A gentle guide to starting the year

WITH the rush of the festive season easing, the start of the year offers space to slow the pace and reflect on what’s needed to feel well. Increasingly, that means prioritising practices that support both body and mind.

Across Geelong and the Surf Coast, a growing number of wellness spaces are offering places to pause — whether through water therapy, breathwork, flotation or indulgent spa treatments.

From coastal bathhouses to inner-city studios, these five wellness hotspots offer thoughtful ways to ease into the year ahead.

About Time, Torquay

If the new year calls for slowing down, About Time delivers a deeply restorative escape on the Surf Coast. The region’s first bathhouse blends magnesium pools, saunas, cold plunges and tailored treatments, drawing on ancient bathing traditions to help visitors reset, reconnect and make time for themselves.

The Breath Bar, Geelong

A project of hospitality veteran Gorge Camorra, The Breath Bar centres on breathwork and cold therapy. The Malop Street studio offers guided sessions designed to calm the nervous system, build resilience and create practical tools that support everyday wellbeing long after the session ends.

Lon Retreat and Spa, Point Lonsdale

An award-winning coastal sanctuary, Lon Retreat and Spa offers a restorative escape overlooking ocean, lighthouse and farmland. Mineral-fed soaking tubs, steam rooms and holistic treatments draw on natural springs beneath the property, encouraging guests to slow down and reconnect through thoughtfully curated wellness rituals.

The Wellness Studio, Belmont

For complete mental and physical restoration, The Wellness Studio’s flotation tanks offer deep, uninterrupted calm. Floating effortlessly in warm, mineral-rich water allows the body to recover while the mind switches off. Paired with saunas, ice baths and salt therapy, it’s a practical way to prioritise self-care.

Saltair Spa, Torquay

A long-time Surf Coast favourite, Saltair Spa remains a go-to for indulgent, results-driven relaxation. Known for its serene setting and consistently high ratings, the Torquay day spa offers massages, facials and body rituals designed to restore balance, release tension and ease visitors gently into the year ahead.