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Imagine a retreat that is just for you.
A place to relax, connect, explore and give
yourself permission to do as little,
or as much as you like.
A place where women from diverse backgrounds are given a space to step out of their everyday routines, to focus on their own well-being. A week that is about sharing, listening to each other, and celebrating everything it is to be a woman.
The Ultimate Girls Week Away is a beautiful week of indulgence, learning and meeting wonderful people.
UGWA (as it is affectionately known) has created life-long friendships.
Meeting like-minded people in a nurturing environment brings energy, resilience, peace and confidence in our lives.
Our Mantra for UGWA 2025
At every Ultimate Girls Week Away Retreat that we host around the world, there is a mantra we focus on. In 2019 our mantra was ‘This is Me’, 2023 ‘Women’s Ways’, 2024 was 'Women Up Front' and in 2025 is it 'Live Life'.
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So often women put others first - their families, their jobs, their friends and their communities. In 2025 we want you to choose YOU and LIVE LIFE on your terms. To take a step forward and see what you need.
Every day is curated so you don’t need to worry about scheduling, organising, negotiating, cleaning or cooking.
In the 32 plus years I've spent organizing retreats, the reason women keep coming back to the Ultimate Girls Week Away is due to the bonds they form and the incredible stories they share.
In 2025 at UGWA we are elevating the experience with new Wisdom Speakers, brand new workshops and a fabulous location - the sparkling Hoi An in Vietnam!!!!
Why you need an ultimate week away
Women tend to place themselves last on their own priority list. Are you one of them?
Putting other people first is very noble, but neglecting our own needs can drain our energy and lead us toward exhaustion.
UGWA Retreats offers space to let go, unwind, and have fun! A time to relax, replenish, rejuvenate, and recharge your batteries.
This is the opportunity to meet like-minded people and become part of a supportive community which can be the catalyst for personal growth and inspiration, giving you the chance to reconnect with yourself lovingly.
UGWA caters for every woman. Introvert or extrovert. Active or needing downtime. Eat and drink as much or as little as you want. Dance, do yoga, or read a book. It is your choice how you spend your week.
UGWA retreat is not just a pause — it can be a profound experience that shifts perspectives, inspires change, and replenishes the soul. After this week away, you enter the world with fresh eyes and fresh energy, so you can continue to be the powerful, nurturing, and impactful woman that you are.
7 nights of mind, body, and soul rejuvenation.
Testimonials from women who said 'YES'
"UGWA literally changed my life. It definitely shifted something inside me to the point where I’m more creative, I feel more aligned, and all of that is due to the community that UGWA fosters. Thank you Liesel for creating such an amazing outlet for women like me” Amy Loughren - The Good Nurse (who helped catch a serial killer)
“The week with so many sisters was exactly that - but it was also so much more.
Being together with a diverse group to feel free, untethered. supported, loved and nurtured and for this one magical week, judgement was suspended” - Nicola McDonald, Tasmania
“I feel transformed. My sacred circle is now wrapped up with the special connections I made at UGWA2023 and the whole UGWA tribe. The angst that I have felt since my husband died over twenty years ago has been replaced with abundant love. Thank you all for being part of that” - Caroline Smith, Western Australia
UGWA has empowered me to become bold, strong and far more confident than I ever imagined I was capable of. Through teaching me to love myself and to embrace parts of me that I never thought I would, no longer do I live in the shadows of other people's achievements, I can finally be proud of my own” - Tangoria Bristowe, Cairns
The Complete Picture
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Life can be like an intricate jigsaw puzzle, and in Hoi An we want you to focus on 'living life' exactly how you choose. Each day we will present to you part of that puzzle and allow you to pick and choose the pieces that you need. Sometimes you need more, sometimes less or sometimes everything is in front of you.​
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Sunday: Friendship and Connection
Let us celebrate the special people in our lives who uplift us, inspire us to grow, and stand by our side when we need it most. Whether it’s your UGWA family, your closest girlfriends, or supportive work colleagues, these connections nurture our journey. Some of us are surrounded by many, while others treasure just a few. Let’s take a moment to embrace the friendships that help us thrive!
Monday: Family Ties
How do we balance those around us, with so much noise about how a family should and should not work it is hard sometimes to see what is right in front of us.
Tuesday: Growth and Confidence
Growth and confidence looks different for everyone, and today is about empowering you to pursue the achievement and stability that matter most in your life—whether professionally or personally. It’s a reminder to take steps toward creating a solid foundation for your future, whatever that may look like for you. Let's focus on building the confidence and clarity to reach your goals!
Wednesday: Adventure
This is the time to feed your curiosity. Ever wanted to snorkel among tropical fish, do a cooking class, or visit the beauty of the Hoi An area? Today is the day to choose your adventure!
Thursday: Health, Life & Play
Health is often something we take for granted—until we or someone we care about faces a challenge. Today, let’s explore ways we can better nurture ourselves, both physically and mentally, to support long-term well-being.
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Friday: Our Celebration of Life
No matter how you choose to live life we want to celebrate YOU and your decision to join us and say YES to you!
Our Ultimate Team
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When choosing our UGWA Team we look at the experience each one brings, the wisdom that they have to share, their passion for retreats, that travel makes them excited, and that they are all-around amazing women.
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Our 2025 team is international and diverse in many ways - ages, cultures, backgrounds, experiences, and of course areas of expertise.
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There will be some of your favorites there like our UGWA Photographer Tanita Seton, Sound Healer Mignon Lee Warden, Kerryn Slater who will guide you to your sacred self, Bron Roberts our happiness extraordinaire, all things fitness with Jenni Williams and Andrea Gaze, Simmi the Aromotherapist and artist Tracey Minster.
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We also welcome Amy Loghren - The Good Nurse - who joined as a guest in Fiji, A Wisdom Speaker in Carins, and in 2025 as part of the UGWA Team. If you don't know Amy's story she helped catch a serial killer and actress Jessica Chastain played her in the 2021 Netflix movie The Good Nurse.
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Our Ultimate Program
Pre UGWA
If you plan to arrive in Vietnam a few days before UGWA 2025 then let us know and we can recommend some local hotels and will even organise pick up on Saturday from your hotel lobby.
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Day One - Saturday
Welcome to the Bel Marina for Day One! 10.00am - 2.00pm - Join us in our own private check in area 4.00pm Welcome to UGWA 2025, join us at the UGWA Hub for our official Opening and Blessing by female members of the community. As 6pm we will gather for some food and drinks to kick off the week. ​
Day Two - Sunday
Theme: Friendship and Connection - Our day to visit what these themes mean to us. 6.30 - 7.30am Morning offerings yoga, walking, meditation. 6.30am Breakfast available from 9.00am Opening Circle with Liesel and Mignon 10.00am Wisdom Speaker 10.45am Morning tea 11.15am Workshop 1 - each workshop slot there will be 4 to choose from 1.00 Lunch 2.00pm Wisdom Speaker: Could it be you? 3.30pm Afternoon tea 4.00pm Sister Circles - choose your circle for the week, for those of you that are new here this is a smaller gathering with women that you connect with to talk and reflect on each day. 4.45pm Free time 6.30pm Dinner at Mango Mango a 5 minute walk through the local night market.
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Day Three - Monday
Theme: Family Ties. What family means to one person will be totally different for someone else. 6.30 - 7.30am Morning offerings yoga, walking, meditation. 6.30am Breakfast available from 9.00am Welcome to the day 9.15 am Wisdom Speaker 10.00am Wisdom Speaker 10.45am Morning tea 11.15am Workshop 1.00 Lunch Free time 6.00pm Dinner 7.00pm Open Mic Night - if you have hidden talents then now is the time to shine!
Day Four - Tuesday
Theme: Growth and Security - As we grow how does our financial security pivot with us? 6.30 - 7.30am Morning offerings yoga, walking, meditation. 6.30am Breakfast available from 9.00am Welcome to the day 9.15 am Wisdom Speaker: Could it Be You? 10.00am Wisdom Speaker 10.45am Morning tea 11.15am Workshop 1.00 Lunch 2.00pm Workshop 3.30pm Afternoon tea 6.00pm Dinner onwards
Day Five - Wednesday
Adventure and Fun Day. Today is the day where you get to do whatever YOU want to do - choose from activities like: * A day Spa Experience * A Cultural Immersion * A sunrise visit to My Son Cham Temples (the Angkor Wat of Vietnam), lunch before visiting the famous Basket Boats and a river cruise back to the resort. * Village and snorkelling in the Cham Islands * hike marble Mountain * Vietnamese Cooking Class. Stay tuned for more - or create your own!
Day Six - Thursday
Theme: Creativity, Health, Life and Play - What does this mean to you. 6.30 - 7.30am Morning offerings yoga, walking, meditation. 6.30am Breakfast available from 9.00am Welcome to the day 9.15 am Wisdom Speaker to be announced - could it be you? 10.00am Wisdom Speaker 10.45am Morning tea 11.15am Workshop 1.00 Lunch 2.00pm Workshop 3.30pm Afternoon tea 4.00pm Sister Circles 4.45pm Free time 6.00pm Dinner
Day Seven - Friday
Theme: Celebration of Life - Let's celebrate you and your life! 6.30 - 7.30am Morning offerings yoga, walking, meditation. 6.30am Breakfast available from 9.00am Welcome to the day 9.15 am Wisdom Speaker 10.00am Wisdom Speaker 10.45am Morning tea 11.15am Workshop 1.00 Lunch with your Sister Circles 2.00pm Closing Circle. 3.30pm Afternoon tea 4.00pm Free time 6.00pm Dinner and closing celebrations.
Day Eight - Saturday
Today it is Farewell but not Goodbye! As you journey home we wish you well on your journey and hope to see you at another UGWA very, very soon.
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The UGWA Tailors Experience
Indulging in custom-made clothing tailored to your perfect fit and style is a luxurious experience.
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The charm of UGWA in Hoi An lies in our connections with exceptional tailors, shoe stylists, bag makers, and jewelry designers who will personally attend to you as we are gifting you a $200 AUD voucher to use at our on site pop up shop
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Our Accommodation
Bel Marina Resort, Hoi An, Vietnam
The Bel Marina is the perfect location for UGWA 2025, located a few minutes walk from the night market, sparling lanterns and on the banks of the Thu Bon River we could not ask for a better location.
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The resort has 2 pools, a deluxe spa that spans a whole floor, 2 restaurants and is a stone through from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An.
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Your single room includes:
A queen/king size bed, air conditioning, tv, refrigerator, bath tub, daily complimentary water, daily servicing, rain shower, kettle, tea and coffee.
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One thing that UGWA and Hoi An agree on is the food - for us it is important you are nourished with dishes that you love.
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UGWA starts with a private celebration where we will be immersed into the local cuisine by the rooftop pool, our signature retreat drink and mouth-watering food. Located in a private corner of the resort this will be the perfect start to what will be an amazing week.
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The Bel Marina and the local specialty restaurants that we will visit provide amazing food and cater to all dietary and allergy requirements.
The Cuisine - Some of the best food in the world!
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Investment
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8 days/7 nights accommodation in a single private room at the Bel Marina Resort
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A private Welcome and Closing Celebration at the rooftop bar and infinity pool. This includes drinks and food
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Meals including 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 3 dinners - all food intolerances catered for
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A $200 AUD voucher for our onsite tailors
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Transfers to and from Danang Airport
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A Vietnamese Welcome Blessing
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Welcome Gifts including local handcrafted products and personalised UGWA aromatherapy blend
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Workshops coinciding with the daily themes from our experienced team
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Daily Wisdom Speakers from the stage
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Have the chance to become one of our Wisdom Speakers (see details below)
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Yoga, walking and meditation sessions
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Sound healing baths
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An opportunity to sell your goods or services throughout UGWA
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Spa voucher to the value of $50 AUD
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All free activities featured at the Bel Marina Resort
All this along with a few surprises.......
Investment: $3878 AUD / $2680 USD / 2010 GBP / 2450 Euro
Will you be one of our Wisdom Speakers?
My vision was to create a platform for you to share your story in a safe, supportive environment, if you choose to. Our theme for 2025 - Live Life - is about nourishing the soul,being heard and learning how you live your best life!
We focus on wisdom and how we learn from each other’s experiences. Conducting retreats for over 32 years, I have heard so many amazing stories from participants.
This is now your time. We are looking for unique stories. Inspiring stories that make people believe they have the power to create their own beautiful story. Your story could be about triumph against the odds (family, illness, surviving an impact) or share your experience that changed your life.
Out of all submissions, we choose 4 women to share their story for 20 minutes, as a fellow Wisdom speakers. In August 2024 we will officially announce our speakers. Will it be you?
Being chosen as a fellow keynote speaker, you receive:
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Reimbursement of $500 from your total retreat amount
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1:1 Keynote Mastery Hour with Michelle Fargias - Transform your Keynote from Good to Great (value: $330)
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Half-hour 1:1 personal brand coaching (value: $320)
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Photoshoot while presenting with Tanita Seton, including 5 digital photos to keep (value: $475)
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UGWA Questions
Where do I fly to?
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The closest airport to our accommodation is Danang Airpot. We will pick you up from the airport at no extra cost and bring you to the Bel Marina.
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You can either use our trusted travel agent, or you can book through your own travel agent or online.
Do I need a Visa and Passport?
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It depends on which country you are coming from - you may need a tourist visa - APPLY HERE. You need a passport with at least 6 months validity on it.
Do I need travel insurance?
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YES - this is to protect you, in case anything happens to you. We will be asking for a copy to ensure you are covered as it is a pre-requisite to participating on this retreat.
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I have a peanut allergy can I still come?
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Please talk to us before you register so we can see how we can make this work.
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I am traveling alone and I am worried that I won't know anyone
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95% of UGWA attendees come alone and make new friends with like-minded women.
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What are your cancellation policies?
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Please check out our Terms and Conditions HERE and ask us any questions you need to.
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What if I get sick or hurt while I am at UGWA?
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We will have our very own Australian experienced nurse on site as part of our team. If you need local care she will help wih this and support you through every step of the way.
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In Loving Memory of my
Dear Friend Kathryn...
...This Is For You.
We all have those women in our lives who are Soul Sisters ~ it's like we've known each other multiple lifetimes. Kathryn was one of my Soul Sisters. I knew when she left this world, after her battle with breast cancer, that it was time for me to use the memory of her spirit and friendship to truly step into the vision I had shared with her so often... but 'never got round to it'.
Kathryn, I got round to it.
Much love and I know you're with us all the way...
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If you would like more information before you are ready to commit - you can contact me directly on +61 (0) 488 444 162 or by email at admin@ultimategirlsweekawy.com
I can’t wait to chat to you!
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