From practising mindfulness in Sydney and stretching out on a yoga retreat in Byron Bay to rejuvenating retreats in wine country and immersing in incredible natural beauty all across the state, here's how to rest, reset and recharge via a wellness-focused holiday in New South Wales.

Seek out wellness experiences in Sydney

There are plenty of ways to reconnect with yourself and support your wellbeing in Sydney. You may want to treat yourself to a full-body massage at Capella Sydney's serene Auriga Spa – you'll walk away from the centrally located luxury hotel with a welcome inner glow.

Restore your sense of balance as you stretch out on a buoyant board anchored off the beach at Rose Bay during a memorable session of Aqua Sculpt Floating Pilates. Or feel at one with the ocean as you forage for edible seaweeds and coastal wild food with educator Diego Bonetto – during a three-hour workshop you'll roam the coastline from Gordons Bay to Clovelly in the city's east. 

Weave your way into a state of mindfulness via a macramé-making session at Little Lane Workshops in the Northern Beaches suburb of Warriewood. Or lose yourself in the music as you take a dance class at Sydney Dance Company's harbourside Wharf Studios in the Walsh Bay arts precinct. 

As night falls, feed body and soul when you attend a Pay It Forward Dinner on a Wednesday or Thursday evening at Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney in Surry Hills – for every dinner served, the food charity provides a tasty lunch to at least four people in need.

Bliss out in Byron Bay

You'll be spoilt for choice of life-affirming activities in Byron Bay, the wellness capital of northern NSW. 

Still your mind during a five-night or seven-night residential retreat at Byron Yoga Centre, a few minutes' drive from the town centre. Or opt for the centre's bed-and-breakfast package and add on yoga, massage and sauna sessions to suit your mood and your body's needs. 

Dive under the breaking waves and revel in the sense of freedom your surfboard brings during a private two-hour lesson with Byron Bay's Soul Surf School. Or watch from the shore as local surfers effortlessly catch waves while you follow Bundjalung woman Delta Kay of Explore Byron Bay on an inspiring Walgun Cape Byron Aboriginal Tour. 

Synch with nature as you sample bush tucker on a complimentary ranger-guided walk through Elements of Byron's native forest and wetlands when you stay the luxury resort just north of the town centre.

Or base yourself at Sugar Beach Ranch in nearby Ballina, which offers bungalow and camping stays as well as extraordinary encounters with its horses. Experience the unique dynamic between horse and human during an equine therapy session – a powerful tool for healing and enhancing your emotional intelligence.

Relax in a river town

Lean into the laid-back vibe of Coffs Harbour, a 2.5-hour drive south of Byron Bay on the NSW North Coast, as you relax and rejuvenate in an idyllic setting. Drop in for a yoga or Pilates session, or simply enjoy a tension-melting massage, at the welcoming Shala Wellness centre. 

For something more adventurous try OzFoiling, a low-impact, water-based wellness experience where you glide above the river on an electric hydrofoil board. It's a graceful, fun-filled way to connect with nature and develop a fun new skill.  

Look forward to lazy days by the beach when you stay in town, or base yourself in the charming hinterland hub of Bellingen, around a 30-minute drive away from Coffs Harbour. 

Book a tiny house or a glamping tent at Levenvale Farm, a certified organic cattle farm outside of Bellingen, and feel yourself unwind as you drink in the rainforest and farmland views. Or enjoy a classic country escape at The Lodge Bellingen and ease tired muscles in the heated magnesium spa. 

Wind down in wine country

Discover unique wellness stays among the vineyards in the Hunter Valley, a two-hour drive north of Sydney. Check into one of The Wellness Farm's lovely villas, cottage or homestead, enjoy a private massage or even an intravenous vitamin infusion in the comfort of your own room, then relax as Pokolbin's Stay n' Sip brings a wine-tasting experience to your door. 

Sleep deeply in your spacious suite at Elysia Wellness Retreat in Pokolbin on a casual stay or as part of an all-inclusive retreat. Opt for the retreat and spend days soaking up knowledge in wellness seminars, doing breath work and tai chi or simply enjoying spa treatments in between nourishing meals. 

Linger in the valley on your last day and head over to Margan winery in Broke for a Garden Tour & Dine tour of the vineyard and its one-hectare kitchen garden. Here you'll learn about the estate's regenerative farming and sustainability credentials before savouring a farm-to-table tasting menu at its renowned Margan Restaurant.

Challenge yourself in the mountains

Surround yourself with the sublime in Blue Mountains west of Sydney and you'll return home feeling on top of the world. See a different side of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park as you abseil down dramatic gorges on a private canyoning adventure with Blue Mountains Climbing School, or hike through spectacular scenery on a Grand Canyon Walk with Tread Lightly Eco Tours. 

Reward yourself for your efforts and stretch out aching calf muscles with a luxe treatment at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains MGallery's Ubika Day Spa outside of Leura.

And make sure to schedule in a low-intensity day of grazing on nourishing food at villages across the mountains before taking inspiration from a one-on-one art class with an experienced art educator at Creative Abyss, in the lower Blue Mountains suburb of Winmalee. 

Nourish yourself in Mudgee

Find relaxed vibes among the vines in the wine region of Mudgee, a scenic 3.5-hour drive from Sydney, or two hours from the Blue Mountains. 

Relish the sense of seclusion you'll experience when you check into a luxe eco-tent and slip into your outdoor bathtub at Sierra Escape, around a 20 minute drive outside of the Mudgee town centre. 

Freshen up and head out for a delicious meal of organic and biodynamic fare at The Zin House restaurant at the nearby Lowe wine estate. Or book ahead to enjoy Indigiearth's Warakirri Dining Experience, where Ngemba Weilwan woman and chef Sharon Winsor guides you through a five-course degustation celebrating Aboriginal cuisine and native bush foods. 

Sweat out toxins in an infrared sauna or chill out in an ice bath at Mudgee wellness centre Sense of Solis, or follow an infrared sauna with a private float session in magnesium-rich water at The Clairfield Hotel's Jila Wellness.

Then embrace the natural beauty of the region on foot as you tackle The Drip walking track in Goulburn River National Park, or glide through the Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp in Wollemi National Park with Southern Cross Kayaking. 

Slow down on the South Coast

You'll find welcoming sanctuaries all along the magical NSW South Coast, including in the stunning Jervis Bay area. Tune into the soundtrack of birdcall and you soak in a freestanding tub at your elevated tent at Paperbark Camp. Then prepare for a thrilling expedition with Woebegone Freedive, who'll take you snorkelling and swimming among resident fur seals and dolphins – and migrating whales in season – in the sheltered waters of Jervis Bay. 

Or head over to Life Centre Holistic Health and Wellness, around a 20-minute drive back towards the Princes Highway from Paperbark Camp, to expel toxins in the centre's infrared sauna or dry barrel sauna, find serenity via a breathwork session, or meditate within a magnesium-water float tank in a peaceful bushland setting. 

Recharge in Western Sydney  

Western Sydney offers a refreshing mix of nature, culture and wellness. Just 45 minutes from the Sydney CBD, Billabong Retreat is a tranquil sanctuary nestled in bushland, where you can unwind with yoga, meditation and locally-sourced organic wholefoods.  

For something a little more high-energy, head to URBNSURF Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park. It is Sydney's first urban surf park, offering consistent, quality waves for surfers of all levels. Whether you're catching waves in the lagoon, relaxing in a cabana or enjoying a meal at RAFI or Sandy's, it's a dynamic wellness experience.  

Or, step into serenity at Moroccan Hammam in Parramatta. Moroccan Hammam is a women-only bathhouse offering traditional treatments including Moroccan beldi (black) soap, clay masks and massages in a space that transports you to the medina of Marrakesh.  

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