August 2026 Blue Mountains Reading Retreat
Come and join us in the Blue Mountains in August 2026 - three nights in winter in beautiful Katoomba, staying in the historic Carrington Hotel, with great company, excellent books, mulled wine, high tea, and book shop adventures.
Retreat from the noise and distraction of daily life and join us at The Carrington, where all you have to do is read, relax, and enjoy the surroundings and lovely company. With us, you can let the outside world melt away for a weekend, and focus on you and your books.
Restored to its former grandeur, the heritage-listed Carrington Hotel celebrates a bygone era. As Australia’s oldest remaining resort-style hotel, no two rooms are configured alike, but they're all cosy, charming and gorgeous! Just the way us bookworms like it.
We have six rooms available at The Carrington and lots of interest in this one - book early to avoid disappointment! (Update - as of 27 September 2025, only one room left!!)
Dates: Thursday, 6 August to Sunday, 9 August 2026
Location: The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba NSW
Rooms: Rooms are available as a single or a shared booking (shared rooms are available for couples or friends; no rooms will be shared between people who have not booked it together)
Reading prescription: We'll be in touch to create your personalised reading prescription and book pack
As part of Reading Retreats Australia's three-night getaway, you'll be staying in the first-floor Colonial Rooms which offer the quintessential Carrington Hotel experience. Reflecting the property’s historic elegance and heritage charm, all rooms include a renovated Art Deco-style ensuite, ultra-soft bed, and a bay window seat, most featuring stained glass.
Each of the rooms will be fitted out with your guest reading pack and snacks, perfect for reading the time away.
The itinerary will include daily continental breakfasts in house at The Carrington, optional cafe lunch excursions, a bookshop walking (and shopping) tour, three group dinners at a variety of local eateries and a sumptuous high tea. But we won't keep you too busy, there will be ample time to read and relax in your own room or one of the many cosy spaces available across The Carrington, in front of the fire. Your hosts will be available onsite at all times for a chat, a reading recommendation or to just be a reading buddy.
What's included
As part of the all-inclusive price, your retreat will include:
Three-night stay in the heritage listed Carrington Hotel, in a Colonial room with ensuite
A bespoke reading prescription customised to you
A welcome gift bag including a selection of your prescribed books, annotation kit, bookmark, handmade small batch tea, tea infuser and book bag
In-room snacks and goodies
Three group dinners in Katoomba, close to the accommodation
Continental breakfasts daily
A personal bar tab at The Carrington
A walking bookshop and shopping tour
A high tea at the Hydro Majestic
Hosts on site at all times for book chats
Terms and Conditions
Cancellations
Should you need to cancel your booking the following policy will be applied:- More than 12 weeks notice before the booked retreat - you will receive a full refund
- Between 12 and 8 weeks from the booked retreat - you are entitled to a 50 per cent refund; or, we will work with you to move your retreat to a mutually convenient alternative retreat date
- If you cancel within 8 weeks of the booked retreat, we are unable to offer a refund. However, we will endeavour to resell your booking and, if successful, we will provide you with a refund to the amount we resell your booking for. Alternatively, we will work with you to move your booking to a mutually convenient alternative retreat
We will do everything to ensure that the retreat takes place on the planned date and at the location advertised. However, where this becomes impractical due to circumstances beyond our control, or where bookings are insufficient to justify it, we may cancel or rearrange the retreat at our discretion.
In such cases:
Where a Retreat is cancelled, we will refund the total amount of payment which we have received from you in respect of the retreat, less any previously processed refunds.
Cancellations based on low bookings will not take place within 8 weeks prior to the retreat taking place. Cancellations within this period of time will only ever take place for circumstances beyond our control. And in every instance of a cancellation by us we will endeavour to book you into an alternative retreat date.
Personal effects:
Reading Retreats Australia does not accept any liability for loss, damage or theft of your personal effects while you attend the retreat; it is your responsibility to ensure you keep your valuables secure.
Dietary requirements:
Whilst we try to accommodate your dietary needs, we cannot guarantee an allergy-free diet as the kitchens we use are not entirely under our control. Reading Retreats Australia will not assume any liability for adverse reactions from the food consumed, or items one may come in contact with whilst staying at the property.
Behaviour:
We reserve the right to ask any guests to leave whose behaviour is disruptive or threatening (no refund will be offered).
Animals:
Please get in contact if you would like to bring your well-behaved pet to the retreat. In some instances, this may be possible. For assistance animals please get in contact and we will work with you to ensure your animal is with you for your retreat.
Additional needs:
Our retreat locations may not all be able to accommodate additional needs. Should you require specialised facilities, please contact us and we will work with you to ensure your stay is as comfortable and safe as possible.