Research Accelerator Vaughan Park Research Retreats 2025

Need to make some serious progress on your research? Feeling isolated and want to connect with other researchers? Join us for an in-person research retreat at the picturesque Vaughan Park Retreat in Long Bay, Auckland. Our next retreat will be held 14–17 August. Registrations are now open – see below for details.

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The Retreat

Three days of dedicated research time with plenty of opportunity for beach walks, fun and conversation. All meals and accommodation are included – bring yourself and your research and the rest will take care of itself!

While the focus of the retreat will be an opportunity for you to work independently on your research, we'll start and finish each day with a short seminar and/or discussion group to help inspire and support you with your research work. There will be plenty of opportunities to engage and interact with our wonderful Research Accelerator community.

The Venue

Nestled on the rolling hills above Long Bay Beach, Vaughan Park facilities include cedar lodges, ocean-view conference rooms, and lush gardens, creating an unmatched tranquil retreat. For further information visit https://www.vaughanpark.org.nz

Your Facilitator

Dr Lyn Lavery

Lyn has taught research methods and data analysis in New Zealand universities for over 25 years. She is an NVivo Platinum Certified Trainer and has previously trained for SPSS NZ, so is confident working across quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods projects. Lyn's PhD from the University of Auckland is in educational psychology, specifically self-regulated learning. Her love of teaching and education, alongside her flexible teaching style and engaging sense of humour, contribute to her outstanding reputation as a training facilitator.

What previous attendees say

Our in-person retreats have been described by attendees as "epic", "legendary", "awesome" and "incredible". We're expecting places in the 2025 retreats to fill up fast, so contact us asap if you'd like to attend.

In terms of reduction of isolation during PhD study, RA has been a game changer for me - the in person retreat just took it up another level! Meeting the wonderful women I had begun to know online in person, created a sense of connection, inspiration and belonging. The opportunity to connect, research and rest was the most welcome combination, in the most beautiful setting with the most wonderful group.

Kate Brady Kean

University of Melbourne

The in-person Vaughan Park Research Retreat gave me space for my research... time away from my usual hustle and bustle to focus on my project and not have to attend to any organising (meals, home, work). Times during the breaks to have conversations and make connections was especially helpful. The meals, by the way, were amazing.

Jenny Green

Massey University

I came to write stressed about looming deadlines. This retreat, I wrote more that on previous such retreats at the same venue. The words just wrote themselves-and I believe it was due to the shared sense of purpose from stories of incredible courage, perseverance I heard from my fellow academics. It was humbling and uplifting simultaneously.

Shelagh Mooney

AUT

How wonderful to be able to put the world on hold and dedicate three days to connecting with supportive people in an intentional space, thank you Lyn for your dedication to making this research community what it is.

Kayleen Clark-Howard

Massey University

Attending an in-person retreat provided a much-needed boost to my research journey. While my word count flourished, the most valuable aspect was time invested in my mental well-being. The moments of connection and solidarity with fellow researchers proved invaluable. This research accelerator retreat was an immensely supportive environment that reinvigorated my writing.

Annabel Grant

Massey University

This second retreat felt a little like "coming home" to a family reunion, such is the strength of relationships that are formed through these amazing events. The sense of solidarity in work that is often experienced as individual and solitary has been a game-changer for me! I whole-heartedly recommend the RA retreat (and the membership more broadly) to anyone who feels at all isolated in their research mahi. Lyn has built an incredible community of researchers and these retreats play an important role in growing our collective capacity to do research that matters.

Raewyn Eden

Massey University

Options and Costs

All prices below are GST inclusive

Note the following:

  • Payment is required to confirm your place and bookings are non-refundable (this is the policy of the venue). If for some reason you are no longer able to attend, we will do our best to find another member to take your place.
  • All prices noted below are fixed fees i.e. if you sign up for three nights but have to leave early/arrive late or you won’t be onsite for some of the meals, the full fee still applies.
  • Prices below are inclusive of meals, accommodation, venue hire etcetera.
  • 1:1 time is not available with Lyn at this retreat, but you're welcome to book in to see her in the lead-up to the event. 


Accommodation Options

Vaughan Park has a range of room options available, details (and photos) of these can be viewed at: https://www.vaughanpark.org.nz/rooms.html. Both single and twin rooms are available – note that twin rooms are single occupancy – these are larger rooms which will provide plenty of space for you to spread out.

  • There is a 'base rate' for each room type – if you would like a late checkout on Sunday or you have dietary requirements, surcharges apply.
  • All room options have a shared bathroom.
  • During the retreat you will have the option of working in the shared meeting room with others in the group or you can work solo in your lodge. If you don't opt for a late checkout on Sunday, you will need to be out of your room by 10am but can continue to be on-site and work in the shared meeting room that day.
  • Accommodation is for the evenings of Thursday 14 August, Friday 15 August and Saturday 16 August.
  • Costs include all meals (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner).


Room type Cost
Early-bird		 Cost after
20 June
Single room (checkout 10am Sunday) $774 $850
Twin room, single occupancy (checkout 10am Sunday) $840 $925
Surcharge for late checkout (5pm Sunday) $80 $80
Surcharge for specific dietary requirements ($15 per day) $45 $45


Daytripper Options

If you do not require accommodation, you're welcome to join us just for the day. 

You can either work in the shared meeting room or if you prefer a quieter space you can work in the onsite chapel which has a small working area. You'll be able to participate in all retreat activities e.g. seminars, discussion groups, beach walks etc.

At this stage we are only offering three-day daytripper options. If there are spaces remaining nearer the retreat date, we will look at opening up some one and two day options.


Room type Cost Early-bird Cost after 20 June
Daytripper (no evening meals) $376 $415
Daytripper (with three evening meals – Thurs, Fri & Sat) $499 $538
Surcharge for specific dietary requirements ($15 per day) $45 $45


Not a Research Accelerator member?

We have opened up four places at our August retreat for non-members. These are for accommodation options only i.e. non-members are not eligible for day-tripper options.

Room prices (three nights) for non-members are $920 for a single-room or $995 for a twin room (single occupancy). The retreat fee also includes a Research Accelerator membership for three-months, so this is excellent value for money!



Keen to register?

Registration is open for our August 2025 retreat. If you'd like to book a place, click here to complete the registration form. Rooms will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.