3-Day Summer French Immersion in Bowral
A French Country Escape in the Southern Highlands
Friday 22 – Sunday 24 January 2027
Links House, Bowral
Levels: A2+ to B2+ | Elementary to Advanced
Escape to the Southern Highlands for a relaxed three-day French immersion filled with conversation, delicious food, games, culture and plenty of opportunities to speak French.
From Friday afternoon until Sunday lunchtime, we’ll make beautiful Links House in Bowral our home for a very special French weekend. You’ll stay on site with the group, share meals together and take part in a varied programme facilitated by two French à la carte teachers.
Throughout the immersion, participants will be encouraged to speak French at all times — during activities, meals, walks, games and all those little conversations in between.
Open to all levels from A2+ (Elementary) to B2+ (Advanced). With two FALC teachers facilitating throughout the weekend, activities can be adapted or divided by level whenever needed, allowing everyone to enjoy the immersion and get the most out of their French.
Your French weekend
The immersion begins at 2pm on Friday and finishes at approximately 12.30pm on Sunday.
FRIDAY — Bienvenue à Bowral
Arrival & welcome • French cultural activity • Blind cheese & wine tasting • Dinner together at Links House
SATURDAY — Une journée en français
Breakfast • Conversation & walk into Bowral • Photography challenge • Morning tea • Lunch in Bowral • Choice of French workshops • Pétanque & apéro • Dinner at Links House
SUNDAY — Un dernier matin ensemble
Breakfast • Fun French activities • Morning tea • Final conversations • Finish around 12.30pm
Some activities will bring everyone together, while others will take place in smaller groups according to level or interest.
One immersion, different levels
With two FALC teachers facilitating communication throughout the weekend, there will always be someone there to keep the conversation flowing, help you find the words you need and make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate.
One of the things we love about this immersion is that you don’t need to be fluent to enjoy being immersed in French.
The weekend is open to participants from A2+ (Elementary) to B2+ (Advanced) who want to practise speaking French in a relaxed, supportive and genuinely immersive environment.
You don’t need perfect grammar, an enormous vocabulary or complete fluency.
You do need to be able to hold a simple conversation in French and, most importantly, be willing to give French a go throughout the weekend
Our two teachers will be there to facilitate communication, adapt activities when necessary and help participants of different levels get as much as possible from the experience.
We have deliberately designed the programme so that different levels can mix naturally during meals, walks, games, pétanque and social activities. In many of these situations, communicating with people at different levels is part of the fun — and part of the immersion. When an activity requires more level-specific language, our two teachers will divide participants into smaller groups and adapt the activity accordingly.
Not sure whether your level is suitable? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
A weekend to live in French
This is not a weekend of traditional classroom lessons. Instead, French is woven into everything we do. You might start the morning chatting over breakfast, explore Bowral with a photography challenge, discuss an interesting question over coffee, play a game of pétanque in French, choose a mini-workshop for the afternoon, then finish the day sharing dinner and a glass of wine with the group.
It’s immersive but relaxed — with lots of opportunities to speak, listen, laugh, experiment and build confidence.
Our home for the weekend: Links House
For this immersion, we’re returning to a place that holds some very happy memories for French à la carte: Links House in Bowral. We hosted several of our early French immersion weekends here and always loved the warm, intimate atmosphere of this small boutique hotel. Now beautifully renovated, we’re delighted to be coming back — and we think it’s the perfect setting for this new-style immersion.
With just 17 rooms, Links House feels more like a beautiful country house than a large hotel. It’s small, cosy and welcoming, allowing our group to really settle in and create our own little French-speaking world for the weekend.
Your room
Your immersion includes two nights’ accommodation in a private room, with ensuite bathroom and breakfast each morning.
Links House has a collection of individually styled rooms and suites, so rooms vary slightly in size and character. Single accommodation is included in the standard immersion price, with a limited number of twin-share rooms available at a reduced rate for participants who would like to share.
Spaces to relax and connect
One of the reasons we love Links House for an immersion is that we won’t be confined to a classroom. The hotel has comfortable lounge and bar areas where we can chat, relax, play games or enjoy a drink together between activities. We’ll also make use of the outdoor spaces whenever the weather allows — perhaps even for a game of pétanque and an apéro.
These informal moments are an important part of the immersion. French doesn’t stop when a workshop finishes: conversations continue over coffee, in the garden, before dinner and at the end of the day.
Our own private workshop space
We’ll also have access to the Dawson Room, Links House’s private conference room, giving us a dedicated space for our workshops and group activities throughout the weekend.
With two FALC teachers, we’ll be able to use the different spaces around the hotel to divide into smaller groups when appropriate, particularly for activities where participants benefit from working with others at a similar French level.
Meals at Links House
On Friday and Saturday evenings, we’ll stay in and dine together at Links House. Rather than having to head out again after a full day of French, we can settle in, share dinner and continue the conversation in the relaxed atmosphere of the hotel. Breakfast is also served at Links House each morning.
For Saturday lunch, we’ll venture into Bowral for a special meal together before returning to Links House for our afternoon activities.
A little French bubble in the Southern Highlands
For us, the appeal of Links House isn’t simply the accommodation. It’s having one warm, intimate place where we can stay, eat, learn, talk and relax together.
For three days, it becomes our home — and our own little French bubble in the Southern Highlands.
We loved bringing our immersion groups here in the past, and we’re very excited to return.
Price
$1,955 per person — Private room
Two nights in your own ensuite room
$1,650 per person — Twin share
Share a twin room with another participant — limited availability
All prices are in Australian dollars and include GST.
Your place is confirmed once full payment has been received.
What’s included
Your immersion package includes:
- Two nights’ accommodation at Links House
- Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday
- Dinner at Links House on Friday and Saturday evenings
- Lunch at Julien’s Brasserie on Saturday
- Morning tea on Saturday and Sunday
- Blind French cheese & wine tasting
- Pétanque & apéro
- All French workshops, games and organised activities
- Two French à la carte teachers facilitating the immersion throughout the weekend
- Workshop and activity materials
- French immersion programme from Friday 2pm to Sunday 12.30pm
What’s not included
The following are not included in the package:
- Transport to and from Bowral
- Personal expenses
- Additional drinks purchased outside those specifically included in the programme
- Travel insurance
- Any activities or purchases undertaken outside the organised programme
Participants are responsible for making their own way to Links House.
Booking & payment
Full payment is required at the time of booking to secure your place.
Places are limited and accommodation is subject to availability.
Twin-share rooms are available at a reduced rate and are subject to availability. If you are booking with someone you would like to share with, please let us know when you enrol.
If you would like to share but do not have a preferred roommate, please contact us. We may be able to match you with another participant who is also happy to share, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Minimum number
A minimum of 8 participants is required for this immersion to proceed.
If the minimum number has not been reached, French à la carte reserves the right to cancel the immersion. In this case, you will receive a full refund of all payments made to French à la carte.
We recommend waiting until the immersion has been confirmed before making any non-refundable travel arrangements.
We expect to confirm the immersion no later than 8 weeks before departure.
Programme changes
The programme is indicative and may be adjusted due to weather, availability or other circumstances. Any changes will be made with the aim of maintaining the quality and spirit of the immersion.
Cancellations
As accommodation, meals and other arrangements are booked in advance specifically for our group, cancellation fees apply.
- More than 60 days before the immersion: refund of the amount paid, less a $250 administration fee.
- 30–60 days before the immersion: 50% refund.
- Less than 30 days before the immersion: no refund is available unless we are able to fill your place.
If we are able to fill your place from a waiting list, we will refund the amount paid, less a $250 administration fee and any non-refundable costs already incurred on your behalf.
You may transfer your booking to another suitable participant, subject to approval by French à la carte.
We strongly recommend taking out appropriate travel insurance to cover unexpected circumstances that may prevent you from attending.
Ready to spend a weekend in French?
For three days, leave English behind and join us for a little taste of France in the Southern Highlands.
22–24 January 2027 · Bowral · A2+ to B2+
