Aqua Vitae Day Spa - Manly - Manly (NSW)

1 /5 Caro Cousins: Before writing this review, I reached out to Aqua Vitae management to express my disappointment and share my experience directly. I was told that the Director and Founder, Melissa, would contact me to discuss the matter. Its now been nearly a month without any follow-up, which I can only interpret as a lack of care for both the business and its clients. I visited Aqua Vitae twice in April — first for the Pure Heaven Day Spa Package, and two weeks later for the Illuminating Facial. Unfortunately, both visits left me deeply disappointed. The therapists demonstrated a clear lack of confidence and professional experience in their facial and massage techniques. In fact, I’ve had better head massages at a hair salon. Their touch was so light and ineffective that it made the experience feel awkward and frustrating; at one point, I even considered leaving. In particular, the facial massage lacked the essential techniques used to stimulate lymphatic drainage and promote detoxification — such as upward strokes along the neck and around the eyes and brows. Instead, the movements felt no more skillful than how one might rub in a cleanser at home. At no point was I asked about my comfort level or whether the pressure needed adjusting. Additionally, I was 26 weeks pregnant and required to be slightly elevated to avoid pressure on my back. This was clearly unfamiliar to the therapist, who simply offered a pillow for my head. Aqua Vitae presents itself as a premium spa, but unfortunately, the level of service and expertise does not reflect this positioning. To meet the expectations of clients, it is essential to employ therapists who are not only trained in technique but also understand physiology and the power of intentional, confident touch. Given the lack of follow-up and the underwhelming service, I will not be returning.

5 /5 FTT Skin Clinics: We had a Swedish Relaxation face and body massage and it was sublime, perfect. We both said the therapists were so well trained and executed the treatments so well. One point for the owners/management to consider is a separate chill out area away from reception. That would elevate the whole experience. Wonderful, highly recommend. Frances + Susie

4 /5 Emmy B: Edit: the staff at the Manly spa has changed again, and I am happy to say that the level of service has returned to what I have come to expect from the establishment. I would happily recommend this day spa to anyone looking for a lovely day of pampering that is close to the beach. I am leaving the body of my original review in place for transparency. I was a very happy, regular customer of the Manly location of Aqua Vitae Day Spa for many years. But I am leaving a one star review now as the ownership, management and/or staff have changed. I went to my usual appointment with a friend this week, and I will not be returning. The staff were almost completely untrained. I felt like a training volunteer at the local beauty college or TAFE. For a start, the bright lights in the treatment room were left on throughout the appointment, which is not at all relaxing (my treatments in the past always took place by candlelight/in semi-darkness). My therapist did not ask me about my preferences with my massage, like firmness or locations that needed more attention. The therapist also did not ask me about my skin care routine, skin type or skin condition prior to performing microdermabrasion, which could have resulted in irritation or injury. She clearly did not know how to use the microdermabrasion device as it skipped unevenly over my skin. Minimal product was used on my face and neck (like she has been instructed to use the smallest amount possible to conserve product) and the therapist clearly was not confident and did not know what she was doing throughout the facial portion of the treatment. The opposite was true of the lash tint - too much dye was applied to my lashes and left my eyes stinging, watering and irritated. I was relieved when my appointment was over as the level of incompetence was stressful in a situation where my skin, lips or eyes could be irritated or damaged. In addition to this, there was an older man sitting out the back in the courtyard who did not seem to be a client. This was not a comfortable scenario for me as a woman who was about to disrobe in a treatment room. While I was waiting to pay, my suspicions were confirmed when my therapist came out and asked another therapist a question, revealing she did not know how or in what order to apply cleansing products to the face. I left angry that I paid for my treatment at all, feeling like some sort of training session for the most inexperienced and incompetent therapist I have ever encountered. I felt the need to detail my experience to warn others - this was once my favourite place to go to unwind, but I will never be coming back.

5 /5 Shy B.: I had the pleasure of experiencing the Pure Bliss Package - massage & facial. The moment I walked into the spa area, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. My beauty therapist, Olivia, is simply the best! She was incredibly professional, attentive, and had an intuitive sense of where I needed the most attention. The massage was incredibly soothing and Olivia relieved all the knots in my back and shoulders. Following the massage, the facial was a perfect complement. My skin felt deeply cleansed and hydrated that I left the spa feeling like a new, zen person. Highly recommended!

3 /5 Yani Wolf: Booked in for my wife’s birthday great massage and great energy Unfortunately after the first great massage the second one was below standard so I would say hit and miss