Registration is Now Open!
Growing Realization & Wisdom
The Growing Realization & Wisdom retreat series was launched last November with the first of five retreats. Yuan Tze is progressively guiding our life cultivation journey into a “deeper water zone”. This series constitutes a comprehensive program, designed to anchor Ren Xue’s practical wisdom firmly in the present moment. Building on the life cultivation effort of the Ren Xue community, these retreats aim to guide participants into the depths of their Jingshen in a powerful and pure Qifield, fostering interaction, resonance, integration, breakthroughs, and upliftment on Jingshen level. The ultimate goal is to empower every current and future Ren Xue practitioner to forge a clear and reliable path to wisdom through foundational clarity, facilitating safe and effective progress.
Each of the five themed retreats features five distinct core topics. While deeply engaging with these themes, the activities will dynamically adapt to participants’ needs, and progress with evolving circumstances ensuring a transformative and responsive experience.
This is Yuan Tze’s final retreat series.
It is not necessary to join the events in consecutive order. If you missed the first and second retreats in the series, you can still attend this third retreat. If you would like, you can watch the replays of Are you ready to change your life? and Which path and tools are right for you?.
What are the obstacles before you?
Building on the foundations of the first two retreats in the Growing Realization and Wisdom series, this next retreat invites us to look more deeply at what may be standing in the way of growth. Having explored readiness for change and the importance of choosing the right path and tools, we now turn our attention to recognizing and overcoming the obstacles before us.
Yuan Tze will focus on these core areas:
- Understand the essential role of removing obstacles in the realization of wisdom and growth.
- Explore common obstacles, including identifications, patterns, and external influences that shape our lives.
- Deepen understanding of obstacles rooted in human nature and the workings of cause and effect.
- Identify the specific obstacles unique to your own journey.
- Discover the actions needed to overcome these obstacles and support meaningful transformation.
Many Ren Xue teachers will also contribute to the program, which will include the Yuan Gong methods and healing activities. This is a great opportunity to work with teachers and fellow practitioners.
There are two ways you can participate in this retreat. Join us in person in New Zealand or attend virtually from the comfort of your own home. All of this will be taking place in a strong Qifield that is accessible whether you attend in person or online.
Take the next step to create real change in your life and awaken your True Self.
We will be livestreaming the event to enable online participation. Whether you attend in-person or online you will have access to the recordings from the retreat in your Learn REN XUE Portal. You will also be part of the same powerful Qifield.
Join us in-person or online for this special journey.
In-Person Retreat Details
Click on any of the links below to jump to further details about the In-Person Retreat:
Should you have any further questions, please contact us on events@renxueinternational.org
Venue
We are excited to offer this retreat from the beautiful Knox and Salmond College campuses in Dunedin, New Zealand. Located close to the city center and its conveniences, but tucked into their own private grounds and across the road from the Botanic Gardens, the venue and its setting adds something very special to the retreat experience.
All rooms are single rooms. See the photo slider for images of the venue.
Registration Fees
NZ $1,850 Standard Rate
NZ $2,100 Supporter Rate*
NZ $1,470 Financial Assistance
Our fees have increased slightly (by 5%) from last year. We understand that increases in retreat fees can be challenging, and we want to assure you that this change is a response to the rising delivery costs reflected in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
*Supporter Rate is for people who feel they can afford to pay a little extra. Extra income from this pool enables us to to keep the Standard Rate affordable and to offer Financial Assistance to ensure everyone can attend.
Registration fees are per person, and include:
- single room accommodation, including linen (bedding & towels), food, and shared bathrooms.
- all teachings and related teaching material from Yuan Tze and senior Ren Xue teachers, including access to the replay of the live-streamed portion of the retreat via your Learn REN XUE Portal.
Accommodation
All rooms are single rooms with shared bathrooms.
There are a limited number of single rooms that are configured in partner or family layouts, with a shared space. If you indicate on the registration form your preference to be near someone else, or with a group of people, we will do our best to accommodate this.
Offsite Option
We encourage participants to stay on site in order to receive the full support of the retreat. However, an offsite option is available for anyone with a health condition that requires staying offsite. We offer a discount of NZ$200 off the above rates for anyone choosing to stay offsite.
If you need to stay offsite for this reason, please email events@renxueinternational.org to receive the discount code before registering.
Online Option
If you are unable to attend in-person or are weighing up how to attend, the full retreat will be live streamed online. Our standard sliding scale for hybrid retreats will apply: $500, $600, $700, $850, $1,000 all in NZD – pay what you can. Generous financial assistance is available for the online option in order to make the retreat accessible to anyone who wishes to participate.
Read more about the online option on our Learn REN XUE site here.
Arrival & Departure Details
November 27 – Dec 6
Friday November 27th
1:00-5:00pm: Registration
5:30 – 6:00pm: Welcome
6:00 – 7:00pm: Dinner
7:00pm: Welcome and Group Healing with Yuan Tze
Sunday December 6th
Ends at 11:30am with optional lunch to follow.
See the Retreat Daily Schedule details below for more information.
If you plan to arrive early or stay late in Dunedin, the venue offers accommodation.
Pre-retreat, there are only a limited number of rooms available for November 25th and 26th only. The cost is NZ $121 per person per night and includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Post retreat accommodation is for December 6th and 7th and has very limited availability. It’s on a Bed & Breakfast basis (no lunch or dinner provided) and continental breakfast is served only for the morning of December 7th. The cost is NZ $90 per person per night.
If you would like to stay extra nights before or after the retreat, please email events@renxueinternational.org to check availability and book.
Access
The retreat is being held across both the Knox and Salmond campuses, which are a 5-10 minute walk apart, with the Knox campus being up hill from Salmond. We will have a shuttle available to anyone with physical or health considerations to ensure this isn’t a barrier to participating. Knox campus, where the accommodation is, has internal stairs and no elevators/lifts. We can however put anyone with physical or health considerations on lower floors to help mitigate this.
When you complete the registration form after paying, please indicate to us any physical or health issues you have that would require support to get between the two campuses or to navigate internal stairs.
We will be in communication with you to ensure the proper supports are in place.
See the Retreat Daily Schedule below for where the different program activities will be held.
Retreat Daily Schedule
Morning
7:00-8:00 Session 1 (1:00) – Yuan Gong Practice & Instruction, Knox/Salmond Campus
8:00-9:30 Break (1:30) – Breakfast, Knox Campus
9:30-12:00 Session 2 (2:30) – Yuan Tze talk, Salmond Campus
12:00-1:30pm Break (1:30) – Lunch, Knox Campus
Afternoon & Evening
1:30-3:00 Session 3 (1:30) – Yuan Gong Practice & Instruction, Knox/Salmond Campus
3:00-3:30 Break (0:30)
3:30-5:15 Session 4 (1:45) – Special Topics by Ren Xue Teachers, Salmond Campus
5:15-7:00 Break (1:45) – Dinner, Knox Campus
7:00-8:30 Session 5 (1:30) – Yuan Tze talk & Yuan Gong Practice, Group Healing on Day 1, 5 and 9, Salmond Campus
Accommodation – Knox Campus
Meals & Dietary Requirements
Three meals and afternoon tea with fruit will be provided daily. Please bring your own snacks if you need food between meals. The menu will consist of healthy food including fish or chicken, vegetarian and vegan options, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
The venue has a very experienced catering team. They cater to dietary needs including but are not limited to gluten free, dairy free, nut free, vegan, low FODMAP, and acute food intolerances, as well as religious and cultural requirements. Please let us know when you complete the register form if you have any special dietary requirements so the venue can plan accordingly.
There will be a basic selection of tea and coffee. If you prefer specific herbal teas, please bring your own tea bags.
The five activity sessions are dedicated to learning Ren Xue, group healings, learning Yuan Gong, and Yuan Gong practice. Tian Yuan, Di Yuan, Ren Yuan, Tong Yuan, and Ling Yuan will all be taught.
A detailed program will be supplied closer to the retreat.
Travel to Dunedin
- Air New Zealand and Jetstar (from Auckland only) have domestic flights daily to Dunedin Airport (DUD).
- Most flights from overseas enter New Zealand via Auckland, with flights from Australia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Asia coming in via Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. Jetstar flies direct to Dunedin from Australia’s Gold Coast.
- When booking flights from overseas it is recommended that you make Dunedin your destination unless you are planning domestic travel to the retreat from your original entry point.
New Zealand Entry Requirements
If you will be traveling to the retreat from outside New Zealand, please ensure you are aware of New Zealand’s entry requirements, you can find Visa and NZeTA Requirements here.
Transport to Knox College
- Dunedin Airport to the venue: 31 km, 30 minute drive
- Dunedin city centre to the venue: 3.9 km, 10 minute drive
- Dunedin Airport Shuttles has advised us that all transport from the airport to Knox College receive their student rate of NZ$20 plus a fuel surcharge for a shared ride, if booked through their online form in advance. From their Home page, please choose Student Special and select Knox College as your arrival or departure destination.
- If you prefer an express door-to-door service, you can book this through a separate online form, and this should cost approximately NZ$95.
- Taxis can also be found outside Dunedin Airport’s arrivals gate, costing approximately NZ$120-150 to get to Knox College.
Knox College
3 Arden Street
North East Valley
Dunedin
Scholarships
Due to very generous donations from members of the community, we are able to offer a few scholarships to cover the retreat, for full or partial registration fees. Scholarships are intended to help those truly unable to attend the retreat without financial support. If you can afford to pay some, please make use of our Financial Assistance rate.
Application registrations closed on July 31, 2026 NZST. If attending the retreat in person is not an option for you at this time, we invite you to join us online.
Ways To Pay
Direct Bank Transfer is our preferred option for receiving payment.
If you are paying from a New Zealand bank account, we recommend transferring your payment via online banking to avoid fees.
If you are paying from outside of New Zealand, we recommend transferring your payment using Wise.com to minimize fees. We have found their service to be efficient and their fees to be significantly lower than international bank or wire transfers.
After you place your order, we will email you our bank account details and let you know that your order has been placed on hold. Please pay the full amount due within 3 days. Your registration will remain on hold until your payment is received.
Account name: REN XUE International Charitable Trust
Email: admin@renxueinternational.org
Address: 17 Rimu Rd, Raumati Beach, 5032, NEW ZEALAND
Bank: Kiwibank
Account No: 38-9020-0409613-00
Payment Reference: The order number on your order confirmation email. This is very important. We need this reference to know the purpose of the payment and that it is from you.
We also accept the following payment methods. Processing fees will be added to your order to help cover payment gateway fees we are charged.
Credit Card: 2.9% processing fee
PayPal: 3.4% processing fee.
Registration Process
Step 1:
Pay for your registration fee on the Learn REN XUE website here. You will need to agree to our Health & Safety, Informed Consent and Cancellation Policies in order to purchase. NOTE: you will be able to access the retreat learning materials and the replay of the retreat from your Learn REN XUE Portal.
If you are paying by bank transfer, we will send you an email with payment instructions and your order will be placed on hold until we receive your payment.
Step 2:
Complete the In-Person Registration Form presented to you on the screen after submitting your order. This form has important details we require from you to finalize your registration. We will also email you a link to the form.
Step 3:
Once we have received both your payment and completed registration form, your place at the retreat will be reserved.
Step 4:
Closer to the retreat, you will receive further details about the retreat program, preparation for the event and registration on arrival at the venue.
Your attendance at the retreat is unconfirmed until we have received both your payment and your completed registration form.
How to Prepare
Weather
During November in Dunedin the average minimum night-time temperature is 9°C (48.2°F). The average maximum daytime temperature is around 14°C (57.2°F). The amount of rain in November is high with an average of 119mm (4.71in). The weather can be unpredictable this time of year. If you have attended past New Zealand retreats, this is cooler and wetter than conditions in Rotorua so please come prepared to stay warm.
Linen & Bedding
Linen, bedding, and towels are all provided. The venue will organize for these to be changed during our stay.
Laundry
Washing machines and dryers are available free of charge. Washes will run on cold wash only. Powdered soap will be provided.
Internet
Free and reliable Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue.
What To Bring
- Personal toiletries
- Layers of comfortable clothing, as the weather at this time of year can be unpredictable and cold at times
- An umbrella and wet weather shoes and jacket for getting between campuses
- Blanket for keeping yourself warm during seated practice
- Cushion for floor seating or seated practice (chairs are also available)
- Mats are provided in the main hall and can be taken to the morning practice hall which is in a different location, if required. Alternatively, you can bring your own mat for the use in the practice hall
- Slippers or socks for the main practice areas
- Tablet/laptop or notebook and pens
- Water bottle or thermos/flask
- Specific snacks and tea/coffee you would like outside of the meals and tea/coffee provided
- Torch/flashlight
- Hot water bottle to stay warm
- Slip on shoes or jandals/flip flops are recommended for the shower block
Pre and Post Retreat Community Activities
Dunedin
Local Pre-retreat Program for Wednesday, November 25th
4.30pm – 8.30pm Yuan Gong Practice, Group Healing, and dinner.
Join the weekly community class at the Quaker hall, 15 Park Street, Dunedin City (this will be free for retreat participants, please arrive 10 min before)
- 4:30-5:30pm Yuan Gong Practice
- 5:30-6:30pm Group Qi Healing
- 6:45pm Dinner afterwards at Buddha Stix restaurant, 678 George St., Central Dunedin (3 minute walk from Quaker hall)
All of this is in walking distance to the Knox College.
For any questions or to register your interest to participate in the activities in the Quaker Hall and/or dinner, contact the locat team at qigongdunedin@gmail.com or via WhatsApp.
Ren Xue Farm - Golden Bay
Following the retreat, visitors are welcome to explore the farm and centre site through guided tours offered by members of the local Ren Xue community. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the land, learn more about the vision for the Ren Xue Centre, and connect with the local Ren Xue community.
Visitors are encouraged to arrange their travel and accommodation in advance and to avoid relying on camping, as weather conditions can still be quite changeable at that time of year. November is also a busy period in Golden Bay, so early bookings are strongly recommended.
For more information about visiting the area, local Ren Xue activities, and practical details to help you plan your trip, please refer to the local team’s Welcome Information.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Visitor Coordinator Sharon Munro, who will be happy to direct you to relevant information and resources to assist with your visit.
Sharon Munro – Visitor Coordinator
sharon.munro@renxueaustralasia.org or phone 027 320 8864
Event Team

Mary Johnson
Retreat Organiser &
In-Person Attendee Support
REN XUE International
Contact Mary

Trina King
Executive Director
REN XUE International
Contact Trina

Vanessa Lukes

Jackie Blunt

Mary Bordi
Health, Wellbeing, and Safety
You and your health and wellbeing are important to us. To support your retreat experience, REN XUE International works to create a safe, supportive, and healthy environment for our time together.
This retreat involves ten days of residential participation with up to 170 people, including moving Qigong practice, meditation, periods of silence, self-reflection, internal exploration and group activities. While many people find these experiences deeply beneficial, participants can sometimes experience strong physical, emotional and/or psychological reactions during these practices, and as such, participation may not be suitable during periods of significant physical and/or psychological distress.
Our team is trained to facilitate the retreat program but is not a medical or mental health service and is not equipped to manage significant physical or mental health conditions or crises.
HEALTH
We ask that you read the recommendations in our Guidelines for Health and Safety and work with these to help us shape a retreat environment which benefits everyone.
With regard to any illness, please let us know of any new health conditions which could impact your own or others’ experience on retreat, especially if you have become unwell while traveling to the event.
This especially applies to respiratory and digestive illnesses. Please take a general nasal swab (available from most pharmacies) for respiratory illnesses if you are at all unwell or have been in recent contact with people who are unwell with anything infectious, before arriving at the venue. If you test positive, please let us know so that we can help support you in your recovery and also put things in place to lessen the chances of others getting sick too.
At any time during the retreat if you need some support or become unwell, please let the Wellbeing and Guidance team know so we can help you.
GENERAL WELLBEING
Being in a relaxed, calm, and natural state is a good way to prepare for a Ren Xue retreat. This helps create a strong foundation of internal harmony to integrate new insights and grow.
If your mental state is unstable or highly changeable and it is often hard to be in a calm state, it is safer for you not to attend a Ren Xue retreat at this time. Please read our Taking Care to Prepare information before registering to decide whether now is a good time for you to join a retreat or not. If not, there will be other opportunities in the future and you will benefit even more if you attend at a time that is right for you.
As part of the registration process we ask you to complete a questionnaire to help us determine whether:
- the retreat is appropriate for you at this time;
- there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to support your participation; and
- we have the resources necessary to provide a safe environment for everyone attending.
We only collect health and wellbeing information that is reasonably necessary to determine whether we can safely support your participation and to make the appropriate arrangements if you attend.
If your responses indicate that additional support may be required, a member of our team will contact you to discuss your circumstances confidentially before your registration is processed. In some situations, we may request further information before confirming your registration.
We assess each application individually based on the participant’s current circumstances, the nature of the retreat and the support we are able to provide. Occasionally we may determine that we are unable to safely support participation at this particular retreat. If this occurs, we will explain the reasons and, where possible, discuss alternative options.
If during the retreat it becomes apparent that we cannot safely support your participation, we may need to arrange for you to leave the retreat so you can access the necessary medical or psychological support. Any such decision will be made with your wellbeing and the safety of all participants in mind.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
2026 Retreat Refund Policy: Dunedin, New Zealand
If you need to cancel your retreat registration, please do so early. Late cancellations may make it difficult to give someone else the opportunity to attend. Once you have paid any portion of the retreat fee, administrative and possibly cancellation fees will apply, depending on the cancellation date.
If you cancel your reservation:
- before October 15, 2026 at midnight NZDT, we will refund all fees paid minus any applicable administrative charges.
- on October 16, 2026 NZDT or later, we will refund all fees paid minus $200 cancellation fee and applicable administrative charges.
- No refunds after November 15, 2026.
Refunds will be paid within 30 days of receiving a cancellation confirmation.
PLEASE NOTE THAT:
- Anyone leaving the retreat early for any reason other than a qualified emergency (medical emergency or a death in the family) will not receive any refund.
- If you cannot attend because you test positive for Covid, a refund for the difference of the in-person and online event fee will be given, with the option to participate online and access the retreat replay.
- If someone leaves early due to a qualified emergency (medical emergency or a death in the family), we will refund the days that are not attended proportionately minus the $200 cancellation fee and the applicable administrative charges.
REN XUE International reserves the right at any time to require that a participant leave the retreat if it is determined that the participant’s behavior is either excessively disruptive or dangerous to self or others. In this case, all retreat fees are non-refundable.
Content Usage Guidelines
Please note that all written, audio, video, and course materials from this event are provided for your personal learning only. To protect the integrity and context of the teachings, do not copy, download, edit, screen record, share, republish, or redistribute materials or excerpts without permission.
For the purposes of teaching, promotion, social media, or any other public-facing use, qualified teachers may refer to the Ren Xue Branding Pack for content development, responsible use, and proper attribution guidelines.