Next dates for this retreat: 5-8 June 2026
THIS DATE IS NOW BOOKED OUT
To put your name on the Wait List, get in touch.
A residential masterclass with Dr Kelly Gardiner.
There’s a story inside you that only you can tell, and you can tell it better than anybody in this world. In this immersive weekend retreat, Kelly will guide you through developing your story and creating a compelling story world, to support your mastery of essential writing tools and techniques, and deepen your understanding of the craft and connection to that story and many others.
Weekend retreat
Escape to a place where we focus on craft, creative practice, and mastery.
What’s it about?
Together, we’ll focus on:
- Getting words down on the page
- Story development for fiction projects
- Mastering vital tools in your writer’s toolbox such as voice and character
- Creating a writing practice that suits you
- Tips and techniques for craft, planning and research.
Who’s it for?
- Writers with a project underway – even if you’ve only just started
- Writers in any fiction genre, for middle-grade readers up to adult
- People in the early stages of writing careers – emerging writers working on first or second novels – who feel they need more knowledge and in-depth craft focus
- Experienced writers who want a recharge, a reboot, or a friendly nudge along.
How will it feel?
Your learning and writing experience will be:
- Fuelled by delicious food and fresh country air, in a delightful heritage guesthouse.
- Supportive, responsive, guided, welcoming, and practical
- Informed by years of industry experience and teaching expertise
- Thoughtfully structured with masterclasses, writing sprints, generative exercises, peer feedback, and time to write – alone and together
- Shared with other writers across genres
- Supported by online and print materials and resources
- In a small class size to allow us to focus on your needs.
This weekend intensive is for writers already engaged in their work, rather than people who want to write but haven’t started yet.
Transform your writing
5-8 June 2026
Hepburn Springs, Victoria
The retreat in June 2026 is a three night/three day retreat, on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend in June.
Your retreat leader is Dr Kelly Gardiner, acclaimed author, editor, and creative writing teacher.
If you’d like more information, to put your name on the wait list, or to be notified of future dates, get in touch.
Bookings are now closed.
The 2025 retreats booked out months in advance.
What happens on a writing retreat?
This intensive fiction retreat is fully residential at Continental House, a heritage guesthouse in beautiful Hepburn Springs, Victoria.
Each day features craft masterclasses, writing exercises, activities, and discussion.
We will have our own writing time including Shut Up and Write sessions (writing sprints) together, and you will have time to sit quietly and scribble, read, think or daydream.
You’ll have the chance to read your work aloud at our evening salon if you wish.
When we’re not learning, writing or eating, you can walk in the bush, spot wildlife, book a massage, have a nap, or write/read on the deck or in the library.
The welcome session is on Friday evening before dinner, and the retreat runs through to late afternoon Monday.
You’ll be actively writing, workshopping, listening, learning, talking and thinking about your current project and your writing in general. This is not a retreat devoted to long days of writing alone, but writing time will be set aside each afternoon.
You will exchange feedback on draft first pages (in small groups).
For 2026, I’ve managed to secure a three-night/day booking over a public holiday long weekend in Victoria. This will allow us more time for workshopping and quiet writing time, as suggested by previous participants.
Accommodation & meals
I want you to feel a bit spoiled. You deserve it.
- Every participant has their own bedroom and a private en-suite with shower. Some also have baths.
- Each bedroom features luxury linen, aromatherapy toiletries, ceiling fan and split-system air-con/heating.
- One room with an accessible bathroom is available (two single beds), but the property itself is an old guesthouse and there are stairs or a gravel path between the bedrooms and the dining/learning space. If you specifically want to request this room, let me know.
- The bedrooms offer either a queen, two singles, two king singles or a double and single bed. The rooms will be allocated randomly, unless people have specifically requested a twin-share room.
- The weekend is full catered, with self-serve breakfast, morning and afternoon teas, and buffet lunch and dinners prepared by one of the area’s leading chefs.
- We can accommodate most significant food allergies and dietary requirements if we know in advance.
Book with a friend or partner:
- If you wish to share a room with a friend or partner who is also attending, we can arrange that too, at a lower rate per person. Please contact me.
What’s included?
On this weekend, you don’t need to think about anything but your writing. The fee for the full weekend includes:
- Three nights’ comfortable accommodation
- Three full days plus one evening of activities, learning and writing
- Tuition from an expert writing teacher, in masterclasses each day
- A guided walk and writing-place activity (optional)
- Course materials, handouts, activities and exercises
- Goody bag on arrival
- Delicious locally-sourced lunches and dinners from award-winning caterers
- Breakfasts, fruit, morning and afternoon tea
- A range of teas and plunger or espresso coffee – all day
- Two optional gentle morning yoga classes at no extra cost
- A table laden with writing advice books to browse
- Local cheese platters and refreshments in welcome gathering
- Chocolate, obviously.
You’ll also receive an invitation to our private online writing community to keep in touch with each other, access a range of resources, and stay up-to-date on writing and publishing opportunities.
Payment plan
You can pay a deposit to secure your spot, and pay the balance later.
Deposit: $200
Full fee: $1535, including expert tuition, three nights’ accommodation, activities, a morning yoga class, use of all facilities, refreshments and all meals.
If you wish to share a room with a friend or partner who is also attending, we can sort that out, at a lower rate ($1345 per person). Please contact me to arrange it in advance. (I don’t ask anyone to share with people they don’t know.)
Our space
Continental House is a much-loved, fully restored 1920s guest house where modern comforts, lush spa experiences, a quirky character are combined with a rich history and colourful past. It’s being renovated over the summer, and this will be our first retreat there after her facelift.
During our weekend there, you’ll enjoy the run of the house, including:
- Free wifi throughout the building
- Cosy fireplaces
- Games and sports equipment for use on the lawns
- A magnificent private library
- Fully equipped yoga room
- Exclusive use of ample lounge areas, decks, and beautiful gardens for relaxing or writing
- Glimpses of kangaroos and other delightful visitors can’t be guaranteed but are pretty common.
What’s not included?
- Transport to and from the venue
- Alcohol (wine and soft drink will be served on Friday night, and you can BYO for other meals if you wish)
- There aren’t desks in every bedroom, but there are tables and many sofas in the lounge areas and library for informal writing time.
- You can book massages, facials, or small group use of the hammam at extra cost – please get in touch.
Next retreat dates: 5-8 June 2026.
This retreat is booked out but you can put your name on a waiting list. If you’d like more information or to be notified of future dates, get in touch.
Got questions? Here are some weekend retreat FAQs.
After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.
― Philip Pullman
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