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NSW’s newest luxury bathhouse is nestled in the Hawkesbury Valley

Credit: VELA Spa & Bathhouse

Jessica O'Donnell Jessica O'Donnell
The sprawling wellness sanctuary is just a 60-minute drive from Sydney.

A new wellness destination in the Hawkesbury Valley is about to make prioritising relaxation and health a lot easier for locals and Sydneysiders. Opening September 22 within the luxury Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley resort, VELA Spa & Bathhouse invites guests to embrace a few peaceful hours, or even an entire weekend, spent resting, recharging and leaving feeling restored.

To say I’ve had a busy few weeks would be an understatement. I’ve relocated back to Australia after several years living overseas, started a new job and essentially turned my life upside down to begin a new chapter. While I have no regrets, I’ve been feeling run down in a way my usually high-energy self isn’t used to. As I haven’t yet accrued the annual leave to take a proper holiday, an invitation to spend a morning at VELA ahead of its opening date, following a night at Crowne Plaza, was met with an enthusiastic ‘yes, please’ almost instantly.

The sanctuary brings together mineral pools, saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, float therapy and traditional spa treatments, set on eight hectares of gardens with views towards the Blue Mountains. And as a bonus, it only takes an hour by car to reach from Sydney.

A new wellness destination

vela spa and bathhouse nordic spa
Sweat out your stress in the Nordic sauna. (Credit: VELA Spa & Bathhouse)

The site was previously occupied by Villa Thalgo Day Spa, a much-loved fixture of the Hawkesbury Valley for 25 years. Yet, after the facility was severely affected by repeated flooding, the team decided it was time to completely reimagine the space.

Along with making the new venue more resilient to future flooding, they envisioned VELA as more than a traditional day spa. While the classic spa-day experience hasn’t disappeared – you’ll find an extensive menu of facials, massages and body treatments, from relaxation and aromatherapy massages to advanced skin treatments and immersive three-hour rituals – VELA has been designed as a destination where guests can linger for a few hours, moving between treatments, thermal facilities and relaxation spaces at their own pace, rather than a short intermission in an otherwise busy day.

VELA hasn’t forgotten that wellness is about balance, either. A champagne bar has been added into the mix, ensuring the experience feels as indulgent as it does restorative.

With early access to the new space, I got a taste of everything VELA has to offer. Starting with a couple of hours spent between the different saunas and mineral pool (I don’t think I can count the ice bath, as I only lasted about three seconds), I was booked in for an hour-long massage. When I’ve had massages in the past, I’ve found it tricky to quieten my brain long enough to enjoy it. But thanks to the time I spent in the bathhouse beforehand, I was already relaxed and able to properly switch off during the treatment in a way I usually find impossible.

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Take a hydrothermal journey

vela spa and bathhouse mineral pool
Swim in the mineral pool and feel your mind and body relax. (Credit: VELA Spa & Bathhouse)

At the heart of VELA is its two-hour bathhouse immersion: a thermal journey designed to ease tension, support recovery and leave you feeling a distinct sense of calm.

I moved between magnesium-rich mineral pools, indoor and outdoor cold plunges, a traditional Nordic sauna, barrel sauna, infrared sauna and steam room. There are also dedicated indoor and outdoor relaxation areas when you’re ready to step out of the circuit and just chill. I brought my Kindle with me and took half an hour after my time in the bathhouse to slowly come back to life, rather than just jumping back into my regular routine like I usually would.

For an even deeper reset, VELA’s float rooms feature magnesium-rich pools beneath softly illuminated ceilings. The experience is designed to reduce sensory input and take pressure off the body, giving the body and mind the opportunity to properly reset.

Luxury wellness without the eye-watering price

vela spa and bathhouse
You can swap from indoor to outdoor spa facilities to enjoy the verdant surroundings. (Credit: VELA Spa & Bathhouse)

Despite its premium feel, the bathhouse is surprisingly accessible. A two-hour immersion costs $75 from Monday to Thursday and $89 from Friday to Sunday.

Entry includes the complete bathhouse circuit, along with a robe, towel, slippers, personal locker, tea and light refreshments. Guests booking a spa treatment of 60 minutes or longer also receive a complimentary 60-minute bathhouse immersion.

Those wanting to turn their visit into a longer escape and enjoy the same experience I did can stay at the adjoining Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley. Overnight wellness packages begin at $389 and include accommodation, breakfast and a two-hour bathhouse immersion, making it an easy restorative getaway without having to travel far from Sydney.

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Jessica O'Donnell

Jessica O'Donnell

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Slowing down in Moree: a guide to the Artesian Spa Capital of Australia

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    The Artesian Spa Capital of Australia offers the perfect destination to escape the grind and reset.

    The world moves more slowly in Moree, and that’s how it should be. Here, country charm and heritage buildings fill the town’s wide streets. While the surrounding farmland mixes with lush riverways to create a fascinating landscape.

    But the biggest pull? Moree is known as the Artesian Spa Capital of Australia. It’s truly a place to slow down and disconnect, all an easy train ride from Sydney.

    Soak in Moree’s artesian water

    kids at Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre
    Dive in to Moree’s artesian waters.

    Moree is not your typical wellness retreat, replacing pretence with casual and easy. Blessed to be sitting above the Great Artesian Basin, it feeds the town (and surrounding villages) with hot, mineral-rich water. Loaded with minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulphur, this water is believed to help with skin health, joint function and tissue repair.

    And the town’s crown jewel, Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, has reopened after extensive upgrades. This state-of-the-art aquatic centre offers accessible facilities with multiple artesian baths of varying temperatures between 38 and 41°C.

    Feel like exploring a little further? About an hour’s drive from Moree, the village of Boomi also offers public access to this same artesian water. Pop into Boomi Artesian Pool to make the most of a 25-metre cold pool, a wading pool and a hot artesian spa pool.

    Just an hour west of Boomi, you’ll also find Mungindi Hot Artesian Pool, another relaxing place to rejuvenate for the afternoon in the mineral-rich water.

    Moree’s best stays

    woman swimming ta Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre
    Stay right by Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.

    There are several motels within walking distance of the aquatic centre, so you linger longer in its therapeutic waters. A day pass not enough? Really soak in the benefits of Moree at three local stays with their own artesian baths.

    Gwydir Thermal Pools Resort boasts five artesian pools for motel and caravan park guests, ranging in soothing temperatures from 34 to 39 degrees. And that includes a 25-metre lap pool.

    The Phoenix, Artesian Spa Resort & Accommodation features outdoor artesian thermal pools and six indoor artesian spas, all 34 to 42°C, plus regular pools for guests staying in their accommodations.

    While the Artesian Spa Motel matches 46 comfortable budget rooms set across five acres of landscaped grounds, with direct access (for guests) to its own natural artesian hot thermal pool.

    Moree’s location at the crossroads of the Newell and Gwydir Highways makes it the ideal resting place for those road tripping through country NSW. With plenty of accommodation options, including farm stays, quaint bed and breakfasts and affordable motels.

    Delving into nature around Moree

    aerial of moree
    Find plenty of natural beauty in and around Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Beyond the baths, find calm in Moree’s nature. Soak up the impressive Gwydir River from the peaceful Tareelaroi Weir Recreation Area. Popular with locals, this scenic spot is perfect for fishing, kayaking and picnics. Delve into local history at the Terry Hie Hie Picnic Area – a significant Gamilaroi cultural site. The picnic area is still used today as a ceremonial gathering ground, with educational signage sharing the history of the Gamilaroi People and the mission which used to reside here in the early 20th Century. Follow the Yana-y Warruwi Walking Track to explore the area’s box pine forest.

    Combine nature and culture at the Jellicoe Park Open Spaces Aboriginal Art Trail along the scenic Mehi River Walk. Find artworks from local Indigenous artists across a range of different mediums, like carved logs, engraved and painted sandstone and scar tree paintings.

    A taste of Moree

    meal at Moree Country Club
    Sit down for a tasty meal after a game of golf. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Taste the best of local cafes as you wander past the Art Deco architecture of Moree’s tree-lined main streets. Join the locals each morning at Brooker Trading Co as they line up for their morning java. Stay for classic breakfast dishes like eggs benedict and Dutch pancakes, or arrive later in the day for a hearty lunch menu. Inside a gorgeous Art Deco building, 61 Balo is another tasty breakfast option, with pet-friendly service. The recently renovated Cafe Omega is another popular stop for fresh, hearty meals – the chicken burger is a particular crowd pleaser – all served with a smile.

    Get inspired as you wander the CBD’s Mural Trail, stopping at some of Moree’s six art galleries along the way. Bank Art Museum is a must-see, housed in the town’s heritage bank building and home to a collection of First Nations art, plus a changing calendar of touring exhibitions.

    Bank Art Museum Moree
    Step inside the gorgeous Bank Art Museum Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Get active with a round on the beautiful riverside course at Moree Golf Club (and refuel afterwards at the delicious onsite restaurant) or a game of bowls at Moree Services Club’s state-of-the-art facility. Visit on the last weekend of September to join (or watch) Run the Plains, Moree’s annual two-day running festival.

    Known as ‘white gold’ country, Moree is Australia’s most productive agricultural region. Visit from April to September to join a cotton farm tour and get to know one of Moree’s major exports.

    However long you choose to stay, there’s plenty to soak in around Moree.

    Start planning the ultimate escape at visitmoreeplains.com.au.