Love books? Love Autumn? Daylesford does both rather beautifully.
Five nights in your own gorgeous historic house, your own en-suite room, fabulous food and wine, mineral bathing, massage, country walks and plenty of time to settle in with a very good book.
Add eight wonderful women, autumn colours, Bubbles & Bathrobes and one seriously good farewell dinner at the Lake House and you have the ultimate read and retreat.
Come for Daylesford. Stay for your latest chapter.
Autumn and books are always going to get along rather well.
Especially when you add a beautiful historic house in the heart of Daylesford, private en-suite rooms, excellent local food and wine, mineral bathing, massage and five nights to enjoy one of Victoria’s loveliest country towns.
Welcome to Read & Retreat Daylesford.
Carrington House is ours for the week. It’s the sort of place that invites you to find a favourite chair, make another coffee and lose an hour to your book without noticing. When you fancy company, wander into the kitchen, join in for a glass of wine or head out to see what’s happening in town.
And there is plenty worth putting the book down for.
We’ll explore Daylesford on foot, browse its boutiques and galleries, spend a delicious few hours bathing and being massaged at Hepburn Springs, take high tea at The Convent and finish with dinner at the wonderful Lake House.
There’ll be optional yoga for those who fancy it, Bubbles & Bathrobes for everyone who appreciates champagne with breakfast, and plenty of good food around our own table at Carrington House.
Every Read & Retreat also comes with A Good Read — our chosen book, sent to you before you travel. Read it, enjoy it, disagree with it, dissect it. No compulsory book-club homework required, although we’ll definitely discuss it somewhere between breakfast and the wine.
And between everything we’ve planned?
Daylesford is yours.
Browse the bookshops. Walk around the lake. Find something fabulous in a boutique. Book another treatment. Read beside the fire. Or pour another glass and see who wanders into the kitchen.
This isn’t about filling every hour.
It’s about filling five autumn days with really good things.
Your retreat, your style.
Tour Price:Â Â Private Ensuite Room AUD$5,895 per person
Tour Starts:Â Â Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine -MEL)
Tour Ends:Â Â Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine -MEL)
Tour Dates:  16 – 21 May 2027
Escorted from Melbourne Airport by Danielle, Travelling Divas
Return airport transfers
Book of the Retreat
5 nights’ boutique heritage accommodation on a single basis, at Carrington House
Inclusive of main meals specified in itinerary:
Daily continental breakfast
3 lunches + 1 high tea
Bathrobes & Bubbles breakfast
Daily dinners including selected beverages
Nightly wine, coffee/tea & chocolate
A rejuvenating wellness experience at Hepburn Springs, including mineral bathing, massage and a cheese platter
Yoga/stretch session
Private guided walking tour of Daylesford
High tea experience in Daylesford which includes entry to The Convent Art gallery and Gardens
Your goodie bag including a silk eye mask, travel journal and water bottle…plus more
Government taxes & surcharges
Airfares and departure taxes; transfers unless stated in the itinerary; items of a personal nature; phone calls; passport and visas; laundry or tips not covered in the itinerary. Personal transport; excess baggage; security and government taxes; travel insurance. Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary; additional beverages (unless specifically described). Optional excursions or activities that may be offered but are not included in the tour price. Any changes you choose to make during your holiday.
We’ll meet you at Melbourne Airport, where our private transfer is waiting to whisk us away from the city and into the beautiful Victorian countryside.
Our destination is Carrington House, our private home in the heart of Daylesford for the next five nights. Settle into your own en-suite room, unpack properly and explore the house before finding a favourite chair, making a cup of tea or opening your book. Make yourself at home — because it is.
Tonight we’ll head out to one of Daylesford’s gorgeous local restaurants for our welcome dinner. Good food, good wine and eight women at the beginning of five rather lovely autumn days together.
Stay: Carrington House, Daylesford
Included Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll head out on foot with a local guide to get properly acquainted with Daylesford — its history, characters and stories — before the afternoon becomes yours.
Browse the boutiques and galleries. Find a bookshop. Stop somewhere lovely for coffee. Head back to Carrington House and claim the sofa. Or take your book somewhere quiet and see how many chapters disappear before dinner.
Tonight we’re staying in, with dinner and wine at the house.
Stay: Carrington House, Daylesford
Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Early risers can start the morning with optional yoga before breakfast. Prefer coffee and your book? That works beautifully too.
Later, we’ll make our way to Hepburn Springs for a few very pleasant hours at the Bathhouse & Spa. Take to the mineral waters and enjoy your included massage before we return to Daylesford.
The rest of the afternoon is open. Read. Wander. Nap. Shop. Find someone for a glass of wine. Whatever sounds good at the time.
Tonight, we’ll gather again for dinner.
Stay: Carrington House, Daylesford
Included Meals: Breakfast, Cheese Platter & Dinner
This morning comes with a dress code: Bathrobes with a side of Bubbles.
Welcome to Bathrobes & Bubbles, our deliciously indulgent Read & Retreat breakfast. Stay comfortable, pour the bubbles, bring your book and linger. Champagne before noon is entirely acceptable here and could be the right opportunity to have a great discussion about the book you have all been reading.
And after that? This is a very good day for a book.
Find a fireside chair at Carrington House, walk around the lake, wander into town or decide that an afternoon of reading is quite enough achievement for one day.
Later, we’ll head to The Convent for high tea — a rather lovely excuse for beautiful surroundings, something delicious and a change of scene.
Then it’s back home to Carrington House for an easy evening together.
Stay: Carrington House, Daylesford
Included Meals: Breakfast, High Tea & Dinner
By now, you’ll know exactly how you’d like to spend your final full day.
Perhaps there’s a book you want to finish, a boutique you meant to return to or another treatment with your name on it or even a tarot reading. Take a walk, find a café, stay home with coffee and your latest chapter, or simply see where the day takes you.
Tonight, however, we’re getting a little dressed up.
Our final evening takes us to the world-renowned Lake House for a fabulous farewell dinner. After five days of books, autumn, Daylesford and plenty of time around the table together, it feels like exactly the right place to finish.
And yes, your reading list may now be considerably longer than when you arrived.
Stay: Carrington House, Daylesford
Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
There’s time for one last breakfast together at Carrington House before bags are packed and it’s time to say goodbye. You will be transferred back to Melbourne Airport in plenty of time to connect with your flight.
Five nights in Daylesford, a very good book, some excellent food and wine, and a few new titles now waiting on your reading list.
Not bad for an autumn week in the country.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Daylesford:
Carrington House:
Built in 1890, Carrington House is an exceptional retreat in the heart of Daylesford. This stunning historic residence offers nine generous bedrooms, each with its own ensuite and luxuriously comfortable beds. Showcasing classic Victorian architecture, Carrington House provides a distinctive escape from city life while remaining perfectly positioned close to Daylesford’s shops, cafés, and local attractions.
Centrally situated, Carrington House ensures you are close to all that Daylesford has to offer. Guests can easily explore the area, making it the perfect base for your holiday or corporate gathering. With its close proximity to charming local shops, renowned restaurants and vibrant markets, your stay will be enriched with delightful experiences at every turn.
Begin your day with a cup of tea in the tranquil garden or enjoy al fresco dining on the deck, complete with a BBQ. The beautifully designed open-plan lounge and dining area welcomes natural light through large French doors, enhancing the inviting atmosphere. Each of the nine bedrooms features curated furnishings, king-sized beds and private ensuites, providing a cozy and remarkable retreat. The thoughtfully selected decor in every room adds depth and character, ensuring a warm ambience that makes you feel right at home.
A minimum of 8 guests is required for this tour to depart. The maximum number of guests is 8. If required numbers are not reached, we will discuss this with you well before departure to finalise how to proceed i.e. re-quote with less participants or cancel the departure. If we cancel the departure the tour deposit will be refunded.
Once full payment is received the price is guaranteed. Until that time, the price is subject to change.
A $2,500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your confirmation.
Deposit is by a payment link via the booking form to secure your spot. We accept American Express, Visa and MasterCard. Merchant fees of 1.5% + .30c apply to Australian based credit card payments and will be added at the time of payment. International credit cards will attract a higher merchant fee.
All payments are processed by E-way – a secure payment gateway that is certified to stringent levels of certification.
Please note interim payments may be required due to meet supplier terms and conditions.
Dietary & health information are to be provided at the time of booking.
We highly recommend travel insurance is purchased to protect your investment against unforeseen circumstances requiring cancellation.
Final payment is required by 16 February 2027.
