Creating beauty, honouring nature, and cultivating wellbeing.
At Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens, we’re deeply committed to being a force for good – for the Earth, our community, and all who visit. Every decision we make is guided by a desire to minimise harm and create positive impact.
We are caretakers of a precious natural environment. Our 25-acre property is lovingly cared for through sustainable land management practices and regenerative design.
Rainforest regeneration
Our Rainforest Walk is a lush one-kilometre trail through thriving, regenerated rainforest – a sanctuary for local wildlife and native plant species.
Since 2006, in collaboration with Rainforest Rescue and passionate community volunteers, we’ve planted over 7,000 rainforest trees on the Crystal Castle grounds. With this planting, we estimate that another 7,000 trees have naturally regenerated, creating a flourishing rainforest of approximately 14,000 trees.
Organic gardens and composting
Our sustainability journey supports meaningful connection with nature. We grow seasonal produce in our organic gardens for our café, compost all organic waste, and have eliminated single-use plastics. Through ongoing care for the land and practical daily actions, we create an experience that’s authentic, holistic, and deeply rooted in respect for the Earth.
Self sufficiency with water
We recently significantly invested in water infrastructure, making us 100% self-sufficient in water supply and we capture over 1.6 million litres annually. The entire project was delivered by a local small business, keeping funds in our local region.
Solar powered and low voltage lights
Crystal Castle is powered in part by the sun, with a significant portion of our energy coming from our onsite solar panel system. Harnessing clean, renewable solar power helps us reduce our carbon footprint and operate more sustainably every day.
To reduce energy use and light pollution, we’ve installed low-voltage LED lighting, which consumes significantly less power and protects the natural ambiance of our gardens
Zero-emissions Electronic Vehicles
At Crystal Castle, sustainability drives every journey – including how we move around. Over 70% of our onsite vehicles are electric, including ‘Toto’, our powerful, zero-emissions eTuatara UTV, which gives us exceptional range to manoeuvre our hillside landscape with minimal environmental impact.
Crystal Castle is built on a foundation of heart. We care deeply for our team, our guests, and our wider community.
With the same suppliers for nearly 40 years, we source every product in our boutique with purpose and care. Our crystals, jewellery, and sacred objects are selected through trusted, ethical supply chains – prioritising fair wages, low-impact sourcing, and artisan partnerships that respect cultural traditions.
Our retail offering is more than a shop – it’s a curated journey through rare crystals, hand-carved treasures, and sacred objects that reflect the values of care, harmony and sustainability.
Our commitment to responsible tourism and positive impact is an ongoing quest for constant improvement. We continue to refine every part of the Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens experience.
To learn more, read our Sustainability Plan.
