The Gathering

The Gathering is a weekend immersion on Country, bringing together women of all ages and backgrounds, to share ancestral skills and wellness practices, connect to Country and each other, and to reconnect with ourselves.

Held over three days and two nights, The Gathering includes over 20 workshops, inspiring panels, live music, dance and ceremony to connect and remember who we are and our roles in this world.

This is a First Nations curated event, with over 50% of facilitators being Indigenous women from Australia. Non-Indigenous facilitators are encouraged to share wisdom and skills from their ancestry, ensuring they have appropriate cultural permissions to do so.

When you purchase a ticket to The Gathering, you are supporting our work to make healing spaces on Country as accessible and community oriented as possible. Indigenous women and families, along with single mothers are invited to apply for scholarship places.

The Gathering invites anyone who identifies as a woman or resonates with sisterhood to participate in this event. Babies and children are welcomed, but due to cultural protocol boys over the age of 4 are unable to attend.

The Gathering 2025 is supported by Healthy North Coast’s Community Wellbeing and Resilience Program.

Midginbil Eco Resort

252 Midginbil Rd, Midginbil NSW 2484, Australia.

The property boasts a spectacular 400 acres, with views out to the escarpments of the heritage listed “Night Cap” National Park. Surrounded by lush, green sub-tropical rainforest.

Midjinbil Eco Retreat are committed to preserving our environment & minimising their impact on the planet, not just for us, but for future generations.

Camping

The campground is a beautiful grassy site, surrounded by a lush, green landscape, along a meandering creek. Unpowered sites, no sullage or water. Access to camp amenities which include shared toilets and showers.

Van/Car Camping

The campground is a beautiful grassy site, surrounded by a lush, green landscape, along a meandering creek. Unpowered sites, no sullage or water. Access to camp amenities which include shared toilets and showers

Solo Glamping Tent

Boho style camping experience, with solar power light, fan & USB port. Queen bed with linen & towels provided. Guests staying in the tents have access to camp amenities which include shared toilets and showers. Set amongst the beautiful landscape of greenery & wildlife.

Twin Share Glamping Tent

Boho style camping experience, with solar power light, fan & USB port. Queen bed with linen & towels provided. Guests staying in the tents have access to camp amenities which include shared toilets and showers. Set amongst the beautiful landscape of greenery & wildlife.

We encourage Indigenous individuals and families to apply for a scholarship position.

Scholarships

We hope this list supports you as a guide when you are packing for The Gathering.

• Water bottles (filtered water tanks are available for refills)

• Hat

• Waterproof rain jacket

• Warm jacket/beanies/socks

• Walking shoes (if you choose)

• Small tarp or blanket and cushion to sit on

• Enough clothes for the 4 nights/5 days

• Swimmers

• Towel or sarong

• Torch and spare batteries

• Natural sunscreen and mosquito repellent

• Toiletries

• Personal medication

• Journal and pen

• Bowl, plate, cutlery & mug

Please note that this is a waste-free event. We encourage you to minimise waste where possible and to bring your own bowl, plate, cutlery and mug. Dishwashing facilities are provided.

Workshops and activities will be held outside so prepare to be sitting on Country exposed to the elements.

1. Plan ahead and prepare

   Please bring a cup, cutlery, a water bottle and a plate and we ask that no packaged goods or plastic water bottles come on site.

2. Respect wildlife

   Do not harass wildlife. Remember, The Gathering is not a place for dogs or other pets. Please be careful while driving to the event and while you are on sacred land.

3. Car Pool

   We are gathering in a natural environment and we encourage all who can to carpool to the event to minimise our environmental impact. All attendees with vehicles will have to purchase a car pass. No car pass, no entry.

4. Bubs and little ones

   We encourage you to bring your jarjums with you. All children must have the appropriate ticket purchased for them. Please note that due to cultural protocol, boys over the age of 4 are not permitted to attend The Gathering.

The Gathering is a women-only event, where we create a sacred container for our sisters, elders and children to come together and recognise the powerful support women can be for one another. This event is about sharing women’s business, about opening fully to one another and exploring all things womanhood.

Recognising that, as a society, our understanding of gender is evolving and expanding, The Returning welcomes anyone who identifies as a woman. This includes cisgendered women, trans women and non-binary people who want to participate in and explore the feminine energy.

We use gendered language and pronouns in our communications, reflecting our identity as a women’s business space. If you identify as a woman, but prefer non-gendered pronouns, please feel free to let us know and we will seek to use your preferred terminology. We are continuously learning, and we are open to ongoing, respectful conversation around our approach.

As an Indigenous-run event, it is important culturally that we maintain women’s only spaces for women’s business. We recognise that some non-binary and trans people may not feel comfortable in a gender-specific space. Indeed, neither do some cis-gendered people. As such, The Returning might not be the best fit for everyone.

We believe in breaking down barriers that cause inequality and creating inclusive spaces. If you have have specific accessibility needs, please contact us so that we can make sure that you are adequately cared for at The Gathering.

We welcome volunteers at our women’s gathering to contribute towards collective community care.

If you would like to volunteer at The Gathering, please apply and a member of our team will be in touch with you.

Volunteer

We are mindful of our impact on the planet, please support us to reduce the number of vehicles and support sustainable ways of being by carpooling and limiting the pollution and traffic for our more than human kin

All guests bringing a car onsite are required to purchase a pass per car from $45 - excluding van/car campers whose parking pass is included in their ticket price.

Parking passes are limited, please carpool where possible.

Buy a parking pass