that your body may not be used to.


EYCZ Member Discount

EYCZ Members receive 5% off this trip, please use the discount code provided to you in the Member's (Be the First to Know) section of the EYCZ FB Group. Want to become a member?   Click here for membership.   

Payment Options

To hold your place, you must pay your deposit amount of $100 via CC when you sign up for this journey, to secure your spot.  This will include a small CC fee of approx $2.50.


Ongoing payments can be made using WeTravel, with a CC fee of 2.5%.  Also as our payment processor is not in Australia, your bank may apply an international conversion fee (from experience many banks don't, but just in case).  


Alternatively you can avoid these fees, and pay your installments (or full amount) directly into the EYCZ bank account, please email us at hello@escapingyourcomfortzone.com for bank details.

Cancellations and Refunds

If you cancel 4+ weeks before journey - full refund available

If you cancel 2-4 weeks before journey - credit available for combined EYCZ/WW or WW only journey next year

If you cancel less than 3 weeks before journey - credit available for combined EYCZ/WW or WW only journey next year, less $300 deposit amount


You can transfer your spot to another person at anytime.

Important Info - Code of Conduct

Escaping Your Comfort Zone (EYCZ) is a community of body positive adventurers. We welcome women and non-binary people. No weight loss focus, slow paced and non-judgemental. Purely for fun. This group is for making new friends, and finding like minded people to get outdoors with. We are a not for profit bushwalking club, as part of Bushwalking Victoria. 

Please ensure you read this first before joining any of our trips or walks.

Packing List

* A note on packing… There is no need for you to go out & spend hundreds of dollars on new camping gear. I encourage you to borrow gear from friends & family, post in the EYCZ Facebook Group, and you can also rent/hire certain things - if you need it we can provide some cheap suggestions for things you might need to buy.*


We will be putting all of your gear into 1 barrel each that will keep your belongings dry in the canoe, please keep this in mind when packing. Pack minimally, pack light, try & fit all of your things into one medium sized backpack/duffel bag.


~ Sleeping bag (at least rated to -0 or below) *I have a few sleeping bags available to borrow if you need.

~ Hiking mattress (blue foam Mat from Anaconda will do and cost around $15)

~ Small inflatable hiking pillow or pillow case (stuff your clothes in to make pillow)

~ Towel (lightweight or microfiber is great)

~ Sunhat

~ Sunscreen

~ Sunglasses

~ Waterproof jacket/Raincoat (Gortex material is the best - contact us if you are uncertain about what you have) 

~ Rainpants (if you have them)

~ Water shoes (e.g. river sandals, crocs or old runners) 

~ Walking/ camp shoes (e.g. runners, boots)

~ 3x socks

~ 4x underwear

~ 2x shorts or quick dry pants

~ 3x T Shirts 

~ 1x collared shirt (sun protection) 

~ 1x comfy camp pants (e.g leggings) 

~ 1x set of thermals

~ 1x Wool jumper, fleece jumper or down jacket 

~ 1x Beanie 

~ something to swim in (that may be shorts and tshirt, or your underwear!)

~ Head torch + spare batteries 

~ Water bottle (1 litre) 

~ Hot water bottle (for night time) - suggested

~ Bowl, plate, cup, fork & spoon

~ Wet wipes or face washer

~ Journal & pen

~ Personal medication (including any antihistamines or asthma medication, event if you haven't had an attack in a while) & personal first aid kit

-earplugs in case you are sharing with a snorer

* You can wear a set of comfy clothes on our trip down which you can leave in the van to also wear on our trip home :) 

What’s included

  • 2 nights bunkhouse
    2x nights in bunkhouse style accommodation - bottom bunks (if you prefer you can camp outside the bunkhouse)
  • Mini-bus transport
    Transport to the river from South Geelong station in mini bus/4x4 (and back)
  • 1 night camping on river
    1 night camping in tents in riverside, boat access only campsite (with drop toilet). All camping equipment supplied
  • 2 person Canoe + gear
    2 person Canoe, paddle, pfd and dry barrel hire
  • Tent
    One planet Wurley 3 Tent hire (Twin share)
  • Campsite fees
    All campsite fees
  • All park fees & licenses
    All park fees & licenses
  • Canoe lessons
    Canoe skill lessons & instructions
  • Experienced guides
    4x days of support from an experienced guide
  • 3x breakfasts
    3x breakfasts
  • 4x lunches
    4x lunches
  • 4x dinners
    4x dinners
  • Snacks
    Lots of delicious & nutritious morning, afternoon teas & snacks
  • Tea & Coffee
    A selection of teas and coffee
  • Firewood
    Firewood for our campfires
  • Nature Connection
    Facilitation & support in bonus nature connection practices

What’s not included

  • Transport to Geelong
    The minibus will leave from SOuth Geelong station, please arrange your own way there. Unrestricted, on street parking available.
  • Sleeping Bag
    Please bring your own sleeping bag. (at least rated to -0 or below) *I have a few sleeping bags available to borrow if you need. Please bring in a compression bag to take up less space.
  • Sleeping mat
    Please bring a lightweight hiking sleeping mat (ie, one that will pack down small)
  • Camping pillow
    Please bring your own inflatable camping pillow (if you prefer you can pop your clothes in a dry bag and use that as a pillow)
  • Crockery
    Please bring your own cutlery, bowl, plate and cup

Available Packages

Trip Price
A$1,580
Deposit: A$100

Itinerary

Day 1
Travel to the Glenelg

Pick up from South Geelong train station and road trip our way to Paestens canoe hire, stopping along the way for a delicious picnic by a billabong. This will take up around 4.5hrs with stops.  Pack our personal gear into our waterproof barrels. Have a nourishing meal and sit together around the campfire. Sleeping in dorm room accommodation.  

Your Organizer


EY
Escaping Your Comfort Zone Inc
22 reviews
Body positive, slow paced adventures for women & non-binary people. The outdoors don't care about your size, your speed or your fitness, and neither do we! 100% body positive, no focus on weight loss. Just having fun in the outdoors, cause we can!

Reviews

Loved having the chance to meet with like minded women who just wanted to get out there and do activities regardless of their Size. The weekend was a great mix of adventure, down time and float time. Richelle did a great job of arranging everything we needed for the weekend and making all feel welcomed. Looking forward to meeting up with some of the ladies in future.
By Caitlin L for THE SUMMIT - a summer wet, wild and muddy school camp for adults on Feb 27, 2024
LR
Thanks for organising Richelle. The location was perfect. Thoroughly enjoyed the swims, kayaking and floats as well as great company and surrounds . Cheers! Lauren & Kev
By Lauren R for INVITE ONLY Gariwerd (Grampians) Lakeside Summer Camping (+ bunkhouse) on Feb 01, 2024
CC
Was one of the best camping trips I've had. Location was fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and the lake front site.
By Casey C for INVITE ONLY Gariwerd (Grampians) Lakeside Summer Camping (+ bunkhouse) on Jan 25, 2024
Had a great time! Loved meeting the Dingos. Bed was surprisingly comfy. Had all types of weather and what a beautiful location!
By Amy J for Body Positive Hikes, Wildflowers & Dingo Cuddles weekend at Baw Baw on Dec 05, 2023
I had a fantastic time. I thoroughly enjoyed the hikes and swimming. Wilson’s Prom was amazing. A big Thankyou to the tour guides and the people that made it so special. Looking forward to the next trip.
By Irene S for Wilsons Prom Lodge & Breathtaking Hikes on Nov 09, 2023
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