Something happens in your body between the breathtaking anticipation you feel before boarding a long-haul plane and the limp exhaustion that engulfs you once the wheels touch the ground. Swollen calves and ankles. Dry skin and flat hair. The desert mouth of dehydration (yes, even when you turn down that second wine and leave the pretzel wrapper unopened). Of course, your brain is excited to be wherever you are. Your body hasn’t quite gotten the memo yet. Australian travelers know this feeling all too well. The smart ones also know how a hotel can help make things right; this is a luxury that cannot always be afforded when traveling interstate.

Historically, few hotels in Australia have prioritized truly premium spas as part of their guest services, but they are increasingly becoming a non-negotiable part of luxury accommodation, transforming hotels into all-round wellness destinations.

in spa Ritz-Carlton in Melbourne Perched 64 floors above the city skyline, this resort has views that extend so far that you can take a leisurely swim in the tranquil infinity pool while overlooking the waters of Port Phillip Bay. Comes into action in Sydney Capella’s Auriga Spa makes you feel like you are in a modern Roman bath with its high baroque arches and hot and cold water therapies. The lower floors of the Grand feature Shambhala Urban Escape’s soft travertine and wood tones and its distinctive calming scent. COMO Undersecretariat of Treasury In Perth, guests feel like they have stepped into a whole other dimension. This is much more pleasant than feeling like you’re drifting between time periods.

To combat the ravages of air travel or a busy schedule, Ritz-Carlton Melbourne spa manager Kati O’Nagy recommends booking a spa as soon as you arrive. “A well-chosen spa treatment will not only relieve your symptoms but also prepare you to fully enjoy your stay.” She advises guests to pre-book at least one of two types of treatments before arriving: something that helps stimulate circulation, such as a massage or body scrub, followed by anything that encourages moisture to enter the body back into the body, such as a moisturizing wrap. To reap both benefits, he recommends the Ritz-Carlton’s Blue Emperor treatment, which he says “reflects the transformation of the butterfly from its cocoon into a vibrant state of regeneration.” It starts with a foot ritual, followed by a body scrub and a detoxifying sea mask. This is followed by a massage with jade stones, before applying a rich body oil and cream from luxury wellness brand ESPA for added hydration. Take a walk around the city or spend some time in the hotel gym or pool; you will give yourself a good chance to experience that holiday feeling.

At Chuan Spa inside Langham On the Gold Coast, they take their after-flight treatment even more literally: with a ritual called Chuan Jet Lag Revival, which includes a salt scrub, 60-minute massage and foot massage. COMO Shambhala in Perth also has a Jet Lag Recovery package that includes more foot and body massages as well as eye treatment. For east coast Australians who use Perth as a gateway to Europe or Asia, a spa break session can play a preventative role before reentering that closed-off cylinder.

Hotel spas are increasingly opening to walk-in guests, offering treatments with access to pools, steam rooms and gyms. Of course, there’s no better place to take a break from a gap in the itinerary. For guests whose flights are late, O’Nagy recommends spending the day at the spa after check-out to provide mental ease as they transition home from vacation. None of this will last longer than a busy schedule or the terror of jetlag, but
At least you’ll have a permanent glow.

Australia’s best hotel spas

Ritz-Carlton Spa, Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, Vic

Floating above the CBD, this spiritual wellness space isn’t just reserved for travelers. The hotel recently launched a membership program so locals can benefit from treatments as well as elegant fitness and relaxation facilities.

Raes Spa, Raes in Wategos, NSW

spa in Byron Bay raes uses premium Australian skincare range Rationale. The Renewal and Rejuvenation facial is a premium choice for post-flight guests as it is designed to increase cellular renewal and target dehydration.

Auriga Spa, Capella Sydney, NSW

Non-hotel guests have access to the largest spa in the Sydney CBD from Monday to Friday and may pay additional fees to access the swimming and wellness pools. Flyers’ Connect to Country wellness journey uses Australian native botanicals to re-energise the senses.

Chuan Spa, Langham, Gold Coast, Qld

All of Gold Coast’s Chuan Spa treatments incorporate elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The hotel’s Sleep Matters program is inspired by this ancient discipline and aims to send you home more vibrant than when you arrived.

Heavenly Spa, The Westin, Qld

spa in brisbane Westin It uses three product lines, including luxury French brand Babor and 100 percent organic Australian brand Inika. The Work Week Rejuvenation package includes a full-body massage and Babor facial that stimulate circulation and increase hydration for business travelers and weary locals alike.

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, COMO Treasury, WA

Every inch of Perth Treasury Buildings is filled with exquisite elegance, but nowhere is there more than deep heartbeat; wellness area downstairs. COMO Undersecretariat of Treasury. Using Western Australian Sodashi products, their signature massages are pure relaxation.

Essentia Spa, Lizard Island, Qld

Relaxation is the main purpose of a place like Lizard Island, but it reaches new heights at the spa. This is where the pain of too much diving can be seen and saltwater skin can be soothed with amazing Ikou products.

Writer

Alexandra Carlton

Journalist

Alexandra Carlton has been a journalist for nearly 20 years, specializing in food and travel for about nine of them (don’t quote her on this; numbers aren’t a strong point). As well as Gourmet Traveller, he also writes for Qantas Magazine, Escape, The Australian, Virtuoso.com, The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and WA Good Food Guide. He is also the President of the Oceania Academy of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. He travels about half the year and has two favorite places to eat in the world: the first, pretty much anywhere in Seoul, South Korea, the second, an accumulation of plates of Malay food and trashy TV on his sofa in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner west .

Number of Magazines:

October 2024