Take a Short Break and a Longer Breath in Victoria
When was the last time you truly switched off?
New research from the Global Wellness Institute’s 2025 Wellness Survey reveals that one in four Australians hasn’t taken even a three-day break in more than a year — and 12 per cent say it’s been over two years.
Yet the same survey names Australia the world’s number one wellness destination, with more than half of adults planning a wellness-focused holiday in the year ahead.
For many, that wellbeing journey starts at home. In Victoria, where the landscapes invite calm and the food feeds the soul, it’s never been easier to pause, breathe and find your own “well place”.
The Case for Shorter, More Frequent Breaks
Katherine Droga, Founder of Well Traveller and Chair of the Global Wellness Institute’s Wellness Tourism Initiative, says the research underscores both our growing fatigue and the richness of experiences close to home.
“Balance is slipping for Australians; financially, physically and emotionally. Too many people are postponing their rest, when in reality shorter, more frequent breaks are proven to have a greater positive impact on wellbeing,” Droga explains.
“You can reset the body, lift mood and restore rhythm in just a few days. The message is clear: Australians are craving balance, and they’re finding it closer to home.”
The Rise of Bathing Rituals and Nature-Based Wellness
The survey also highlights the latest wellness trends. Bathing rituals such as wild swimming, thermal springs and ice plunges were named the top wellness activity by 54 per cent of travellers. Nature-based activities followed closely at 52 per cent, while wellness technology, mindfulness and nutrition-focused experiences continue to grow.
Australia’s national wellbeing score now sits at 6.5 out of 10, down slightly from 6.7 in 2022, with the lowest results recorded in sleep and financial wellbeing.
“These results all support the growing need for rest and rejuvenation,” Droga notes.
“For Victorians, those offerings are abundant indeed — whether it’s the mineral waters of Daylesford, a geothermal soak by the sea, or a quiet walk through the Dandenongs. The research may show our wellbeing score is declining, but the remedy might be as simple as taking the break we keep promising ourselves.”
The Great Victorian Bathing Trail
At the centre of this movement is the return of bathing. The Great Victorian Bathing Trail links a string of thermal springs, mineral pools and sea baths stretching from the Mornington Peninsula to Warrnambool.
At Peninsula Hot Springs, guests can drift between geothermal pools, saunas and cold plunges surrounded by native bushland. Further west, Deep Blue Hot Springs in Warrnambool offers open-air geothermal bathing overlooking the ocean.
“Bathing rituals are flourishing, from outdoor tubs in nature to urban bathhouses. They connect us to the land, to others and to ourselves,” Droga says.
For older travellers, the trail’s slow rhythm and sensory experiences make it a perfect low-impact way to unwind.
“Bathing is both therapeutic without effort, communal yet deeply personal,” adds Droga.
The Heart of Australian Wellness: Daylesford and Macedon Ranges
Inland, the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region remains the beating heart of Australian wellness. The area’s natural springs have been drawing visitors for more than a century.
Here, wellness is woven through every experience — soaking in the historic Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, wandering among towering gums in the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, or tasting local produce at a Trentham café. A weekend here feels like an exhale: peaceful, creative and deeply restorative.
Finding Calm in Nature
Nature itself remains one of Victoria’s greatest healers. Many walking trails combine scenery with serenity — from the fern-lined paths of the Dandenong Ranges to the dramatic Great Ocean Walk.
Along the Great Ocean Road, coastal wellness has evolved into sunrise yoga above the cliffs, forest bathing in the Otways, and boutique spa stays that combine sea air with stillness. More than half of Australians now name nature-based activity as key to their wellbeing.
Wellness on the Mornington Peninsula
On the Mornington Peninsula, wellbeing takes on a different flavour. Think vineyard lunches, olive groves and seaside picnics as mindful experiences — opportunities to slow down, taste deeply and reconnect through food.
The region’s waterways also offer gentle ways to move: kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and swimming in sheltered coves that both restore and energise.
Connection to Place and Story
Connection — to place, to people and to story — is another thread running through Victoria’s wellness landscape. Travellers can explore Country with local guides, learn about native botanicals, and experience ancient healing practices that remind us wellness is communal, not individual.
Discover Well Traveller
Well Traveller is Australia’s leading wellness travel platform, helping people discover experiences that support mind, body and soul. Visitors can search the website by destination, activity, or how they want to feel — from “unplug” and “breathe” to “connect” and “heal”.
It also features Australia’s first What’s On Wellness Calendar, showcasing everything from free community events to luxury retreats.
The celebration of local wellness takes centre stage in Well Traveller TV Season 2, which premiered on Network 10 earlier this month. Hosted by Layne Beachley AO, the eight-part series explores some of Australia’s most inspiring wellness experiences — and offers viewers the chance to win $30,000 worth of wellness holidays and prizes via the website.
For more inspiration about wellness experiences and what’s on offer in Victoria and for your chance at winning a wellness escape, visit www.welltraveller.com.au.
Heading off on your own Melbourne adventures? Join our Facebook Group and share your stories, ask questions and connect with others for further inspiration.
