The Decor:

The style throughout this elegant beach resort is contemporary with a decidedly rustic Mediterranean feel, fusing the richness of chocolate and red leather with dark woods, stone and tiled floors. Unlike many resort spas which are often tucked away in the basement and have little natural light, this French-inspired facility is located on the upper level of the main building of the hotel and overlooks the main pool and hinterland. It has five treatment rooms and a stylish private lounge in which to relax pre and post pampering.

The Spa Experience:

For anyone unfamiliar with the name Payot, it was created by Doctor Nadia Payot, a French beauty philosopher often described as being "one step ahead" in the medical spa trend, and who used her skills as a doctor to further the beauty and well-being of women.

At the forefront of women's needs since the 1950's, Payot has always been aware of the importance of body treatments and the benefits of massage.

Even during the early days of her salon business, she offered light baths to fight cellulite and heat baths with relaxing and rejuvenating ionized mist. Today a Payot treatment continues to treat mind and body in harmony, providing a rounded, holistic spa experience.
 

The Treatment:

I opted to try one of Payot's legendary unique facials - an indulgent, 90-minute multi-step spa treatment which is designed to leave the skin rejuvenated and glowing. It involved extensive cleansing, a deep and luxurious exfoliation and a clarifying masque to address some of the issues I was having with my complexion at the time - a tricky combination of minor dehydration with a few blemishes.

This was followed by a long, therapeutic massage using a nourishing hydrating serum, and finally an uplifting masque to tone and brighten, during which I was treated to a relaxing scalp massage. If I wasn't already totally relaxed, this sealed the deal! All in all, around 10-15 different products were used on my skin. The result? Clear, smooth skin which both felt and looked renewed.  

The day spa is undeniably a major drawcard at Bellachara, but there are plenty of other reasons to wile away a weekend at this chic resort. It has 52 luxurious rooms which are both spacious and bright, furnished with chocolate leather lounges, plasma TVs and king sized beds made up with crisp white linen. All the rooms have floor to ceiling glass doors that open onto a private balcony, and the bathrooms feature either long baths or walk-in showers. 

The resort also features an excellent restaurant and wine lounge, which doubles up as the social hub of the hotel and a place to enjoy all your meals including fine dining. Headed up by chef Matthew Hilford, the innovative menus are seasonal and reflect the best of local produce.

In terms of other facilities, Bellachara has two beautiful swimming pools, lovely gardens, and a tennis court. It's also a family friendly hotel, with a club to keep the kids amused, and the sleepy village of Gerringong is only a few minutes drive away.