Calm Mind, Open Heart
Mindfulness and Compassion Retreat
with
Grant Rix
Wangapeka Study & Retreat Centre
This retreat offers the opportunity to step out of the busyness of daily life and provides a practical immersion in mindfulness and heart-based meditation practices.
Rooted in the timeless wisdom of Buddhism, yet adapted for modern secular lives, this retreat is suitable for anyone with a sincere intention to develop or deepen their meditation practice.
Through daily classes, and a carefully held schedule of guided and self-directed practice – including meditation, gentle movement, and contemplative reflection – you’ll be supported in cultivating stability, clarity, and good meditation practice.
Classes will provide clear instruction and explore how mindfulness and compassion are powerful pathways for insight, both personally and in how we relate to the world.
Held in a peaceful natural setting, this retreat provides an opportunity to explore meditation in a supportive environment. Whether this is your first retreat, or you’re an experienced practitioner, your questions will be welcomed, and expert advice for continuing your practice will be provided.
Is this retreat for me?
The terrain is quite rugged and participants should be in reasonably good physical and mental health to enjoy the challenges, inner and outer, of retreat life at the Wangapeka.
If, for any reason, you are unsure whether the retreat is right for you, please email the Course Manager, Denise Quinlan [email protected] to discuss your concerns before you register.
Grant Rix has been a dedicated student and teacher of meditation for over two decades. He trained extensively under Tarchin Hearn, completing a three-year study and retreat programme at the Wangapeka Retreat Centre in the mid-2000s. He has also studied with teachers including Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche, Lama Mark Webber, and Sonia Moriceau. More recently, he has received Dzogchen and Longchen Nyingthig transmissions from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.
Grant is the creator of Pause Breathe Smile, New Zealand’s own curriculum-aligned and secular mindfulness in schools programme, which has now reached over 550 schools, 10,000 educators, and 170,000 children nationwide. He currently serves as Chair of the Pause Breathe Smile Trust and as its Director of Mindfulness Training and Development.
Grant has a clear understanding of the distinctions between secular and Buddhist approaches to mindfulness. He values both, recognising that each can be beneficial depending on a person’s background, beliefs, and needs. Known for his grounded, open teaching style, Grant creates a welcoming atmosphere free of pressure or expectation. His approach helps people from all walks of life connect with timeless wisdom in ways that feel natural and accessible.
He has presented at conferences nationally and internationally and contributed to multiple research publications* on mindfulness in education. Grant is also the resident teacher at the Queenstown Dharma Centre, offering weekly classes.
The Wangapeka Retreat Experience
Whenua Land
The retreat takes place on the beautiful Wangapeka whenua nestled in stunning native forests with expansive views down the Wangapeka valley. The land itself provides a healing sanctuary surrounded by mature trees and offering the perfect environment for reflection and reconnection with nature.
Kainga Accommodation
Accommodation is included in the price of the retreat, with all rooms being comfortable and well-appointed with single beds and electric heating. Shared bathroom facilities are conveniently located close to all rooms.
Kai Food
All meals are included in this retreat to support the your well-being and focus. Our kitchen team prepares nourishing vegetarian food to sustain and delight you throughout your stay. Specific dietary requirements can be accommodated and self-catering is also possible if you prefer to bring and prepare your own food.
Whare Wānanga Teaching Space
This teaching room is beautifully crafted and has been used for a wide variety of teaching for over 20 years. It has a wooden parquet floor and a pot belly stove to keep away winter chills. Set amongst beautiful mature trees, it offers a charming view looking down the Wangapeka valley, creating an inspiring environment for movement and meditation practices.
Whare kai Main Hall
The original building at Wangapeka, the Main Hall serves as the heart of community life with its combined living and dining room, library, and welcoming wood burner. Tea, coffee, and snacks are freely available here throughout your stay. Whether you choose to relax in the cosy interior or step out onto the porch to enjoy the expansive views, this space invites connection and contemplation. The hall also houses the kitchen, bathroom facilities, and laundry for your convenience.
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