Zoe Briggs

You know what’s finally trending in 2024? Self-care. While a warm bubble bath or 15-minute face mask is a nice pick-me-up, nothing beats a full-on pamper session at the spa. And boy does Australia have some pretty phenomenal pamper palaces that’ll leave you glowing from head to toe. Whether you’re treating yourself to a five-star massage while on holiday or searching for a local bathhouse to add to your weekly routine, we think you should add these spa days to the top of your to-do list. Here are the most luxurious day spas in Australia. RECOMMENDED: The best health and wellness retreats in Australia.

Brisbane has finally thrown off the shackles of its ‘big country town’ image, a place best thought of as a gateway to the coast, and stepped into its role as an interesting destination in its own right. Increasing numbers of clued-in visitors have brought about a flurry of new high-end hotels, which, pleasingly for massage mavens and facial fanatics, also means a flurry of new hotel day spas. Whether you’re lucky enough to call the River City home or you’re in town for a GOMA exhibition (hopefully followed by reservations at one of our latest impossible-to-get-into restaurants), here are five of Brisbane’s best day spas you’ll want to put at the very top of your to-do list. ⭐️ The best hotels in Brisbane🧖🏻 Australia's most luxe day spas🥾 The best things to do in Brisbane

The rest of the spas on this list are relative newcomers compared to Stephanies, the grande dame of the Brisbane spa scene. Since 2007, this award-winning hotel spa has pampered both locals and visitors with bespoke rituals, including their signature Opal Rasul Steam Temple experience. Drawing inspiration from Turkish hammams, the candlelit, mosaic-tiled dome room elevates your journey, creating a meditative atmosphere akin to a starry night sky. After a steam session in the temple, enjoy a treatment – ideally a massage, which begins with a warm foot soak in a basin full of fresh rose petals. Alternatively, opt for a pedicure, brow couture or facial. The therapists are excellent and knowledgeable, ensuring Stephanies is still deserving of the reputation it’s built over the years.

This slightly futuristic space in tones of greige, blue and green makes for a serene oasis at the Westin in the heart of the CBD. As you embark on your spa journey, the first step is choosing an aromatherapy scent and selecting one of three pebbles engraved with a positive emotion, to help focus your mind. Gentle chimes signal the start and end of each session, which take place on a generously sized, heated massage bed and are performed by a caring, experienced therapist. Besides remedial and hot stone massages, Heavenly Spa also offers exfoliating scrubs, hydrating cream wraps and deep cleansing facials. Post-treatment, you can rehydrate with herbal tea and re-energise with antioxidant-rich chocolate, handmade by the hotel’s pastry chef.