Health & Wellbeing Blog
Articles to help and inspire you on your fitness journey.
Best Free Outdoor Exercise Spots in Hobart
May 10, 2026 · 6 min read
Hobart's free outdoor fitness scene runs deeper than kunanyi/Mount Wellington. Most regulars spend their weeks on flatter, quieter tracks closer to home — Sandy Bay's foreshore, the Intercity Cycleway, the Clarence Foreshore Trail, Risdon Brook. This is a working list of spots inside a 15-minute drive of the CBD, grouped by what they're best for, with notes on weather and access. None require a permit. Most are usable year-round if you dress for the wind.
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Should Your Child Try Team Sport? What 189 Studies Say About Mental Health
When a child wants to quit a sport, parents often face the same question: try another solo activity, or switch to a team? A major 2026 Australian-led review of 189 studies offers one of the clearest answers yet. The evidence found organised sport supports children’s mental health overall, but team...
City2Surf 2026: A Beginner’s 14-Week Training Plan for Sydney’s Biggest Fun Run
City2Surf returns to Sydney on Sunday 9 August 2026, sending tens of thousands of runners, joggers and walkers from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach over 14 iconic kilometres. If you have signed up and feel underprepared, fourteen weeks is enough time to build fitness safely. This beginner-friendly plan starts with...
Fitbit Air in Australia: can Google’s $199 screenless tracker actually get you walking?
Google’s new Fitbit Air lands in Australia on 27 May for $199, betting that less screen time might mean more movement. It is lighter, quieter and designed to stay out of your way. But can a fitness tracker really change your walking habits? Australian-led research says step counts matter, but...
The Man Walk: Why a Simple Weekly Walk Is Becoming a Lifeline for Australian Men
A new Australian study found that more than half the men joining The Man Walk reported loneliness, but those who kept showing up saw lower depression symptoms and healthier habits. Here’s why regular group walks are becoming one of the simplest mental-health supports for men.
Why Run Clubs Beat Apps for Making Friends in Australia
Run clubs solve adult loneliness by doing what apps can't: putting you in front of the same people, doing the same thing, on the same night of the week, until somebody learns your name. With 43% of young Australians reporting loneliness, the country's growing run-club scene has become some of...
First-Timer's Guide to the 2026 Mother's Day Classic
Sunday 10 May 2026 brings Australia's biggest pink wave back to parks across the country — the Mother's Day Classic. With up to 70 events, distances from a 4km walk to a brand-new Melbourne half marathon, and a relaxed festival atmosphere, it's one of the most welcoming entries on the...
How to Start Exercising When You're Completely Out of Shape
If "just start walking" advice has failed you twice, the problem usually isn't the exercise — it's the lack of structure. Australia has two large, free, beginner-built community programs most adults have never heard of: parkrun and Heart Foundation Walking. Both are scheduled, volunteer-run, and full of walkers. This piece...
Best Indoor Sports to Try This Winter in Australia
Winter is when most Australians drop their exercise routine — but it is also the best time to discover an indoor sport you have never tried. From the fast-paced rallies of badminton to the social buzz of a dance class, there are plenty of ways to stay active without braving...
Social Prescribing: Why Your GP Might Prescribe a Walk
Australian GPs are turning to an unexpected treatment for loneliness, chronic pain, and low mood: community activities. Social prescribing connects patients with walking groups, Parkrun, sport clubs, and volunteering instead of — or alongside — medication. With one in three Australian adults experiencing loneliness, and the RACGP now calling social...
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