Join our Surf Coast Surf Retreat for a long weekend in the waves
We’ve lined up a 5 star luxury retreat in Torquay and we’re calling on all our local lady slider friends to join us! Whether you’re new to surfing or want to focus on progression, our accredited coaches have got you covered. Like all Mint tours, there will be a focus on good food and great company. We’ll spend our days in the waves and evenings enjoying great food in the company of new friends. Here’s what you can expect:
SURF COACHING For ANY ability level. We’ll turbo-charge your progression with a huge 10 hours of surf coaching. Our qualified surf coaches will find you the friendliest waves from Lorne to Ocean Grove.
LUXE RETREAT Our 5 star retreat with incredible ocean views has everything to make your stay as relaxing as possible. After all, who isn’t in need of a little RnR right now?
IN-HOUSE CHEF Our chef (ex-Movida!) will prepare gourmet grazing boards, incredible dinners and surf inspired smoothies and breakfasts to kick start your day.
SURF PHOTOGRAPHY Our in-water photographer is on-hand so you can get that perfect surf shot and we’ll track your surfing progress.
GREAT COMPANY Our hosts and coaches are life-long surfers who create a fun, carefree, no-pressure environment where surfers of ANY ability can take their skills to the next level.
WHO IS THIS FOR Anyone who wants to surf, relax, get outdoors, laugh, try something new, enjoy a cocktail or two, catch some rays, eat great food and connect with other surfing women.
Dates
Register for our next retreat!
Duration
3 Nights I 3 Days Surf Coaching
Price
$1850 per person twin share
Single rooms available
Ability Level
We'll have Coaching Sessions for:
✓ First Time & Novice Surfers
✓ Intermediate Surfers
OUR COVID-19 BOOKING POLICY
You can be confident travelling with Mint Tours. If this retreat is cancelled due to COVID-19 travel restrictions you will automatically receive a full refund of any monies paid. We take health and wellbeing seriously. We have reviewed all our health and safety policies and have implemented new standards and training that emphasise increased hygiene and sanitation. These are in line with recommendations from the World Health Organization and follow the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travel protocols for tour operators. At our retreat you will have daily temperature checks (and on arrival), ample access to sanitiser.
TOUR DETAILS
Get in touch for more info.
BEGINNER SURF COACHING
You’ll get 10 hours of surf coaching with highly qualified coaches over the course of 3 days. Our Beginner 'Foundation Sessions’ are for women who are starting their surfing journey. We’ll cover topics ranging from leashes to etiquette to fin selection to properly waxing your board to the turtle roll, and catching waves – from whitewater to green waves. Ultimately, our Surf Coast Surf Retreat will provide an essential foundation of knowledge and answer all your surfing questions.
INTERMEDIATE SURF COACHING
You’ll get 10 hours of surf coaching with highly qualified coaches over the course of 3 days. Our Intermediate ‘Progression Sessions’ are for women who want to take their longboarding to the next level. You feel comfortable catching waves, getting into the lineup, and practicing proper surf etiquette, and now you'd like to refine your technique on the surfboard. Our coaches will share their lifetime of insights and expertise on: turning, bottom turns, cutbacks, cross-stepping, trim, hanging five, hanging heels and style.
5 STAR RETREAT
You’ll stay at THE most luxe retreat in Torquay with incredible ocean views. The sun-drenched open-plan living area is the perfect place to relax with the girls after our surf sessions. The wrap-around verandah’s with expansive ocean views are the perfect spot for a sunset cocktail. The tranquil bedrooms have high quality linen, bathrobes and luxe Aurora Spa body products. Take a dip in our chemical-free, solar-heated plunge pool. The sunny backyard is the perfect place to catch some rays during the day and then sit by the fire-pit of an evening. Plus we have a wellness studio where you can do a post surf stretch or book a session with our massage therapist.
10 HOURS OF SURF COACHING
We'll turbo-charge your progression with a huge 10 hours of surf coaching over the course of the weekend. We know that's a lot, but we also know that more time in the water under the guidance of our coaches means real progression. The spaghetti arm feels will be real, but you're guaranteed walk away with a new found confidence in your ability. For novice surfers, we will teach you surf safety, paddling, board handling and get you up and surfing. For more experienced surfers we’ll work on improving technique and wave selection so you can trim, cross-step and increase your tip-time!
IN-HOUSE CHEF
Like all our tours, there is always an emphasis on great food. We’ve enlisted the help of talented chef, food stylist and local surfer, Jamie Humby to create some deliciously healthy dinners and snacks for your stay. Jamie and his team will be preparing gourmet grazing boards, incredible dinners, light and healthy breakfasts and surf inspired smoothies to kick start your mornings. Take a peek at his work @jamiehumby_foodstylist
EARLY CHECK-IN & LATE CHECK-OUT
You'll get 3 full days staying at our luxury retreat. This allows plenty of surf time and opportunities to relax in between. From 3pm on arrival day until 3pm on departure day our luxury retreat will be your home away from home where you can surf, relax, get outdoors, laugh, try something new, enjoy a cocktail or two, catch some rays, eat great food and connect with other surfing women.
SURF PHOTOGRAPHY
There is an art to capturing beautiful surf imagery, which is why we've enlisted the help our our good friend and professional surf photographer Zoe Strapp. These aren't your average happy snaps from a surf camp, just take a look at Zoe's work to see what we mean @zoestrapp. Zoe will join us in the water for one of our surf sessions. You’ll get to take home your surf shots, and track your surfing progress through photo analysis.
MOBILE SURF SESSIONS
We want to find you the best conditions for learning and progression which is why our surf sessions are mobile. Our team of local and qualified surf coaches will find you the friendliest waves along the Surf Coast. We can travel from Ocean Grove to Lorne to find you the best waves. It's also a great way to familiarise yourself with some new beaches so you can keep surfing after the retreat ends.
Essential Info
DAY 1 – Arrival day
Welcome to Torquay! You can arrive any time after 3pm. On arrival at the Surf House, you’ll be given a warm welcome from our team and a tour of the house. Unpack, relax and grab a drink and enjoy the ocean views. Once everyone has arrived, we’ll hold a welcome session and go over our itinerary for the weekend. Our chefs will prepare a grazing table so you can snack, chat, relax and get ready for the adventure ahead.
DAY 2 & 3 – Surf, eat, sleep, repeat!
Each day will follow a similar format. Our morning starts with a light and healthy continental breakfast, smoothies, tea and coffee while taking in the ocean views right from our dining table. Then it’s time for surf.
Each day we will have two surf coaching sessions. Typically an early morning session and a late afternoon session so you have time to relax in-between. We’ll plan our surf sessions around the wind and tide so surf times can vary each day. We’re fortunate to have so many surf spots within easy reach of Torquay that work on most tides and winds. We can travel anywhere from Ocean Grove to Lorne to find you the best waves for learning and progression. Once at the beach, we’ll split into 2 groups so you’re learning with women who are of a similar ability level. Our small groups are the key to your progression. Each session, you’ll get 2 hours in the surf with our coaches who will give you the direction, expertise and confidence you need to progress. We will also have our professional surf photographer on hand to shoot one of the sessions from both land and in the water. And trust us, she’s a pro at capturing you from your best angle and making you look good!
After surfing, it’s time to head to one of our favourite local cafes for a late lunch. We may then take a road trip to a nearby town or a local winery, visit the surf factory’s or visit our local surfboard shaper. Alternatively, you might want take the opportunity to re-charge, head back to the Surf House and relax by the pool, get a massage and catch some rays. Anything is possible and we will tailor the day’s activities to suit everyone’s interests.
Once everyone is back at the Surf House, our head coach is on-hand to run a surf tech session. We’ll discuss equipment, winds, tides, when and where to surf, and answer all your burning surf questions. While all this is happening, our in-house chefs are working hard in the kitchen to prepare dinner with a focus on locally sourced, healthy and organic ingredients. But before dinner, enjoy sunset drinks with the girls overlooking the ocean. Then sit down for a group dinner with your coaches and discuss the happenings of the day.
DAY 4 – Surf, relax and we say goodbye!
As always our morning starts with a light and healthy continental breakfast, smoothies, tea and coffee. Then it’s time for surf. Today will be your fifth coaching session, so you’ll be feeling more comfortable in the water, and have a few new surf skills up your sleeve. After our coaching session, we’ll head to a local café for lunch. We’ll then head back to the house where our tour concludes at 3pm. We say goodbye and hope to see you back in the waves soon!
Whether you’re new to surfing or looking to sharpen up your skills, we’ve got you covered. Each day you will surf with similar level surfers. We will have coaching sessions available for the following ability levels:
SURFING FUNDAMENTAL SESSIONS
You have never surfed before or have limited surfing experience. You will learn the fundamentals of surfing including:
- Pop up techniques
- Board control
- Paddling
- How to catch white water waves unassisted
- Reading the ocean-weather, tides, rips
- The lineup, water safety and etiquette
SURFING PROGRESSION SESSIONS
You might identify as an intermediate surfer who can catch and stand up on small green waves with success some of the time. You want to catch more waves, fall less and learn how to refine your technique on the surfboard. We will tailor the session based on your ability and some of the topics we may cover are:
- The lineup, water safety and etiquette
- Positioning on the wave and navigating different parts of the wave
- How to catch more waves, better waves and positioning in the line-up
- Turning, trimming and cross-stepping
- How to improve paddle power
- Improving your stance
- Mastering the turtle roll
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
3 NIGHTS LUXURY ACCOMMODATION
For 3 nights you will stay at our luxury Surf Retreat in Torquay. All guests will stay in a twin share room, however if you’d like a little more room, we have a limited amount of single share rooms available. Our rooms feature 2 comfortable single beds with high quality linen and duvets, plenty of room for your equipment, free WIFI and thoughtful touches like Aurora Spa bathroom toiletries and robes. (The single share supplement is $175 for the tour)
5 x 2 HOUR SURF COACHING SESSIONS
Fast-track your surfing progression with more water time. We include 5 x 2 hour surf coaching sessions over the course of 3 days. Each session you will spend 2 hours with our qualified coaches. You’ll enjoy the personalised attention as we limit our group sizes and you’ll always learn with similar ability level surfers.
SURFING EQUIPMENT
If you don’t have your own equipment we’ll provide you with everything you need. Alternatively if you’re looking to get your own gear, we’re more than happy to provide you with recommendations on what to buy either before or during the tour.
SURF PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION
For one of our surf sessions, you’ll have a professional surf photographer Zoe Strapp on hand to capture all the action from the water.
PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGE
You’ll be able to download your surf shots the following day, so you can keep all your followers up to date. We’ll make sure you go home with your iconic surf shot, plus few the highlights from the trip.
HEALTHY BREAKFASTS
Breakfast includes plenty of healthy options including surf inspired smoothies, fresh bread, home-made granola, fresh fruit and yoghurt.
CHEF PREPARED DINNERS
Like all our tours, there is always an emphasis on great food. We’ve enlisted the help of talented chef, food stylist and local surfer, Jamie Humby to create some deliciously healthy dinners during your stay with a focus on local and organic produce.
PRIVATE TRANSPORT
Throughout the tour we’ll provide private transportation to and from the surf spots daily. If you need a lift on arrival and departure day, just ask! We can provide door-to-door transfers from Marshall V-Line Station to make the trip a breeze.
SURFING TECH SESSIONS
Our coaches will run a surf tech session which will cover everything from your set-up, surfboard selection, waxing and fins, when and where to surf, tides, winds and of course answer any questions.
FULLY ESCORTED TOUR
Our guides and coaches are on hand throughout the tour and are always available to assist.
We’ve got your back every step of the way.
#1 WE’RE ACCREDITED & ACCOUNTABLE
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conduct business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise.
#2 TRAVEL WITH THE EXPERTS
All our tours are guided by friendly, knowledgeable and expertly trained guides and coaches who are passionate about women’s surfing and each destination. Plus, when you hop on the phone with one of our staff, you know you’re speaking with someone who lives and breathes surf. Nobody gets you like we do.
#3 SMALL GROUP GUARANTEE
Whereas most companies try to squeeze as many clients per coach, we know offering one of the smallest client to guide ratio in the industry allows you to maximise your progression, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. Our small groups allow greater manoeuvrability and ease of access to the best experiences a destination can offer.
#4 FULLY ESCORTED TOUR
One of the advantages of travelling with Mint is that you have dedicated guides and coaches for your entire tour. Our guides are on-hand from the moment you arrive, until we say goodbye on departure day. They are not only with you all day in the surf, they are also on-hand each evening. They are always more than happy to share their experience with you in the surf, and share a cocktail and some laughs at the end of the day.
#5 PRE-TOUR SUPPORT
After you sign up for this tour, you will receive pre-trip emails with specific information about your tour, the arrival and departure day process, information about the destination, packing suggestions, and other relevant information to help you prepare for your trip. In addition to this, you have access to our customer care team who are just a phone-call away. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
#6 PARTICIPANT SCREENING PROCESS
We ensure that everyone who joins these trips are a good fit for the difficulty level. This helps ensure that you’re booked on the right tour, as are the other people joining you.
#7 LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS
Our long-standing relationships with local guides, local legends, professional athletes and local businesses allow us special access to places and people. Travelling with us, you go behind the scenes to get a close-up view of each destination. You’re enriched by the knowledge of our experts and local guides.
DATES
- Register your interest for our next retreat info@minttours.com
PRO-TIP – GO PRIVATE!
If you have your own group of surfing friends, pick your own dates and book a private departure – with your own coach and all the benefits of a Mint group tour. Get in touch to discuss.
WHY TRAVEL WITH MINT?
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conducts business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we can take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre-or post tour arrangements.
WHO IS THIS RETREAT SUITABLE FOR?
You don’t need to have any previous surf experience to surf with us. Our surf camps for women are geared to all abilities, from the total beginner to advanced and for any age. You must have basic swimming skills. To get the most of your retreat it is best to be in good physical health and injury free.
WHAT HAPPENS ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DAY?
Once you’ve signed up for the tour we will send you through a comprehensive guide with details about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, recommended arrival and departure times and transportation information.
WHAT IF I’M TRAVELLING SOLO?
About 99% of our guests are travelling solo, so you’ll be in good company. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in sport and an eagerness to explore all that a destination has to offer. If you are travelling solo, you will be paired with another guest to room with. The accommodation for this tour is twin share i.e. 2 beds per room. If you’d prefer your own room please request a single room at time of booking. We have limited single share rooms.
WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE?
This tour is running in Spring when the weather and water are starting to warm up. Days are longer which means we’ll have plenty of time for late afternoon surf sessions. Minimum and maximum temperatures range from about 12 – 25 degrees. In the water you can expect temperatures around 15 degrees, where a good quality 4/3 (if you feel the cold) or a 3/2 wetsuit will be suitable. There’s no need for booties, hoods or gloves. November is a great time of year to surf!
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THIS TOUR?
Each tour is different, but we know that by offering one of the smallest client to guide ratio in the industry allows you to progress at your preferred pace, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. This ensures you get the most out of your time with us, and keeping the groups small means less time waiting and more time surfing!
CAN I ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY ON AFTER THE TOUR?
For most tours you can arrive earlier or stay later. We can tailor the trip to suit your travel plans. Speak with one of our tour specialists when you are booking and they will be more than happy to assist.
WHO ARE THE COACHES?
You’ll be led by friendly, knowledgeable and qualified coaches who are passionate about sharing their knowledge. Our head coach for this tour is Torquay local Kerryn. She will be supported by other members of our local coaching squad.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I’VE BOOKED?
Once you’ve booked your spot on the retreat, we will send you through a booking confirmation and provide updates about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, our retreat location, recommended arrival and departure times, what to pack and transportation information. We will send out a Pre Departure Guide 30 days prior to departure. Prior to the tour commencing we will invite you to a group chat which is managed by your tour manager and guides.
CAN I BRING MY FRIEND OR PARTNER WHO DOESN’T SURF?
Unfortunately due to limited space at our accommodation, we don’t have beds available for guests who are not participating in the surf retreat.
HOW DO I CHECK MY ABILITY LEVEL?
The best way to check if a tour is suited to your ability is by speaking with one of our retreat specialists. They will be able to determine if the tour you have selected is a good fit for your ability, as well as suggesting other tour options.
HOW DO I CHECK AVAILABILITY?
Speak with one of our tour specialists. As this is a small group tour with limited availability, it’s best to get in touch early to avoid disappointment.
WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING?
Once you sign up for the retreat we will send you through a list with ideas on what to bring. You don’t need any special equipment for this tour. If you don’t have your own surfboard or wetsuit, we will provide everything, at no extra cost.
WHO WILL BE ON MY TOUR?
Your group will be made up of travellers from diverse backgrounds and will be varied in age. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in surfing and an eagerness to explore all that this lifestyle has to offer.
IS SURF EQUIPMENT INCLUDED?
Yes. We’ll provide you with everything you need at no extra cost. However if you have your own surfboard and wetsuit, we highly recommend bringing it along.
PRICE PER PERSON
The Surf Coast Surf Retreat is AUD $1,850 per person
Pricing is in Australian Dollars and based on twin share accommodation.
If this retreat is cancelled due to COVID-19 travel restrictions you will automatically receive a full refund of any monies paid.
SINGLE SHARE SUPPLEMENT
Single share supplements are available. Please request at time of booking to avoid disappointment. The price is AUD $175
RESERVATION AND DEPOSIT
To secure your spot on tour, a $300 deposit is payable within 3 days of booking. The final balance is due on the 25 September, 2020. You can view our terms and conditions HERE and COVID-19 policy HERE
If you would like some more information or a quote for the tour you can contact us by:
1. ONLINE
Click on ‘Enquire’ below and send us your details. Once we receive your request one of our Retreat Specialists will be in touch with a with a quote, availability and further details about the tour.
2. OVER THE PHONE
Call us and follow the prompts to speak to one of our retreat specialists.
Within Australia (03) 5296 0314
International +61 (03)5296 0314