The benefits of forest bathing: a wellness trend worth trying

20 Oct, 2025

In a world that rarely stops spinning, forest bathing offers a quiet, sacred pause.

As more of us search for ways to soften the noise, slow the pace and reconnect with ourselves, this Japanese-inspired practice is emerging as a deeply healing balm. The benefits of forest bathing – from easing anxiety to lifting brain fog – are profound. But what makes it truly magical is its simplicity. No gear. No rules. Just you and the trees.

I remember my first forest bathing experience – it was in Thredbo in summer, after a chaotic few months of deadlines, too much screen time and increasingly scattered thoughts. I’d booked a weekend away at a wellness festival hoping for some kind of shift – and I got it.

The moment I stepped into the forest, something inside me softened. The filtered light through the gums. The crunch of leaves beneath my boots. The hush that hummed beneath the wind. I hadn’t even realised how tightly I’d been holding everything until that moment, when the forest gently asked me to let it go. And I did.

What even is forest bathing?

Originating in Japan in the 1980s, Shinrin Yoku (or “forest bath”) is the art of immersing yourself in the forest with all your senses. It’s not about distance or speed – it’s about presence.

You’re not hiking to a lookout or tracking steps. You’re meandering, noticing, feeling. The smell of eucalyptus. The softness of moss. The way sunlight flickers through the canopy like a slow dance. Forest therapy invites us to drop into the moment and receive the forest, not just walk through it.

How is it different from regular walks or hiking in nature?

Think of hiking as a journey with a destination. You’re walking a track or making your way to a lookout. Forest bathing is the destination. Where a walk might be brisk, purposeful, or timed, forest bathing is unrushed. You might only cover a few hundred metres. Or none at all.

The purpose isn’t to sweat or summit – it’s to slow down enough to really see, hear, smell, and feel the natural world. It’s in this stillness that a deep sense of calm takes root.

Benefits of forest bathing

Science is catching up with what our hearts already know: nature heals. Studies show that forest bathing can:

Reduce stress and lower cortisol levels
Lower blood pressure and slow heart rate
Improve mood, clarity and emotional resilience
Strengthen immune function through exposure to phytoncides (the forest’s natural immune boosters)
Improve sleep and enhance creativity

For those feeling burnt out, disconnected, or overwhelmed, forest therapy is like a reset button for your nervous system. It gently guides you back to your body, back to your breath and back to a more grounded way of being.

The best forest bathing locations in Australia

Australia’s wild beauty is a gift to forest bathers – rich with eucalyptus forests, coastal trails and rainforest sanctuaries.

If you are looking for the best Forest Bathing guide In Sydney or the Blue Mountains, Mayu from Forest Minds offers forest therapy walks in nearby national parks – inviting participants to pause, reflect and reconnect.

In Western Australia, Belinda at Mindful in Nature offers tailored forest bathing and immersive programs designed to nurture mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. We love the experiences in Margaret River - it’s the perfect place to rest, recalibrate and rediscover your natural rhythm.

Keen to go solo? There’s no shortage of peaceful places to wander slowly and breathe deeply. Try Central Station rainforest on K’gari or the Daintree in Queensland, the Cumberland State Forest in Sydney, Maleny National Park in the Northern Territory or Freycinet National Park in Tasmania.

Or, in the Hunter Region of NSW, you can have an extended forest bathing experience by staying at Carawirry Forest Escape - a soulful retreat tucked within 250 acres of Australian hardwood forest. Explore warm temperate rainforest pockets, wild swimming holes, or simply soak in the stillness.

Looking for more ideas? Take a look at our favourite forest bathing experiences across Australia.

Forest bathe and Stay

In the Hunter Region of NSW, you can have an extended forest bathing experience by staying at Carawirry Forest Escape – a soulful retreat tucked within 250 acres of Australian hardwood forest. Explore warm temperate rainforest pockets, wild swimming holes, or simply soak in the stillness.

And in the NSW Southern Highlands, a stay at one of the premium Forest Lodges at Osborn House gives you access to the private Forest Bathing deck. Set outdoors in the middle of the forest, complete with ice bath, sauna, jacuzzi, fire pit and unbeatable views out from the forest through to Morton National Park.

Looking for more ideas? Take a look at our favourite forest bathing experiences across Australia.

Image credits: Forest Minds, Carawirry Forest Escape, Well Traveller, Mindful in Nature, Carawirry Forest Escape, Osborne House.

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