The best day spas in the Blue Mountains

Just off Blackheath’s main street, Aqua Ignis sits quietly behind a discreet, green-tiled doorway – only announcing itself as a bathhouse with the steam that fogs the windows. Inside, curved wooden walls (designed to be sensitive to the heritage space, in collaboration with acclaimed designer Siki Im) form a walkway that leads you through to a hot rock sauna, two cold plunge pools, and a vast magnesium pool backed by a window overlooking the outdoor relaxation space. Up a narrow staircase, you’ll find a herbal-infused steam room, a few private showers, and a circular lounge space with comfy, low loungers and free-flowing herbal tea.

Blue Mountains Sauna’s mantra is "sit, sweat, chill, repeat", and chill you will – both in the metaphorical and literal sense; because while the facility boasts a Finnish sauna that sits at an extremely cosy 90 degrees celsius, there's also a cold plunge that’s meant for dipping in straight after you sweat it out (and repeat). If you live nearby or end up falling in love with the Finnish art of relaxation, you can purchase multi-entry passes or a membership. Your entry includes access to both the sauna and the cold plunge for two hours, some refreshments, a bench towel and slippers.

Tucked and hushed away in the basement of Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa, a building that oozes old world style, this modern day spa has four treatment rooms offering treatments and packages that cater to couples, individuals and groups – did someone say hen’s party? Lilianfels’ signature package, the Outer Beauty Inner Health Retreat starts off with a bath and incorporates a Turkish exfoliation, organic moor mud wrap, aroma massage, personalised facial, and volcanic foot therapy. No detox break would be complete without a leisurely swim, and Lilianfels has an indoor pool and heated outdoor pool nestled in two acres of rambling English country-style grounds (complete with a smaller French Riviera-style garden in a glasshouse).

This day spa, secluded in a heritage home overlooking Katoomba's Sublime Point Lookout, is one of the area’s most well-established. It specialises in couples treatments in its beautifully appointed twin treatment rooms, as well as group bookings. Come here to lay on gently heated massage beds and be scrubbed and slathered with Spa Sublime's specially-formulated product range, Akorah, which is infused with native ingredients and signature scent blends inspired by the surrounding national park.

Perched on the slopes overlooking Lake Llyell, just north of Katoomba, is probably not where you’d expect to find a traditional Japanese onsen. And yet, once you cross the threshold of this authentic day spa and bath house, you’ll be left wondering if you’re not, in fact, looking out over the foothills of Mount Fuji. Using naturally mineralised water drawn from underground springs, the heated baths are infused with herbal treatments to soothe aching muscles and energise the soul. For the ultimate pampering, massages, skin treatments, and private baths are also available, and you can even stay in traditional Japanese accommodation on site if you want to make a weekend of it. 

Time Out tip: You'll need to book a few weeks in advance to get a spot here. 

As you drive through the entry gates of the Parklands Country Garden and Lodges in Blackheath and approach the day spa, you begin to notice that you're not in for an average experience. The Parklands specialises in creating space to make every client feel special and well looked after. In some rooms, you’ll find deep bathtubs overlooking broad windows with tranquil views of the gardens, and large natural landscape paintings you can get lost in. This spa offers popular couples packages and is particularly well known for its soothing massages.

This small but luxurious day spa is located inside Echoes Boutique Hotel, which is surrounded by the sheer cliffs and leafy green rainforest of the Jamison Valley. With two treatment rooms, including a single room and a couples’ room with a private bath and sauna, the spa is low-lit with slick black tiled walls. There are facial therapies and body treatments on offer using European products formulated with soothing natural ingredients from Kerstin Florian, as well as massage therapy and soak therapy treatments that are ideal for winding down after a day of exploring mountain trails. To get the most out of your spa experience, book a room at Echoes and wander between your room and the spa in your specially provided gown and slippers. This option is popular for couples partaking in the Baby Moon package, which is designed to de-stress expectant mums and dads.