Sugar Beach Ranch Ballina launches women equine retreats

After inheriting her father’s passion for horses, the daughter of late music industry legend Chris Murphy has begun offering equine wellness retreats at his South Ballina ranch.

Murphy, who managed Australian rock band INXS, bought the 24ha beachfront property in 2015. His daughter Stevey Arena also moved north with her family in 2020.

“I was running an events business in Sydney and COVID put that to bed,” she said.

Arena started working with her dad with the aim of one day taking over the family business. That happened earlier than anyone thought when he passed away in 2021 just two months after being diagnosed with a fast-moving cancer called mantle cell lymphoma.

“My dad bred horses for 30 years and we both used to play polo, and that’s why we have all the horses that we have,” Arena said. “We have opened the big wide gates for other people to enjoy this beautiful property.”

The ranch has two self-contained bungalows, which can be booked via Airbnb, a campground and a magnesium salt pool. It is also used for team wellbeing programs, weddings, corporate events and photography and film shoots.

Arena became interested in equine therapy after the 2022 floods and reached out to equine psychotherapist Maxime Willems, who is now her business partner, after seeing a flyer she’d posted in Alstonville.

“Horses have been my happy place my whole life, so it was incredible to find out that it’s a legitimate thing,” Arena said.

Known as Sweet Retreats, the three-day women’s-only retreats include activities such as yoga, meditation and breathwork, alfresco equine painting, sound bowl healing, beach walks and sand scribbling. Guests will enjoy meals prepared by local “food over fire” chef Pip Sumbak from Pip’s Plate and also have the chance to plant a tree in Murphy’s memorial forest.

The next Sweet Retreats will be held from September 20 to September 22 and October 25 to October 27. For more information, head to sugarbeachranch.com