The Open Road team’s mission was to unearth NSW’s secret spas. We avoided the well-known names and shunned the main centres to uncover seven diverse retreats.
Whether you live in the city, or country, are a stressed single, courting couple, frazzled family or just want to get away with the girls, here’s our guide to the best away-from-it-all pamper palaces.
Love the idea of being able to sloth about in a white robe all day in a quiet corner with a good book and a cup of herbal tea in hand? Or are you the type who prefers to be on the go with gym workouts, exercise classes, bush walks, aquarobics and a few sets of tennis? Or would you prefer to be pampered and preened with a facial, manicure, bodypeel and shiatsu massage under a tree after a session with a naturopath or fitness trainer?
Solar Springs Health Retreat in the Southern Highlands hamlet of
Bundanoon is an escape for whatever life has dolled out, at whatever pace you need. Housed in a former 1920s guest house and circled by beautifully tendered gardens (plant yourself under a tree and listen to lovely nothing), Solar Springs is a girlie heaven of healthy living and a few indulgences. I loved the Aromastim-relax: dry brushing, exfoliation, hydrotub, hydrating gel then an invigorating massage with warmed Shea butter.
Accommodation is comfortable but not meant for hanging around in, not when there are so many lounges and balconies. Buffet-style meals, delicious low-fat vegetarian dishes, salads, fresh fruit platters, nutty cereals and a glass of wine with dinner for those who can’t resist, are served in the dining room. The staff are easygoing and helpful, greeting regulars and first timers with the familiarity of a good friend.
From $396 (single); $374 (share) for two nights including all meals and facilities. Beauty treatments, naturopathic consultations and physical assessments extra. Packages available.
96 Osborn Road, Bundanoon, tel (02) 4883 6027, www.solarsprings.com
Our verdict: Definitely one for the girls. Leave the husband, boyfriend or kids behind, grab your friends and indulge.
Tumbling Waters RetreatTalk about swank. From the moment you drive through the electric gates and set eyes on the sparkling Pacific Ocean that rolls out as far as you can see, you know you’re about to experience luxury. Owners Sonia and Andrew have spared no expense in the design and fit out of Tumbling Waters. The grounds and facilities feature lovely landscaped gardens, a pool that seems to spill into the ocean, shower in the steam room, heated spa and bubbling hydrotherapy tub. Lou, the masseuse, ironed out the knots from a long drive with a soothing Swedish massage using deliciously-scented oils and tried not to laugh as I kept bobbing my head up to take in the view. It’s not difficult to see why this is a popular place for weddings (and proposals).
Set on the site of a former healing farm, Tumbling Waters has three suites and one cabin all with private balconies that overlook a dramatic drop of bushland below and the ocean ahead, and have been charmingly decorated with elegant touches and thoughtful inclusions.
Open the bedside drawers and find a wheat pillow, in the (huge) bathroom sits a shimmering purple hot water bottle, even a nail buff, waffle-weave robes and extra towels in the wardrobe, Italian stainless steel coffee plunger in the kitchenette and a fridge stocked with delicious breakfast goodies and then some — chocolates, champagne, almond crescents, nut bread, ice-cream, yoghurt, beer and juice. The space-age remote controls all the A/V equipment and there’s a huge library of DVDs to sift through. This year, Tumbling Waters plan to introduce their own chef who can whip you up a candlelit dinner served on your very own balcony. Now this is living.
Costs from $775 (w/end); $750 (mid-week) for two nights including use of facilities and breakfast provisions.Massage extra and must be pre-booked.
End of Stonehaven Road, Stanwell Tops, tel (02) 4294 1888, www.tumblingwatersretreat.com
Our verdict: Not cheap but worth it. For couples who want to escape the rat race and enjoy five-star luxury and tranquility.
Chalet Swisse Spa
Chalet Swisse Spa is a health retreat that, according to its owners Elizabeth and Herbert, is the only one of its kind on the NSW South Coast. Set on 82 hectares with views of Malua Bay on one side and natural bush on the other (and just ‘down the road’ from Nicole Kidman’s beachside property at Rosedale), Chalet Swisse’s ski lodge-style main building is like a slice of Europe on the Australian coast.
Elizabeth, an aromatherapist and masseuse, runs the treatment centre. Her specialty is the sea clay body wrap which aims to relax, detox and nourish your skin. Marine-scented ‘goop’ is slathered all over your body (couples are encouraged to smear each other with the sea-clay) then you’re wrapped in plastic and warm blankets for 45 minutes before jumping into a spring water shower. Afterwards, my skin felt silky soft and looked in rude good health.
You can also choose from a range of massages, fresh fruit facials, reflexology, therapies using bushflower essences and Slimtone treatments for body shaping and toning. And they plan to introduce Reiki workshops and lifestyle coaching. There’s also an indoor heated pool, tennis court, archery range and access to many walking tracks.
The accommodation includes rooms in the chalet and lodge, and self-contained cabins for up to five people. The décor is homely: floral furnishings, decoupage wall hangings and momentos from Elizabeth and Herbert’s travels dotted about the guest lounge.
From $110 per couple including continental breakfast. Dinner is by arrangement and they will cater for special dietary requirements. All treatments are extra and should be booked in advance.
676 The Ridge Road, Surf Beach, Batemans Bay, tel (02) 4471 1671, www.surfbeachretreat.com.au
Our verdict: Ideal for older couples, families who want a base to explore the area, or a weekend away with the girls.
Right on the beach at Shoal Bay, this resort is the perfect healthy getaway for families. For the adults, the Aqua Spa offers a lap pool, three spas (salt, mineral and one heated to 38˚C), gym and treatment room providing a huge range of massage, facials, beauty treatments and exfoliation. I had a Tasmanian milk hydrotherapy bath and body exfoliation. Lying in a pool of milk I felt like Cleopatra and afterwards, my skin was as velvety and luxurious as anything the Queen of the Nile would have experienced.
While you’re de-stressing, enrol the kids in Occies Kid’s Club, which runs all day and hosts a range of activities such as nature walks and painting for kids aged from 5-12. The self-contained apartments are well-appointed with tastefully decorated living areas and cooking facilities. But with a host of restaurants and cafes within the complex, why not hang up the apron and have a real holiday?
From $235 for a two-bedroom suite, with mid-week specials. You must book ahead for treatments, but spa facilities included in the tariff. Exclusive offer for NRMA Members available in February.
Beachfront, Shoal Bay, tel 1800 181 810, www.shoalbayresort.com
Our verdict: Perfect for tired mums and dads in need of some pampering, who want to get away with the kids but have time for themselves.
The Hotel Sebel Windsor with the ajoining Villa Thalgo is a perfect weekend destination for those in need of a rejuvenating pick-me-up weekend.
Located just over an hour from Sydney and set in formal gardens with a lake and its own wedding chapel, the resort is a favourite for bridal parties and romantic weekend getaways. The hotel boasts a heated swimming pool, sauna, spa, gym, tennis courts and plenty of local activities including three nearby golf courses. There are 96 rooms and eight suites, all charmingly decorated in styles ranging from contemporary to traditional.
Then there’s the spa. The fresh scent of lavender and gardenias on approach to Villa Thalgo, billed as Australia’s first hydrotherapy spa, is a hint of what’s to come. The professional staff go out of their way to make you feel welcome, pampered and very, very tranquil. This is what a spa should be like — warm candlelit rooms, modern, understated styling and an abundance of fresh flowers. Highly recomended is the decadent Vichy shower where you’re doused in a continuous tumble of warm rainwater while receiving a soothing massage that’s a fabulous sensation and very relaxing.
Have dinner in the Harvest Restaurant while you watch the sun set on the lake and mountains. The modern Australian menu caters for most tastes (my pick — barramundi baked in paperbark).
Rooms are priced from $169 per night. Spa treatments start from $60 and need to be booked ahead. 61 Richmond Road, Windsor, tel (02) 4577 1254, www.mirvachotels.com.au
Our verdict: Great for couples (many spa packages are tailored for men), wedding parties or busy parents after some R&R (childminding can be arranged).
SparadiseThirty minutes west of Katoomba, amid 150 peaceful hectares (incorporating an organic tea plantation), Sparadise has been open to the public for three years having previously been used to entertain organic tea buyers from Japan.
Sparadise, the only natural hot springs Japanese bath house in the State, has indoor and outdoor spa baths. The water is heated by volcanic rock imported from New Zealand and is rich in calcium and iron, a good body detox that aids blood circulation. You can give your circulation an extra boost by jumping from the spa bath to the cold tub and back again.
Sparadise also offers a herbal steam room infused with tea tree, lemon myrtle and eucalyptus, said to be a good skin exfoliant, reflexology path which massages your feet (careful on hot days as the rocks really heat up) and therapeutic massage. The décor inside the mock-Tudor building is an eclectic mix of English styling with features like fireplaces and carpet in the shared areas, and Japanese furniture and minamilst lines in the accommodation. Along with a continental breakfast, you can choose from one of more than 20 teas to help heal whatever ails you.
Costs are $110 for a cabin and $165 for Tudor House per person per night (breakfast included).The spa bath is free to use, but masages are extra. Packages available. Lot 3, Sir Thomas Mitchell Drive, South Bowenfels, tel (02) 6352 3122, www.bluemoutainsparadise.com
Our verdict: For couples or singles of all ages who want to rejuvinate in peace and quiet and experience Japanese culture.
The exclusive Durobby Retreat, at the foot of Mt Warning, offers privacy, no unwanted distractions and a variety of healing treatments. Two self-contained cabins set well apart from each other on 32 hectares blend unobtrusively with vast remnant rainforest. Huge, spotless windows in every room let Mother Nature’s artwork in and timber floors and natural colours add a calming quality.
Durobby has a professional yoga instructor and health practitioner and offers massage, facials and body scrubs, guided meditation and hatha yoga in the privacy of your cabin. There is a naturopath on call and guests are assessed when they arrive to determine a suitable wellbeing program.
Lazy afternoons on the deck overlooking a pond alive with frogs and turtles, decadent candlelit dinners served in your cabin, and aromatherapy spa baths and a blissful outdoor shower are all part of the Durobby experience.
Cost is $295 per day, minimum two days, or $395 for one night with an early check-in and late check-out. Breakfast and welcome snacks provided and pool is free to use. Treatments cost from $70 and must be pre-booked. An initial naturopathic consultation costs $140. Mt Warning, tel (02) 6679 5570, www.durobbyretreat.com.au
Our verdict: A child-free zone for couples who crave complete privacy and appreciate beautiful surroundings and nature at its best.
Settled in a lush green valley with six cottages dotted around the hills, Clarendon Forest Retreat, near Taree, reminded us of the setting for Babe. The lush verdant hills, bushland and native wildlife signals the start of our chill-out.
Each cottage has its own spa overlooking the hills and a self-contained kitchen, but for that extra indulgence, meals can be pre-ordered and enjoyed on the beautifully laid table decorated with crystal glasses, candles and flowers.
Relax in the spa and then wrap yourself up in the lush terry towelling robes. Or enjoy a facial or body treatment with organic, chemical-free products, perfect for those with sensitive skin or allergies.
This is the place to come to completely relax, watch the wallabies from your own verandah and enjoy the tranquillity of the country. Or get active in the pool, tennis court or on horseback on the 400-hectare property and then indulge in a well-earned therapeutic massage and a glass of bubbly.
Prices start from $544 per couple for two-night stays in the chalets and $781 for the honeymoon cottage. Treatments including massages, mud wrap, manicures, pedicures, facials and the new chocolate wrap extra must be pre-booked. Coates Road, Possum Brush via Taree, tel (02) 6554 3085, www.cfr.com.au
Our verdict: Just the place for a romantic interlude to get away from everything and be spoiled.
For city-slickers who want a bit of pampering but can’t get out of town for a weekend, then don’t despair. You can get away without leaving the city. Enjoy a rejuvenating short break with the Sydney Harbour Massage and Beauty Cruise, a three-hour cruise that includes a massage or facial, champagne, sandwiches and cakes, and even a tarot reading over three hours. Visit www.massageandbeautycruise.com.au.
If you’re travelling on the road and looking to stop for a pick me up, then Moree’s artesian spa, filled with mineral-rich thermal hot pools, is just the thing for relieving aches and pains and de-stressing. Book ahead for a massage. Tel (02) 6752 2655.
For those travelling way out west, the Lightening Ridge artesian bore bath is a hot pool heated to 40˚ C that attracts many for its therapeutic healing power.
Pandora St, Lightning Ridge.
4WD
