Tough day at the office for a wound-up under-one? Enter the baby day spa

SPOTLIGHT / The water babies

A chance to forget those overwhelming to-do lists … Baby spas offer infants hydrotherapy and massages, backdropped by sympathetic lighting and soothing music.

We all know how stressful life can be – especially when you’re only a few months old. So much sleeping (or not sleeping), crying, feeding, smiling, screaming … the to-do list is endless. Thankfully, there’s a newly popular way to wind down for workaholic under-ones: the boutique baby day spa.

Globally, the concept has reached its zenith in – surprise, surprise – California, epicentre of all things wellness, where green juices, child yoga and meditation classes are de rigueur for all highly evolved toddlers. Baby spas cater to an even younger crowd: tiny people who cannot yet walk, talk, or perform a downward dog. Fortunately, the basic baby spa theory is pretty straightforward. Have a spa, get a massage.

The Baby Spa franchise now has several outlets in Melbourne and Sydney, where clients (babies) can experience up to 30 minutes of hydrotherapy (with a special flotation device to allow free movement), complete with sympathetic lighting and calming music, followed by a gentle massage with a trained therapist using organic, cold-pressed grapeseed oil. At a new venue in Sydney, meanwhile, Baby Bathhouse in Lane Cove, there are optional gentle spa jets, and massage is performed by parents or carers under the tutelage of a paediatric massage consultant.

And the benefits? Better sleep, bonding and mood; assistance in muscular and neurological development; and improvement in conditions such as wind and colic, says Baby Bathhouse co-founder, Sophia Andersen. “And also, they just really love it.” Who can blame them? If babies could talk, I know what they’d be saying: book me in (45-minute hydrotherapy and massage, $95). Amanda Hooton

READ / Byronic hero

Byron Bay is the first Australian destination featured in the Assouline coffee-table book travel series.

Byron Bay joins the exclusive ranks of the Amalfi Coast, Ibiza and Saint Tropez as the latest destination – and the first in Australia – to be included in the luxurious Assouline coffee-table book travel series ($185). Local writer and business owner Shannon Fricke sets the scene with a thumbnail sketch of the region’s history, including its rich Indigenous heritage. Meanwhile, photographs – many snapped by locals – showcase the beauty of its beaches and surrounding landscape, capturing the laid-back spirit of its inhabitants, from the original surfers and hippies to today’s foodies, creatives and business owners. It’s official: it’s time to browse accommodation deals. Nicole Abadee

WEAR / Camo craze

Actually, you won’t want to conceal it: Australian brand Haulier’s camouflage tote bag.

There’s a fine line between carrying a bag that expresses your good taste and becoming a mobile billboard for luxury labels. Rising Australian brand Haulier, which combines the glamorous tropes of the jetset era with practicality, has hit upon a roomy solution with its latest selvedge canvas tote (utility tote in “Woodland Camo”, $575). The camouflage design, screen-printed in Lake Como, is a relaxed backdrop to any outfit while still managing to attract the eye of style hunters. Sturdy leather handles elevate this workhorse, while the discreet label serves as affirmation of your impeccable style credentials. Damien Woolnough

SHOP / VA-VA VOOM!

Furniture makers Tait balance minimalistic style with endurance for Australian conditions.

The Voom Lounger, built for indoor or outdoor lolling, is the work of Aussie designer Adam Goodrum for Melbourne-based furniture makers Tait (from $4932). Crafted to endure harsh Australian conditions, the minimalist design employs a high-performance, powder-coated metal that comes in an array of nature-inspired colours and its cushions are crafted from weather-proof fabric. Buy individually or in a group of two or three to create a modular sofa. Frances Mocnik

MARVEL / Radical blooms

Each stem of these marbled orchids is coloured individually using historical printmaking techniques.

Elevating flower power to an entirely new level, Claire Mueller, stylist, and founder of the Sydney-based, fine-art floral studio ACID.FLWRS, transforms fresh Phalaenopsis orchids into living, ephemeral art with hyper-coloured marbled patterns. Each cut stem is individually treated using a process based on historical printmaking techniques, ensuring each flower is unique. The vivid creations are available in sought-after, limited-edition drops throughout the year (from $110 for a single stem, plus delivery to major cities) and as fine-art prints (from $250). To find out about Mueller’s next drop, check the website; you won’t want to miss it. Frances Mocnik

DRINK / Causing a stir

Four Pillars gin and QT Hotels’ designer gin collaboration.

Does the world have too many limited-edition designer gins? Hush your mouth. Not when they have feral and floral notes of sage, vetiver and wild fennel – and not when they’re blended by Four Pillars’ master distiller Cameron Mackenzie and QT Hotel’s Chris Morrison into something as earthy yet elegant as Gilded Chaos. Head into QT Melbourne, Sydney or Canberra for a Gilded Chaos Luxe Martini ($33), finished with your choice of garnish or spray – lemon peel, extra virgin olive oil or pastis – in a full-service ritual that evokes the golden age of cocktails. Jill Dupleix

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