Travel is changing. Australians are travelling more mindfully, with health and wellness at the heart of their journeys. No longer satisfied with just lying by the pool, travellers are seeking experiences that leave them energised, grounded, and renewed long after they’ve returned home. From longevity retreats to wellness cruises, here are the five big trends shaping the way we travel for wellness in 2025.
Longevity and Health-Optimising Retreats
The quest for a longer, healthier life is making its way into the travel space. Wellness holidays are no longer just about spa treatments or yoga classes, they’re about science-backed, health-optimising programs designed to help you live better for longer. Think advanced diagnostic testing, biohacking therapies, red-light treatments, and even stem-cell support in some destinations.
In Europe and Asia, luxury wellness resorts are already combining cutting-edge science with traditional healing. Closer to home, Australians are exploring places like Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat (QLD) and Eden Health Retreat (NSW), which offer holistic programs addressing stress, sleep, and nutrition, helping guests build healthier habits with longevity in mind.
For Australians, this trend reflects a cultural shift: we’re investing in travel that not only feels good but supports long-term wellbeing.
Personalised Wellness Journeys
Gone are the days of cookie-cutter spa menus. Travellers now expect their wellness experiences to be tailored to their unique needs. Using tools like DNA testing, sleep tracking, and stress profiling, wellness resorts are offering personalised itineraries – no two guests receive the same program.
Luxury retreats across Asia-Pacific, including Chiva-Som in Thailand and Kamalaya in Koh Samui, are already leading in this space. You’ll find programs personalised right down to what’s on your plate (nutrient-dense meals designed for your metabolic type) and the treatments you receive.
Australians are responding particularly well to this trend, as we’re increasingly comfortable with wearable tech, health data, and evidence-based recommendations. Whether it’s tailored nutrition plans, customised fitness regimes, or even a bespoke meditation practice, personalisation is becoming the norm.
Silence, Slow Travel and the Rise of “Calmcations”
The noise of modern life is relentless, and Aussies are craving spaces to disconnect. Enter the “calmcation” – holidays designed around stillness, silence, and slowness. These trips are less about ticking off sightseeing lists and more about savouring simple moments: forest bathing, journaling, meditative walks, and digital detoxes.
Tiny house stays in regional Australia, like Heyscape in WA or Unyoked cabins scattered across NSW and VIC, offer the perfect antidote- remote locations, no Wi-Fi, and nothing but the sounds of nature. Internationally, silent retreats in Bali and India are attracting Australians who want a deeper spiritual reset.
This trend plays beautifully into our love of the outdoors. Whether it’s escaping to the bush, the beach, or the mountains, Aussies are embracing the idea that true luxury might just be silence.
Fitness-Forward and Mental-Health Boosting Escapes
For many Australians, movement is medicine, and travel is becoming an extension of that belief. Wellness holidays are increasingly fitness-forward – think guided hikes, surf retreats, reformer Pilates intensives, or multi-day yoga immersions – paired with programs that also support mental health.
We’re also seeing shorter, purpose-driven escapes growing in popularity. These “Holisti-Days” or “Efficient Escapism” trips are designed for busy professionals who want the benefits of a wellness break without needing weeks off work. A three-night program with daily fitness sessions, mindfulness practices, and healthy food can deliver the same reset as a longer stay.
For Australians, this fits neatly into our lifestyle – we value being active outdoors, and we’re more aware than ever of the connection between physical and mental health. From wellness weekends in Byron Bay to week-long hikes in Tasmania, fitness is a central part of the wellness travel movement.
Ocean Wellness at Sea – Explora Journeys
Cruising is being reimagined. No longer just about buffets and entertainment, luxury cruise lines are now curating wellness retreats at sea – and Explora Journeys is leading the charge.
From October to November 2025, Explora I and Explora II will host Ocean Wellness Retreats during their longer Grand Voyages. Guests can choose one- or two-day immersive programs with names like Step Into Serenity and The Depths of Exploration.
Expect sunrise yoga overlooking the horizon, pranayama breathing, sound healing, moonlit gong baths, and guided reflections – all framed by the rhythm of the ocean. These programs blend Eastern and Western traditions, offering a holistic reset designed to nurture body, mind, and spirit.
For Australians, the appeal is obvious. Cruises often leave directly from our shores, making them an accessible way to combine luxury travel with deep wellness experiences. Onboard, everything is taken care of, giving guests permission to truly disconnect and immerse themselves in self-care.
Why These Wellness Trends Matter
What unites these trends is a shift in mindset: Australians no longer see holidays as a chance to overindulge and recover later. Instead, travel is becoming an investment in health – a time to reset, learn, and adopt habits that enrich our everyday lives.
From the silence of a tiny cabin in the bush to the vast openness of the ocean aboard Explora Journeys, wellness travel in 2025 is about more than where you go. It’s about who you become along the way.
Written by Kris Abbey. Follow Kris’s journeys HERE.
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