Social Spas Are The Hottest Trend In Wellness Right Now

Day spas are moving away from “me time" to become social hubs in their own right, revealing a wider wellness trend that elevates connection to the ultimate act of self-care.

Spa with a bar

The reception desk at W Sydney’s Away Spa is decidedly different to most day spas – it’s a marble-topped bar shaped like a horseshoe with blue velvet stools inviting you to sit and unwind. This ‘Beauty Bar’ is a metaphor for what wellness is in 2024. It’s about treating your temple inside as well as out, while providing a platform for connection – much missing during the pandemic years.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, in the 2023 Global Wellness Trends Report: The Future of Wellness, social wellness was the leading trend, with a focus on nixing loneliness and offering experiences that serve as social icebreakers.

The bar inside AWAY Spa Bar — The marble-topped bar serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks a well as light bites.

With a menu of alcoholic and non-alcoholic tipples as well as light bites, at Away Spa you can mix manis with martinis, sitting in one of the curvaceous (and very Instagrammable) nail booths, or retire to the bar after a sauna, steam room and experience shower.

At The Spa at Salt on the Tweed coast in northern New South Wales, groups swap cafes catch ups for ‘Sip and Lounge’ sessions in their Elements lounge, enjoying an alcoholic beverage alongside the spa, sauna, LED light therapy, ice bath and zen room, where you can DIY yoga or breathwork.

SpaQ at QT Sydney is also seeing guests seeking a social sanctuary over solo treatments, which is why their Metamorphosis package includes lunch delivered from Parlour or Gowings to keep the wellness experience going all day.

SpaQT has crafted a Metamorphosis package that includes lunch to cater to the growing appetite for social spas that last all day.

Unknowingly pre-empting the trend, Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa introduced its Social Spa pre-pandemic in 2019. Designed for groups of up to four, the space allows you to reconnect over soothing stone therapy and massages.

Couple at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa — Reconnect in groups of up to four at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa.

Bathhouse vibes

Bathhouses are having a major moment in Australia, and these public soak and sweat sessions have become facilitators of moral support. Places for mum groups to unwind free of kids, or friends to treat someone dear to them going through difficult times. They’re also attracting more men – many who would have never considered going to a day spa.

Group gather for a spa at Sense of Self — Bathhouses are having a major moment in Australia right now.

“Bathhouses have existed for centuries and are a great means to go back to basics and embrace social well-being because it has never been more vital," says Melbourne’s Sense of Self owner and director, Freya Berwick, Freya Berwick.

Sense of Self co-founder Freya Berwick — Sense of Self owner and director, Freya Berwick, believes the desire for social well-being has seen bathhouses explode in popularity.

Whether visiting as a group or a solo bather seeking time-out with like-minded souls, guests at the calming Collingwood sanctuary can book a massage, opt for a self-led Sud & Mud kit to amplify the bathhouse experience, or simply enjoy two hours in the mineral bath, Finnish sauna, cold plunge and Hamman – all free of phones.

Sense of Self — The Collingwood bathhouse has a no-phone policy.

As well as providing an IRL social platform, bathhouses also make wellness more fun. At Tank Bathhouse in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast, guests come as much for the sauna and plunge rotations as the river cruise, tapas and cocktails. At The Banya in Mullumbimby, a monthly book club combines a dose of self-care with novel dissections over pots of herbal tea.

Aerial view of a group at Tank Bathhouse on the Sunshine Coast — Tapas and cocktails are all part of the fun at Tank Bathhouse in Mooloolaba.

Sunrise swim community

Coffee, cards and an ocean dip at dawn is the recipe for wellness according to Generation SPF . The sunrise swim community, which gathers near Noosa every Wednesday, was founded with the pure purpose of connection. Feeling increasingly isolated while working from home and inspired by Perth’s Cold Nips , entrepreneur Lolita Daskalu-Glover and her partner, photographer Alex Van Kampen, started the group in search of “those everyday stranger interactions".

Members of Generation SPF in Noosa go for a sunrise swim — Generation SPF was founded with the pure purpose of fostering connection. (Image: Alex Van Kampen)

“It’s been two years now and each week we get around 50-100 people," says Lolita, adding that at least 80 per cent stick around for the coffee and card games afterwards. Once a month they team the swim with guided breathwork and another week they do yoga. It’s even drawing wellness seekers from Brisbane and travellers from interstate.

“So many people each week say they specifically plan their trip to Noosa to come to our swim," she says. “The common thread is they [participants] just want to meet new people and it’s such a nice way to start your morning."

Generation SPF T-Shirts — Coffee, cards and an ocean dip are all part of the morning routine.

Will run for food

During peak Covid, a new breed of running club emerged – social groups, less focused on PBs or training for a marathon. Great for those who have moved to a new town, they even offer up delicious incentives. In various parts of the country, you can run for rewards in the form of croissants , gelato, a beer, or even a steak at the pub .

Unfit Rub Club was founded in September 2020 by Cory Wittleton, who, as a boutique courier company owner, wanted to help his cafe clients who saw their businesses dry up. Now Unfit Run Clubs in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Sydney attract up to 900 people each week.

The Unfit Run Club rewards participants with delicious incentives. (Image: mbark)

“The beer runs are the most popular at the moment," says Cory who credits the relaxed nature of the events as their biggest drawcard. He admits fostering connections between runners was never his first goal but one that’s happened organically. “We see all these WhatsApp groups and people going to each other’s weddings and all sorts," he says. “It blows my mind."

Unfit Run Club in Noosa — Unfit Run Clubs have popped up all over Australia.

Given it’s been proven that positive relationships keep us happier and healthier, and even live longer, a run to the pub or a drink in a day spa could just be the best thing you do for yourself this year.

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.

Social spas are the hottest trend in wellness right now, here’s why…