Wellness

CIEL Spa is a bio-wellness day spa that blends science, ritual, and design, all wrapped up in a luxe atmosphere.

Lan Spa has officially opened its first New South Wales location in Tweed Heads, extending its reputation for serene wellness spaces and carefully curated treatments across the border.

Navia, Byron Bay’s latest wellness retreat, is all about slowing down, embracing simplicity, and finding warmth in the contrast between steaming saunas and icy plunges.

Surfers Paradise just became a little more serene with the arrival of Lan Bathhouse, a dreamy new wellness retreat offering a personalised spa experience designed for deep rejuvenation

Fice Recovery in Burleigh is designed to treat your body to serious R&R. Owned by a former professional boxer, it is a tropical recovery haven, complete with beautiful and invigorating hot and cold contrast therapy equipment. 

Vikasati Bathhouse has already made an indelible mark on Brisbane’s holistic wellness scene and has just launched its first Gold Coast location. 

Carving a little time out of your day for self-care just got easier for those in that 'awkward middle ground between the Gold Coast and Brisbane' with the opening of Merse Wellness Spa, a luxe new destination for relaxation and recuperation.

Update 29 July 2024: In celebration of National Friendship Day on 30 July, selected City Cave’s across Australia will open their doors to plus ones for a limited time, free of charge, with every couples float or sauna booking.

The Gold Coast is home to a plethora of incredible fitness boutiques, but when one is founded on the mission to ‘make people feel f*cking awesome’, we listen. Meet Peaches Pilates Burleigh, a much-loved pilates franchise which is all about reframing how we thinking of fitness, offering a blend of mat pilates, barre and yoga classes.

The Facial Bar is the Gold Coast’s first dedicated premium facial experience, bringing high-end facial treatments and a luxury beauty destination to Mermaid Beach. The Facial Bar is driven by a strong ethos of prioritising self-care, skincare and overall wellbeing and is based on the belief that facials should be part of your luxury, everyday experience. Don’t mind if we do.

Spa by JW is the Gold Coast’s newest luxury wellness destination, situated within the JW Marriott Resort. The tranquil spa complements JW Marriott’s $35 million hotel transformation and is designed to be a beacon of tranquility among the hustle and bustle of Surfers Paradise.

Stunning architectural designs, elegant surrounds, sumptuous dining and luxurious pampering is what awaits you at The Banya Mullumbimby. Built on the bricks of a 1920’s bank, The Banya is a modern, experiential twist on a traditional European bathhouse and prides itself on curating an immersive social, bathing and dining experience. It’s unlike any day spa we’ve visited.

The Gold Coast’s most popular beachside shopping centre, The Oasis, has launched their brand-new Wellness Hub so you can kickstart 2023 with a new and improved focus on your health and wellbeing.

Co-founded by leading fitness instructor, Emma Masters, Therapy Fitness is one of the Gold Coast’s newest fitness concepts with three unique offerings. You can choose between a low-light, club-style cycle class, a hot pilates offering and a resistance-based treadmill and weights class. Or just choose all three. 

Set amongst lush rainforest, against the backdrop of a lovingly restored 100-year-old farmhouse, The Bathhouse At Ground is truly something special. Inspired by the natural surrounds and seamlessly blending nature into every aspect of the building’s design, the health sanctuary breathes relaxation. Expect lavish touches, natural textures and earthy, wooden tones which compliment the surrounding wilderness. 

Slip off your shoes, exhale and let any stress melt away when you step foot into the stunning new health sanctuary sprinkling its calming magic around the Gold Coast. Nestled in lush seaside escape Casuarina, Kalm Springs is an indulgent seaside health spa that is all about healing, rejuvenation and wellness from within.

Cardamom Pod is the OG of vegetarian eating in the heart of Broadbeach, where you can enjoy a weekend breakfast array of Insta-worthy waffles, pancakes, mermaid and acai bowls. They've also always had options for lunch and dinner, like vegetarian salads and hot savoury meals like shepherd’s pie, lasagne, curries, dahl and moussaka, but recently they've upped their dining game and we're loving it.

Kick off your shoes, take a deep breath and prepare to be transported to a luxurious, stress-free environment reminiscent of a tropical paradise. No, you’re not on an island getaway, you’ve just stepped into the heavenly Soak Bathhouse.

Set in dew-draped Currumbin Valley is the splendid Eden Health Retreat, occupying a sheer 120 hectares of tranquil promised land and fresh country air. Built with sustainability in mind, this holistic earthy-inspired retreat covers all aspects of wellness: fitness, nutrition, naturopathy and life coaching to name albeit a few indulgences.

Located high in the lush Gold Coast Hinterland is the famous Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat. Offering the perfect balance of fitness, nutrition and heavenly rest, Gwinganna will soothe your soul—just what the doctor ordered. A picture-perfect infinity pool overlooking the hinterland hills and ocean is a great place to spend your afternoon after a day of spa pampering.

The Studio Upstairs, which sits high above the hustle and bustle of Burleigh’s Connor Street, is a bright, calming oasis, home to a collective of talented hairdressers, make-up artists and yogis alike.

Sometimes you just need to treat yo’self. But not all spas are created equal. Which is why we’re here to steer you in the right, relaxing direction. And they don’t get much more relaxing than One Spa.

Forget everything you thought knew and had come to expect from a nail salon. Because ERVA is the total opposite. The Gold Coast’s first vegan and organic salon is the ultimate zen destination. From the stunning interior (think warm colours, soft lighting and thoughtful greenery) to the talented and sweet staff, you'll never want to leave this little slice of heaven.

When it comes to the brow game, no one does it better than the Amy Jean Brow Agency. With locations all over Australia and a celeb clientele to boot (Delta Goodrem, Sam Frost and Chloe Morello to name a few) you know you’re in excellent hands. 

If there’s one thing we love, it’s when local businesses take off, and success stories don’t get much bigger than Alpha H. The beauty brand was founded on the Gold Coast by Michelle Doherty, who created Alpha H after experiencing her own skin struggles and desire for more effective treatments. In the two decades since it’s inception, the range has become the holy grail of beauty products, producing skincare that achieves clinical results with minimal effort. 

Size definitely does not matter when it comes to creating a tranquil space, so sashay upstairs at Cornerstone Stores to Earth Essence’s private treatment room. With its leafy outlook, here you can indulge in an organic spa menu from facials to manis and pedis, waxing, microdermabrasion, eye lash extensions and tanning. Or, benefit from a technology originally developed by NASA to grow plants in space—infrared light treatment for cell generation and anti aging. Ah, it sounds like we all need a little Earth Essence in our lives.

With only six reformers, The Pilates Pad boasts an intimate setting where each session is tailored to your request with the instructors focussed on helping each individual achieve their goals from injury rehabilitation, to increasing strength and stability, staying active during a pregnancy or just for overall body tone, The Pilates Pad really benefits everyone. This is the kind of space where you will form friendships and feel part of a tight-knit family. With locations in both Nobby Beach and Varsity Lakes, there will almost always be a reformer free at this, one of the best Pilates studios on the Gold Coast. 

Upon walking into this Pilates studio you will be instantly transported to what feels like a Bali retreat; with whitewashed timber floors, a vertical garden wall, leather chairs and pouffes, the most beautiful lampshades, and the ocean lapping not too far away. The Body Method’s light wooden reformer carriages which you’ll melt into (and make you forget you are actually there to workout) also contribute to the comfortable, relaxing and luxurious vibe of this place. 

If you’ve ever treated yourself to a long wine-fuelled lunch or perhaps splashed out on a fanciful weekend getaway, you can attest that Cabarita’s dreamy Halcyon House is the kinda place you wish you could shut off from reality and hide away forever. A recent addition to this whimsical beachside resort, while Halcyon Spa is not technically on the Gold Coast, it is absolutely worth the short jaunt south across the border if you’re looking for the ultimate day spa experience. Designed by the same creative hands behind the adjoining boutique hotel and Paper Daisy restaurant, Halcyon Spa is wrapped in crisp white stucco walls, with those signature breezeblocks and archways hiding relaxation areas and calming courtyards. Inside, you’ll find accents of Moroccan mosaics, honey timber floors, upholstered wallpaper and bespoke mismatched textiles and furnishings that somehow marrying together effortlessly. There’s also a Hammam-inspired domed steam room, where you can bliss out pre or post-treatment to maximise the rejuvenation experience

The arrival of Azure Spa & Fitness is another final piece of the puzzle in The Star Gold Coast’s staggering transformation. Quickly taking its place among the best day spas on the Gold Coast, step past the doors and be transported to a tranquil oasis. Choose from an indulgent treatment menu including luxe facials and massage to signature body treatments, manis and pedis, plus offerings just for the gents. With seven treatment rooms at the ready, guests are welcome to take advantage of the high-tech fitness room and sprawling resort pool to extend their experience.

If you’re a Pilates fan, you’ll already be familiar with The Body Method brand, who boast one of the most attractive studios on the Coast. An organic expansion of their flagship studio in Tugun, this larger, even more magical new space hosts yoga, Barre, meditation, as well as Pilates and workshops (from pregnancy yoga to women’s wellness), and we’re so ready to sign up. Seriously, this dreamy, light-soaked space needs to be experienced to be believed, and it’ll be impossible to walk away from a class without slipping into a total Zen-like state of mind.

Organic beauty spa, Earth & Skin is soothing all our stresses away. Located in a stunning Queenslander-style cottage at the entrance to Mudgeeraba, this sanctuary is just what you need: calming, quiet and heavenly. Offering a range of holistic treatments including signature massage experiences, organic facials, sugaring, eyebrow shaping, eco spray tans or incredibly blissful manis and pedis, Earth & Skin is the spa getaway of your dreams.

Without question, Freedom Float Centre is one of the best and most innovative wellness centres on the Gold Coast. Here you’ll find three state-of-the-art floatation pods that are filled with Epsom salt-infused water—that’s a similar density to the Red Sea and warmed to body temperature. Strip to your birthday suit, flick out the lights, lay back and surrender to a relaxed meditative state that promotes healing and reduces stress.

Exclusively vegetarian, using nothing but fresh and unadulterated ingredients, Nude Sisters Whole Food Cafe is an inviting space with a vibrant all-day menu that’s fast luring those Gold Coasters who are meticulously counting their calorie intake, while refusing to give up on their social brunching dates. Bright, white and minimalistic décor with blonde wood, polished cement floors and dusty pink accents is totally trending right now, providing a clean backdrop where the garden-fresh, fragrant ingredients and decadent desserts can take centre stage.

Located at the mouth of the Tallebudgera Valley, step inside The Bath House (by local vegan babes, Greenhouse Canteen) and we bet you’ll immediately breathe out a sigh in the same instant your tense shoulders relax. Inspired by bathhouses in the likes of Morocco—where all facilities are gathered under one roof—the space is modern and minimalistic. They’ve nailed the flow and feng shui, with lots of white, soft arches, natural textures, pops of peach and neon green, cute hand lettering signs adorning the walls, several inviting lounging areas for lingering and ample plants smattered about.

Kaizen Experience, shortened to KX, is Japanese for “change for the better” and therefore makes the KX Pilates movement a philosophy that focuses on small and ongoing improvement in our lives. KX’s Miami studio is an ultra modern space and along with incredibly friendly and vibrant instructors, it truly sets you up for a great workout experience. KX only offers reformer Pilates, which is a revolutionary, fast paced, high intensity workout. So, it’s advised to start at the beginner introduction level (where you can get x5 classes for $50) to get your head around the core strengthening elements of traditional Pilates with circuit, cardio and endurance training fundamentals added.

Surfers Paradise’s funky QT Gold Coast is no ordinary lodging, and its retro 50s-inspired theme continues through to one of the Gold Coast’s best day spa settings. A colourful spa experience that’s unlikely to be outshone anywhere along the glittering coastal strip, get in the mood by snuggling into a robe and sipping herbal tea as you ponder their array of treatment options. Finish with a complimentary treat, giving your skin a blood-circulating boost in Spa Q’s hammam steam room and ice fountain. Is this one of the best day spas on the Gold Coast? We think so!

Ritual Yoga and Pilates is a Pinterest board of a studio, complete with wooden floorboards, dream catchers and—as their website puts it—“a great living space where you can enjoy free wifi and are welcome to sit, have a cup of tea and catch up with friends”. Averaging eight classes per day with a room set up for Pilates Barre and yoga, this could very well be our favourite thing about Palm Beach (forgive us, Barefoot Barista!).

You’d be hard pressed to find a Gold Coaster who hasn’t been touched by the angelic hands of Peace Yoga in some way, shape or form. Whether by attending one of their many classes spanning baby to brain and partner to pregnancy; being a part of one of the many Gold Coast weddings and special ceremonies blessed by their founder, Doreena; or partaking in one of their annual visits to India. Joining the Peace Yoga community is so much more than an increase in flexibility or a delicate chant or two.

Commanding a highway-side Miami street corner, Greenhouse Canteen is an intimate and leafy eatery that’s pumping busy every time we drive past. Delivering plant-based fare to the masses, Greenhouse is changing foodie perceptions with their mantra: “anything you can do, we can do vegan”. Think curiosities like buffalo cauliflower wings, 'meatball' sub sandwiches, pulled jackfruit enchiladas, quinoa chilli-loaded nachos, and the most mind-blowing raw desserts we’ve ever wrapped our lips around. Not a vegan or vego? Don’t mock it until you try it, ‘cause this little gem is totally deserving of a spot among the best restaurants on the Gold Coast.