Imagine FINALLY reading your favourite books without distractions.
Escape to Tasmania
A late-summer weekend on Tasmania’s east coast, with other book nerds who get why you pack five books for a two-night stay.
You’ll read, you’ll rest, you’ll eat (LOTS), and you might cry about a fictional character - it’s all part of the retreat experience.
When? Friday, March 5 - Sunday, March 7 2027
Where? Spring Beach, Tasmania, Australia
As seen in
Other people's idea of a holiday involves packed itineraries and early alarms.
Ours? Slow mornings, long chapters, good food, and a house full of people who've also cried over a book ending.
Let me set the scene…
You land in Hobart, and the city is soon in the rear-view mirror. The road to Spring Beach gets quieter by the kilometre: rolling hills, flashes of turquoise water. You roll through the gate onto a private five-acre property, and the estate comes into view: two buildings, a tennis court in between, hills in every direction.
As you unpack, you start to get excited about what the weekend holds. Pages devoured in cosy corners, conversations about fictional crushes and plot twists - it feels cosy and comfortable.
It’s exactly what you needed.
You’ve barely put your bag down before you’re choosing which corner is yours to read in first.
The weekend takes shape gradually. Meals appear without you lifting a finger. Conversations happen around the table, by the fire pit, even in the sauna (excellent for confessing unpopular book opinions). On Saturday night, we fire up the pizza oven.
By Sunday you’ve read more than you have in months, and you’ve made friends with people who have very strong opinions about dog-earing books & breaking spines. You head home with memories that will be forever tucked inside the pages of another book you remember fondly.
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?).
“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
You don't need a reason to be here beyond the book in your bag and the fact that you really, really want to read it.
Who are we kidding?
Books. plural.
There’s no way your TBR isn’t an absolute mountain.
What’s included:
Two nights on a private estate in Spring Beach, all to ourselves
Delicious food made from fresh, local ingredients
Pizza night (yep, there’s a wood-fired oven!)
Snackable treats designed for one-handed enjoyment (because the other should never have to leave your page).
Fun non-alcoholic drinks - you’re welcome to bring your own alcoholic drinks to enjoy with dinner.
Finnish sauna, fire pit and tennis court (racquets provided)
Welcome gifts curated for book lovers
The chance to meet fellow readers who get it and might just become lifelong book besties.
3 months of membership for BWB book club
…and a few other (literary) surprises!
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.
“The retreat was a dream come true. I’ll never forget sitting in my room, in the sun, in a comfy chair, reading as much as I wanted to.”
- EM, retreat guest
Why Tasmania?
You mean, apart from the fact that it’s a short flight from Melbourne and absolutely gorgeous?
Spring Beach sits on the east coast opposite Maria Island, with beaches where you’ll often have the sand to yourselves.
Tasmania also has some of the cleanest air in the world (very good news for deep breaths between chapters). And it’s the Labour Day long weekend in Victoria, so Monday is yours to fly home slowly - or stay for a few extra days!
What our guests are saying:
Meet the other guests
As part of the retreat ticket, all guests get access to a dedicated channel inside our book community, so it feels like you already know everyone before you even arrive at the retreat.
“Which books are you bringing?"
“Anyone landing at the same time?”
“Wait, you’re also obsessed with…?”
By check-in, the other guests aren't random strangers but people you've been talking to for weeks.
Room options
As always, we keep our retreats intimate (we know readers are often introverts & big groups can be overwhelming).
This time you can choose your room directly. Prices are AUD, incl. GST.
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With limited spots available, we're running an expression of interest process.
Timings:
♥️ Tuesday, Nov 17 at 6pm AEDT: Book club members get access to the form.♥️ Wednesday, Nov 18 at 6pm AEDT: The rest of the waitlist gets access - sign up here.
Here's how it works:
Fill in the form: tell us which room you’d like, your payment preference, and a few other details.
We review submissions and send you an invoice once a spot is available for you.
Pay within 24 hours to confirm your spot: if we don't hear from you, the spot moves to the next person.
Complete the guest form: dietary requirements and anything else we need to get the weekend right.
👉🏻 Please note: only submit the form if you are ready to proceed. Submitting does not guarantee a spot but does signal genuine intent. -
Pricing depends on the room you choose, so have a look at the room options below for each price. All prices are in AUD and include GST.
You can pay in full or secure your spot with a 50% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the start of the retreat.
The King room (main house, upstairs)
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An extra-large upstairs bedroom with a king bed, wardrobes, a view and even a workspace (which you will NOT be using...except maybe for journaling?). This room is in the main house.
You’re welcome to share it, but it’s PERFECT for the guest who plans to spend most of the weekend reading in bed and recharging their batteries. -
Solo: $2,600
Sharing with your bestie: $1,800 eachYou can pay in full or secure your spot with a 50% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the start of the retreat.
The Queen room (main house, main level)
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A cosy queen bedroom on the main level, with the deck and kitchen just steps away.
Perfect for the reader who stays in their room until a snack calls them out of it. -
Solo: $2,500
Sharing with your bestie: $1,800 eachYou can pay in full or secure your spot with a 50% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the start of the retreat.
The Bunk room (main house, main level)
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A bunk bed room for two friends (rock-paper-scissors situation over the top bunk included).
For the two friends who’d rather have their own bed than share one. -
Sharing with your bestie: $1,800 each
You can pay in full or secure your spot with a 50% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the start of the retreat.
The Studio (Pavilion)
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Your own building: a king bedroom with doors that open onto the tennis court and the hills, a private bathroom (plus an outdoor hot shower with a view), and a little kitchen and living area to retreat into.
For the guest who wants the full retreat with privacy on top, or friends who want a base of their own. -
Solo: $3,000 | Shared: $2,000 each
There is an option to add 2 extra day beds for a total of 4 guests.You can pay in full or secure your spot with a 50% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the start of the retreat.
Itinerary
The weekend is whatever you want it to be: All activities are encouraged, but nothing is mandatory.
Choose solitude or shared time with other readers.
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Arrive any time from 3pm (airport transfers can be arranged once numbers are confirmed - optional add-on).
There’ll be welcome snacks (of course), a little bookish gift waiting for you, and I’ll give you a quick tour of the estate.
After that? The place is yours.
That evening, we’ll gather for a delicious dinner - a relaxed way to ease into the weekend and get to know each other. Don’t worry, no awkward icebreakers or forced fun facts. Pinky promise. -
Help yourself to breakfast whenever you’re ready to emerge from your reading cocoon.
The day is completely open to whatever you feel like doing: read in your favourite nook, take a walk, sneak in a nap, try the sauna, challenge someone to a match of tennis, or dive into deep book chats with someone equally obsessed with fictional characters.In the evening, we’ll make some delicious pizzas in the wood-fired oven and gather around the fire pit.
Or, if you’re deep into a story and don’t want to break the spell, you can have your meal delivered to your room. Zero judgement.
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Another help-yourself breakfast, then a gentle morning to soak up the last bit of retreat magic.
Then it's time to grab the tissues & say goodbye to everyone.
Check-out is by 10 am.
Take a peek inside a retreat!
A weekend where nobody needs anything from you.
Except maybe a book rec.
Hi, I’m Hanna!
Originally from the north of Italy, I am your reading retreat host!
Busy With Books was born out of a simple idea: what if reading could be the centrepiece of connection, self-care, and joy?
Through in-person reading retreats and a cosy online book club, I’m creating spaces where book lovers can slow down, switch off, and finally read without interruption - or guilt.
And because I grew up in an Italian family where food was love, you’ll always find a good meal as part of the experience ❤️
FAQs
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You're free to read WHATEVER books you want, we don't discriminate.
While I don't dictate which books you read, I will be bringing along some of my favourites in case you don't want to decide or run out of books to read.
We'll also have our own little book fair, so bring any old books you want to swap with others!
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No, you will need to make your own travel arrangements. Fly into Hobart (a short 1h flight from Melbourne); the property is about 45 minutes’ drive from the airport.
Airport transfers will be arranged once numbers are confirmed, and you can tell us if you’d like one in the guest form.
We'll have plenty of parking available if you choose to travel by car.
We also recommend getting travel insurance.
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Nope, and that's fully on purpose. This is a time (and space) for you to do whatever you want. If that means staying in your room in your PJs all day, go for it!
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We are able to cater for most dietary requirements, including dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
If you have special dietary requirements or severe allergies, please email me at hello@busywithbooks.com with any questions. I’m here to help! -
Absolutely not. Staying in your nook all weekend is perfectly acceptable.
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Not much, really!
Comfy clothes, books (obviously), a warm layer for evenings by the fire pit, swimmers for the sauna and beach; maybe a water bottle to stay hydrated? The rest will be provided, including main meals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks (BYO fav alcoholic drink), linen, and towels.
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Absolutely not.
This is a weekend for you to relax and unwind without distractions: no stopping to prepare meals, cleaning up after other people or taking care of other everyday chores.
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This retreat is designed for women and anyone who identifies as female or non-binary. We welcome LGBTQ+ guests and aim to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive space for everyone.
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We welcome all book lovers aged 18 and above.
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This retreat is a solo adventure! We don’t allow couples because we want to create a relaxed, social space where you can fully unwind, meet fellow book lovers, and maybe even make a new bookish bestie. It’s a weekend just for you!
Venue photos by Renee Thurston and Studio Winslow. Courtesy of The Chalet & The Pavilion. All rights reserved.
LET’S HANG ON INSTA
