Women's Summer Reading Retreat: Reader & Writer Edition
A little escape for people who’d rather be reading or writing.
Join us for three nights at beautiful Noonaweena on the Central Coast, created for women who want to step away from everyday life and spend a few days doing more of what they love - reading or writing.
Choose your retreat experience. Settle into the Reading Retreat for uninterrupted reading time, poolside afternoons and bookish activities, or stay in our dedicated Writers’ House for writing time, creative workshops with Courtney Peppernell and space to focus on your work. You don’t need to be published, have a finished manuscript or even call yourself a writer - if you’re curious about writing, you’re welcome to join this house.
Whichever experience you choose, we’ll come together throughout the weekend for beautiful meals, summer drinks, the pool party and plenty of relaxed social time.
Coming solo? You’ll be in good company. Most of our guests arrive on their own, and we’ll make the introductions so you can settle in from the moment you arrive.
Secure your place with a $400 deposit
Choose your retreat experience and room type below, then pay just $400 today to secure your place. After booking, we’ll email you a short guest form and an invoice for the remaining balance.
A little glimpse of retreat life
What’s included in both retreats
Whether you’re joining us to read or write, you’ll enjoy the full Bound & Co retreat experience.
🏡 Three nights’ accommodation
Stay on the beautiful Noonaweena property from Thursday to Sunday.
🍽️ All scheduled meals
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners throughout your stay, shared with readers and writers from across the retreat.
🥂 Drinks throughout the weekend
Welcome drinks and nibbles, bottomless wine golden hour, and our pool party cocktail, with non-alcoholic options available.
☀️ Retreat Day Party
A summer afternoon by the pool with cocktails, music, swimming, snacks and plenty of time to relax.
🎁 Bound & Co goodie bag
Books and treats from some of our favourite publishing and brand partners.
🎨 Activities & downtime
Crafts, games, trivia, movie time and plenty of quiet moments to spend however you like.
💛 A genuinely solo-friendly experience
Most guests arrive on their own. We’ll make the introductions and create plenty of natural opportunities to connect - without forced mingling.
Everything is optional. Join in, skip something, take yourself off with a book or spend a few hours working on your writing. This weekend is yours.
If you choose the Reading Retreat
📚 Book club + book sent to you before the retreat
📖 Optional reading sprints
🌿 Dedicated reading spaces and plenty of uninterrupted reading time
✨ Bookish activities throughout the weekend
If you choose the Writers’ Retreat
📚 Book club + book sent to you before the retreat
🏠 Stay in our dedicated Writers’ House at Gymea House
📚 Creative writing workshops with Courtney Peppernell
✍️ Optional writing sprints and dedicated writing time
🌿 Inspiring spaces to work independently on your writing
💬 The opportunity to connect and create alongside fellow writers
Two experiences, one retreat. We’ll come together for meals, drinks and social activities, with plenty of dedicated time and space to read or write.
More than a reading retreat
You absolutely can spend the weekend curled up with a book or working on your writing - but you definitely don’t have to.
Noonaweena is yours to enjoy throughout the weekend, with plenty to do when you feel like putting the book or laptop down.
Take a bushwalk through the property
Head out for a walk, explore the surrounds and get some fresh air between chapters (or paragraphs).
Swim, soak or switch off
Make the most of Noonaweena’s multiple pools and spa's, or spend some time in the sauna.
Get creative
Our craft table will be set up throughout the weekend, so you can make something, try something new or just keep your hands busy while chatting.
Play something
There’ll be games, trivia and plenty of opportunities for a little friendly competition.
Find a quiet corner
Read by the pool, write outside, have a nap, wander the property or simply do absolutely nothing for a while.
Join the group when you feel like it
Come along to yoga, bookswap, trivia, wine golden hour, reading/writing sprints, nighttime dips, movie time, the pool party, meals and evening activities - or skip something when you’d rather have time to yourself.
You don't need to spend the whole weekend reading or writing.
Come because you love books. Come because you want time to write. Or come because three nights away with good food, cocktails, pools, a spa, a sauna and a beautiful property sounds pretty good.
Do as much or as little as you like
Coming Solo?
You don’t need to convince a friend to come with you. Most of our guests arrive on their own, and we’ve designed the retreat with that in mind.
We’ll make the introductions, help you settle in and create plenty of natural opportunities to get to know the other readers and writers over meals, drinks and activities.
There’s no pressure to be social all weekend, either. Join the group when you feel like it, then take your book or laptop somewhere quiet when you want some time to yourself.
Come on your own. You won’t feel like you’re on your own once you’re here.
Come solo. We’ll take it from there.
Your retreat read: Match Fit by Leesa Ronald
Thanks to Allen & Unwin as part of the Retreat, you’ll receive an advance reader copy of Match Fit by Leesa Ronald with some extra bookish and self-care goodies, sent to you before the weekend so you have plenty of time to read it before we arrive at Noonaweena (if you want to).
We’ll come together during the retreat for a relaxed book club discussion, sharing our thoughts, favourite moments and all the things we’ve been dying to talk about while reading.
And because you’ll be reading it before its official release, it’s a little extra special - an early look at one of 2026’s upcoming Australian releases.
Your ARC is included in your retreat ticket and will be posted to you ahead of the weekend.
For our writers: create with Courtney Peppernell
Bestselling author Courtney Peppernell will be joining our writers at Gymea House, bringing her experience across both traditional and independent publishing to the weekend. With millions of copies sold across her fiction and poetry, Courtney has built a career on both sides of the publishing world - and she’ll be sharing what she’s learned along the way.
As part of the Writers’ Retreat, Courtney will lead two dedicated workshops:
✍️ From Manuscript to Pitch
A creative writing and traditional publishing workshop covering how to develop and pitch your book, approaching the publishing process, and Courtney’s own experience navigating traditional publishing.
📚 The Self-Publishing Path
A practical look at independently publishing your work - how self-publishing works, what you need to consider, and the steps involved in taking your writing from manuscript to published book.
And it won’t just be two workshops and goodbye. Courtney will be staying at Gymea House alongside our writers, creating a relaxed environment to write, connect and spend the weekend surrounded by people who understand the urge to create.
Whether you’re working on your first manuscript, already deep into a project, or simply want to explore where your writing could take you, you don’t need to arrive with a finished book or publishing plan.
Reader & Writer Schedule Guide
- 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Thursday
Arrive, settle in and make yourself at home for the next few days, with your Bound & Co goodie bag waiting for you, filled with books and treats from our retreat partners. Meet your fellow retreat readers over welcome cocktails and nibbles, with our book swap happening as everyone settles in. Come together for our first dinner, followed by a little bookish trivia to kick off the weekend.
- 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
Friday
Ease into the morning with breakfast followed by an optional yoga session. Settle in for uninterrupted reading time, with optional group reading sprints before coming together for our Bound & Co Book Club. Spend the afternoon getting creative at the craft table, followed by Wine Hour and a cosy movie afternoon. Finish the day with dinner and a relaxed evening together.
- 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
Saturday
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast followed by a slow morning made for reading, relaxing or doing absolutely nothing at all. Then it’s time for our Bound & Co Pool Party, with cocktails, snacks, swimming, books and plenty of time spent poolside. Take some time to unwind before getting ready for our final dinner together. Finish the night with drinks, games and one last evening with your new bookish friends.
- 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Sunday
Enjoy a slow final morning with breakfast together and no need to rush. Find your favourite reading spot for one last stretch of uninterrupted reading time. Squeeze in those final few chapters, pack up and enjoy a little more time with your fellow readers before checking out. Say your goodbyes and head home relaxed, recharged and very well-read.
Your retreat, your way
Your Home for the Weekend
The retreat takes place across two beautiful houses on the Noonaweena property - Biram Lodge, our main retreat house, and Gymea House, home to our dedicated writers’ experience. The two houses are just a short walk from one another, with everyone coming together throughout the weekend for meals, drinks and shared activities.
Biram Lodge is home to our readers and offers Solo, Twin Share and Triple Share rooms.
Gymea House is home to our writers and offers Solo or Twin Share, giving you a dedicated space to stay, write and create alongside Courtney Peppernell and your fellow writers.
Every bedroom across both houses has its own private bathroom, so no matter which room type you choose, you’ll have your own bathroom within your room.
Where You Will Be Staying
Choose your retreat
Reader or writer? Solo or sharing? You choose how you’d like to spend the weekend.
Select your retreat experience and room type when booking below. A $400 deposit secures your place, and we’ll email you after booking with your guest form and an invoice for the remaining balance.
See you in Noonaweena!
Acknowledgement of Country
Bound & Co acknowledges the Darkinjung people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather at Noonaweena. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples joining us.
Noonaweena is an Aboriginal word meaning “resting place in the bush”, a name that beautifully reflects the place we are fortunate to spend this weekend — slowing down, connecting and finding space to rest and create.
We recognise the enduring connection of the Darkinjung people to Country, and acknowledge that this land has been cared for, lived on and connected to culture for generations.
We are grateful to gather, read, write and connect on Darkinjung Country.
FAQs
- Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. Many of our guests join us solo, and our retreats are thoughtfully designed to make meeting people feel natural and comfortable. There's no pressure to socialise, and you're welcome to participate as much or as little as you'd like.
- What happens after I book?
You’ll receive your booking confirmation, followed by an email from Bound & Co with your guest form and an invoice for the remaining retreat balance. We’ll be in touch again before the retreat with everything you need to know, including your packing guide and final schedule.
- Do I need to participate in everything?
Not at all. Every activity is optional. Whether you'd like to join every session or spend the afternoon curled up with a book, the weekend is yours to enjoy at your own pace.
- What if I book a shared room solo?
We’ll thoughtfully match you with another solo guest who has booked the same room type.
- I'm quite introverted. Will I fit in?
Absolutely. Many of our guests describe themselves as introverts or arrive feeling a little nervous. Our retreats are intentionally designed to create genuine connection without pressure, so you'll always be welcome whether you're chatting with new friends or enjoying some quiet reading time.
- Can dietary requirements be catered for?
Yes. We can accommodate most dietary requirements. Please let us know when booking so we can make the necessary arrangements.
- What should I bring?
We'll send a detailed welcome guide before the retreat, but we recommend bringing comfortable clothing, your current reads, walking shoes and anything else that will help you feel at home for the weekend.
- What ages are the retreats suitable for?
Our retreats are open to adults of all ages and genders. Guests come from a range of backgrounds, united by a shared love of books and a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.
- Cancellation & Refunds
More than 60 days before the retreat: A refund of all payments made, less your non-refundable deposit.
30–60 days before the retreat: 50% of the total retreat price is refundable.
Less than 30 days before the retreat: Payments are non-refundable.
Deposits are non-refundable at all times.
If you're unable to attend, you may transfer your booking to another person at no additional cost. Please contact Bound & Co before transferring your place.
If Bound & Co cancels the retreat, guests will receive a full refund of payments made.
See Terms & Conditions for more.
- What’s the difference between the Readers’ Retreat and Writers’ Retreat?
Both experiences are part of the same Bound & Co retreat and share meals, drinks, social activities and our Retreat Day Party. Readers will have dedicated time and spaces for reading and bookish activities, while writers will stay together at Gymea House with dedicated writing time and two workshops with Courtney Peppernell.
- Do I need to be a published or experienced writer?
Not at all. The Writers’ Retreat is open to writers at any stage — whether you’re working on your first idea, partway through a manuscript, already published or simply want dedicated time and inspiration to write.
- Do I have to be writing a book to join the Writers’ Retreat?
No. You’re welcome to work on fiction, poetry, memoir or another writing project. Courtney’s workshops will explore publishing and the writing journey, but you don’t need to arrive with a completed manuscript or plans to publish.
- Will readers and writers spend time together?
Yes! While readers and writers will have their own dedicated spaces and parts of the schedule, we’ll come together throughout the weekend for meals, drinks, social activities and the Retreat Day Party.
- What does the $400 deposit cover?
Your $400 deposit secures your place and is applied toward the total cost of your retreat. After booking, we’ll email you a guest form and an invoice for the remaining balance due 3 November 2026.
- What is included in the retreat price?
Your retreat includes three nights’ accommodation, all scheduled meals, drinks and non-alcoholic options, retreat activities, your Bound & Co goodie bag and your chosen Reader or Writer experience. See the inclusions above for the full details.
- Do I need to have read Match Fit?
If you’re joining the Readers’ Retreat, we’ll send you an advance reader copy of Match Fit before the retreat. We’d love you to join the discussion, but as with everything at the retreat, book club is optional.
- Can I choose who I share a room with?
Absolutely. If you’re booking with a friend, let us know who you’d like to share with in your guest form. If you’re booking a shared room on your own, we’ll match you with another solo guest in the same room type.
- Does every room have a private bathroom?
Yes. Every bedroom at both Biram Lodge and Gymea House has its own bathroom.
- Is alcohol included? Are non-alcoholic options available?
Yes. Selected drinks are included throughout the weekend, and non-alcoholic options will always be available. No one needs to drink alcohol to enjoy the full retreat experience.
- What should I bring?
We’ll send you a full packing guide before the retreat. Think comfortable clothes, swimmers, something casual for dinner and, of course, whatever you’d like to read or write while you’re away.
- Is the retreat accessible?
We want to make the retreat as welcoming and accessible as possible. If you have mobility, sensory or other access requirements, please contact us before booking so we can talk through the property, accommodation and activities with you.
- I’m still not sure which retreat option is right for me. Can I ask you?
Of course. If you’re unsure about room types, the Reader or Writer experience, accessibility or anything else before booking, get in touch with Bound & Co and we’ll be happy to help.
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