Massage Mt Wellington: our Lunn Avenue spa, opening soon

If you have been searching for a massage in Mt Wellington, here is the honest position first: our spa there is opening soon and is not open yet. Siri Thai Massage and Spa Lunn Avenue is at Unit B4, 63 Lunn Avenue, Mt Wellington, Auckland 1072, and the number to ring for the opening date is 027 656 5956.

We have not announced a date, so we will not guess one. Phone the branch, or keep an eye on the Mt Wellington page on our site. In the meantime, our Viaduct and St Heliers spas are open now.

What we know about the Mt Wellington spa

These are the details that are settled, and nothing more:

• Name: Siri Thai Massage and Spa Lunn Avenue.
• Address: Unit B4, 63 Lunn Avenue, Mt Wellington, Auckland 1072.
• Phone: 027 656 5956.
• Parking: free.
• Planned hours: 10:00am to 8:00pm, seven days. These are planned, not confirmed, until the spa opens.

We are not going to describe the rooms, the neighbourhood or how long it takes to walk there, because we would be inventing it. Once the doors open you will see it for yourself.

The menu it will offer

The Mt Wellington spa is planned to offer the same style of treatments as our other branches. The menu on its treatments page is the one to trust, and it will cover:

• Traditional Thai massage, the oil-free style that combines acupressure with yoga-style stretches
• Aromatherapy, Swedish, deep tissue and warm coconut oil massage
• Back and shoulder massage and reflexology foot massage
• Hot stone massage and Thai herbal compress massage, both for longer sessions
• Couple massage, facials and a body scrub, plus packages

We are not listing prices for Mt Wellington here, because the figures that count are the ones on its pricing page once it is published. Please note that the infrared sauna is a St Heliers service and candle therapy massage is a Viaduct one, and neither is planned for Mt Wellington.

What a Thai massage is like, if you have never had one

If Thai massage is new to you, expect a treatment that is quite different from the oil massage you may have had elsewhere. Traditional Thai massage is done without oil, using acupressure and stretching, at a smooth and even tempo. You choose the pressure, and the best habit to learn is to tell your therapist in the first five minutes if it is too much or too little.

Our guide to your first visit to a Thai spa covers what to wear, what to say and what happens at each stage. It applies to every branch.

"Whichever branch you visit, the first five minutes decide the hour. Tell us where it hurts and how firm you like it, and we will do the rest."

Siri therapist team

Where to get a massage in the meantime

Both of the spas below are open now, seven days a week, 10:00am to 8:00pm:

• Viaduct: 1B/124 Customs Street West, Auckland CBD. Phone 027-722-6564. See the Viaduct menu on our site.
• St Heliers: 417A Tamaki Drive, St Heliers. Phone 027 654 6642. See the St Heliers menu on our site.

We are not going to put a drive time on the trip from Mt Wellington to either spa, because we have not measured one. If you want to compare the options, our guide to choosing an Auckland spa sets out what to look for, and our article on a spa day at St Heliers describes the seaside branch.

Choosing a treatment when it opens

A menu with a dozen items can be hard to read if you have not tried most of them. Here is how the styles on the planned menu differ, without any prices.

• Traditional Thai massage is done without oil, with acupressure and yoga-style stretches. Many guests find it eases a stiff back and tight hips, and you choose the pressure.
• Aromatherapy massage is the gentle one, with blended essential oils. It is the easiest first choice if you do not know what you want.
• Swedish massage uses sweet almond oil in a firm, flowing, full-body routine. Tell the therapist if you have a nut allergy.
• Deep tissue massage works the deeper muscle layers with firmer pressure. It suits people who train hard or have physically demanding jobs, and it is not the one to pick if you like a light touch.
• Hot stone and herbal compress massage are the slow, warm ones, offered at 90 or 120 minutes. The compress is a steamed bundle of Thai herbs, often lemongrass, turmeric and kaffir lime.
• Couple massage is any of the styles above, shared in a private room.

Facials begin with a consultation so the treatment is set to your skin, and the body scrub is an exfoliating treatment followed by serums and oils. If you want one of each, ask about the packages on the branch pricing page.

How to find out when it opens

There are two reliable ways. The first is to ring 027 656 5956 and ask. The second is to look at the Mt Wellington pages on our site, which sit alongside the Viaduct and St Heliers ones and carry its address, treatments and contact details. We would rather you check than drive to Lunn Avenue and find a locked door.

Once it is open, the branch pages will say how to book. Until then, please do not rely on anything that claims it is already taking appointments.

Questions worth asking when you ring

Because the branch is not open, a phone call is the best way to get a straight answer. A few questions are worth asking:

• When is the planned opening date, and is it confirmed yet?
• Will the opening menu match the list above, or will some treatments follow later?
• How do I book once you are open?
• Are the hours still 10:00am to 8:00pm, seven days?

If Mt Wellington is closer to your home or workplace than the Viaduct or St Heliers, it will be the convenient one, and free parking is on the confirmed list, which takes one small worry away.

A word on the maunga

Mt Wellington is also the English name of Maungarei, the volcanic cone that the area is known for. It is looked after by the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, which publishes visitor information for Maungarei, including opening hours and the fact that the summit road has been closed to private vehicles since December 2018. If you plan to walk the maunga before or after a massage, check those details first.

Before you book anything

Booking is not yet open for Mt Wellington, so do not turn up on spec. Ring first. If you are pregnant, injured or recovering from surgery, or have a heart condition, high blood pressure or a skin condition, check with your GP or midwife and tell the therapist when you book. We do not offer a dedicated prenatal massage, so please ring and talk it through.

Public holidays are another detail to confirm. At the Viaduct and St Heliers we are closed on Good Friday, ANZAC Day until 1:00pm, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and a 15% surcharge applies to treatments on other public holidays. We have not published holiday arrangements for Mt Wellington, so ask when you ring, especially if you are planning a visit over the summer break.

Gift vouchers are the same story. If you are thinking of giving one for the new branch, read the Mt Wellington pricing page for what is listed rather than assuming it will match another branch.

One honest limitation: until the branch opens, its menu and hours are plans, and plans can change. The two open spas are the sure thing today.

Common questions