STOP PRESS: Postcards from Cape Town Travel Writing Retreat now more affordable than ever!

Due to overwhelming demand, the Postcards from Cape Town Travel Writing Retreat is now being offered as a non-residential retreat. This means participants can stay anywhere in the city, bringing down the price down to a very affordable $600 (R4,500) per person. Participants will of course have to provide their own transport to/from Dunkley House, where we'll meet for workshops, and local restaurants.

Held from 5-9 September the retreat will take participants on a travel writing journey through the sights, sounds and scents of Cape Town. During the day we'll explore some of the city's most famous sights practising writing and researching skills learnt in workshops. Come the evenings, we’ll enjoy the tastes and flavours of the city’s best restaurants along with the company and conversation of leading travel writers, photographers, authors and editors.

If that's not enough, MSN NZ, the international media portal for the MSN Network in New Zealand, has offered to publish the best travel articles written during the course of the week on their popular Travel Bite website. So not only will you experience what it takes to be a travel writer, you might even get published! See the attached brochures for more details.

Any participants who choose to stay at Dunkley House, where workshops will be held, will be offered a 10% discount on accommodation.

If you need any more information I can be contacted on kim[at]wildwriting[dot]com[dot]au or you can visit my website.

Postcards from Cape Town Travel Writing Retreat

Learn the art of travel writing in the world's No.1 travel destination.

Times: 4pm Monday, 5 September to 12pm Friday, 9 September
$AUD 600 (R4,500) excluding accommodation **

Bold, brash and beautiful, Cape Town is one city that doesn't disappoint. From the cloud-blanketed top of Table Mountain and the craggy peaks of the 12 Apostles to the sun-soaked, sandy beaches of Camp's Bay and the rolling vineyards of Constantia to its vibrant mix of cultures and buzzing nightlife, South Africa's 'Mother City' is an electric, cosmopolitan city that has it all. Little wonder it was recently voted the No.1 Travel Destination in the World by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards

Join veteran guidebook author, travel writer and some-time Capetonian Kim Wildman on a travel writing journey through the sights, sounds and scents of this sensational city. Based at the beautiful Dunkley House in the city's historic old quarter, you’ll spend five days learning the art of writing and selling travel stories while uncovering the heart and soul of Cape Town.

During the day you'll explore some of the city's most famous sights practising writing and researching skills learnt in workshops. Come the evenings, you'll enjoy the tastes and flavours of Cape Town's best restaurants along with the company and conversation of leading travel writers, photographers, authors and editors.

If a week of writing, reflecting and enjoying the sights and sounds of Cape Town isn't enticement enough, MSN NZ, the international media portal for the MSN Network in New Zealand, has offered to publish the three best travel articles written during the course of the week on their popular Travel Bite website. So not only will you experience what it takes to be a travel writer, you might even get published!

Included in the retreat: two restaurant dinners, a city centre walking tour, cable ride to Table Mountain (weather permitting), tour of Robben Island, and day trip to Cape Point taking in the beautiful seaside villages of Simon’s Town, St James and Kalk Bay as well as a wine tasting at Groot Constantia and a hamper lunch (inclusive of entry fees to Boulders Beach and Cape Point).

Not included in the retreat: accommodation, transport to/from B&B and restaurants, airport transfers, additional meals, alcohol and drinks, laundry, telephone, personal expenses, spending money, tips for guides, airfares, visas and travel insurance.

Participants can stay anywhere in the city. Any participants who choose to stay at Dunkley House will be offered a 10% discount on accommodation.

This fun and informative retreat is suitable for beginning writers upwards. Places are strictly limited, so contact Kim Wildman on kim[at]wildwriting[dot]com[dot]au to make a booking now.

**Prices subject to currency fluctuations

Postcards from Bangalow: The countdown is on

It's now just over a month until the first-ever Postcards from Bangalow Writing and Gourmet Experience kicks off. Tickets for this unique writing event to be held in the beautiful hinterland village of Bangalow on the Far North Coast of New South Wales from 10-13 June are selling fast. Don't miss out - the clock is ticking!

The three day writing retreat will take participants on a travel writing journey through the sights, sounds, scents and flavours of Bangalow. Joining me for the journey are a prominent line-up of local writers, authors, foodies and identities including co-owner of Foodscape Tours, Karen Hirst, author of Boys' Home to Broadway, Kevin Palmer, publisher of Sample magazine, Remy Tancred, and TV presenter and author, Scott McGregor, who'll help me unearth the best of the region through a series of workshops, dinners and tours.

With food as well as writing a main focus of the weekend, tastebuds will be tantalised with many of the region's best restaurants and producers highlighted on the menu for the event. Participants will enjoy gourmet meals at three atmospheric local restaurants including Bangalow Dining Rooms, Fishheads @ Bangalow and the Harvest Cafe and will meet local producers on a half-day Foodscape hinterland tour and a guided visit of the Bangalow Farmers' Market.

If a weekend of writing, reflecting and enjoying the tastes and flavours of Bangalow isn't enticement enough, Sample magazine - the epicurean bible of the Northern Rivers - has offered to publish the best travel article written over the weekend in the travel section of the spring edition of the magazine. All participants too will go into the draw for a three-day pass to the Bangalow Music Festival. So grab your pen and paper, bring your appetite and get ready for a fun weekend of good writing, good food and good company.

The three day event costs $450 per person and includes the three restaurant meals, tours and workshops. Accommodation can be arranged in a variety of local venues in and around the village. Places are strictly limited. Contact me on 0400 887 991 or kim[at]wildwriting[dot]com[dot]au to make a booking.

Postcards from Bangalow Writing & Gourmet Experience

Learn writing skills while eating well and enjoying new companions.

If you love writing, travelling and food, then you won't want to miss the Postcards from Bangalow Writing and Gourmet Experience. Held over the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June, this unique writing event will awaken your creativity and indulge your senses.

Hidden in the hills some 10 minutes drive from Byron Bay, Bangalow is a travel writer's and foodie's delight. Join seasoned travel writer Kim Wildman and learn what it takes to be a travel writer, while experiencing the smells, tastes, sounds and characters of this unique community.

Included in the weekend: three gourmet meals in atmospheric local restaurants, a half day Foodscape hinterland tour taking in three of the region's best producers and a guided historical walking tour of Bangalow as well as fun writing workshops and plenty of free time to allow your creative juices to flow. Each of the three included restaurant meals will be attended by a local writer, editor or identity who'll lead themed discussions on topics from how to capture the essence of a destination to how to pitch an article to an editor with questions and answers, readings and more.

If a weekend of writing, reflecting and enjoying the tastes and flavours of Bangalow isn't enticement enough, Sample Magazine, the epicurean bible of the Northern Rivers, has offered to publish the best travel article written over the weekend in the travel section of the spring edition of the magazine. So not only will you experience what it takes to be a travel writer, you might even get published!

This fun and informative weekend experience is suitable for beginning writers upwards with an interest in travel writing, food and good company.

Accommodation can be arranged in a variety of local venues in and around the village.

An early bird discount of 5% is available for bookings made by 30 April, 2011. Places are strictly limited, so contact Kim Wildman on 0400 887 991 or kim@wildwriting.com.au to make a booking now!

Date: 10-13 June
Times: 4pm Friday to 12pm Monday
Cost: $450 per person

Facilitator: Kim Wildman is a published travel writer and guidebook author with more than 10 years experience freelancing for a variety of media outlets around the world. She has authored more than 15 guidebooks, including Lonely Planet and Bradt travel guides, and written scores of travel features for the likes of The Melbourne Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Travel Africa, Voyageur and Ninemsn. When she's not continent-hopping, Kim runs travel writing workshops and mentors writers from her base in Bangalow. Recently voted one of Tripbase's 100 Favourite Travel Writers in the world, she also presents guest lectures on travel writing at universities and schools and speaks about her passion for the written road at international literary festivals and travel fairs. See her website for more details: www.wildwriting.com.au.


Testimonials from Kim's past travel writing workshops
"Excellent! The course was very useful and exceeded my expectations." Amy Dalguish, Travel Editor, Total Travel

"Kim Wildman lead a clear and inclusive travel writing workshop which not only focused on the skills of writing and storytelling but the business of travel writing and having your work published. A fun and valuable course by an experienced travel writer." Holly Galbraith, Go Future Media

Picture: Bangalow's main street, Copyright Michael King-Prime