Getting There
Travelling North from Sydney by car:
Take the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway (F3) bypassing Newcastle. The F3 joins the Pacific Highway. Follow the highway (signposted Taree) to Bulahdelah (about 1 hour from Hexham bridge). About 1 km past Bulahdelah, turn right onto The Lakes Way and follow signs to Forster. Drive past Smiths Lake to Wallis Lake. Tiona Park is five minutes past the turn-off to Elizabeth Beach. The drive from Bulahdelah takes about forty-five minutes.
Travelling South from North Coast and Brisbane:
Follow the Pacific Highway south past Taree to either of the two Forster exits. Follow The Lakes Way through Tuncurry, over the bridge through Forster and on towards Bulahdelah. Tiona Park is approximately fifteen minutes south of Forster.
Shared Transport
If you can offer a lift to retreat or would like to request a lift you can visit our classifieds page. Using the classifieds page is easy:
- First register yourself as a user.
- Once you receive your password by email, login to the classifieds page and navigate to the Getting to Retreat section and navigate to the appropriate classified board.
- Click on the submit ad menu item.
- Enter your classified.
- Remember to keep your user id and password handy as you may need them if you want to return and amend your ad.
- Please note that while the classifieds page is checked from time to time it is not moderated and Rigpa Fellowship Inc assumes no responsibility for any of the classifieds listed there.
- Please report any abuse of this site to kevin.wren[at]corporatespirit.com
Charter buses from Sydney and Newcastle:
Rigpa will charter a bus from Sydney to Tiona Park. The bus will depart during the morning of Saturday 16th January from Eddy Avenue, Central Station.
A charter bus will operate from Newcastle Rail Station during the afternoon on the 16th January travelling via Newcastle Airport. (Exact time to be confirmed).
Return buses to Newcastle and Sydney will depart Tiona Park when the Main Retreat ends on Tuesday 26th January. It is recommended that you do not book flights leaving in the afternoon or early evening of 26th January as the charter bus will not arrive back in Sydney before 8.30pm and so it is unlikely you will make any flights that night.
***UPDATE TO CHARTER BUS TRANSPORT TIMES ***
16 Jan Sydney to Tiona leaving 10.30am
The bus will arrive at 10am and park near the Central Station Countrylink train entrance on Railway Square, Haymarket where there’s a cab rank (up the road parallel to the light rail and Belmore Park NOT on Eddy Ave).
16 Jan Newcastle to Tiona leaving 2pm
The bus will be at the bus stop, turn left as you come out of arrivals and walk to the bus stop about 50 metres down from the exit. The bus will wait at this location from 1.30 -1.45.
26 Jan Tiona to Newcastle and Sydney
The bus is expected to depart Tiona Park at 3pm, however, this time is tentative as the exact completion time of the teachings is unknown. Travel time from Tiona Park to Williamtown airport has been estimated at 2.5 hours (estimated arrival at Williamtown is 5.30pm, and from Williamtown airport to Sydney is an additional estimated 3.5 hours (estimated arrival time is 9pm). Given that the 26th is a public holiday and subject to unpredictable traffic congestion and that the departure time is tentative, we recommend you not book any flights on the evening of the 26th as it is unlikely that you will make these flights
Private bus service:
Busways North Coast have a daily service to Tiona Park departing Bay 9, Eddy Avenue, Central Railway at 1.20pm AND another service from Newcastle departing at 2.30pm each day. Ring Busways on 02 4983 1560 to book or visit www.busways.com.au
Air transport:
Air travel to the retreat is possible via Sydney or Newcastle airports. Qantas, Virgin Blue, and Jetstar fly to Newcastle (about 2 hours drive south of Tiona). It is usually considerably cheaper to fly to Newcastle, rather than Sydney, from Brisbane or Melbourne.
For flight bookings please visit:
www.virginblue.com.au
www.qantas.com.au
www.jetstar.com