Makeover And Massage Indulgence
Sun Herald
Sunday November 9, 2003
It's easy to pamper yourself in the heart of Noosa, writes Hilary Doling.
NOOSA is the kind of place that you tend to relax in without trying.
One look at the wide stretch of Noosa's beach and the laid-back cafes on Hastings Street, and I'm already feeling mellow. However, these days the area is adding spa destination to its list of other attributes.
The Sheraton Noosa Resort, the pink palace on Hastings has added ``& Spa" to its official title just to make sure that anybody who visits knows that the management is taking this makeover and massage business seriously
The hotel's Aqua Day Spa is certainly impressive. The centrepiece is a vast water massage area (the aqua therapy centre) with jets and jacuzzis to spray away aches and pains in opulent surroundings.
With its turquoise tiles and toga-swathed statues, the aqua room is midway between a Turkish bath and a Roman villa.
The water theme continues through a whole range of treatments with marine mud wraps, algae skin treatments and skin peels.
There are also hydrotherapy spa baths, Vichy showers and a steam room. Not everything revolves around getting wet you can indulge yourself with aromatherapy, reflexology or a Swedish massage. And there is a whole range of facials and skin treatments.
The important thing is to take your time. While many hotel spas are cramped, this spa occupies an entire floor with luxurious surroundings.
You shouldn't miss the aqua therapy centre and the lounge area with fruit, herbal teas and magazines.
So basically, that's the whole afternoon accounted for what the hell, take the day. Depending on how decadent you want to be, the ultimate indulgence package takes four hours and the temptation package two hours.
And just to show that males can be hedonistic too, there's a two-hour men's revitalisation package.
In the hills above Noosa there's a very different spa. Ikatan Balinese Spa and Gardens in Doonan may only be a 20-minute drive, but you feel as if you've been transported to Asia.
Rain fell the day I visited and somehow the weather added to the experience. The plants in the lush, Bali-inspired gardens dripped and sarong-swathed staff pattered barefoot through puddles.
It was still warm, so I sat in the outdoor pavilion with my toes in a frangipani-decorated foot bath while my shoulders were gently massaged.
The spa has private treatment rooms as well as the open pavilion. It offers facials, wraps and massages including Balinese body and head massages which use a blend of pressure points and soft tissue strokes and a flower essence facial.
All the treatments use natural ingredients and Asian rhythms.
You can spend the whole day with a Kharma Rejuvenation Package which includes Indonesian inspired treatments like a coffee body buff, a youth elixir facial, and a Balinese head massage and foot therapy.
SPA SPECIALS
SHERATON NOOSA
RESORT AND SPA
14-16 Hastings Street, Box 886 Noosa Heads.
Phone: (07) 5449 4888.
See: www.sheraton.com/noosa.
To contact the Aqua Spa direct: (07) 5449 4777. Book before you stay because the spa is very popular.
SPA SPECIALS
Ultimate indulgence package (4 hours): Includes body exfoliation, underwater massage, toning body wrap, Thalgo facial. Cost: $340.
The temptation package (2 hours): Includes exfoliating mud wrap, aromatherapy massage, Thalgo facial. Cost: $180.
Men's revitaliser package (2 hours): Includes full body massage,classic facial, nail buff. Cost: $160.
ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES:
Ikatan Balinese Spa and Gardens
46 Grays Road, Weyba Downs, Doonan, Noosa.
Phone: (07) 547 111 99.
Fax: (07) 547 111 66.
email: info@ikatanspa.com.
See: www.ikatanspa.com.
Spa Specials (treatments available in single or double rooms).
Kharma rejuvenation day (5 hours): Includes massage, Bali coffee buff, youth elixir facial, lunch, Balinese head massage, deluxe pedicure. Cost: $430.
Bali getaway Ikatan spa package (3 hours): Includes massage, balancing facial, deluxe manicure or pedicure. Cost: $220.
Noosa Dua spa package (90 minutes). Includes foot pamper, massage, mini facial. Cost: $125.
Tropical avocado wrap (9 minutes). Cost: $140.
Bali coffee buff (60 minutes). Cost: $100.
Balinese massage. Cost: $100.
Balinese head massage. Cost from $60 per 30 minutes.
Select three or more treatments and receive a 10 per cent discount.
© 2003 Sun Herald