Swap the treadmill for outback trails with a new breed of escape designed to leave even the most frazzled traveller feeling calmer and clearer, fast.

Imagine calming your mind while nurturing your body in some of Australia’s most scenic locations. That’s what a growing number of stressed-out travellers are doing thanks to ‘ecotherapy’ – in layman’s terms, the practice of consciously reconnecting to nature to optimise physical and mental wellbeing.

From the simple act of watching leaves fall while sitting in your local park to learning to breathe through the discomfort of a cold-water plunge, it looks different to every adventurer, depending on where you’re holidaying, how long you’re there and how much you have to spend.

To get you started, here are four of the best ecotherapy experiences to try throughout Australia. One serious dose of Zen, guaranteed.

Best for a digital detox

Purnululu National Park, WA

Putting your phone down while working out is easier said than done – it’s our portal to podcasts, online fitness classes and Spotify. That’s why escaping to somewhere remote, with a bunch of people to keep the conversation flowing, is the perfect antidote to the digital world. In Australia’s north-west, you can follow dry creek beds snaking between orange stone walls at Echidna Chasm, one of the best walking trails in the East Kimberley. Located in Purnululu National Park, famous for the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungle Range, Echidna Chasm is only two kilometres but rated a Grade 4 trail. With Bungle Bungle Guided Tours (bunglebungleguidedtours.com.au), you’ll hike under cabbage tree palms and squeeze between chasm walls. The company pairs the walk with others in the park for unplugged bliss you won’t forget.

Best for nature meditation

Currumbin Valley, QLD

Think beyond sitting cross-legged in the yoga studio. At Queensland’s Eden Health Retreat (edenhealthretreat.com.au), wellness-seekers learn how to get the full benefits of meditation practised among the elements. As soon as guests arrive at this sprawling Currumbin Valley property, they’re immersed in a deep-breathing class, setting them up for the rest of their stay. That stay can include a self-guided meditation walk through a hypnotic stone labyrinth, getting Zen by an evening fire or an hour of intensive breathwork before dipping into an outdoor ice bath. Alternatively, roll out a yoga mat or stretch next to natural springs. Whether you check-in for three days or a week, this dreamy retreat is about honing mental resilience that will last long after you return home.

Best for green exercise

The Blue Mountains, NSW

Many of us already enjoy ‘green exercise’ at least once a week (that’s working out in nature for the uninitiated), but what if we stepped up our efforts? Swap your regular Saturday parkrun with a canyoning tour in one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Blue Mountains Adventure Company (bmac.com.au), in the NSW Blue Mountains, runs tours that include jumping off boulders, swimming through natural pools and abseiling down ancient cliffs. Empress Falls is a popular beginner option, but be warned: it ends with an abseil down a 30-metre waterfall for the ultimate cold-water immersion.

Best for forest therapy

Cradle Mountain, Tas

Forest therapy is all about taking a break from the buzz of the city to soothe your mind and engage your senses. Leave your earbuds in your suitcase and find a patch of forest for some (free) time out. If you’re craving a significant mental reset, join a forest therapy tour such as Tasmania Walking Company’s Cradle Mountain Forest Bathing Walk (taswalkingco.com.au). Unlike green exercise, this is not about ratcheting up your heart rate, and you don’t need to hike through a forest per se – any green space will do. On the seven-day Tassie tour, the focus is on imbibing the sounds and smells as you tread lightly along the iconic Overland Track by foot.