Gold Coast glamour meets serious zen at this next-level retreat.
A luxurious new day spa has arrived on the Gold Coast, promising a full body reset inspired by the region’s elements. CIEL Spa blends a unique bio-wellness philosophy with the surf, sand, sound and sun that its locale is so famous for, providing a sensory experience that’s both restorative and indulgent.
The Gold Coast’s day spa scene just got even better. (Image: Justin Nicholas)
The newly opened sanctuary in Burleigh Heads is set to redefine the Gold Coast spa experience. With treatments grounded in science and biology, paired with the wisdom and intuition of world-class spa therapists, guests can expect optimum results.
“CIEL Spa is more than a destination spa," says Amy Hides, Director of Spa and Wellness. “It’s a commitment to improving longevity and connection through the power of holistic biohacking and traditional therapies. We’ve curated every treatment, hand-picked every product and tailored each guest experience to deliver a wellness offering that feels personal, elevated and deeply restorative."
Each luxurious treatment is tailored to individual needs.
Just browsing the menu here will put you in a state of zen. All the usual suspects are on offer – deep-tissue massages, hair care, skin needling, LED facials and a variety of cosmetic procedures – all delivered with a holistic approach and tailored to individual needs. There is also a list of elevated offerings for deeper immersion, including treatments for couples.
But what makes CIEL so unique is its exclusive range of touchless therapies. These non-contact treatments are designed not only to be less invasive, but also to increase mental clarity, improve sleep, reduce inflammation and accelerate overall recovery. Think everything from sauna sessions and zero-gravity dry floats to mitochondrial light therapy and a custom-built Himalayan salt room.
Experience the soothing weightlessness of a zero-gravity dry float. (Image: Justin Nicholas)
CIEL Spa will also be the first of its kind in Australia to showcase the haircare range from globally recognised skincare brand, Augustinus Bader . The collection will include facial, body massage and headspa scalp therapies – all fully exclusive to CIEL. Products by Melbourne-based clean science brand Synergie Skin and celebrity facialist Lejla Cas’ Knesko range will also be available.
The new day spa is situated on the second floor of the recently opened Mondrian Gold Coast , one of Australia’s most highly anticipated brand launches of 2025. Despite its location, CIEL welcomes both hotel guests and members of the public – an especially hospitable offer considering the Mondrian’s other amenities.
CIEL Spa is located within the newly opened Mondrian Gold Coast. (Image: Content Lion)
This means that spa guests can take full advantage of the five-star hotel’s Haven pool club on level three. The beautifully designed space is the perfect post-treatment appointment – relax on sun-drenched loungers, take a dip in the pool, grab a cocktail from the bar and enjoy views across one of the Gold Coast’s best beaches.
Plus, if you’re feeling a little too languid after your day of well-deserved indulgence, simply book a stay in one of the Mondrian’s exquisite rooms upstairs. When it comes to self-care, does it get any better than this?
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.
The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.
Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.
Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.
Exploring K’gari
Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)
This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.
If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.
The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.
Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)
If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.
While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.
The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.
Unwind at sunset
Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)
As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.
The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.
When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.
Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.
Indulge and disconnect
Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)
Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.
The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.
Getting there
The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)
Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.
