The ‘perfect’ wellness holiday could be less than an hour from home
Wellness travel is growing with absolutely no signs of slowing down. As we crave ways to log off and escape reality, the tourism industry is responding with niche wellness travel itineraries to suit every need and want.
The Global Wellness Institute has released its annual report, revealing the top 10 wellness travel trends for 2026 - from AI-powered itineraries to the best sleep of your life. Read through to see the top 10.
Attribution: Metung Hot Springs/Saint Haven/Discover Tasmania
Coocooning Wellness //
A wellness holiday doesn’t have to be a full-on extravaganza. This trend is all about short trips close to home that are cosy and nurturing, usually in nature or a rural setting. It’s a great way to completely relax and reset your nervous system without the travel hassle. Try: Staying in an off-grid cabin through Unkoyed or Tiny Away.
Attribution: Unyoked
Urban Recovery Travel // Maybe you don’t even need to leave the city to embrace a wellness holiday. Some inner-city dwellers are embarking on two-to-three day 'itineraries' at wellness centres, using high-tech therapies to fix things like sleep debt, body pain, and intense stress. Try: Saint Haven in Sydney and Melbourne, with hyperbaric oxygen chambers, cryotherapy, infrared saunas, and custom nutrient drips.
Attribution: Saint Haven
Destination-Scale Wellness // Wellness is no longer just an afterthought. Entire regions are being designed with health in mind: massive, walkable areas centred around public hot springs, nature trails, and outdoor activities. Try: Metung Hot Springs in Victoria, a 25-acre site that’s a wilderness wellness destination.
Attribution: Metung Hot Springs
The Rise of Heat Rituals // Saunas have evolved into lively, social events featuring music, essential oils, breathing exercises, and guided ceremonies led by a "sauna master." Try: Rimba Sweat in Sydney or the floating Kuuma Sauna near Hobart, where you can cold plunge into the freezing river.
Attribution: Kuuma Sauna
The Demand for Cool Climate Travel // Summer heatwaves and overcrowded beaches are no longer so desirable. Travellers are actively choosing cooler, breezier destinations or travelling during the "off-peak" cooler months so they can hike, move, and breathe fresh air comfortably without getting overheated. Try: Heading to Tassie in autumn or winter.
Attribution: iStock
The Nervous System Reset // Gone are the days when travellers would book into aggressive "no pain, no gain" boot camps. Wellness travel is shifting toward slowing down. Breath work, sound therapy, slow movement and nature immersion are becoming central to wellness journeys designed to help the body slow down and recover. Try: Billabong Retreat just outside Sydney or Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat on the Gold Coast Hinterland.
Attribution: Billabong Retreat
The Luxury of Privacy // Privacy is now becoming a part of wellness. For many, true luxury now means space, quiet, and being somewhere with zero crowds and no cameras, where you can completely let your guard down. Try: Arkaba Station in SA’s Flinders Ranges, a low-density outback wildlife conservancy that limits guests to just a handful at a time.
Attribution: Arkaba Station 
In Search of Deep Rest // This trend is travel designed entirely around getting a good night's sleep. These trips use pitch-black night skies, soundproof rooms, and evening water-bathing rituals to fix your internal clock. Try: The sleep retreat at The Reef House, Palm Cove.
Attribution: iStock
The Rise of AI-Designed Wellness Travel
// One-size-fits-all itineraries are gone. Hotels are now using technology to look at travellers’ personal goals, stress levels, and daily energy to build a custom schedule for their meals, spa treatments, and workouts, which can also shift automatically based on how you feel each day. Try: Mindtrip AI, an itinerary planning platform that gives personalised and actionable travel recommendations
Attribution: iStock
