● AURIGA SPA
Housed within historic sandstone walls, Capella Sydney has set a new luxury benchmark for hotels in the Sydney CBD, and its wellness offering, Auriga Spa, is equally well considered. While the spa areas are impeccably designed with earthy tones and finishes, and are dimly lit and soothing, the vast pool area is flooded with natural light and features a hand-painted mural artwork of rolling hills, Landscape Effect, 2022, by Australian artist Max Berry. The four treatment rooms appear as stylish cubes inserted into the cavernous space, built from timbers reclaimed from the site. Automatic sliding glass doors and glowing blue ambient lights give the feeling of an upmarket, Zen spaceship, designed to cocoon the frazzled traveller. Other features include experiential showers and a full menu of face and body treatments using Byron Bay brand Synthesis Organics. Guests can follow a spa session with a lobster roll or truffled chicken mousse from the afternoon menu at Aperture. Capella Sydney, NSW; capellahotels.com/en/capella-sydney/wellness.
● SOFITEL SPA
Set over two gleaming levels with water views, this spa offers a superb menu of treatments, with seven rooms including two suites designed by award-winning design firm Pike Withers. The highlight is the ‘Wellness Journey’ inspired by the seasons, incorporating elements of movement, skin and body care, rest and nourishment. This journey may begin with a swim or gym session, followed by an infrared sauna and perhaps a lime-caviar body polish, body wrap, aromatherapy massage and phyto-therapy facial. It is then time to enjoy a light lunch by executive chef Sam Moore and unwind with a guided meditation or mandala colouring. Beauty aficionados must try the Biologique Recherche facial with best-in-thebusiness therapist Maria, who uses a vigorous massage technique with ice that will leave lacklustre skin as taut as a trampoline.
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, NSW; sofitelsydneydarlingharbour.com.au.
● VENUSTUS
Venustus owner Jeannie Bourke is a beauty therapy legend, establishing her salon more than 30 years ago. She recently moved her body and beauty lab to the new, startlingly beautiful, brutalist-style premises (with “a sacred grid” of energetic crystals buried in the foundations). Jeannie’s experience in shifting energies and releasing toxins from the body is renowned. The ‘Sculpt &Define
