9 ways to embrace slow travel for a truly refreshing break

Featuring everything from off-grid shacks and luxurious glamping spots to architecturally designed cabins, new book Life Unhurried calls for a slower, more sustainable way of living and travelling. Here, its authors share tips on how to really switch off.

Ready to take it slow? Congratulations! Booking a Slow Stay is the first step in the right direction when it comes to embracing slow travel. How you actually spend your time while there, however, can be a challenge – especially if you’re not used to sitting still or being untethered from technology for more than five minutes.

It might seem ludicrous but the truth is, doing nothing can actually be much harder than churning through a to-do list.

The trick is in being able to switch your focus to quality experiences over quantity, and allowing yourself to savour languid hours and minutes rather than just counting them. Slowing down is a choice, one you can make a little easier by using these tips while you’re away.

1. Switch off your phone (don’t just put it on silent)

Here’s a reality check: the average Aussie spends five and a half hours per day on their phone. We wake to our devices, we spend most of the day on them and then, come night-time, we still can’t stop scrolling (even as the TV blares in the background).

It’s tempting to have your phone with you at all times, but the act of switching it off and putting it out of sight allows spaciousness to return. Days feel longer. Itchy scrolling fingers eventually relax. And you can marvel at the sunset without worrying about capturing it for your Insta stories.

If you can’t bear to go a day without photos, take a camera, but ask yourself what that photo will take you away from experiencing right now, in the moment – the moment you travelled to experience.

Woman looking at sunset through trees — Stare at a sunset instead of a screen.

2. Leave the laptop at home

No matter how innocent your intentions, if you take your laptop with you, you’re inviting work leakages. Checking emails can wreak havoc on your brainspace for the entire duration of your stay, even if you don’t reply.

Freaking out about the fact your shack doesn’t have wi-fi? Or a TV? Instead of feeling like you can’t possibly go without Netflix, think about what you might gain instead – deeper conversations, time to look up at the stars or into the fire, and delicious deep sleep.

Campfire by lake at dusk — Forget the laptop and spend time soaking up your surroundings.

3. Pack that book you’ve been meaning to read

Even if you consider yourself an avid reader, in ‘real life’ it can be hard to find time to disappear into a book. Pack something you’re really keen to read or choose something from the shelves of your Slow Stay and remember the joy of reading without an agenda.

4. Set aside time to simply sit

It’s a daunting prospect, doing nothing. As the late spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh said in his book Planting Seeds, being content with not doing anything is a very deep practice: ‘We all have an energy within us that constantly pushes us to do this or that … If we aren’t doing something, we can’t stand it.’

Start small by sitting in compact spaces of time. Use that time to listen, look, observe. What do you notice? How does it make you feel? Questions will naturally bubble up. And you’ll be amazed at the answers you find in the emptiness.

Inside the lounge area of Aframe Kangaroo Valley, NSW — Find a spot to get comfy and observe the outside world. (Image: Aframe Kangaroo Valley, NSW; Courtesy of Life Unhurried)

5. Cook and eat mindfully

When you’re tucked away in a cabin in the bush, you can’t simply head out for dinner or order delivery on your phone. But far from being a burden, the need to cook your own meals can serve as a wonderful gateway to practise mindfulness without realising it.

Cooking bacon over coals — Enjoy the ritual of cooking.

Notice the scent as you chop fresh herbs, admire the colour and shapes of the vegetables – perhaps you even picked them from the garden. Sip your wine, listen to music and prepare a simple meal. As you eat, sitting at the table, chew slowly, enjoy the conversation and take note of all your senses.

A cheese platter at Upland Farm Denmark WA — Embrace eating mindfully on holiday. (Image: Upland Farm, WA; Hannah Puechmarin)

6. Try forest bathing

The benefits of connecting with nature have been well documented. In Japan they call it shinrin-yoku – ‘forest bathing’ – and it has been proven to reduce blood pressure, improve concentration and memory, and even boost the immune system.

With many of us living in urban environments and spending so much time indoors, nature dosing while on holidays isn’t just an enjoyable way to spend your time and explore the local area, it’s preventative medicine.

Cows at Upland Farm, WA; Hannah Puechmarin — Get outside and explore your surroundings. ((Image: Upland Farm, WA; Hannah Puechmarin)

7. Practise self-care

‘I’m too busy for self-care’ is the line you tell yourself back home. But here there is time. Stash self-care items in your duffel bag – sheet masks, bath salts, body oil – and enjoy the simple pleasure of anointing yourself. Meditate (try an app like Headspace if you’re new to the practice). Crack open a fresh journal and write a list of things you’re grateful for.

Inside the bathroom at Upland Farm, WA — Take the opportunity to practise self-care. (Image: Upland Farm, WA; Hannah Puechmarin)

8. Appreciate the rituals

There’s a wonderful Buddhist saying along the lines of, ‘Wash the dishes like you were giving the baby Buddha a bath’. It’s about embracing sacredness in the small acts we whiz through in everyday life.

Acts of ritual are embedded in many of the Slow Stays we’ve featured in Life Unhurried. Use the opportunities provided to relish in lighting a fire, playing a vinyl record, picking herbs from the garden, slathering homemade jam on your toast and slowly brewing your morning coffee or tea. In doing so, you can turn the mundane into some of the most memorable moments of the trip.

Find acts of ritual embedded in many of the Slow Stays featured in Life Unhurried by Celeste Mitchell, Katie Gannon and Krista Eppelstun.

9. Reflect when you return home

Don’t let life drag you back into hurriedness when you check out. Find space at home to reflect on your stay, journal about your experience and talk about it over coffee with friends.

In the same way that the anticipation of a holiday can be almost as intoxicating as the experience itself, so too can the reflection.

This is an edited extract from Life Unhurried by Celeste Mitchell, Katie Gannon and Krista Eppelstun published by Hardie Grant Explore. Available 7 September; RRP $50.

Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

Where to stay

Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart . Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles . Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart. — Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

1. Bruny Island

Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked . Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island. — Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

2. Mount Wellington

At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington — Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

2. Port Arthur

Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area. — Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

3. Launceston

You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo , for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary . This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart. — Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.

Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart. — Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .