Detox retreats, infrared saunas, ice baths, sound healing, cacao ceremonies. Some of these practices, once relegated to the mystical realm of “woo-woo,” are now becoming increasingly mainstream in travel spaces around the world. So, should you be donning a kaftan and ecstatically dancing your way to wellness? Let’s delve into wellness tourism and find out.
Photo: Katelyn Rew for Connect Adventures
So, what exactly is wellness tourism? Don’t worry, there’s no dancing nude under the full moon required (unless you live in Byron Bay like me, where that’s a perfectly acceptable monthly occurrence). Wellness tourism is travel that puts your health and wellbeing front and centre, simple as that! Instead of ticking off landmarks or eating your way through a city, you choose activities and places designed to make you feel better physically, mentally and even spiritually. Think yoga retreats, forest bathing, thermal pools, hiking escapes, healthy cooking classes or mindfulness workshops. The aim is to return home feeling restored and recharged rather than worn out. Sound good? Then how exactly do we jump on the wellness wagon?
Photo: Mile Productions
I recently attended The Wellness Tourism Summit in beautiful Byron Bay, which is the Asia Pacific’s leading event for the wellness travel industry. The summit is hosted by Katherine Droga, founder and executive producer of Well Traveller, a platform that highlights Australia’s top wellness experiences. Katherine created Well Traveller after her own life was profoundly changed by wellness travel. “At pivotal moments, travel has nurtured me, lifted me out of my comfort zone and put me on a different path,” she shares. Her vision is for Well Traveller to not only guide and inspire travellers but also to support communities and destinations in a positive way.
Photo: Mile Productions
One major takeaway from the Summit was just how much people are prioritising their sleep when they travel, and the fact that they’re willing to pay a lot more to do so. According to Olivia Arezzolo, Australia’s leading sleep expert, many accommodations these days have sleep enhancement packages available or included. Mattress and pillow menus, herbal teas, blackout curtains, room sprays, sleep-friendly lighting and soundproofing. With the advancement in technology, we’re also seeing a surge in sleep tracking devices and smart mattresses that can adjust pressure and temperature. If this is becoming the norm now, who knows what the future will hold!
Photo: Mile Productions
Another topic covered at the summit, and one that I personally find fascinating, was “biohacking”. Biohacking is the art of experimenting on yourself to feel and perform better. Think of it as a mix of healthy habits, clever tech and a bit of self-science. People tweak their sleep, diet, workouts, supplements or even use wearables and cold plunges, all with the aim of boosting energy, focus, longevity and overall wellbeing. So, wouldn’t it make sense to utilise this wellness revolution and biohack our bodies to better health, all while we travel?
Photo: Mile Productions
We’re definitely standing at the precipice of a wellness revolution. Mindsets are shifting, with more people searching for avenues to adequately fuel their bodies and treat their nervous systems with care. So next time you’re planning a getaway, why not swap cocktails by the pool for a sunrise hike up a mountain, or skip the city chaos for a soak in a hot spring? We only get one body in this lifetime, and none of us knows how long we’ll have it. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Let’s prioritise health and wellness and have a damn good time doing it!
Photo: Mile Productions
Australia’s only wellness travel show, Well Traveller TV, returns to Network 10 this October with a new season packed with powerful stories, stunning destinations and familiar faces. Hosted by seven-time world surfing champion and mental wellbeing advocate Layne Beachley, the eight-part series launches nationally on Saturday 11 October 2025 on Network 10 and 10 Play. Viewers can also enter Australia’s biggest wellness travel competition, with over $30,000 worth of wellness holidays up for grabs across the season. Details will be released on welltraveller.com.au at launch.
