Quietcations in NSW: off-grid stays, silent retreats & more

A quietcation means escaping the busy and embracing the slow. Across NSW, find silent retreats, indulgent day spas, remote areas of wilderness, off-grid stays, quiet fishing spots, hikes through pristine nature and more.

Destination NSW

May 2025 -

min read

Escape to an off-grid stay in the wilderness

NSW is covered in dramatic and radically diverse scenery, and for every mountain backdrop, bucolic paddock and coastline there’s a cabin with a view and an invitation to zone out. If not a hut, find peace in a chic glamping set up, a tiny home where you decide how much phone reception you want or an off-grid retreat that could be surrounded by snow, sheep, water, mountains, bush or a mix of the above.

Sierra Escape, Mudgee

Zone out at a wellness retreat

Wellness is different for everyone. To you, wellness could mean yoga workshops followed by sound healing or it could mean soothing massages and sauna sessions. With luxury retreats on secluded tropical islands, all-female pop-ups, multi-day immersions and silent retreats in the mountains, NSW’s wellness retreats answer almost any need.

The Luna Room at Heart and Soul Retreats, Otford

Heart and Soul Retreats, Otford - Credit: Heart and Soul Retreats

Feel like a tiny speck in the universe at a remote natural wonder

Almost every traveller in the state knows the Three Sisters, but take an extra minute to find the state’s more remote, hidden drawcards and reward yourself with quiet while you wonder at a rock formation that looks like the spine of a great monster, a night sky so star-filled it’s internationally recognised and forests with flora that dates back to the dinosaur era.

Scenic drive into Warrumbungle National Park with views through to Belougery Split Rock.

Warrumbungle National Park, Coonabarabran

Find quiet luxury in a day spa

Imagine the hands of a masseuse loosening the knots in your shoulder while you look onto an ocean view framed by the greens of a rainforest, picture yourself in a traditional Japanese bathhouse on the edge of the Blue Mountains or dream about a rejuvenating treatment that makes you feel like you were born yesterday. NSW is dotted with luxurious, spiritual and holistic spa experiences, you just need to decide which one is for you.

Crystalbrook Byron, Byron Bay

Recreate the spa experience in nature

While NSW cities and towns host all manner of luxury spas, nature has been providing spa experiences since humans have been on earth, and many are free or at a fraction of the cost of a traditional spa session. Bathe in a spectacular ocean pool (take your time to find one of the quieter spots); soak in the sounds, sights and misty air around a waterfall (some provide secluded swimming spots); or relax in the warm, winter waters of a thermal pool or hot spring.

Yamba Ocean Pool, Yamba

Just you, your fishing rod, the river and the bush

There are few things more silent, meditative and relaxing than sitting by the water with a line in and no deadline on the horizon. If it’s just about the art of sitting and being surrounded by the bush, then nab a licence and find the nearest estuary that makes you happy. Otherwise, plan a trip for the Snowy Mountains, Bega River, Blue Mountains, Lake Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, The Murray and Lake St Clair for waters with good catches, or try one of the state’s many beautiful beaches for a picturesque day with your reel.

Boats cruising along the Coolongolook River at Wallis Lake, Forster

Wallis Lake, Forster - Credit: Dog Whistle

Walk a trail that feels a million miles from human settlement

From a four-kilometre track along the Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay walk to 57 kilometres of urban detox on the epic Snowies Alpine Walk, NSW has every kind of walk a quietcation traveller could need. Find options for dog-friendly hikes, coastal journeys and multi-day hikes (both self-guided and guided).

Man enjoying views of the sunset near Hanging Rock, Blackheath - Credit: Tyson Mayr

Wash away your worries underwater

One of the easiest, stress-free ways to shut off all the sounds of the city, the workplace and your mind is to be underwater, where the only soundscape is the whispers of the waves and their residents. NSW is full of lively snorkel spots where you can meet turtles, seals, tropical fish, sharks (the harmless variety), rays, coral and more.

Dive Jervis Bay, Jervis Bay - Credit: Jordan Robins

Find a portion of earth all to yourself and your tent

A little bit of extra driving, walking or searching and you’ll find yourself with a patch of nature hardly any other humans know about. Set up your tent, enjoy the views and you’ll find plenty of beings that do know about it, they’re just covered in fur or feathers.

Read more: 18 secret camping spots in NSW

Broughton Island Campground - Credit: John Spencer | DCCEEW

Retreat from the city and everyone else

Solo travel gives unique opportunities for self-discovery, meditative journeys and exploration of the outdoors. NSW offers myriad experiences, adventurous and peaceful, for solo travellers to find themselves or something they’ve never encountered before.