Best Australian Writing Retreats updated for 2026 / 2027 (Author-Led & Inspiring Getaways)

Best Australian Writing Retreats updated for 2026 / 2027 (Author-Led & Inspiring Getaways)

Looking for the best Australian writing retreats in 2026 and 2027? Whether you’re an emerging writer, a published author, or simply someone longing to make time for your stories, a writing retreat can offer a huge boost to your book project. And if you’re not a writer but love one and want to support us (hint! hint!) perhaps a retreat could be one of the best presents to give us (and there are some other gift ideas for writers here).

Here’s a directory of upcoming Australian writing retreats. I haven’t personally attended them all (I wish!), so please do your own research, seek reviews from other writers, and check details directly with organisers before booking. Often retreats and workshops are held as an extension to writers festivals too and you can find a list of Australian writers festivals here.

It’s possible your retreat or some of the costs associated with it may be tax deductible, so get advice from your accountant before signing up, and understand the records you will need to keep and how expenses might be apportioned.

Writing retreats are more than just a holiday

They create space for focus, creativity, and connection — time away from daily life where you can fully immerse yourself in your work. The best retreats aren’t just about dedicated writing time, they also bring in Australian authors and mentors (and sometimes genre-specific overseas writers) who share their craft, knowledge, offer guidance and inspire you to take your writing further.

Whether your goals are word count, research, plotting, editing your latest draft, a mix of writing and learning about book marketing (I’ve run one of those and it was incredibly fulfilling), upping your creativity or building your connections within the writing community, there’s likely a writing retreat for you.

Over the past decade, writing retreats in Australia have grown in variety and style. You can now choose from boutique author-led weekends in the rainforest, structured residencies with professional editors, community-based festivals that offer retreat programs, or even cruises where you write on deck in the morning and workshop with published authors in the afternoon.

This guide brings together just some of the author-led writing retreats across Australia in 2025 and 2026. I’ll update it regularly (and send me your faves to add!), so whether you’re planning months ahead or looking for a last-minute creative getaway, hopefully you’ll find options that fit your needs.

Why Join a Writing Retreat in Australia?

Australia offers a stunning and diverse backdrop for creative work. From quiet beaches and rainforests dripping with life, to misty ranges (hello Blue Mountains!) and tranquil countryside. But beyond the scenery, writing retreats offer benefits that can transform your practice:

  • Uninterrupted focus: escape the daily grind and dedicate real time to your writing.

  • Expert guidance: learn from published Australian authors and experienced mentors.

  • Creative inspiration: recharge in nature, new environments, and supportive groups.

  • Community & connection: meet like-minded writers, build friendships, have fun and find accountability. Plus, support your fellow writers and Australia’s creative practitioners!

  • Genre-specific: focus on your key genre and meet other writers doing the same whether it be memoir, crime, romance, historical and more

Whether you’re starting your first novel, polishing a memoir, or exploring poetry, a retreat can provide the push, clarity, and energy to move forward. And of course, the power of actual time to write.

And yes, there are plenty of overseas writing retreats too, so also included will be ones led by Australian authors.

DIY Writing Retreats

Yes, you can DIY your own cost effective writing getaway! Here are some ideas:

  • Gather your author friends, book out a house or cabins, decide on how to share (or outsource) the catering and host your own writing retreat. Set your intentions and schedule beforehand (e.g. mornings = writing, a sharing session in the early afternoon followed by more writing etc).
  • Or, do a reverse retreat, where you stay-at-home but you send your family and pets away! This lets you immerse yourself over a weekend in your book project. Meal prep beforehand, ignore the chores and concentrate on your book.
  • Book out a room at the local library and invite another author for accountability, spend the morning writing side-by-side and then enjoy lunch together.
  • Join with other local authors to pay to bring an author expert to you! This co-funding would work out cheaper than you all going away and you could bring a genre-specific author to you!
  • Author Jemma Pollari has a great idea too, she recommends writers join a crafting retreat/craft camp as an option too. She takes along her laptop and external monitor and writes the whole time. Food is provided and she finds it budget friendly and comes away with vast quantities written. If you’re part of a craft community online, such as with quilters, you might spot some of these opportunities.

Retreats Directory

Here are some quick links and there are more details on these retreats below.

Queensland Writing Retreats (Author-Led)

Edwina Shaw — Relax & Write Retreats (Springbrook, QLD)

Edwina Shaw is a Queensland writer, editor, mentor and retreat leader. She hosts “Relax & Write” weekend retreats in the Springbrook hinterland that blend gentle yoga, writing workshops, feedback groups, and connection.

Retreats include:

  • Springbrook Memoir Retreat: 9–11 April 2027

  • Feedback & Revision / Second Draft Retreat: 6-8 August 2027

Her retreats suit writers at all stages — whether beginning a first draft, revising, or seeking community and confidence.

Writers at Sea — Alli Sinclair & T.M. Clark

Writers at Sea offers a unique cruise-based writing retreat hosted by authors Alli Sinclair and T.M. Clark.

  • Next voyage: 12–19 February 2027, departing Pinkenba, Brisbane QLD

  • Includes workshops, group discussions, and private mentoring sessions onboard

  • All genres and experience levels welcome

A cruise format is compelling because it offers complete immersion away from daily life, with the added bonus of sea views.

Rainforest Writing Retreat (QLD)

One of Australia’s most immersive writing experiences, often featuring bestselling authors, workshops, and quiet writing time in rainforest settings.

  • Focus on masterclasses, mentoring, and connection

  • Check site for 2027 announcements

Alison Wearing — Rainforest Memoir Retreat (Lamington NP, QLD + NZ)

  • February 27 – March 4, 2028

  • Memoir-focused, with small-group discussion, daily workshops, and deep immersion in rainforest surroundings

 

New South Wales Writing Retreats

Rachel Faith — Nature & Inner-Work Writing Retreats (NSW)

Rachel Faith leads boutique writing retreats across NSW, often at Falls Forest or Jaspers Village Resort, combining meditation, writing prompts, and nourishing meals.

Perfect for writers who want calm, clarity, and a restorative reset alongside creative practice.

Varuna, The Writers’ House (Katoomba, NSW)

Australia’s national residential writers’ house in the Blue Mountains.

  • Offers residencies and fellowships for writers to focus on major projects

  • Includes mentorship and peer support

  • 2027 residential fellowships run between Jan–Sept 2027

Varuna has supported generations of Australian authors and is a powerful place for concentrated work.

Various residential writing retreats run by Lynne / Writers at the Woolshed (NSW)

Boutique writing retreats at various venues in the Southern Highlands

  • Writing the Senses, 1-5 March 2027 – Writing in Place with Dr Alison Pouliot.

  • Residential Writing Masterclass, 4-8 April 2027 – Deepening Your Work Through Revision with Dr Lee Kofman.

  • The Story Alchemist, 18-22 April 2027 – A Creativity Retreat for Writers with Dr Betty O’Neill.

  • Annual Writers at the Woolshed Winter Writing Retreat, 6–11 June 2026 – Authors Dr Lee Kofman, Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Dr Hayley Scrivenor , James McKenzie Watson and Dr Laurel Cohn host masterclasses.

Wildnest Writing Retreat (Capertee Valley, NSW)

Peter is a published author of three books (Pan MacMillan and Wiley) and Claire takes care of all your nourishment. Accommodation is either glamping style or in the farmhouse.

  • Suitable for early stage writers seeking clarity on goal-setting and publication options

  • Workshops, 1:1 and writing time

Heart Writing Retreats (Blue Mountains, NSW + Bali, Indonesia)

Rose Mascaro, the former editor of Teen Breathe magazine hosts heart-led writing retreats.

  • Blue Mountains: September 2027 , Ubud, Bali 17–21 May 2027

  • Vegetarian banquets

Victoria Writing Retreats

Gunnas Weekend Writing Retreat — Catherine Deveny

Catherine Deveny hosts her famous Gunnas Retreats in Seacroft (near Apollo Bay) as well as a retreat in France.

  • Various dates for 2027 including Feb 26-27 2027 and June 18-19 2027

  • Combines writing exercises, prompts, therapy-style activities, and plenty of creative energy

  • Very popular with writers at all stages

New Page Writing Retreats with Kelly Gardiner — Hepburn Springs

Transform Your Writing Fiction Retreat in Hepburn Springs, Victoria.

  • TBA 2027

  • Includes masterclasses, critique groups, writing time, and heritage accommodation

Ideal if you want intensive craft focus alongside free time in a beautiful regional town.

Writing Retreat with Meg Dunley – Karma, Kinglake

  • Various dates throughout the year

  • Maximum of 10 participants, fully catered with private bedrooms and writing spaces

  • Nature-filled surroundings to inspire you, optional daily workshops and one-on-one coaching around creativity and author mindset

Writing Retreats in South Australia

Island View Writer’s House (Clayton, South Australia)

Writer, poet and novelist Heather Taylor Johnson is your host.

  • Quiet, solitude and gorgeous views, with the option of catering and mentoring.

  • Time and space to concentrate solely on your work in progress

Other Australian Author-Led Retreats including International Writing Retreats

Fiona McIntosh – Signature & Mini Masterclasses (South Australia + UK)

Internationally bestselling commercial fiction author Fiona McIntosh runs intensive masterclasses that have launched the careers of many Australian writers.

  • Signature Masterclass: 5-day immersion in the fundamentals of storytelling, structure, and character — ideal for aspiring commercial fiction writers.

  • Mini Masterclass: 3-day shorter format for writers seeking a boost in craft and confidence.

  • Upcoming: 2027 Signature Masterclass ; Mini Masterclass June 2027.

  • Alumni success: Graduates include Tricia Stringer, Lauren Chater, Tania Blanchard, Adam Cece, and many more, now published with major houses.

Alison Wearing — Rainforest Memoir Retreat (Lamington NP, QLD + NZ)

  • Memoir-focused, with small-group discussion, daily workshops, and deep immersion in rainforest surroundings

Transformational Writing Retreats with Edwina Shaw & Kerstin Pilz (Italy, Bali and Byron Bay)

  • Various  dates and locations

  • For writers of fiction and creative non-fiction, retreats include workshops, 1:1 feedback and yoga

Are you an author who would like to run a writing retreat?

I’ve run plenty of half-day and  full-day writing workshops, but had my first co-hosting experience of an actual multi-day writing retreat in 2025.

Loved it, but it was also a massive learning curve! It was a special mix of location (Hunter Valley and a beautiful homestead with lots of getaway spaces), fabulous (truly fabulous!) catering, and writer transformation. I enjoyed not just running the workshop sessions and sharing publishing knowledge, but also the 1:1 time where the authors (all non-fiction and who were writing a mix of books including memoir, lifestyle, how-to and business) could ask me anything, whether about book concept and structure right through to craft questions and book marketing brainstorming.

It was a weekend where I saw eyes light up and word counts go up. Powerful stuff!

The organiser was Emma Lovell, the author of The Art of Bleisure (nb: she also has a book in progress about the business of running retreats). I learnt there’s SO MUCH that goes into a successful writing retreat – from both an attendee and author expert point of view. So, if you’re thinking about running one yourself, please speak with other authors who have done so, as well as attendees. And attend plenty yourself before attempting to host one!

Happy Writing!

Australia has an incredible range of writing retreats and some wonderful authors running them (feel free to pack me in your luggage!). Hope you find one to suit you. All the best,  Anna Featherstone