JEWEL IN THE CROWN
Going for a spa day has new meaning at the Crown Spa Sydney, where every detail has been perfected to create the ultimate five-star experience.
It’s one of life’s great pleasures, but you may be surprised to learn that most luxury spas lack natural sunlight. It makes sense: sequestered to the calm arteries of a multi-storey hotel away from the city bustle, the sole purpose of a spa is to feel removed from life’s stressors, which means fashioning a dimly lit, soundproof refuge. But if those busy streets were replaced by the gentle lap of Sydney’s iconic harbour, as is the case at Crown Towers Sydney’s recently opened in-house spa, it would be remiss not to welcome the outdoors in.
“To have this spa in the location that we do right on Sydney Harbour takes it to the next level of experience,” says Crown Sydney’s executive general manager of non-gaming, Mark Holmes, of the spa’s central space, punctuated by floor-to-ceiling windows opening to an outdoor relaxation deck at the northern end of the Barangaroo site.
As important as daylight is to the spa, there are still plenty of cosy corners to explore. Arrive at least an hour before your treatment to take full advantage of the myriad chill-out areas. Take your pick from the infrared sauna or steam room to sweat it out pre-treatment, or iron out any kinks with a gentle stretch in the yoga and meditation zone. Seasoned spa-goers will love the vitality pool complete with soothing water-jet streams, while the ‘experience’ shower is essentially an aqua massage, with beams of water that vary in pressure depending on the program of choice. “What you’ll find if you walk in and go straight into a treatment room, is that it takes a good 15 minutes for most people to begin to unwind. By sitting in the vitality pool or experience shower, it’s kickstarting that relaxation process,” says Melissa Vitalis, spa manager of Crown Spa Sydney.
The focus on aquatic treatments isn’t by accident, with the hotel’s harbour location taken into consideration at every turn.
“Everywhere you look is a celebration of Sydney and the city’s relationship with both water and surfing,” says Holmes. The best example of this is in interior architect Blainey North’s decision to ask Sydney-based surfboard shaper and artist Hayden Cox of Hayden-shapes to craft the towering walls of the spa zone entirely of translucent, coloured resin, mimicking the curvature and material of surfboard rails and celebrating the city’s intrinsic beach culture.
The treatments are similarly considered. Swiss luxury powerhouse La Prairie is the flagship skincare partner, with no detail spared during the personalised experiences. “The movement techniques have been designed for your skin’s specific needs and are tailored to give the very best visible results,” explains Rosi Fernandez, managing director of La Prairie Australia. The signature treatment is undoubtedly the brand’s Platinum Rare facial. Over the course of 90 minutes, a series of massage techniques are interspersed with a hand and foot massage, a deep cleanse and a detoxifying mask to promote results that persist long after you’ve left the spa.
Just as centred on your wellbeing is the hotel’s ‘journey’ menu. Ranging from ‘Sleep Support with Shirodhara’ to a ‘Detox and Adrenal Boost’, the treatments include a series of guided meditations, facial treatments, massage, lymphatic drainage and more. “Our journeys are complete packages that focus on stress, anxiety and a lack of sleep that people may be experiencing,” explains Vitalis. How to continue that blissful journey beyond the allocated few hours? For a truly restorative experience, pack an overnight bag and simply float on up to one of the Tower’s equally comforting hotel rooms.
“To have this spa in the location that we do on Sydney Harbour takes it to the next level of experience”