Become immersed in Hydra's past as an epicentre of 1960s bohemianism as the Australian award-winning authors of Half The Perfect World : Writers, Dreamers and Drifters on Hydra 1955-64, introduce you to Charmian Clift, George Johnston and other creative giants of the time, including Leonard Cohen, Patrick Leigh Fermor and Sidney Nolan.
Designed for readers, writers, and adventurous thinkers, this immersive retreat offers the chance to step into the world of the great minds who made Hydra their home, while enjoying the warmth, culture and charm of island life.
2026
Ring the Bells That Still Can Ring: Writing by the Sea in Hydra with Joanne Fedler
A unique creative writing retreat for women, drawing on the words of Leonard Cohen to open the doorway into your own creativity, guided by author and writing mentor Joanne Fedler
2027
Half the Perfect World: Reading by the Sea on Hydra with Dr. Paul Genoni and Prof.Tanya Dalziell
Our Signature Hydra Writing Retreat is a rare opportunity to learn, experience and be creative alongside award-winning authors whose expertise about literary Hydra is unparalleled.
Places are limited, contact us now to enquire or reserve your place.
All retreats are curated and accompanied by Anna Kwiecinska - thel contemporary photographs on this site are hers.
Please contact Anna with any queries you may have about joining our groups on Hydra
Why Hydra?
The Aegean island of Hydra holds an important, affectionate and unique place in both the history of Australian literature and the fabled decade of the 1960s. During this time Hydra was home to the Australian literary couple Charmian Clift and George Johnston, who became the focal point for a celebrated international colony of writers and artists, which included Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen.
In what has now become a renowned example of post- war bohemianism and expatriation, this group of young like-minded individuals came together to pursue their artistic desires in a place of singular beauty and existential freedom.
To this day Hydra is frequently singled out as a place of great beauty and as an artist’s island. It is a car-free sanctuary where time and artistic engagement offer the possibilities of a contemplative, creative life in a culturally and socially rich space.
This journey will give you the chance to both learn about and experience this unique island setting, and its unique importance in the history of 20th century literature and art.
You will walk in the footsteps of not only Clift and Johnston but also other writers such as Leonard Cohen, Henry Miller, Giorgos Seferis, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Lawrence Durrell, Patrick Leigh Fermor, Brenda Chamberlain and Tim Winton, as well as artists including Sidney Nolan, Nikos Ghika, Marc Chagall, Jeff Koons, and Pericles Byzantios.
Strip Away the Noise of Daily Life
Sometimes the best way to find your flow is to change your horizon. "Writing by the Sea in Hydra" isn't just a title, it's a promise of uninterrupted focus.
There's a specific kind of silence in Hydra's backstreets. No cars, just the sound of footsteps on stone and the distant ring of donkey bells. It's the same silence that sparked the imagination of Leonard Cohen, Charmian Clift, George Johnston and generations of poets and writers before us.
Each morning our seminars will be complemented by walks through Hydra’s quiet lanes, meandering towards various coastal destinations for reflections by the sea, discursive taverna lunches, and afternoons of sublime swimming, relaxing, writing, sketching and snoozing.
You always have the option to spend the evenings as you wish, but you might like to meet up for an evening drink before deciding where to dine from amongst Hydra's dazzling array of possibilities offering everything from cosy, rustic tavernas to exquisite sea-side fine dining ... and don't miss an evening beneath the stars at Hydra's outdoor cinema.
Your retreat always includes:
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Boutique 4/4.5 star accommodation in historic mansions close to the port with no rocky steps to climb.
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Fabulous breakfasts, some lunches & dinners (with wine), museum entrances, daily tuition, an illustrated workbook, and for literary retreats, a workshop to create your own hand-bound journal.
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Anna's informative newsletters and assistance
