The cool and chic Halcyon House, at Cabarita Beach on the NSW north coast, has opened a serene wellness spa featuring T+I’s favourite skin and body care brand Sodashi. The Halcyon Spa sanctuary has been conceived by specialist consultant Naomi Gregory
Thanks for the great write up Sigourney. Always a pleasure to host you and I know Sarah and Jenny were thrilled to look after you!
Stepping out of the lifts on level one, I quickly spot the neon signs of spaQ – beckoning me to a bright, welcoming space furnished with pops of colour and beachy cane decor. I’ve just checked into the hotel for two nights with the family and am already slipping into holiday mode. When I left Damien on kid-duty poolside (on a big white daybed, mind you) no one even complained. Cue: backing away slowly and bolting for the lift.
Now, as Sarah, the Spa Manager, welcomes me calmly and shows me to my locker, I start to feel the stress from the hectic flight slip from my shoulders. I don a white satin robe (not unlike the ones a boxer wears to a championship fight) and a pair of cushy rubber slippers and pad out to meet Jenny, my massage therapist.
On the way to my treatment room (there are 6 at spaQ – and external non-QT guests are welcome to book treatments) I peek my head into the Hamaam. Arrive ahead of your treatment time and bring your swimmers if you want to spend some time there. There’s also a row of manicure stations overlooking the pool, a lovely array of Uspa products alongside Issada mineral makeup and trendy Louvelle shower caps.
As a firm-massage aficionado, I’m ashamed to say that in the past I’ve been guilty of judging a masseuse by their stature. One look at Jenny - a pretty and petite brunette - may suggest her technique might be more light nudge than heavy kneed, but minutes in to my thermal massage, I could tell I was in for something special. She explained that the U-Spa oil she was using contains a blend that would help relieve the tension from my muscles while relaxing my mind. At least I think that’s what she said, because by that stage my mind was hovering somewhere between the eleventh floor of the hotel and a sublime Alpha-state. The hour whipped by with astronomic speed and I almost cried when she said softly, “How are you feeling Sigourney?” – which is massage-therapist-speak for, “Lady, your moment of bliss is O-V-E-R – but allow me to show you to the Relaxation Room.”
The Relaxation Room was very nice and almost enough of a compensation. I snugged down into a smooshy sheepskin covered Acapulco chair and sipped my Serenity Mayde Tea. ‘You could definitely fall asleep here,’ I think as I watch some seriously cute kids playing happily in the pool below…. ‘Hey… they look kind of familiar.’
The spa, created by International Spa Consultant Naomi Gregory, is a destination in itself. Gregory selected the heavenly Sodashi product range and the treatment menu folds in Fijian elements, as well as utilising a hammam and wet and dry treatment bures. But it's the apres-treatment chill-out space that makes this spa spectacular