an exhilirating literary adventure for readers, writers, history buffs and curious travellers
12-18 October, 2027
Our Signature Retreat for literary enthusiasts, travellers and adventurous thinkers
Now you are invited to go beyond the history books and become immersed in Hydra's past as an epicentre of 1960s bohemianism, guided by the Australian authors of the award-winning Half The Perfect World : Writers, Dreamers and Drifters on Hydra 1955-64.
You will encounter this unforgettable island through memorable words and images created by those who knew it best, as you step into the world of the great minds who made Hydra their home, through stimulating on-location seminars and workshops by the authors of the definitive account of mid-century Hydra, Paul Genoni and Tanya Dalziell.
Our journey centers on the magnetic "king and queen" of the island, Charmian Clift and George Johnston, whose 'house by the well' remains a locus for those delving into Hydra's storied past. You'll walk the same cobblestoned paths where a young, then-unknown Leonard Cohen bought a house for $1500 and found the inspiration for "Bird on a Wire", and together we'll explore the intersecting lives of ex-patriot creatives alongside Greek luminaries whose intellects are immortalised in print and on canvas in Hydra's outstanding National Museums.
Whilst not a writing(only) retreat, you are warmly encouraged to engage with your own creativity - be it writing, poetry, image-making, drawings or photographs - our expert teachers are here for one-on-one coaching. And who knows? Perhaps in our interactive workshops based on the literature you might find your actor's voice!
This 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.
'Half the Perfect World: Reading by the Sea on Hydra' with Paul and Tanya is our Signature Hydra Writing Retreat as part of Anna Kwiecinska's Creative Living Retreats www.annakwiecinka.com
(all contemporary photographs on this site are hers).
Step into the 'Golden Age' of bohemian Greece. For a brief, simmering window between 1955 and 1964, a barren rock in the Saronic Gulf became the centre of the creative universe. This was Hydra - a sun-bleached sanctuary where the wine was cheap, the light was transformative, and the world's most iconic "writers, dreamers and drifters" came to reinvent themselves.
A superb book
Sydney Morning Herald
Meet Your Presenters
Tanya Dalziell and Paul Genoni love sharing and talking about great stories—and Hydra has so many to tell, many of which they have unearthed from never-before documented archives. These stories and photographs were the basis of their book Half the Perfect World: Writers, Dreamers and Drifters on Hydra, 1955-1964 (2018), which won the 2019 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for the best book of non-fiction. It is currently in film production on Hydra, and was published in its second edition in 2025.
They've collaborated on various activities for over twenty years, including research, writing, editing, and convening conferences, and together they co-edited Telling Stories: Australian Life and Literature 1935-2012 (2013).
Together with Anna, they held their first Hydra Literary retreat 'An Island in the Mind' in October 2025. The weather was so beautiful that we'll be heading back to Hydra in October 2027 for a new iteration of this retreat entitled 'Half the Perfect World: Reading by the Sea on Hydra' with all that worked best in 2025, plus the latest updates in Paul and Tanya's on-going research into Sidney Nolan's life and works on Hydra, journal-making and interactive workshops based on the literature. Stay connected
Paul Genoni is the award-winning co-author of Half the Perfect World: Writers, Dreamers and Drifters on Hydra, 1955-1964, which won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction. The book is currently being made into a feature film on Hydra.
He has published a book on Australian explorer narratives and co-edited a collection of essays on Thea Astley. His research and publishing spans Australian literature and culture, including travel writing; expatriate memoir; and pilgrimage narratives.
As a librarian and academic, his most recent work was with the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry at Curtin University, Western Australia.
Tanya Dalziell is the award-winning co-author of Half the Perfect World: Writers, Dreamers and Drifters on Hydra, 1955-1964, which won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction. The book is currently being made into a feature film on Hydra.
She teaches and researches in English and Literary Studies at the University of Western Australia, and writes on topics related to Australian literature, film, music and modernism. Tanya has published books on Australian writers Joan London and Gail Jones and co-edited a book of essays on the musician Nick Cave.
She currently holds these positions
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Professor Tanya Dalziell FAHA SFHEA
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Chair of the Department of English and Cultural Studies
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Chair of Discipline/Major, English and Literary Studies
Strip Away the Noise
of Daily Life
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 includes:
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Boutique 4.5 star accommodation in one of Hydra's most historic and storied mansions, close to the port with no rocky steps to climb.
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Fabulous breakfasts, some taverna lunches & dinners with wine, museum entrances, daily tuition, boat trips, an illustrated guide/workbook
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A workshop with Anna to create your own hand-bound journal
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Anna's newsletters + lead-up assistance & throughout your stay