Try a little nature therapy amid Victoria’s verdant parks, gardens, arboretums and forests. Based on the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is about taking time to slowly and mindfully appreciate our incredible natural surrounds – no water required.
Unplug from your devices and destress by reconnecting with nature. Wander beneath ancient forest canopy with lush ferns at your ankles. Place a palm against a majestic tree trunk and breathe in deeply. Take a picnic, or simply spread a blanket and lie back in the dappled forest light. Listen to birdsong, inhale the scent of ti tree and eucalypt, and witness nature's vivd colours change with the seasons.
Prolong your restful state with a stay overnight among the trees. Luxury spots offer spas, so you can indulge in some literal bathing too, with views over peaceful landscapes.
It’s easy to regain some inner balance among the many quiet forest spaces on Melbourne's doorstep.