It’s official: Australia has been named the world’s top wellness travel destination.
According to a recent Global Wellness Institute Wellness Survey (2025), Australia beat out the likes of Bali, Japan. New Zealand and Switzerland to take home the crowning glory of being the most desirable wellness location.
When you consider the vast array of natural wonders and the booming health and wellness business sector, it will come as little surprise to many who have been leaning into the delights of Australia’s wellness offering.
Wellness tourism drives revenue.
The business of wellness tourism is on the rise and for those who can buy into it are making bank. According to stats from the Global Wellness Institute, Australia’s wellness tourism sector is valued at around $43 billion with Destination NSW figures showing that in 2025 New South Wales contributed around $60.4 billion in visitor expenditure.
There’s a lot to love about travelling to New South Wales and more tourists are choosing pockets of the state to chill out, rest, relax, eat great food, explore nature and find their Zen.
Tweed emerges as top wellness destination in Australia.
Rising to the top of the New South Wales wellness tourism sector are many beautiful parts of the state including the Tweed region in the Northern Rivers. We asked Salt Property Management Business Development Manager Molly Oakshott why the Tweed has emerged as such a desirable wellness destination.
“I think some of the biggest drawcards of the Tweed region are its beautiful beaches and natural surroundings, the relaxed coastal lifestyle, the range of wellness retreats, spas, yoga and fitness experiences, as well as the access to healthy food and fresh local produce,” she said.
The Global Wellness Institute revealed the biggest factors that make a destination a desirable wellness tourist hotspot including wellness experiences, lodging, culinary offering, sports and rehabilitation retreats and natural experiences.
Lucky for those visiting the Tweed we have an abundance wellness opportunities for tourists to explore. When it comes to natural experiences we have the picturesque Borders Ranges National Park full of hikes and watering holes to marvel at and activities like the Salty Girls Surf School.
If you’re looking to pamper yourself look no further than Halcyon House wellness spa which draws in guests from all over the world to receive high-end luxury treatments followed by state-of-the-art hammam and cold plunge facilities. Down in the quaint town of Mullumbimby you’ll find The Banya Bathhouse which is home to marble tiled pool, two large hot mineral pools, a wood-fired sauna, a steam room and a cold plunge.
To nourish your body with high quality food, the Tweed offers tourists incredible culinary experiences like Potager, Tropical Fruit World, Farm & Co, Taverna, No 35, Pipit and Bistro Livi.
Another big player in the wellness tourism sector is the growing desire for sports and rehabilitation retreats for tourists wanting to test their bodies through meaningful movement. The Surfing Australia High Performance Centre offers guests the opportunity to come and take part in one of their world-renowned training retreats based in Casuarina.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, facilities like the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre give people niche access to expert-led recovery programs for professional athletes and everyday sports enthusiasts.
Lodging becomes the biggest economic generator in wellness tourism boom.
Interestingly, according to data from Grand View Research lodging is the largest segment of growth in the wellness tourism sector. Molly Oakshott from Salt Property Management says tourists are increasingly opting for short-term stays in the Tweed region thanks to the high standard of properties available for those looking to lean into wellness.
“When guests are choosing the right property for a short stay of 2–4 days, they are increasingly drawn to homes that offer additional wellness amenities such as saunas, pools and ice baths,” she says.
“These features can help a property stand out from the competition and become a deciding factor when guests are comparing accommodation options.”
If you’re looking to choose the Tweed for your next wellness holiday get in touch with the team from Salt Property Management to find the perfect accommodation for your needs.
