Wellness is booming – and Australia is at the heart of it

In the 2025 rankings, Australia jumped into the top five worldwide wellness tourism destinations. It’s the 10th largest wellness economy overall (despite our smaller population), and 4th in the Asia-Pacific region behind only China, Japan and India. We’re spending more on wellness than ever – about US$4,824 per person, which is among the highest per-capita wellness spend globally. And key sectors like mental wellness (+10.1%), thermal and mineral springs (+21.5%), and wellness tourism (+32.9%) are among the fastest-growing segments in the country.

Why? Because Australians (and those visiting) are increasingly craving meaningful experiences – the kind that calm the nervous system, connect us to nature and support long-term wellbeing. So what does that mean for you, as a traveller and wellness enthusiast? Opportunity. Especially if you're looking to restore your energy, improve your mental health, or just slow down and reconnect with nature and yourself.

Australia’s natural assets play a starring role here. With wide-open skies, ancient rainforests, oceans teeming with life and thermal springs bubbling beneath the surface, the land itself is part of the medicine.

From diving into icy rivers while exploring the wonders of kunanyi (Mt Wellington) in Tasmania to floating Pilates on Sydney Harbour or mineral soaking in Victoria’s spa country, you don’t have to look far to find water-based nature wellness experiences that go deeper than a day spa. In fact, thermal and mineral springs are continuing to have a moment with a 21.5% surge in growth reflecting Australia’s boom in new bathhouses like The Banya in Mullumbimby and geothermal mineral pools like Talaroo Hot Springs. And it’s not just hot water making waves.

Modern bathhouses like Melbourne’s Sense of Self and Sydney’s Nature's Energy are redefining community wellness, with saunas, hydrotherapy and communal rituals that feel both ancient and fresh.

Here’s something else to note: the mental wellness sector has exploded, growing by 12.4% since 2019. The “sleep economy” – mindfulness apps, sound healing, aromatherapy, coaching and mood-enhancing rituals – are no longer niche; it’s mainstream. And travellers are seeking them out more than ever before. That’s why retreats that focus on emotional wellness and stress recovery are growing.

Some of our favourites include the 4-day mental fitness retreat for men by The Fly Program, the 3-day Stress Less Yoga Retreat by Thrive Retreats and Billabong Retreat’s 2-night Stress Relief Retreat.

At Well Traveller, we’ve always believed in the power of wellness travel to transform, restore and heal. Imagine if there was one place you could turn to for a comprehensive directory of the best wellness retreats, bathhouses, spas, glamping escapes, traditional medicine practitioners, and more.

Ahem. You’re on it right now.

Whether you’re craving a hot spring soak under the stars, a sleep retreat that resets your nervous system or a long weekend that’s all breathwork and forest walks, we’ve done the legwork so you can simply arrive and exhale. Because, at the end of the day, wellness isn’t something you tick off. It’s something you live. And your next trip might just be the beginning of something truly life-changing.

Start by asking yourself 'How do I want to feel'? Then click here.