To de-stress and rejuvenate, the soothing indulgences of a spa treatment can be just as necessary to our wellbeing as a holiday.

Thankfully the village of Port Douglas and its surrounds in Far North Queensland is liberally sprinkled with all manner of spas.

At the top of this pyramid of pleasure are the wellness day spas. Turkish or Roman baths were the first wellness spas, with the Romans coining the term ‘salus per aquae’ which means health through water.

Wellness@port in Macrossan Street is a spacious day spa offering a steam room with an Ocean Wave™ dry hydrotherapy bed.

At Sabaya Day Spa (within the Rydges resort) they have developed full retreat packages with the resort, including spa cuisine, and at the Sunbird Spa (within the Mirage Sunbird complex) the mini Vichy and steam capsule is popular, as is the ‘beach’ tea room for apres-spa relaxation.

Back at Macrossan Street, Port Douglas Natural Therapies Centre & Spa offer spa hydrotherapy and an extensive range of massage options starting with their signature treatment AromaStone.

The warm stones relax muscles, tone skin and detoxify while the chilled stones decongest and revitalise.  Made from Australian granite and marble, the stones are retailed to spas around the globe.

Worshipping the body is a ritual practised at day spas within resorts as well as on the high street.  At Sea Temple Resort, MiiSpa is an oasis of tranquillity.

With eight treatment rooms – including two Vichy rooms, two couple rooms and special rooms for facials, body wraps, manicures and pedicures – it’s the perfect place to be scrubbed, polished, wrapped and totally refreshed.

Review Alison’s tips when visiting a spa