Capella Sydney Opens Luxurious SPA To The Public

Capella Sydney’s luxurious Auriga Spa opened to the public on 1 November, offering various beauty and relaxation services to Sydneysiders and tourists. The spa and its world-class wellness facilities were previously only available to in-house guests.

The perfectly designed room is housed on the sixth level of the former Department of Education building and operates under the Capella house name Auriga Spa. Day visitors can use the retreat’s ambient spa treatment rooms, steam and sauna facilities, experiential showers, and an ice fountain up to 30 minutes before an Auriga Spa appointment.

“We are delighted to open Auriga Spa to the public and welcome day guests to discover Capella Sydney’s sophisticated wellness services and facilities,” says Dianne April Dayagbil, Spa Manager at Capella Sydney. “Fridays through Sundays have consistently been busy since we opened in March of this year, reflecting a surge in in-house guests around weekends, but we still wanted more people to be able to experience the Auriga Spa magic.” Those opportunities will come in the form of midweek appointments.

Auriga Spa, which is well-known at Capella’s other international locations, offers luxurious treatments for the face and body, showcasing prestige products with ties to the country in which the property operates. True to this ethos, Capella Sydney’s spa selection includes a bespoke collection of skincare products from Byron Bay brand Synthesis Organics.

The spa’s treatment programme is one-of-a-kind and distinctly Australian, with signature massages inspired by the new and full moons that seek to increase circulation, relieve physical and mental strain, and balance chakras. Signature Rituals, which stimulate introspection, new beginnings, and reflection, are perhaps the most sumptuous treatments on the spa menu. “Running for two hours each, the Rituals are an indulgent way for guests to treat themselves and escape the pace of the bustling city outside our walls,” said Dayagbil.

Several Wellness Journeys that develop connections with land are also available, such as the Connect to Country treatment, which involves stones gathered from remote locations with permission from Indigenous Elders. Body Alchemy packages, which include exquisite exfoliation, detoxifying masks, and enzyme peel wraps, are also available on the menu. The Facial Alchemy treatments are intended to restore balance, change, and nourish the skin by using precious oils and bioactive components supplemented by LED light therapy.

“As with all other aspects of the Capella brand, the beauty and wellness program is unique to the region in which we operate and highly personalised to the needs of our guests,” says Dayagbil, who has extensive experience in the beauty and wellness space, including long-running residencies at hotels in Bhutan and the Maldives. “By attuning the experiences we offer with nature, we aim to keep our clients centred and grounded, something which I’m sure our day guests will now enjoy being able to tap into.”

A key feature of the spa is its relationship with the century-old sandstone building it inhabits. The site-sensitive architecture and interior design were handled by Make Architects and BAR Studio, respectively, with consultation from heritage experts Urbis.

Three of the four spa treatment rooms are anchored beneath beautifully restored “heritage lanterns.” These treatment rooms, which may accommodate individuals or couples, appear as contemporary cubes inserted into the atmospheric space, with flooring made from reclaimed site timbers to further enhance the connection to history.

The 20-metre heated swimming pool and Technogym-equipped gymnasium will be accessible only to in-house guests. Guests having an Auriga Spa appointment who are not staying at the hotel should check in at the ground-floor lobby 30 minutes before their appointment.