Reading retreats in New Zealand
Slow, bookish weekends away.
A beautiful house in the countryside. A comfy chair with a view. A stack of books you’ve been “meaning to get to” for years. Nobody needs anything from you, lunch is already sorted, and the only decision left today is which chapter to start next.
That’s a Busy with Books reading retreat. I started the very first ones in New Zealand back in 2024, when “reading retreat” still made people ask “a what?” Since then, I’ve hosted readers from Hawke’s Bay to Martinborough to Banks Peninsula.
Busy with Books reading retreats at a glance
Where: across New Zealand.
How long: usually a weekend, Friday afternoon to Sunday morning
Group size: small and intimate, just a handful of guests plus your host
What’s included: accommodation, all meals and snacks, goodie bags, a book swap, and access to our private book community
Schedule: none, apart from meals together.
Who it’s for: women who love books but can’t remember the last time they read for a whole afternoon.
As seen in
What is a
reading retreat?
A reading retreat is a getaway for book lovers, like you and me.
We’re all juggling a million things and secretly wishing we had more time to read instead of… folding laundry.
A book retreat is an escape from all that: A weekend to slow down in a stunning setting, chat about your favourite reads with fellow book nerds, and indulge in delicious food.
For a whole weekend, there are no obligations and you can keep yourself busy with books (see what I did there?).
Where we host retreats in New Zealand
Our New Zealand retreats are held in hand-picked country houses in some of the most beautiful corners of the country: wine country in Martinborough, the rolling hills of Hawke’s Bay, and our current favourite, a historic working farm on Banks Peninsula.
Expect big views, quiet and plenty of corners to disappear into with a book.
What’s included:
Accommodation in a beautiful house chosen for readers (solo or shared rooms)
All meals and snacks: expect breakfast spreads, long lunches, dinners at one big table, and a snack station you can raid with one hand while holding a book with the other
A goodie bag waiting in your room
Our private Slack community, where you’ll meet your fellow guests before the weekend even starts and keep swapping recommendations long after
3 months of membership for BWB book club
Wait, there’s more.
Book fair
Swap, trade, and share your favourite reads with others at our own little book fair. Find hidden gems, make recommendations, and get some fresh books for free (‘cause new books are expensive).
Blind date with a book
Choose a book based on a brief description without knowing the title, author, or plot beforehand. It’s a great way to discover new books and step outside your comfort zone!
Device sitting service
Let me look after your phone so you can keep distractions (*uhm TikTok*) to a minimum. Enjoy a temporary break from the digital world knowing your device is safe and secure.
What a weekend looks like
You arrive on Friday afternoon, settle in, and we meet for welcome snacks and dinner. Saturday is yours. Read in bed, in the garden or in a quiet nook, nap, go for a walk, or join the others for lunch and a chat about what you’re reading. Saturday night is dinner and (optional) book chats. You head home on Sunday morning, rested and a few hundred pages lighter.
“If you're someone who struggles to shut the door on daily distractions and carve out precious time to truly immerse yourself in the pages of your favorite authors, this is your sanctuary.”
- E, retreat guest
What makes our retreats different
No schedule at all. Meals are the only fixed points. Everything else is up to you.
No self-improvement agenda. This isn’t a wellness retreat with books on the side (here’s how the two compare). You don’t need a breakthrough. You need a chapter.
Good food, zero effort. Every meal is taken care of, because nobody should have to put their book down to cook.
The community doesn’t end on Sunday. Through Slack and the Busy with Books book club, plenty of guests stay in touch long after the retreat.
Small on purpose. A handful of guests means quiet when you want it and good company when you don’t.
Upcoming retreats in New Zealand
BANKS PENINSULA (CHRISTCHURCH) Aug 27-29, 2027
MORE RETREATS
FAQs
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Prices depend on the location and whether you choose a solo or shared room. They include accommodation, all meals and snacks, and everything else listed above. You’ll find full pricing on each retreat page, and payment plans are available.
Our Banks Peninsula retreat starts at $1500 AUD (incl. GST). -
Yes. Our New Zealand retreats are held within a short drive of major cities, including Banks Peninsula, about 90 minutes from Christchurch CBD.
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Absolutely. Plenty of our guests fly in from Australia (or even internationally). It’s a short flight, and a reading retreat is a very good excuse for a long weekend in New Zealand.
If you prefer reading retreats in Australia, check out this page. -
That’s the plan. Join the waitlist to hear about new locations first.
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Not at all. Most guests come solo. You can book a room to yourself or share with a friend.
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Only if you want to. Meals are shared, but the rest of the time you can read alone all weekend if that’s what you need. Nobody will take it personally.
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Books (more than you think), comfy clothes, and anything that helps you relax. Here’s our full reading retreat packing list.
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Most of our New Zealand retreats are a comfortable drive from a major airport, and driving yourself is usually easiest. Travel details are shared once you’ve booked.
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Yes, we can accommodate most dietary requirements. Let us know when you book.
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Join the online book club in the meantime, or create your own reading retreat at home.
LET’S TALK BOOKS ON INSTAGRAM
