Our Story
Rooted in the wild stillness of Kangaroo Island, our story is one of healing, simplicity, and deep connection to land, family, and the elements.
Starting Our Sanctuary
To be on Kangaroo Island is to be reunited with a way of living our bodies instinctively remember - barefoot on mossy earth, immersed in saltwater, attuned to the rhythm of the seasons. Here, among ancient pines and the purest air, something inside us reawakens.
We bought this block of land on the edge of Pelican Lagoon in December 2015. At the time, there was a small, weathered shed on the property - neglected, patched up, and home to about 200 bats. Our first thought was to demolish it and start fresh, but we soon discovered that building restrictions would prevent us from ever constructing a permanent residence here.
So we worked with what we had. We released the bats, stripped out the insides, and dismantled the dunny and shower that sat awkwardly at the front door - now the location of our beloved outdoor dining space. What emerged was a patchwork of creativity and resourcefulness. With minimal impact and a lot of repurposed materials, we began to shape a retreat that echoed our values: simplicity, sustainability, and deep respect for the land.
It became our shack, our sanctuary. Before kids, we’d spend time here just the two of us - walking through the forest, swimming in the lagoon, breathing it all in. The forest initially left me slightly on edge. The screech of Eastern Curlews, possums thumping in the rusted rain tank, and the eerie quiet of no human sounds anywhere. But that unease gave way to reverence. It became home.
We raised our toddlers here - free to roam barefoot, swing from trees, build fairy gardens and hammocks under a canopy of pines. My partner created and edited films from our tiny off-grid space, while I worked part-time as a teacher, soaking in the clarity and chaos of life deep in nature.
Choosing A Different Path
Then, in 2020, everything shifted. I lost my energy, felt constant pain, and struggled to keep up with our children and the demands of the land. Months later, I was diagnosed with Ross River Virus. The medical response was a prescription for lifelong pharmaceuticals. I chose another path.
In desperation, I began cold ocean swims - pain numbing, soul-igniting dips into the winter sea. I dragged a pink bathtub into the forest, filled it with icy water, and submerged myself- head under - just to feel something that wasn’t fatigue. Wrapped in a sleeping bag on a yoga mat under the trees, I breathed deeply with the earth. Slowly, I healed. The Wim Hof Method became my lifeline, combining breathwork, cold exposure, and mindset training to reset my nervous system and boost my immunity.
It worked. And it woke something in me.
In 2022 I travelled to Spain to become a certified Wim Hof Method instructor, and I knew I had to share what this land had given me. Not just the physical benefits, but the emotional clarity and reconnection that come from time spent in wild, honest nature.
We didn’t need a massive development. We didn’t need debt or flashy finishes. We needed authenticity. So when COVID paused our plans for bungalows and loans, we saw it as a sign. We moved our family into the forest full-time - downsized, intentional, and fully alive.
The Forest Does Its Work
Today, Island Alive is a retreat rooted in rewilding and reconnection. Everything you experience here has been shaped by hand and heart - from the repurposed materials to the handmade timber finishes and forest-inspired designs. Our family created this space to honour nature’s simplicity and to hold space for healing.
You’ll meet friendly kangaroos at your window, see families of birds gather at the bath outside, and find that nature knows you’re here. We live immersed in this place, and every element of Island Alive is infused with our story and love for the land.
As you breathe the crisp air, soak in the forest sounds, and move barefoot across the undergrowth, know that this land is ready to welcome you too. Whether you’re seeking stillness, healing, adventure, or just a reset - this is your space. We invite you to pause here, let go, and let the forest do its work.