If you live east of the city, the search for a good massage east Auckland usually ends in a compromise: a spa that is close but rushed, or one that is lovely but a hassle to reach. Siri's answer is a little different, because we now have a seaside spa in St Heliers that is open today, and a second eastern option inland at Mt Wellington that is opening soon. This guide sorts out which to choose.
The short version: for the eastern bays, our St Heliers spa at 417A Tamaki Drive is the one to book now. For Panmure, Meadowbank, Howick and the inland suburbs, keep an eye on Mt Wellington. And if you work in town, our Viaduct spa is the better lunchtime or after-work stop.
Our St Heliers spa, on the seaside route
St Heliers is the village at the end of Tamaki Drive, and Auckland NZ describes it as a seaside suburb with a pohutukawa-lined boardwalk, golden sand at St Heliers Beach and a cluster of cafes along the waterfront. Our spa is at 417A Tamaki Drive, open seven days from 10am to 8pm, and the phone is 027 654 6642.
For anyone in Mission Bay, Kohimarama, Glendowie or St Heliers itself, this is the spa that spares you a trip into town. It also suits people who like to turn a massage into a small outing: walk the front first, book the treatment, then have something to eat afterwards.
The menu is the full one. Thai massage, aromatherapy, Swedish, deep tissue, warm coconut oil, back and shoulder, reflexology, hot stone, herbal compress, couple massage and a facial. St Heliers is also the only branch with an infrared sauna,and the only one with the mini facial package.
What it costs at St Heliers
St Heliers is a little cheaper than the Viaduct for every treatment. These are the prices that matter most for a first visit:
- 30 minutes of Thai, aromatherapy, Swedish, deep tissue or coconut oil massage: $60 at St Heliers, $65 at the Viaduct.
- 60 minutes of the same styles: $105 at St Heliers, $115 at the Viaduct.
- 90 minutes: $145 at St Heliers, $165 at the Viaduct.
- Hot stone or herbal compress, 90 minutes: $160 at St Heliers, $175 at the Viaduct.
- Couple massage, 60 minutes, for two people: $200 at St Heliers, $220 at the Viaduct.
The full list is on the St Heliers pricing page. If you are weighing up a length, sixty minutes suits a first visit, and ninety is worth it if you carry tension in both your back and your legs.
Mt Wellington: the new option for the inland east
Our third branch, Siri Thai Massage and Spa Lunn Avenue, is at Unit B4, 63 Lunn Avenue, Mt Wellington, Auckland 1072. To be plain about it: it is not open yet. It is listed as opening soon, so call 027 656 5956 or check the Mt Wellington branch page for the opening date before you plan around it.
What we can say now is what it is set up to offer. Free parking, planned hours of 10am to 8pm seven days, and a menu built on the same lines as our other spas: Thai, aromatherapy, Swedish, deep tissue, coconut oil, back and shoulder, reflexology, hot stone, herbal compress, couple massage, facials, body scrub and packages. We are not quoting prices until it opens, and it will not have the sauna or candle therapy.
For people in Panmure, Meadowbank, Remuera or Howick, a spa with free parking on the inland side may well be the more natural fit than a drive to the coast. Treat that as a maybe until the doors open. In the meantime, St Heliers is the closest we can offer you.
Picking a treatment for the week you have had
If you are not sure what to book, work backwards from how your body feels. Hours at a desk usually point to a back and shoulder massage or a Thai massage, which uses acupressure and yoga-style stretches and is done clothed with no oil. A weekend of gardening, school sport or a long run is a better match for deep tissue, which works the deeper layers and uses firmer pressure.
If you simply want to switch off, aromatherapy or warm coconut oil massage is the gentler route: slower, softer and scented. Hot stone is the treat for a special occasion, and it only runs for 90 or 120 minutes. Reflexology is a good fit if you are on your feet all day. Our guide to the pressure you should ask for is worth a read if you are unsure how firm to go.
What a visit looks like, start to finish
You arrive, and your therapist asks a few questions: where you hold tension, how firm you like it, and anything to avoid. You then change in private, lie down under a towel, and the therapist returns once you are settled. Only the area being worked is uncovered at any time. Speak up in the first few minutes if the pressure is wrong, because it is easy to adjust early and awkward to fix late.
Afterwards there is no rush to leave. A shower or a short sit before you head out makes the transition much easier, and a glass of water is a good idea whatever the treatment.
Choosing between St Heliers, Mt Wellington and the Viaduct
There is no wrong answer here, only a question of where your day actually takes you.
- Live near the bays, or want a seaside outing: St Heliers, open now.
- Live or work inland in the east: Mt Wellington, once it opens. Until then, St Heliers or the Viaduct.
- Work in the CBD: the Viaduct, open seven days, 10am to 8pm, at 1B/124 Customs Street West. It is the pricier of the two open spas but sits right by the harbour.
- Want the sauna or a mini facial package: St Heliers only.
- Want candle therapy: Viaduct only.
"Book the spa that makes the trip easy. A massage you can walk out of and head home from will always be worth more than one you had to rush to."
Siri therapist team
If you are still undecided between the spas, our comparison of how to choose an Auckland spa goes through the other factors, and our write-up of a St Heliers spa day shows how people stitch a visit into the day.
Booking a massage east Auckland guests actually enjoy
A few habits make the visit better, whichever branch you choose.
- Book the 60 or 90 minute slot, not 30. Half an hour is enough for one area, such as shoulders, but not for a body that needs to unwind.
- Arrive a few minutes early. The consultation is where you say where it hurts and how firm you like it.
- Tell your therapist about health conditions when you book, especially if you are pregnant, have recent injuries, high blood pressure, a heart condition or a skin condition. Check with your GP or midwife first if you are unsure.
- Plan for a slow exit. You will feel looser than you expect, and the drive home is nicer when you are not racing a deadline.
An honest limit: St Heliers is a seaside village, and the best slots, especially after work and on weekends, go early. If you want a particular time, book ahead on Fresha or phone the spa. Mt Wellington cannot be booked until it opens.
Public holidays carry a 15% surcharge on all treatments, and we close on Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, with ANZAC Day open from 1pm.
Common questions
Yes. Our St Heliers spa at 417A Tamaki Drive is open seven days, 10am to 8pm. A third branch at 63 Lunn Avenue, Mt Wellington, is opening soon but is not open yet, so call 027 656 5956 or check its branch page for the date.
A 60 minute Thai, aromatherapy, Swedish, deep tissue or coconut oil massage is $105, 90 minutes is $145 and 120 minutes is $195. A 30 minute session is $60. The Viaduct spa is slightly dearer at each length.
Free parking is planned at the Mt Wellington branch on Lunn Avenue. We are not making a parking promise for our other spas, so phone the branch you are visiting if parking matters to you.
The infrared sauna is at St Heliers only, so it is available in the east today. Candle therapy is Viaduct only. Neither is planned for Mt Wellington.
