Blame it on the scenery or the tranquil mood of the place, but the Mornington Peninsula has another wellness offering: Alba Thermal Springs & Spa. Located at Fingal, near Cape Schanck, the six-hectare escape has something for everyone. Among the 31 different bathing options on site, there’s an invigorating rain pool and herbal-infused botanical pools to submerge in. Take a dip in the Eve pool at dusk to watch the stars greet you while the sun goes down. If you’re after some next-level pampering, they also offer manicures, pedicures, facials and of course, hour-long massages. Or enjoy a private bath and brushing ritual, before or after dinner at the newly renovated restaurant, Thyme, which serves fresh, healthy dishes with a Mediterranean twist from chef Karen Martini.

Located on a leafy street in Sydney’s Double Bay, All Saint Clinic looks, from the outside, like a stately terrace – all gleaming white and striking black stonework framed by gardens. It’s a fitting facade for the spa, which opened in 1999, and combines traditional treatments with cutting-edge technology. To wit: luxury skin care giant La Prairie has opened a residency here, which will last until February 2025 and offers a 105-minute bespoke facial, featuring La Prairie products, including the newly released Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream, a science-backed serum designed to target cell degeneration and promote firmer, plumper skin. In addition to a face and eye massage, the package also includes a Laser Genesis treatment, a non-invasive procedure where lasers stimulate collagen in the skin using targeted light and heat. 

Surrounded by the verdant bush of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and perched on coastal cliffs overlooking Injidup Bay, this adults-only escape near Yallingup is an oasis of tranquillity just a short drive from the wineries of Margaret River. Relax in one of ten luxurious villas – each has its own private plunge pool with ocean views, and guests receive a breakfast hamper and bottle of wine on arrival – before embarking on a range of wellness journeys. Treatments span from Swedish-style massages to custom facials and infrared sauna therapy. To kick the relaxation up a notch, all treatment rooms have uninterrupted views of the ocean, so you’ll be pampered to the soundtrack of gently lapping waves.

If you’re in Sydney and looking for something closer to home, the Sofitel Spa in Darling Harbour is a tranquil two-storey retreat located on level four of the hotel, overlooking the city. Perched on the same floor as the hotel’s iconic infinity edge pool, you'll be able to enjoy a refreshing dip after one of your decadent treatments. The spa boasts seven treatment rooms, features French cosmetic brand Biologique Recherche, and was designed by award-winning interior design agency, Pike Withers, who have included one room with a bespoke bath overlooking Darling Harbour. The highlight? The spa’s signature five-hour Wellness Journeys, where guests are guided in the elements of Movement (exercise), Nourishment (nutrition), Care (treatments) and Rest (introspection) to provide a tailored holistic sojourn. The spa also includes an infrared sauna, relaxation deck and meditation zone. 

Grounded in the ancient past, Naiko Retreat, named for the inlet on which it stands and the Ramindjeri word for “mother”, sits atop a remote cliff between Deep Creek and Talisker Conservation Park in South Australia. It’s surprising then, that the luxury getaway should resemble an otherworldly spaceship. The statement Futuro (‘spaceship’) is one of only 60 in the world and the only one in the state. The retreat offers walking trails and yoga as well as classic treatments and unique massages, including a Thai offering where guests lie fully clothed on a mat on the floor while the therapist uses a combination of stretching, pressure and movement techniques to relieve tension, promote relaxation and improve flexibility. 

A self-described preventative wellness retreat, EQ, located at 22 Kings Place, South Melbourne, seeks to help busy professionals to de-stress, or at least, find some respite from everyday city living. More than just treatments, EQ offers three-hour “journeys” featuring hot and cold therapy, immersive light and sound therapy and guided breathwork sessions. Each program is designed to enhance relaxation, improve emotional regulation and achieve the holy grail: better sleep. There’s even a theatre room where you can dive into the science behind each treatment and afterwards, connect with other guests in the social lounge.

Founder of the Dermal Diary, a skincare clinic in North Sydney, NSW, skin therapist Isabella Loneragan has opened a private clinic 90 minutes south in Bowral, in the Southern Highlands, named, fittingly, Isabella Loneragan Skin. Isabella is one of the only experts in Australasia trained in IntraOral facial sculpting massage, the treatment favoured by the likes of Meghan Markle and Margot Robbie as an alternative to Botox. Book your treatment and stay the night in one of the sumptuous rooms at Peppers Manor House in nearby Sutton Forest.

This tropical escape on Hamilton Island might be more accurately described as a spa that has a luxury resort. Wellness is so key to the guest experience at Qualia, that the spa is located at the heart of the property. A vast array of treatments are available, from “body rituals” that combine wraps, facials and exfoliating rubs to stimulate the skin and muscles, to romantic journeys that pair massages using oud, frankincense, rose and sandalwood with an aromatic mineral-infused soak. Holistic therapies are a Spa Qualia speciality, employing reflexology, lymphatic drainage and digestive massage techniques to stimulate and balance the nervous system. There are also more familiar beauty treatments on offer, from bespoke facials using high-grade products by Sodashi, LaGaia, Hunter Lab and People4Ocean, to manicures and pedicures.

Elements of Byron, a 20-hectare beachfront resort in far north eastern NSW, comprising 193 villas, a restaurant, pool facilities and sunrise yoga classes, just took relaxation up a notch. Their Osprey Spa has a new treatment on offer for spring: Forest Immersion. Designed for couples, the experience features a bath soak with self-guided forest bathing body smoother exfoliation treatment, full-body balm massages and complimentary adaptogen elixir tea so you can return to your most Zen state. “Our goal is for guests to feel deeply connected to the earth,” says spa manager Amy Back.

Located on the glorious Mornington Peninsula along the rugged coast of Victoria, a scenic 90-minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD, Aurora Spa & Bathhouse – an extension of The Continental Sorrento – was completed at the end of 2022 as part of a larger revamp of the hotel. Consisting of eight treatment rooms set up to accommodate both singles and couples (in case you’re planning on making it romantic), the spa offers a range of treatments from invigorating massages to detoxifying body wraps, facials, pregnancy treatments and even life coaching from Aurora founder, Australian wellness expert and entrepreneur, Lyndall Mitchell.

Enter Spa Anise at Spicers Vineyards Estate in Pokolbin and you’ll immediately feel your shoulders drop. Look around and it’s just you, the vines and a few kangaroos on the three-hectare property in the tranquil NSW’s Hunter Valley. Stay at nearby Vineyards House, comprising of four bedrooms, full kitchen and dining room and a spacious pool, and you can stroll into Spa Anise after your complimentary breakfast. The spa has two treatment rooms, each with their own private courtyard, so you can unwind in privacy. Qualified therapists are able to offer guests a range of treatments, including a luxurious aromatherapy massage, hot-stone massage, performance facial and full-body treatments.

Pamper Yourself at Australia’s Best Wellness Retreats