Origin Story

Co-founders Hayley O’Rourke and Tina Bruce both met in 2016 when they’re daughters, Ava and Zoë, started school in the same prep class. 

With different careers and backgrounds their friendship stayed within the school yard until they fell into a conversation after both returning from respective overseas ‘wellness’ retreats. They quickly discovered their mutual passion for travel & the huge benefits of carving time out to rest, heal and reset. 

Hayley started to attend Tina’s local yoga classes and a light bulb went off when they realised they wanted to offer yoga retreat experiences that were more accessible and less intimidating for women of all backgrounds. 

When they couldn't find what they were looking for, they set out to partner up and create it!

Soul Wander Retreats was born in 2018 from the place we felt most inspired; curating immersive experiences that empower and connect women to lead with their intuition and wander through the Soul inside and out. 

Integrating time walking on the earth, immersing in different cultures and embracing the ‘hero’s journey’ has been an inspiring supportive force behind this vision. 

Hayles was the ‘logistics queen’ very active behind the scenes of the business handling the bookings, flights and organisational details. 

Tina more the face of the business; she created the content, led the programs and was the leader on ground. 

To being work wives, the yin to each other’s yang, the coffees, the walks, the visions, the tears, the banter, and the working on exciting new locations together, this powerhouse duo became a match made in retreat heaven. 

Hayley & Tina consider themselves very fortunate to have sustained and grown their services through countless challenges and a time when travel and events came to a complete halt. 

They both agreed that despite the unprecedented pandemic, that the show would go on. 

Regardless of having to reschedule several retreats, navigate covid cancellations & restrictions, floods, hiking heat waves, supplier fall outs, and personal struggles, they persisted and it has been more rewarding than ever imagined. 

What started as a pursuit for wellness and meaningful adventures turned into close friendship bonds, massive spiritual growth and expanding beyond our limits. 

We have seen such courage awaken within those who choose to say yes to a retreat when it’s easier to say no. It happens differently for each soul but it’s never a coincidence who shows up. Witnessing the irresistible glow return on someone’s face on the other side of a transformative week is our ‘why’ which makes ripples as they return home on fire with purpose and clarity. 

It remains Tina and Hayley's mission to go global and host experiences across all cultures and spiritual traditions always learning and partnering with local community. It is our privilege to keep travelling and wandering both inside and out.