writing retreats Queensland

Some lovely photos by Kylie Burton (Totally Lit Carer’s Fellowship winner)

Is it the magic of the mountains or of writing itself that makes these retreats so special? Another beautiful group of writing folk, at our special feedback and revision retreat, all deep into works in progress.

The big trees and pademelons of TS Retreat Centre welcomed us as we formed small feedback groups to share work and provide helpful critiques. From old hands with published books under their belts to those attempting their first manuscripts, everyone had something unique to offer the group and the world through their stories.

The cold crept in as clouds blanketed the mountain, but luckily everyone had scarves in their party bags to keep them warm, and a roaring fire in the dining hall to sit beside as they wrote. I loved coming into the hall to find several writers all hard at it, working away on their stories, or sitting in cosy corner together sharing feedback or laughs.

The combination of yoga, writing workshops, healing bodywork treatments from our inhouse healer Monique, and delicious, warm, nurturing meals from our chief cookie Gay brought smiles to everyone’s faces. Epiphanies flew in from the heavens, story problems were solved, characters developed and plots revamped. All in the beauty of Springbrook.

On Saturday night, just as we sat down for our pranayama (yogic breathing) and deep relaxation session, the whole area lost power, plunging us into darkness. But this became one of my favourite moments on retreat – a group of us in the dark hall, breathing and softening, touching our creative hearts and the deep well of joy within. Then we strolled back in the moonlight to the dining room to find it lit by a hundred candles, flickering like fairyland.

Then, after the generator was started, came the real fun of readings nights with so many powerful stories shared, a play reading acted out and best of all a singalong, led by our youngest retreater, Eloise ,who’d brought along her guitar and cheeky grin. The fire and the songs kept us warm, and I was filled with happiness as I looked around at the group all singing and smiling. Ah. A very special retreat moment. Luckily the power was restored just in time for our electric blankets to make our beds cosy as we fell asleep in the silence of the forest.

On Sunday after a special movement session by Monique and our publishing pathways workshop, we finished with our traditional collages. Here’s our kindy photos holding up our finished pieces.

Here’s what some retreaters had to say about their retreat:

The relax and Write Retreat really got me back on track ready to complete my story. Making connections with other writers was terrific. So many laughs. Edwina is a great workshop host, with time for each participant.

Robyn Ede

Beginner or seasoned writer, there is something special about sharing time with like-minded people with a passion for writing. The location is amazing, the food superb and the take-away knowledge gained is unsurpassed.

Beverley Young

What a magical weekend – waking to the sound of whipbirds, doing yoga, eating delicious nutritious food, talking to other writers and above all having focused time on a creative project. Absolutely fantastic writing retreat.

Fiona Robertson

Edwina’s Relax and Write Retreat are an absolute gift. They provide space – [physical and mental – to explore our stories while teaching practical information on the structural demands of storytelling. The yoga sessions with Edwina and Monique were deeply restorative, restful and energising. The atmosphere was celebratory, welcoming, thoughtful, open and, a lot of the time, incredibly moving and inspirational. Highly recommend.

Carrolyn Stuart

This was such a wonderful supportive and safe environment for emerging writers to share their work and get honest ,constructive and extremely useful feedback. Thank you, Edwina and your beautiful helpers.

Jeanelle Sutton-Yeomans

If you’d like to come along and join the fun next time, bookings are now open for our Memoir/Life Writing Retreat April 10 – 12, 2026. BOOK HERE.

We’ll be back for another feedback retreat in August 2026. If you’re keen on that, just drop me a line and I’ll book you in!

And if a weekend isn’t long enough, then join me and the wonderful and talented, Kerstin Pilz, next June in Bali in 2026 for our weeklong Blissful Bali Transformational Writing Retreat. With Byron Bay following up in September 19 – 24, 2026 for a very special writing for healing retreat.

Thank you to my treasured retreataholics – and a big warm welcome home to Jill our powerhouse helper, for making these local retreats feel like a happy family gathering, and my undying gratitude to chief cookie Gay Liddington whose compelling and powerful memoir is for sale here on my website – check it out!

Most of all a huge thank you to the wonderful people who come along on these retreats. I am so very grateful for your loving kindness to me, and to each other. I’m astounded by the wealth of talent on show at every retreat and for the joy we find in community with each other.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; it’s the people who come to these retreats that make them so special. Love you guys!

Lots of love to you too,

Edwina xx

Our fabulous fun bunch of writers this retreat!

Last retreat of the year was a hoot! What a wonderful group of women. I know, I know, I say it every time, but it really is the people who come along on these retreats that make them so special. As we share stories, tears and laughter, we build strong connections to carry us through our writing lives, to encourage and support us. Encourage is one of my favourite words because when you break it down, it’s En – COURAGE. When writers come together we help each other build courage to continue, because writing isn’t always easy and sometimes we need a cheer squad to get us back on track again.

Some of the fabulous writing cheer squad this retreat!

The sun shone for us this glorious spring retreat, with morning swims on the menu for me, yoga, writing workshops, and lots of Gay’s delicious home cooking to warm our bellies and our hearts. The focus this time was memoir and life writing – how to turn the events of our lives into compelling and publishable narratives. The weather was so good we even held a workshop outside listening to the birds and the whispering of the tall trees that watched over us all. Stories from the heart flowed freely and words poured onto pages that were no longer blank but filled with ideas to bring our stories to life.

On Saturday night at our traditional readings we had some beautiful pieces and an hilarious song which had us all weeping with laughter, from Jacqui who was visiting all the way from Townsville where she’s a founding member of Sistas in Comedy . Laughter really is the best medicine!

Our wonderful Chief Cookie Gay Liddington (whose own inspiring memoir Will I Ever Be Who I Am is due for release in May 2025 – stay tuned) did her very best to fatten us all up like Christmas geese with her homemade cakes and biscuits as well as with the healthy vegetarian meals that kept our writing brains fuelled.

Monique DeGoey of Reconnect Holistic Bodywork provided a special movement class and expert nurturing treatments that had everyone floating around so relaxed they resembled forest jellyfish! Thank you to dear Gay and Monique and our special helpers this time, Kylie, Sharon and Tash. And thank you to all the special souls who came along and made this retreat so warm and enjoyable.

Yummy!

Workshops covered finding the heart of your story, the central quest or question and how to shape a story that may not have a lived ending yet. We wrote to prompts that brought out some beautiful pieces, unfiltered and powerful. Women of all ages connected through shared truths, learning from each other, growing not only as writers but as seekers and human beings. I am so honoured to be able to bring these incredible people together. A special magic happens on retreat. You have to be there to feel it!

All weekend the sun shone brightly for us, the pademelons barely glanced sideways as the writing women descended, birds sang their own stories to the tree tops, the creek babbling never-ending tales. The wisdom of the Kombumerri people of the land grounded deep in the earth, seeped into our stories, hushed whispers in our ears. As always the view was magnificent and humbling. How lucky are we to be alive to experience it all?

The next Springbrook Memoir retreat is April 4- 6, 2025. Places are already filling so BOOK YOUR PLACE SOON!

And if you’re ready for a GRAND ADVENTURE! Then come and join us in Heavenly Hoi An for our Vietnam Writing Retreat. SIX NIGHTS and SEVEN DAYS of writing workshops, excursions, yoga, breath work, tarot readings, one on one feedback, feasting and more fun than you can poke a stick at all in unique 4 star accomodation by the river, with an overwater yoga studio! Prices start at only $2750 ALL INCLUSIVE.

PLUS TAKE AN EXTRA 15% off – VIETNAM NOW ON SALE! Book soon to make sure you don’t miss out. Hoi An is delightfully balmy at this time of the year, everything has just been scrubbed clean for New Year and the gentle kindness of the locals will blow you away. Isn’t it time you treated yourself to a writing dream? Plenty of writing time (or shopping/exploring time) plus the benefit of two highly experienced writing coaches and published authors. I’d love to have you with us! ALL THE INFO HERE