Australia

Best spa retreats around Australia for the ultimate weekend getaway

Lakeside cabins in the treetops, jade crystal massages in an oceanfront villa or a milk bath next to a waterfall—these are just some of the offerings at lavish spa retreats dotted around Australia.

There’s no better way to celebrate a special occasion or disconnect from the daily grind than with an indulgent weekender amplified by hydrotherapy sessions, soothing massages and facials using world-renowned products.

Match that with award-winning dining options and opulent suites and villas, and you’ll soon be transported to a state of utter bliss. And because spa retreats are all about letting go, let us take the lead and pull together some jaw-dropping options for your next self-care spa break.

A luxury lakeside spa retreat among the willows

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For a spa retreat that Melbourne-dwellers can access easily, drive just 80 minutes northwest to the home to the largest concentration of mineral springs in the country and the iconic Lake House. Owned by a chef and an artist, this Daylesford property is set on six acres of country gardens that roll down to Lake Daylesford.

Get lost exploring the grounds, wandering from the lakeshore through fruit trees before arriving at Salus Spa. Set within a cool fern gully, the spa is constructed from blonde wood with pops of Tiffany blue in soft furnishings and nude portraits from a local painter.

With nine treatment rooms flanked by babbling waterfall-fed streams, they’re sure to ease you into pure relaxation. Browse the impressive treatment menu for delights like the Exotic Milk Bath Ritual with smoothing body scrub, or opt for a Salus Detox Wrap using green tea seed oil and balm to leave your skin like silk. If that isn’t indulgent enough for you, soak in a hydrotherapy spa tub filled with pure Daylesford mineral water in a private treetop spa overlooking gently swaying willow trees.

You’ll find country-style accommodation across the grounds. In Waterfront Suites, watch distant stars wink into view after an epic sunset from your private courtyard or balcony. Or, drape yourself in a faux fur or soft-spun alpaca throw and pad across heated stone floors in an indulgent Lodge Suite. For dinner, breeze into the award-winning on-site restaurant for the very best in local, seasonal produce.

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Lake House

Top rated
Daylesford
9.6 Excellent (275 reviews)

Bath rituals and jade massages on Belongil Beach

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With an on-site Osprey day spa, private beach access and a 40-metre infinity pool, Elements of Byron is the ultimate oceanfront escape for a spa weekend. Hand-pick your own therapies to create a personal spa blend, like a Mineral Immersion Bath Ritual with a signature massage or a La Gaia Mother Earth Facial and jade crystal massage.

After your treatment, sit in the tranquil lounge on a daybed constructed from driftwood and sip a herbal tea. If you need a cool splash to bring you back from your dream state, dip into one of the serene pools flanked by private cabanas and hanging day beds. At the adults-only pool, order some spicy Mexican finger food and cool it down with a frozen coconut margarita.

The luxury extends to your personal freestanding villa, tucked away in the surrounding forests, dunes or wetlands. You’ll welcome your modern suite for some down time after an hour-long hike to the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse (if you’re lucky, you got some photos of giant turtles, manta rays or a leopard shark!). Watch the bubbles build in your freestanding tub, or day birds retreating to their leafy beds from your glass veranda as afternoon turns to evening. If you fancy a tipple, the Beach Lounge is a dream spot for a sundowner with sand between your toes.

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An eco spa retreat in the heart of the rainforest

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Daintree Ecolodge is at the heart of the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, believed to be over 135 million years old. This is your opportunity to disconnect from city life and immerse yourself in nature among private waterfalls, lush tropical canopies and pristine beaches.

From here you can discover the highlights of North Queensland by car, including the world-famous Mossman Gorge in under 30 minutes. Better yet, head out onto the water to snorkel or scuba dive in the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef.

The Daintree Wellness Spa follows the mantra of the local indigenous people who named the rainforest ‘healing of the spirit’. Using Li’tya spa products made from sustainable Australian botanicals, treatments are designed to enhance your wellbeing. Book a Walbul-Walbul Butterfly with soothing massage, full body exfoliation and warm mud treatment followed by a healing rainforest rinse to really get into the goddess-of-the-forest vibe.

Relaxed and renewed, head to your eco-friendly treehouse high in the canopy and sit out on the daybed to drink in the verdant views. Rooms are without TVs or Wi-Fi, so you’ll be treated to the sounds of the rainforest—native birdsong and cascading water.

Up in the main lodge, you can try tropical delicacies at Julaymba Restaurant & Bar on the balcony over the lagoon. Bite into super Aussie bites like crocodile with baby cos or kangaroo tataki with miso cream, tea-soaked egg and wasabi granola.

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Daintree Ecolodge

Top rated
Daintree
9.1 Excellent (307 reviews)

Spices and cedar tubs with an Asian twist

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Just over an hour north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast town of Maleny, Spicers Tamarind Retreat offers a mountain getaway with an Asian twist. Whether teaching guests how to cook with Malaysian spices at the cooking school or serving up exotic dishes like Jungle Curry in the restaurant, the resort packs a flavourful punch.

Spa Anise, surrounded by lush rainforest, continues the spice theme with treatments using Australian-made Waterlily products. Try the Spice Of Life package for a spiced chai body wrap, full body massage and botanical facial. Other options include the Moroccan Melt Sugar Smoother, designed to stimulate circulation and combat cellulite.

Freestanding villas showcase breathtaking hinterland views, best experienced from the cedar hot tub on your private deck. Star-filled night skies add a romantic backdrop to wrapping up in a plush robe and getting cosy in front of your crackling fireplace.

With hiking trails direct from the property, you can stroll down to Gardners Falls and swing from a Tarzan rope before plunging into the pools for an invigorating freshwater swim. Foodies can follow the Maleny cheese circuit, visiting local dairies and sampling hard and soft local varieties made on-site.

Spicers Tamarind Retreat

Maleny
9.8 Excellent (290 reviews)

Japanese remedies at a spa retreat on the Indian Ocean

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Cable Beach Resort & Spa is home to Chahoya Spa & Salon, named after the Japanese phrase ‘to pamper or spoil’. The tranquil sanctuary has seven private suites, each decked out with a double Vichy shower room.

Lie back for a hot stone massage using L’Occitane Aromachologie essential oils and smooth, heated stones to de-stress and soothe, or opt for the Deep Tissue Intense Relief for a more vigorous approach to easing muscle tension. For something extra special, try the Chahoya Dreamtime using shea products infused with locally sourced Kakadu Plum.

Indian Ocean sunsets are spectacular here, so grab a table at Sunset Bar and Grill and watch the sun drop behind the palm trees while you sip away at a fruity cocktail. Marvel at camels as they head on their sunset stroll along Cable Beach, or follow their lead and take a barefoot walk along the ocean foreshore. For dinner, visit Zensai for traditional Japanese dishes like fresh sashimi and modern favourites such as Kara-age popcorn chicken with spiced Japanese mayo.

The Asian influence extends through to your accommodation, with studios, villas and suites all featuring exotic antiques and silk accents. You’ll breathe easy from your shaded balcony or terrace looking onto a vibrant garden or across water vistas. After a restful night’s sleep in crisp white sheets, wander down to the Buddha Sanctuary ornamental garden for a morning meditation or sunrise yoga session to set you up for the day ahead.

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Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa

Top rated
Broome
9.2 Excellent (1816 reviews)

Vino facials at a spa retreat in the Adelaide Hills

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Originally built in 1852 as a summer residence for colonial settler Arthur Hardy, Mount Lofty House is now a boutique hotel just 15 minutes from Adelaide’s city centre. Perched atop a hilly landscape, the manor house is home to a two chef-hatted restaurant and heritage-style suites and cottages.

Stretch out on your romantic king size bed as light and birdsong filter in through wide-open glass doors. Run your fingers over luxe satin quilts and step out onto your balcony sitting area to take in the epic vistas across the sweeping Piccadilly Valley.

Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant offers a refined menu with dishes like smoked duck breast with cherry sauce and Murray cod with green pawpaw, reflecting the elegant dining experience that Hardy himself would have appreciated. For something more low-key, the Arthur Waterhouse Lounge has casual fare like house-made chicken liver paté and Reuben sandwiches with pastrami and red cabbage.

The original stables building (dating back to 1851) is where you’ll find the on-site day spa. Wander along polished concrete floors through hallways dripping in rustic charm—think exposed brick walls and corrugated-iron roofs—to your treatment room. Indulge in a ritual therapy using artisan Waterlily products and pure plant oils, or fully immerse yourself in the region’s wine culture with a Vino Rejuvenating Facial using pure Shiraz, grape seed and Resveratrol.

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Mount Lofty House

Top rated
Crafers
9.5 Excellent (240 reviews)

Sparkling wine and strawberries in the Tassie wilderness

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Waldheim Alpine Spa at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge aims to mirror the natural beauty of the Tasmanian Wilderness. Spa baths overlook King Billy pines and mountain streams, while treatment tables are framed by floor-to-ceiling windows that welcome natural light.

In The Sanctuary, the spa’s dedicated therapeutic area, you can hop between hot and cold water therapies (think steam room, sauna, hot tub and plunge pool) designed to encourage healthy circulation. You can even add a bottle of Tasmanian sparkling wine and a platter of strawberries dipped in chocolate to enhance the decadent experience.

The lodge’s suites continue the pampering treatment with luxurious goose-down duvets and king-sized beds. Kick things up a notch by booking the King Billy Suite with a double-sided wood fire—the ideal spot for sipping your complimentary port. Dinner at Highland Restaurant features local seasonal produce like wattleseed crusted wallaby porterhouse with pumpkin cream, or skin-roasted white fish with ginger and carrot purée.

Head out to explore the World Heritage-listed region by foot, following boardwalks and trails through rainforests and canyons. The Waterfalls Walk will take you to a pristine swimming spot, while the Dove Canyon Track shows off jaw-dropping views down Cradle Valley and onto Cradle Mountain. After a day hiking, you’ll be eager to warm up with a glass of local red by the fireplace at the Tavern Bar & Bistro.

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Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge

Top rated
Cradle Mountain
8.8 Excellent (2292 reviews)