Hidden atop some bars right smack in the Melbourne city centre is an authentic Japanese bathhouse called Onsen Ma.

One of Melbourne’s most popular day spas, an hour-long bathing session promises to slow your frenetic pace of life by a few notches. You can literally watch your troubles being carried away by the steam-filled air.

If you feel iffy about being stark naked with strangers, private baths are always an option. Or splash out on a shiatsu massage while you’re there – the acupressure massage helps to soothe tired joints and bones while stretching and kneading your body back in shape. 

Reservations are essential, preferably one to two weeks in advance.

Get directions to Onsen Ma

Move over, yoga. Floating is now the latest health craze to hit Melbourne. Dubbed as “the ultimate way to relax body and mind,” a jaunt in a floatation pod at Gravity Floatation Centre helps your body escape the reins of gravity and release pent-up musculoskeletal tension.

Each light and sound-proof pod contains a highly concentrated Epsom salt solution, which allows you to float effortlessly and feel literally weightless. Perfect for forgetting about that PowerPoint presentation you’ve been working on for weeks or unplugging from the constant bombardment of emails and text messages.

When you emerge and return to our gravity-chained world after an hour’s soak (which is equivalent to about 4 hours of sleep), you will enjoy a renewed sense of clarity and focus, not to mention an unbearable lightness of being.  

Get directions to Gravity Floatation Centre

Novelist and playwright Dean Francis Alfar once said, “One of the best ways to recharge is by simply being in the presence of art. No thoughts, no critiques. Just full-on absorption mode.”

The best place to lose yourself in the magical world of art is the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) - Australia’s oldest, largest, and most-visited gallery. Spanning two sites that are a short distance away from each other, NGV houses a huge collection of renowned international and Australian artworks.

Its international works are on display at NGV International (at 180 St Kilda Road) while Australian works (some 20,000 of them, in fact) can be found at The Ian Potter Centre located at Federation Square. Also known as Fed Square, it is widely considered as one of the most iconic places in Melbourne and a destination for food and the arts.

Works to look out for at the Ian Potter Centre include Frederick McCubbin’s The Pioneer (1904) and Tom Roberts' Shearing the Rams (1890). Also notable are works from Sidney Nolan, known as Australia’s most influential artist of the twentieth century, and for his desert and drought collection.

Get directions to the National Gallery of Victoria

If you appreciate a good vino and have at least half a day to kill, don’t miss out on exploring the splendid wineries dotting the beautiful Yarra Valley. Located in the east of Melbourne city, the region is known for producing some of Australia’s best Chardonnays and sparkling wines.

One winery you should definitely spend an hour or two at is Domaine Chandon at Coldstream. There is a good selection of sparkling wines on offer here, matched by spectacular valley views.

Another to add to your list is De Bortoli Winery – be sure to tuck into handmade pasta with the freshest local produce at Locale, or enjoy a cheese platter at one of the picnic tables overlooking the gardens.

Insider tip: You might want to get a designated driver for the trip if you plan on winery-hopping!

Get directions to Domaine Chandon
Get directions to De Bortoli

Melbourne luxury spa treatments are elevated to new levels of decadence at Werribee Mansion Spa.

Used as the set for various dramas such as The Genie From Down Under and The Pirate Movie, the historic mansion’s biggest claim to fame was hosting two Elton John concerts in the summer of 2007. While exploring the lush mansion grounds built in the 1870s, it’ll be easy to imagine being a part of the aristocratic family of Downton Abbey.

The beautiful day spa’s main draws are its lap pool and private Turkish Hammam chamber, a candle-lit steam room designed for one person or two. You can supplement your chosen massage treatment with a Hammam treatment. This includes an invigorating sugar scrub, a detoxifying mud mask, and steam therapy. We promise that all weariness will melt away after such pampering.  

Get directions to Werribee Mansion Spa

Need to catch a late night or early morning flight after all that pampering? No worries.

If you have a 5 to 7-hour layover in Melbourne, you may be glad to know that PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport offers flexible room rates and fitness facilities for short stays between 7:00am and 7:00pm daily.

Hotel guests can enjoy complimentary wi-fi and access to all hotel facilities including our Fitness Centre. This fully equipped 24-hour gym that offers amazing runway views of the Melbourne Airport.

A perfect way to end a relaxing trip to Melbourne, while preparing for the long journey back home.