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Let’s be honest – when you’re feeling a little low, there’s nothing quite like a spa day to totally re-set you. Whether you’re getting your glow back with a facial, soaking away any stress in a steaming thermal pool or treating yourself to a luxury hotel staycation, a little self-care does wonders. And while we reckon you don’t strictly need an excuse to book a pamper session, if you are looking for one, this might just be it. According to the experts, the very best day spa in the country is right here in Sydney.
Australia’s best hotel and day spas have officially been crowned in the 2026 World Spa Awards. Now in its 12th year, this respected annual awards ceremony celebrates the country’s finest wellness experiences, with winners chosen based on combined votes from industry experts and everyday spa-goers.
This year, the title of Australia’s Best Day Spa went to Gillian Adams – a hidden sanctuary in Sydney’s Upper North Shore. This pamper palace has been around for more than 30 years, combining a full-service salon, luxury spa and a leafy garden restaurant. You can begin your reset in the aesthetic aquamedic pool – set beneath a massive domed roof that gives the space a grand, Greco-Roman feel – before drifting over to the salon for a fresh cut and finishing your afternoon with Devonshire tea in the courtyard. Sounds like a pretty dreamy day out to us.
Meanwhile, The Langham Gold Coast’s opulent Chuan Spa took out the title of Oceania’s Best Hotel Spa 2026 for the fourth year running. Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, its treatment menu includes everything from hot stone therapy and white clay facials to rejuvenating mud wraps. (If you’re keen to get a taste of the Chuan experience without travelling inter-state, you can check out the Sydney outpost – it’s our Travel and News Editor’s favourite spa in the city).
The Gold Coast solidified its status as a wellness paradise with the Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa once again claiming the award for Australia’s Best Resort Spa. Between its signature therapies, group escape packages and sculpt-focused floating Pilates, this retreat checks every box for a dream wellness getaway.
To cap off Queensland’s golden sweep, the iconic Gwinganna Retreat & Spa in the Gold Coast Hinterland was voted Oceania’s Best Wellness Retreat. With all-inclusive activities, organic meals, guided nature immersions, luxe accommodation and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest day spa, it’s easy to see why this place reigns supreme.
The Australian winners at the World Spa Awards 2026:
- Best Day Spa: Gillian Adams Salon & Spa, Sydney
- Best Hotel Spa: Chuan Spa at The Langham Gold Coast
- Best Resort Spa: Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
- Best Wellness Retreat: Gwinganna Retreat & Spa, Gold Coast Hinterland
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