There’s no shortage of rejuvenating activities in Australia’s wellness capital, Byron Bay. Take a two-hour pre-dawn hike to Cape Byron Lighthouse and be the first to see the sun’s rays hit the mainland or drive 20 minutes to Lennox Head for a swim in the healing tea tree oil-infused waters of Lake Ainsworth. 

Serenity is assured with a stay at Crystalbrook Byron, a laid-back rainforest hideaway with treehouse-style rooms and a swimming pool hemmed by rattan four-poster daybeds and towering eucalypts. Set the alarm for a complimentary morning yoga class and salute the sun in Crystalbrook’s Lotus Garden during winter or on the verandah when the weather warms.

Take to two wheels to dive into the colonial history and thriving food and wine scene of Victoria’s north-east. Old Beechworth Gaol runs tours of the one-time home of bushranger Ned Kelly and rents e-bikes to take you further afield. Swing by the cellar door of Pennyweight winery to sample their apera (sherry) or venture out on the 100-kilometre Murray to Mountains Rail Trail with views of Mt Feathertop and Mt Hotham brooding magnificently overhead as you ride past the Australian Alps.  

Shuck off any saddle soreness at The Benev, a National Trust-listed former asylum turned luxury boutique hotel a five-minute drive from the town centre. Book a Wellness Suite and head straight for the deep stone tub and essential oils, herbs and salts for DIY pampering – or visit the spa where indulgent treatments include a hydrating cocoon wrap and wattle seed scrub.

Thousands of waterfalls add an extra layer of magic to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Highlights include the Grotto, hidden inside a mood-lit slot canyon at Centennial Glen – wear your bathers for an icy plunge in the natural rock pools – and Horseshoe Falls near Hazelbrook, where you can duck behind the curtain of water to explore a cave that twinkles with glow-worms by night. 

Just a 15-minute walk from Katoomba Falls and the famous Three Sisters rock formations is grand-dame hotel Lilianfels Resort & Spa, home to some of the region’s best views from its escarpment high above the Jamison Valley. Opulent interiors honour the homestead’s original DNA, while an indulgent high tea serves triple-tiered treats, including finger sandwiches and scones with jam and clotted cream.

When you book your hotel with Qantas Hotels, you’ll earn 3 Qantas Points for every $1 spent. Visit qantas.com/hotels

Whether it’s encountering echidnas and pademelon in the wild, eating briny-fresh oysters straight from the water or finding a deserted beach to call your own, this magnificent 170-square-kilometre protected wilderness on Tasmania’s east coast hits all the marks. Take to the Freycinet trails for postcard-ready sights, including the 1.5-hour return hike to Wineglass Bay Lookout, or book an on-water tour illuminating hidden sea caves, blowholes and waterfalls. 

Located within the national park on the edge of Great Oyster Bay, Freycinet Lodge sleeps guests in timber clifftop pavilions nestled into the landscape. Relax by the open fire at Hazards Bar & Lounge with a glass of Tasmanian cuvée before a dinnertime immersion into the region’s topnotch produce, including local oysters, scallops and abalone at The Bay Restaurant.

Pounding surf breaks, skyscraping karri forests and world-leading wineries have long been reasons to take the three-hour drive south of Perth; now Margaret River’s pumping food scene is an extra incentive to linger. Indulge in a long lunch overlooking the vines at Vasse Felix (the pairing of beef and tapioca with the estate’s acclaimed cabernet is as thrilling as the views), celebrate the Japanese art of frying at bustling tempura specialist Miki’s Open Kitchen and meet the region’s small-batch producers each Saturday at the Margaret River Farmers’ Market.  

Perched on a private lake, the elegant 22-room Cape Lodge has its own vineyard, the spoils of which can be tasted at sunset drinks each day. The lodge’s gastronomic lures include an award-winning restaurant and a sumptuous breakfast spread including house-baked sourdough and honey sourced from its own hives.

A sarong, a hat and sunglasses are all that’s needed to enjoy the unforgettable beaches and warm Coral Sea waters of this tropical north Queensland island chain. Stroll along seven kilometres of soft sand at Whitehaven Beach, marvel at the swirling turquoise colours that appear with the shifting tide at Hill Inlet and swim in the Heart Island lagoon (take a scenic helicopter flight for a birds’-eye view of the heart-shaped reef). 

Featuring Australia’s largest lagoon pool is InterContinental Hayman Island Resort. Book a one-bedroom Pool Access Suite on the private, luxury island and you’ll be footsteps from the man-made aquatic wonder, or borrow a kayak or paddleboard and glide along the calm waters of the Hayman Channel. 

When you book your hotel with Qantas Hotels, you’ll earn 3 Qantas Points for every $1 spent. Visit qantas.com/hotels

The winding, tree-lined roads of the Adelaide Hills are home to 50 cellar doors of all sizes and philosophies, whether that’s Shaw + Smith – book ahead for a tasting flight of the estate’s refined chardonnay – or the laid-back natural wine stylings of Ngeringa. And if gin’s your thing, Applewood Distillery is a must-visit thanks to its inventive use of native ingredients. 

A stay at the 14-suite stone and timber Sequoia Lodge offers guests the chance to taste benchmark South Australian wines while overlooking the Piccadilly Valley from the main lounge. When you’re done unwinding in the heated spring-fed infinity pool, ask the kitchen to whip up a picnic hamper as part of an all-inclusive package and enjoy it on the grounds or take a stroll through nearby Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens.

9 Off-the-grid Getaways That Will Help You Disconnect