Everything you need to know

Before · About · Booking · Cancellations · Health · Food · Alcohol · Accommodation · Travel · Group Size · After

  • Once we've received your deposit, we book you in for a 50-minute call with Asti, our in-house naturopath. This exploratory conversation allows us to customise elements of your retreat around your needs.

    Asti is also your guide to the functional testing available before you arrive, including Complete Microbiome Mapping, the DUTCH Test and HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis).

  • To maximise your experience, some guests choose to reduce alcohol, caffeine, gluten or refined sugar before arriving to ease the transition into the retreat. Others arrive exactly as they are. This is your retreat, on your terms.

Before the retreat

  • Your seven days include:

    • Six nights of luxury accommodation at Earnscleugh Castle

    • Breakfast, lunch and dinner crafted by MasterChef NZ winner Aaron Brunet. All dinners are 3 courses

    • Mineral broths, herbal teas and Sanctum 7 elixirs

    • A pre-retreat consultation call with one of our experts to enable us to personalise your retreat based on your goals and reasons for joining

    • Daily yoga

    • A Breathwork, sauna and ice-bath workshop – learn a simple bespoke breathwork routine to self-practice during the week

    • Herbal remedy and tea making workshop (3hrs)

    • A plant-based cooking workshop with Aaron Brunet (3hrs)

    • Fireside 1hr chat from a world leading sleep expert

    • A one-on-one naturopathy consultation

    • Curated oils and medicinal tinctures personalised to you

    • 3 x Lymphatic draining massages (1hr each)

    • 2 x guided walks (3hrs)

    • 2 x evening sound healing sessions (1hr each)

    • 1 x evening restorative yoga class

    • A night sky star gazing talk. We are home to some of the darkest, clearest night skies left on Earth

    • Unlimited access to the pool, sauna, spa and ice bath and croquet on the lawn

    • Return transfers from Queenstown Airport

  • Pre-arrival functional testing (hormone testing, DNA sequencing and gut health assessment) and IV drip therapy are priced separately and must be pre-booked ahead of your retreat. 

    For those who have a need to optimise their sleep, you can also book a dedicated 1:1 session with our resident sleep expert.

    Full pricing for optional extras is available at the time of booking and can also be booked at any time prior to your retreat. 

    Our Facials and Pampering Expert, Sophie, is also on hand for any extra pampering needed – in-house service. For those who would like extra massage services, these can be booked on retreat.

  • Mornings begin gently, with yoga or breathwork in the Ballroom followed by your elixir and breakfast. Afternoons bring meditation, sound healing or a treatment, with the estate yours to enjoy in between - the sauna, pool, library or gardens. Evenings are for connection: a long-table dinner with Aaron, followed by fireside conversation with our wellness experts.

  • No - nothing is compulsory. Sleep in, skip a session, or simply enjoy the pool, sauna and spa instead. We're here to guide, not prescribe.

  • Yes. Sessions are designed to be adapted to different levels of fitness and mobility, and participation in any activity is always optional. If you have a specific health condition, injury or concern, please let us know when you book so we can advise on suitability, and we'd always recommend checking with your own doctor beforehand if you're uncertain.

  • Sanctum 7 welcomes guests at any stage of their wellness journey, whether you're new to retreats or a seasoned regular. Most of our guests arrive solo, and it's one of the most popular ways to experience the retreat - though friends and partners are equally welcome.

  • Sanctum 7 is an adults-only retreat. All guests must be 18 or older at the time of arrival.

  • The daily programme (yoga, breathwork, meditation, sound healing) runs as a small group, with a maximum of 18 guests across the retreat. Personalised elements - your naturopathy consultation, massage, and any add-on treatments - are one-on-one.

  • Based on our experience to date, many book the retreat alone though your partner or friend are more than welcome

About the retreat

  • A booking is confirmed once we receive a non-refundable deposit of 20% of your total retreat cost, along with your completed pre-arrival guest questionnaire.

  • The remaining 80% is due no later than 45 days before your retreat start date. We'll send you a reminder ahead of this.

  • For bookings made within 45 days of the retreat start date, full payment is required at the time of booking to confirm your place.

  • Every room has a single rate. When a second guest joins you, they receive a 20% saving on that rate.

    To keep it simple, we combine both rates and divide the total evenly between you, so you'll each pay the same amount, with the saving already built in.

  • All prices are quoted and payable in New Zealand dollars, per person, based on your chosen room category. Accepted payment methods and any transaction surcharges are confirmed at the time of booking. If you're paying from outside New Zealand, we'd recommend checking currency conversion and foreign transaction fees with your own bank beforehand.

  • Yes. If you're booking for someone else, you'll need to complete the booking and accept our Terms on their behalf, and they'll need to separately complete their own health and pre-arrival questionnaire before arrival.

Booking and payment

  • Your 20% deposit is non-refundable from the date of booking, in all circumstances. If you cancel 45 days or more before your retreat start date, your deposit is forfeited but any balance already paid will be refunded. If you cancel less than 45 days out, no refund is given and the full retreat cost remains payable. This is because each retreat is a small, whole-property experience across just 9 rooms, so a single cancellation has a real impact on our ability to fill the place.

  • Yes, one complimentary date change is permitted per booking, provided you let us know more than 45 days before your original retreat date, and move to a date within 12 months, subject to availability.

  • In the rare event we need to cancel or materially change a confirmed retreat, you'll be offered a full refund of everything paid, or a transfer to an alternative date within 12 months, at your choice. Sanctum 7 requires a minimum of 3 rooms booked for a retreat to proceed - if this minimum isn't met, we'll notify you at least 45 days beforehand and offer a complimentary date change, plus reimbursement of reasonable flight change fees up to $500 NZD per guest.

  • Yes, all guests must hold valid travel insurance covering trip cancellation, curtailment and overseas medical treatment for the full duration of their stay. We strongly recommend arranging this from the time you book.

Cancellations and changes

  • Yes. When you book, we'll ask you to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions, injuries, allergies, medications or mental health considerations relevant to your safe participation. This is followed up in more detail through your pre-arrival questionnaire.

  • Please let us know at the time of booking so we can talk through what's right for you. Some activities - including the sauna, ice bath and breathwork - carry inherent risks and aren't suitable for everyone. We'd always recommend checking with your own doctor beforehand if you're pregnant or have an underlying health condition.

  • No, both are entirely optional. Functional testing (blood, hair and saliva) and IV drip therapy, delivered by our third-party partner IvyRevive, can be added during the booking process for guests who'd like a deeper, more personalised programme.

  • No. Sanctum 7 is a restorative wellness retreat. We don't provide medical treatment, diagnosis or emergency care - functional testing, naturopathy consultations and practitioner sessions are complementary wellness services, not a substitute for medical advice.

Health and suitability

  • Every meal is crafted by MasterChef NZ winner Aaron Brunet, your private chef for seven days. The menu is plant-based, largely free from gluten, dairy and refined sugar, grounded in functional longevity nutrition, with fish available on request.

    Expect plant-based food that is elegant, lush, not restrictive, with ingredients drawn from our heritage garden and trusted Central Otago growers. Dinner is a three-course affair each evening, taken slowly, an invitation to savour rather than rush.

  • Yes. Let us know your dietary requirements when you book, and Aaron will tailor your menu accordingly.

  • No. Sanctum 7 is about nourishment, not restriction. Meals are designed to be satisfying and indulgent as well as functional, alongside broths, teas and elixirs throughout the day.

Food and dietary requirements

  • Yes. No alcohol is served on the property, and we ask guests not to bring their own for the duration of their stay.

  • No, smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the property, indoors or outdoors.

Alcohol, smoking and substances

  • Within the Castle, choose from Premium Suites, Luxury Rooms or Classic Rooms, each individually named and uniquely designed, all with a private ensuite. The Coach House offers three charming, more accessible private rooms with a shared kitchen, lounge and bathroom. All 9 rooms are reserved exclusively for Sanctum 7 guests during your retreat.

  • Yes, you book a specific room during the booking process.

  • Wi-Fi is available in your room. In keeping with the spirit of the retreat, we ask guests to keep laptops, phone calls and texting to their own room, so the shared spaces of the Castle stay quiet and present-focused. If your phone is also your camera, please place on airplane mode when using outside of your room.

Accommodation and The Estate

  • Your journey begins at Queenstown Airport, with a complimentary transfer through Central Otago to Earnscleugh Castle included in your retreat. Pick ups are scheduled for 12pm. We also drop off guests at the airport departing Earnscleugh Castle at 10am.

    You can also self-drive to Earnscleugh Castle and park your car on-site for the week. Please arrive between 1pm and 2pm on the arrival day.

  • Central Otago has a continental climate, so layers are your friend whatever the season. We'd suggest:

    • Comfortable, breathable clothing for yoga, breathwork and movement sessions

    • Swimwear for the pool, sauna and ice bath

    • A warm layer or jacket for cooler mornings and evenings, even in summer

    • Comfortable, closed walking shoes for guided hikes

    • One or two smarter outfits for evening dining in the Grand Formal Dining Room

    • A reusable water bottle

    A yoga mat is optional - we provide everything you need for sessions.

  • Central Otago has a dramatic, continental climate - warm, dry summers and crisp, cold winters, with the Old Man Range rising close by. Pack layers, whatever the season.

  • Yes. Let us know when you book and we can arrange additional nights at Earnscleugh Castle before or after your retreat, subject to availability.

Travel and logistics

  • Sanctum 7 hosts up to 18 guests across 9 rooms, with the entire estate reserved exclusively for your retreat. With 80% of our guests booking by themselves, this means group sizes are usually between 10-12.

  • Sanctum 7 requires a minimum of 3 rooms booked for a retreat to proceed. If this isn't met, we'll let you know no later than 45 days before your retreat date and offer a complimentary transfer to an alternative date, plus reimbursement of reasonable flight change fees.

  • From time to time, Sanctum 7 hosts media or content creators on separate dates. On the rare occasion this happens during a paying guest retreat, we'll let you know no later than one month before your retreat start date.

Group size and privacy

  • In the weeks following your retreat, you're invited to join virtual reconnection sessions with our specialists to revisit insights and support your integration back into daily life. Your Sanctum 7 team also remains available for ongoing guidance in naturopathy, breathwork and nutrition, and guests who completed pre-retreat testing can arrange optional follow-up assessments to track progress. Post retreat accountability coach, Kris Maddren. 

After the Retreat