In recent years, there’s been an interesting shift in the way Australians approach leisure and travel. There was a time when an ideal weekend involved throwing back espresso martinis, racking up a $200 Uber bill, and waking up with a vague recollection of last night’s bad decisions. Now? Our collective vibe (and level of disposable income) has changed.
People are drinking less, going out less, and prioritising feeling good on Monday morning over how late they can stay out. In 2024, Forbes reported a study that found Gen Z, in particular, are drinking 12.8 fewer alcoholic drinks a month compared to before COVID-19. This coincides with the increasing popularity of run clubs, bath houses, #GutHealth and holistic wellness both online and IRL.
But it’s not just about cutting back on booze, it’s about chasing something that actually makes you feel good. Enter the rise of micro wellness escapes: short, intentional trips that are designed to leave you recharged instead of wrecked. Instead of saving for one big, long-haul, blowout trip, more and more people are leaning into weekends spent off-grid, ice baths instead of beach clubs, and yoga in the hinterland rather than sunrise shots in Bali.
If that sounds like your kind of reset, here are five wellness retreats worth checking out.
Eden Health Retreat
Currumbin Valley QLD
If you’ve ever wished you could disappear off the grid for a few days, Eden Health Retreat makes that dream a reality. Tucked away in Queensland’s Currumbin Valley, it’s a place where your phone gets zero reception, the Wi-Fi doesn’t exist, and your only connection is with nature, your body, and that book you finally have time to read.
This isn’t the kind of place you go to lie by the pool with a cocktail. The days here are structured but flexible, with daily classes or workshops ranging from yoga, Pilates and sound healing to rainforest meditations, cold plunges and sauna. You can book in for massages or sweat it out in the state-of-the-art gym, and still have time for long walks through the forest tracks that wrap around the retreat.
The food is nutritionally balanced, seasonal, and designed by their team of award-winning chefs and nutritionists. They provide three totally gluten-free meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) served in the beautiful dining room overlooking the valley. They even have a custom-built demonstration kitchen where you can learn how to cook for yourself. You won’t go hungry, and you’ll leave with a new standard for what healthy eating can taste like.
Eden is immersive. It’s a chance to disappear from real life, breathe deeply, and actually hear yourself think again. If you’re in need of a full system reset, this is your best bet.
Book Eden Health Retreat
Gaia Retreat & Spa
Brooklet NSW
Not everyone wants a retreat where they have to ditch their vices entirely. Gaia, set in Byron Bay’s lush hinterland, caters to that. Here, you can have your organic, locally sourced meals and grounding meditations, but you can also enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. You can go full wellness mode, or you can simply read a book on the balcony, get a massage, and forget reality.
Gaia’s experience is built around balance. There are daily yoga classes, as well as opt-in opt-out spa treatments and holistic wellness therapies like art therapy, astrology, kinesiology and energetic healing. But you can pick and choose your own pace, jumping into everything, or doing absolutely nothing and just floating through the weekend.
Food here is a highlight. Fresh, organic produce from the onsite gardens and local farmers is served across three daily meals by Gaia’s award-winning chefs. Yes, there’s a wine list. And no, you don’t need to feel bad about indulging. It’s part of the wellness equation.
Gaia offers you space to relax without rules. Whether you’re escaping the city, celebrating something, or just need a reset, this is luxury wellness without the rigidity.
The Brooklet
Brooklet NSW
Some places make a point of saying, “We’re not a retreat,” and The Brooklet is one of them. Nestled in Byron Bay’s rolling hills, it’s set on 125-acres with 6 luxury Villas for those who want a break from life without the structure of a traditional wellness retreat.
Instead of a rigid schedule, you get a stunning space where you can take things at your own pace. It’s self-guided, self-paced, and all about reconnecting with nature. There’s an infinity mineral pool overlooking the hills, a sauna, hot tub, tennis court, private yoga sessions and spaces designed purely for chilling out: think warm timber tones, neutral palettes, and interiors that instantly make you feel calm. It’s like staying at a ridiculously aesthetic countryside Airbnb, but one that also happens to be built for wellness.
If you choose a retreat package, your stay will include three meals per day and a non-alcoholic beverage package. Or you can head to nearby cafes and farm-to-table eateries. The space also includes a communal kitchen, where guests can make their own pizzas and eat at the huge family-style communal table.
The Brooklet is for those who don’t want to be told what to do with their downtime. Just beautiful space, plenty of nature, and all the facilities you need to tune back in.
Elysia Wellness Retreat
Pokolbin NSW
If you’re after a full-body-and-mind transformation, Elysia is the place. Located in the Hunter Valley in NSW, it’s a wellness retreat in the most literal sense of the title. Structured, intentional, and designed to help you completely reset your mind and body with long term habits.
Elysia offers three to seven day packages. Each stay includes guided fitness, mindfulness and wellness sessions, ranging from group yoga and tai chi to educational seminars, spa therapies, and one-on-one health consultations. There’s a schedule to follow, but it’s flexible and designed to empower you with tools to take home.
The food is designed to detox, nourish and energise, but it’s never boring. Clean, wholesome meals are served communally to encourage mindful eating, and you’re given a break from red meat, alcohol, caffeine, sugar and saturated fat. It’s a retreat that feeds your body and your social spirit.
Elysia is perfect if you’re looking for a retreat that’s equal parts educational and experiential.
Billabong Retreat
Maraylya NSW
Only 45 minutes from Sydney, Billabong Retreat is one of the most accessible wellness getaways around, designed for those who want to unplug without going too far. It’s less about luxury and more about getting back to basics, with a philosophy around reconnection with nature, mindfulness, and slowing down.
Everything here is simple but thoughtful. Treehouse-style cabins overlook a serene billabong and there’s a general sense of “let’s just breathe for a minute” energy about the place. The daily program centres around yoga, meditation and mindfulness, with classes that suit all levels. You can book extra spa treatments, take a dip in the mineral pool, or simply sit with a cup of tea and look out over the trees.
The food is like a warm, plant-based hug. Each stay includes all food, drinks and snacks, which are all locally sourced and served in a communal buffet style that encourages genuine connection. It’s healthy, hearty and made with love.
In 2025, wellness retreats are no longer for the ultra-spiritual or ultra-rich. Now, they’re for anyone who just wants to feel better. As the world speeds up, the real luxury is being able to check out of the chaos and check in with yourself.
