8 ways to wellness

Need to reconnect, disconnect, unwind or energise? Feed your soul and awaken the senses on these wellness experiences with a Tasmanian twist.

From forest bathing in ancient rainforests, soaking in a floating sauna and seeking sanctuary in nature, to practicing art (or the art of doing nothing), Tasmania’s pure air, fresh waters and wild places offer many ways to wellness.

1. Forest bathe in World Heritage wilderness

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe in the scent of leatherwood and tune in to the burbling waters of Tasmania’s fabled Franklin River on the easy Franklin River Nature Trail, one of the island’s 60 Great Short Walks. Fill up your lungs – this is some of the purest air on the planet.

For total forest immersion, awaken your senses on a four-day Tarkine Rainforest Walk with Tarkine Trails amidst the raw beauty of Tasmania’s north west. Venture deep into the primeval cool-climate wilderness of takayna / Tarkine and let one of the last wild places on Earth work its mossy magic.

2. Forage and feast mindfully

Here, food miles are low and the rhythm is slow. Join a forest food foray with Sirocco South near Hobart to enjoy the simple pleasures of foraging, tasting and learning how to identify some of Tasmania’s edible delights. Depending on the season, native greens, earthy mushrooms, wild asparagus and salt bush are all on mother nature’s Tasmanian menu.

Relax into a languid six-course lunch to savour the flavours of your hand-sourced fare, paired with local meat, ocean-fresh seafood and award-winning Bream Creek Vineyard wines.

3. Immerse in palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) culture

Stretch your body and mind – but at a leisurely pace, and experience connection to Country on wukalina Walk, a four-day palawa-led tour unlike any other in the state.

See the natural beauty of east-coast Tasmania with new eyes as you’re guided along one of Australia’s most beautiful coastlines; from humble wukalina / Mount William to the vibrant bays, beaches and lichen-covered boulders of larapuna / Bay of Fires area. Authentic cultural activities – shared storytelling, kelp basket-making and bush-tucker tasting – invite deeper understanding and appreciation of palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) culture, leaving you connected and grounded.

4. Nurture your creative side 

Foster your creativity on an art retreat amongst the bucolic farmland of north-east Tasmania, near Derby.

Focus your mind and flex your fingers on a botanical drawing retreat at eco-friendly Tin Dragon Trail Cottages. This alpaca farm also offers fluff-filled farm days using their mini-mill to spin alpaca fleece.

Let your imagination flow on a fast and loose oil and acrylic landscape painting experience with Enclave, a dedicated artist retreat hosting  workshops led by renowned local artists. Settle into the light-filled studio or seek al fresco inspiration from the palette of rural panoramas on your doorstep.

5. Perfect the art of doing nothing

Set your phone to do-not-disturb and head to Camp Nowhere  in the Central Highlands to re-learn the lost art of doing nothing. This simple fisherman’s shack has been transformed into a snuggly off-grid retreat, enticing you to unplug and unwind.

What does doing nothing look like to you? Perhaps a soak in the bath, lounging with a good book, a saunter to the shores of yingina / Great Lake, or a lazy wine by a crackling fire as you watch the wildlife. With the World Heritage Central Plateau at your doorstep, you can do as little or as much as you like.

6. Soothe and soak on a sauna boat

Embrace the timeless Scandinavian tradition of relaxation aboard a bespoke floating sauna in the alluring D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

Floating serenely in Kettering’s scenic harbour, Sauna Boat Tasmania welcomes you into its timbered interior to cleanse body and mind. Whether you’ve come to sweat out the stresses of modern life, plunge into the Channel’s invigorating waters, or simply soak in the floor-to-ceiling views of Bruny Island, you’re sure to leave relaxed and rejuvenated.

Wallow in the feel-good fuzziness of wood-fired Kuuma Nature Sauna set on a pontoon boat in North West Bay. Let your mind drift as you cruise the coast before a cool-water plunge for a full-body reset.

7. Seek sanctuary in nature

Do you yearn to immerse in nature without giving up life’s creature comforts? Balance quiet contemplation with a dash of indulgence at Swan River Sanctuary, an off-grid luxury lodge in the heart of Tasmania’s east coast wine region.

By day, the Swan River draws you to its banks to slow down, float, soak or paddle in its tranquil waters – an antidote to life’s bustle. Steep in the riverside sauna or treat yourself to a massage. The wide-open spaces encourage sundowners and stargazing to ponder the mysteries of the Milky Way – and maybe an aurora – with a glass of local cool-climate wine.

8. Disconnect on an island, off an island, off an island…

Create the cosy feeling that comes from total isolation on a tiny-island escape at Faraway on Flinders.

Nestled in private gardens on the southern coastline of Flinders Island, this house is designed with comfort in mind. We’re talking plush lounges and picture windows, secret nooks for reading books, gatherings around the gourmet kitchen and laidback lunches in the courtyard – complete with woodfired oven, barbeque, and fire pit.

Create memories with your closest crew: amble along the beach, stargaze from the balcony or grab the fishing gear and cast your line down at Lady Barron wharf. Although you’re far away, you’ll feel right at home.