O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland
9 of the best wellness holidays in Australia
Luxe yoga retreats, multi-day hikes and off-grid stays nestled in healing landscapes. Unwind at these nine health and wellness holidays in Australia.
The word ‘yoga’ stems from connection; at Australia’s zen yoga retreats, that’s what it's all about. Tune into your body and breath next to the Indian Ocean in Margaret River, or feel grounded on Kangaroo Island watching wildlife in your warrior pose. It’s not just about mastering the downward-facing dog. Australian yoga retreats are as much about nourishing your body with Australia’s native ingredients as they are about soothing your soul with a menu of massages.
Nature escapes are a surefire way to recharge your batteries. But in Australia, it’s much more than that. Spending time in the country’s otherworldly landscapes can broaden your mind, open you up to new cultures and unleash a powerful sense of awe. From wandering under the canopies of World Heritage-listed rainforests to experiencing the grandeur of the spiritual Uluru, Australia is peppered with ancient pockets of nature that put everything into perspective.
If there’s one thing that will refresh your mind, it’s traversing Australia’s spectacular natural landscapes on foot. Spending time in nature has been proven to benefit our health, so why not invest in your health on a multi-day hike? On these epic expeditions, you’ll trek through ancient canyons, spot native wildlife on snow-capped mountains or hear stories of Aboriginal communities and their connection to the land.
With so much space and a relatively small population, going off-grid in Australia is easy. Across the continent is a bounty of remote retreats that swap phone signals for sunrises and scenery. Sleep metres from the Southern Great Barrier Reef in a safari-style glamping tent, melt into an outdoor bathtub beneath the Milky Way in Tasmania or wake up in an eco-retreat on the world’s longest fringing reef.
Australia’s naturally-healing hot springs enjoy geothermal water that emerges from beneath the earth’s surface. You’ll find these warm watering holes both in far-reach corners of the country, such as the Northern Territory’s Elsey National Park, or just a short drive from bustling cities like Melbourne. In Victoria, a ‘hot springs highway’ will bring you to the best of them.
Love is in Australia’s countryside air, where cute cottages meet outdoor bathtubs, miles of manicured grasslands and the sweet sounds of nature. Australia’s charming countryside invites couples to tune into their natural surroundings and reconnect over beautiful views, wholesome food and wine and plenty of activities to bond over.
Australia’s Aboriginal people have been harnessing the wellness benefits of the land for more than 60,000 years. To this day, Indigenous communities across the country use a host of wellness practices in their daily lives. Fill your holiday with cultural experiences, from guided walks to culinary tours, to discover how the world’s oldest living culture uses native plants for medicinal purposes, forages food using sustainable techniques and continues to live in harmony with the land and water.
To some, the idea of wellness is all about discovering their true selves. Arguably, there’s no better way to find yourself than by hitting the road alone. Discover a new sense of freedom at any one (or more) of Australia’s best solo travel destinations. From chasing brilliant right-hand waves in Bryon Bay to exploring Melbourne’s colourful culture or testing your nerves on a bungee jump in Cairns, there’s no shortage of solo adventures in Australia.
Australia’s health and wellness retreats take full advantage of the country’s abundant natural landscapes. Try natural healing treatments in the world’s oldest living rainforest at the Daintree Ecolodge and Spa, watch the world go by from the Gold Coast’s Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat’s infinity pool or feel rejuvenated after a spiritual consultation at Hobart’s Harmony Harvest Health Retreat.
