The ultimate wellness getaway in Brisbane
Has the daily grind been a little unkind? If the bustle of your day-to-day has you feeling knotted up, tense, overwhelmed or under the weather, it may be time you took a wellness getaway. Fortunately, Brisbane is brimming with wellness-boosting experiences, activities to bring you into the present moment, and nearby retreats where relaxation is the order of the day. We’ve rounded up where to unlock a new level of wellness in Brisbane and beyond. This is where to renew, refresh, destress and feel your best.
Restful retreats
If the idea of soaking in a spa surrounded by the sounds of nature at play hits the spot, slow down and soothe at these restful retreats, a short distance from Brisbane City.
O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat
Enveloped by the verdant beauty of World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat bestows a breath of fresh air, hot tubs to soak away your worries in and an immersive nature experience. Better yet, there’s an in-house day spa: Lost World Spa, where guests can try ‘vinotherapy,’ which harnesses the anti-aging properties of grapes from O’Reilly’s own Canungra Valley Vineyards, and no this doesn’t mean just drinking your favourite vino.
Beechmont Estate
A sophisticated stay in the heart of Brisbane’s Hinterland, Beechmont Estate presents an idyllic destination for unwinding at its spa, enjoying nutritious meals and getting back to the roots of nature. Enjoy a hot stone massage at Spa by Hazlewood, luxuriate in your five-star lodgings and enjoy the view.
Spicers Hidden Vale
Explore the great outdoors by foot or mountain bike, sweat it out in a sauna, , meet koalas, relax at the on-site day spa, sleep in the sophisticated surrounds of Spicers Hidden Vale and wake up to the sounds of birdsong with a view that’ll have you feeling renewed at once.
Pethers Rainforest Retreat
Cast yourself away to treehouse accommodation and bathe your senses in the greenery at Pethers Rainforest Retreat. Each of the ten treehouses has a private spa, and you can book a range of pampering treatments or massages to enjoy in your one of a kind, lush treehouse.
The Tamborine
Brisbane’s newest hinterland escape, The Tamborine is a gorgeous boutique hotel nestled in the tranquillity of Tamborine Mountain surrounded by lush rainforest, stunning stretches of hinterland walks and enchanting waterfalls. Newly renovated with muted tones, cosy bedding and an inviting pool with scenic views, you’ll feel zen from the moment you arrive.
Tamborine Mountain Glades
Whisk yourself away to Tamborine Mountain Glades and soak under the stars at their lush hinterland glamping tent complete with private plunge pool where you can watch the sky's sunset hues fade to navy speckled with twinkling stars.
Seize the day (spas) in Brisbane
Enhance your wellnessat one of the Brisbane's best zen-inducing day spas. From hinterland relaxation to urban utopias – there's plenty of wellness escapes to choose from in Brisbane. Visit one of these city locales, where your relaxation and peace are the staff’s only priority...
AWAY® Spa at W Brisbane
Ease the tension at W Brisbane’s AWAY® Spa with massages, steam and sauna rooms, mineral-rich vitality pools, beauty treatments, and more. Or, take time out with a refreshing beverage in one of the spa’s private pods with a river view – to a soundtrack of expertly curated music. To complete the feeling of a relaxing getting away, book a weekend away at W Brisbane.
Kailo Wellness Medispa at The Calile Hotel
All wellness bases are covered at Kailo Wellness Medispa, from energy healing to vitamin therapy, and from cosmetic treatments to physiotherapy sessions. Whether you’re in need of a massage, or an immune boost, this is your one-stop feel-good shop – conveniently located inside one of Brisbane’s most well-known hotels, The Calile.
Stephanies Spa Retreat at Sofitel Brisbane Central
Did somebody order a full-body feeling of bliss? At French-inspired Stephanies Spa Retreat in the Sofitel Brisbane Central, you’ll find all the hallmarks of a luxury spa – and then some. The Opal Rasul Temple is a steam room experience that brings together mineral-rich mud masks and steam, alongside ambient lighting that guides guests on a meditative experience. Visitors can also sample the treatments at Stephanies Urban Spa in Bulimba and Stephanies Vintage Spa in Cleveland.
Soak Bathhouse West End
Having become a firm favourite go-to wellness hub since its opening, West End’s Soak Bathhouse may be in a central location, but it assures its guests feel a world away. Book a 90-minute session and enjoy hopping between spa baths, mineral baths, a cold plunge pool, a steam room and a sauna. Not ready for your session to end? Add on a signature spa treatment or massage.
Albion Bathhouse
Relax at Brisbane’s newest wellness haunt, Albion Bathhouse. From relaxing soaks to cold plunges, infrared saunas to steam rooms, this ultra-indulgent, moody venue makes is the epitome of luxe wellness experiences.
The Healing Stone at Emporium Hotel South Bank
Hidden in plain sight on the 21st floor of South Bank’s Emporium Hotel, The Healing Stone is a Japanese-inspired day spa that offers a range of relaxing treatments, including shiatsu massage and ganbanyoku (a thermal, hot-stone treatment). Visitors can also book packages that include access to the hotel’s sauna and pool, for a full five-star affair.
Make mindful moments
Having paid attention to your physical wellness at a retreat or day spa, it’s time to give your mind a moment of reprieve with a wellness break.
To promote mental wellness in Brisbane, why not take a leisurely tour of an art gallery? Take in an exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), take a walk along the Riverwalk and visit New Farm’s Brisbane Powerhouse before stopping to smell the roses at neighbouring New Farm Park, and check out West End’s thought-provoking Metro Arts.
Once you’ve taken in the artworks of some local galleries, try your hand at a mindful art activity.
At Mas & Miek Ceramic House (with studios at Newstead and Morningside), you can learn about the art of ceramic making. Then, at Newstead’s Brush and Barrel, Pinot & Picasso with multiple sites across Brisbane, and Cork & Chroma in South Brisbane, you can enjoy sipping wine while expressing your creativity by painting a masterpiece of your own.
The mindful moments don’t need to end there. Book a Brisbane City stay as part of your wellness getaway (might we suggest a luxury hotel with a rooftop pool to further propel your wellness journey?) and spend time exploring Brisbane’s many gardens and green spaces, including Roma Street Parkland and Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha.
Nourishing eats
From sustainable eats and drinks to ambient restaurants with riverside outlooks and relaxing al fresco dining with a welcoming hum of activity, there’s plenty of Brisbane venues to choose from on your wellness getaway.
For picturesque riverside dining, you can’t go passed the rooftop Fiume at Crystalbrook Vincent, officially labelling their menus with the climate calorie information so you can know where each food item is sourced. Dine at Patina at Customs House for unrivalled river views and an indulgent paddock-to-plate experience where you know the produce has been treated with the utmost care. For something more casual, but still sustainability-minded, Felix for Goodness serves up some of the most nourishing and unique brunches and lunches in Brisbane. Or feast on nourishing fare at one of the city’s most enticing healthy food outlets.
If al fresco dining with a pop of colour and relaxed vibes is more your style, opt for Sunshine. Their pay-by-weight system allows you to sample a bite, or a plate-full, or each of their delicious Mediterranean dishes. With refreshing drinks, yellow umbrellas and the perfect street-side vantage for people watching you’ll be prepared to spend the whole afternoon here or will be primed and ready to browse the boutique stores that line James Street.
For more relaxing, wellness-prompting ideas, try these sensory-friendly activities in Brisbane.
