In order to fuel that fiery intrepid spirit, sometimes a girl needs to pamper herself. Melbourne is a city with easy access to both pursuits: adventurous recreation and sweet indulgence. What good, after all, is a Great Ocean Road Walk or snowy Alpine National Park trek without a proper post-excursion massage in your Melbourne hotel? Sure, dynamic cardio en plein air is a reward in of itself but stoic self-deprivation is a bore. With that in mind, and in the holy name of moderate excess, discover the best day spas in Melbourne.

Aurora Spa Retreat

The Prince, one of several swish, designer hotels in St Kilda Melbourne, is a blissful oasis with a world class spa to boot. Aurora is arguably the most elite spa in the Victoria capital and a perpetual fave with celebs and weary on-the-go corporate execs. Ditch your proclivity to penny pinch here and spoil yourself Aurora style: the boutique spa's array of signature treatments borders on the absurd.

Spa Dreamtime

No adventurous visit to Melbourne is complete without a thorough tour of the St Kilda Sea Baths. A gorgeous one-stop-shop beachside, the complex features restaurants, therapeutic seawater pools and the remarkable Spa Dreamtime. From lavish body polish and cocoon rituals to deep restorative massages, the spa is the ultimate pleasure after a tough ashtanga yoga class at the adjacent (and magnificent) South Pacific Health Club.

Chuan Spa

Chuan at The Langham Hotel, near Southbank points of interest like Eureka Skydeck 88 and the National Gallery of Victoria, takes a nod from traditional Chinese medicinal therapy. From there however, the elegant urban spa takes it up a nick with double exfoliations in river stone steam rooms, green tea baths, wild rosella desert salt scrubs and a ridiculously sumptuous three-hour "Restore and Renew" session.

Body Freedom

A basalt massage stone's throw from superb South Melbourne Market, Body Freedom on Clarendon is a quintessential urban day spa. The perfect place to pop in and pamper your hands and feet after a long afternoon in the shops, the spa offers a wide variety of luscious services. Body Freedom's former hosiery mill digs provide a hip, heritage-meets-contemporary backdrop.

Lyall Spa

South Yarra is home to the ultra-luxe Lyall Hotel, a five-star sanctuary of swanky luxury. Close to ritzy restaurants and posh shops, the hotel's spa is a notable wellness asylum in Melbourne. From reflexology massage to Vichy hydrotherapy, jet lag steam sessions to volcanic clay body masks, the sky is the limit at Lyall Spa. For a bold, audacious blow-out experience, the four-hour "Bliss" package - with lunch - is a must.

Geisha

A haven of Japanese-cool on busy Little Collins Street, Geisha is a chic CBD escape. With legacy landmarks, cafés, shops and restaurants galore nearby, the fashionable day spa has enviable environs. Duck in after a tidy CBD lunch for a scalp massage, mineral stone therapy session or aromatherapy body wrap. You could of course, go for broke and book the ultimate Geisha treatment: a three-hour caviar facial, manicure and pedicure (with or without blinis).