The Brazilian Day Spa is a family-owned spa offering a serene space for self care, relaxation and rejuvenation, blending mind renewal with physical wellness. The spa is led by Director/Operator Lilian, originally trained in Brazil with over 20 years in the spa industry, including nineteen years in New Zealand as a former Spa Manager and Senior Spa Therapist known for her intuitive touch.
The team includes Lilian's son, Luiz Carlos Jnr, the Spa Manager and Massage Therapist, personally trained by Lilian and holding recognised New Zealand massage qualifications, offering intuitive, refined bodywork drawing on his Brazilian heritage. Fiona Kamau, originally from Kenya, brings over a decade of international spa experience from luxury spas in Kenya and Qatar to New Zealand, combining intuitive touch with genuine, tailored care.
The spa's treatment menu spans signature Brazilian massages, deep tissue and remedial options, a dedicated pregnancy massage, couples treatments for two, and a full range of signature facials, from express and microdermabrasion options through to high-frequency and face-lifting facials. Guests can request male or female therapists, assigned based on scheduling and availability, and many treatments include finishing touches like aromatic heated towels, coconut water and chocolate.
The Brazilian Day Spa describes itself as a sanctuary where self care and relaxation intertwine, and that intention runs through everything from its treatment menu to the family behind it. Proudly family-owned, the spa was built, in its own words, as "a dream come true, a place to fulfil a calling, a purpose," and it invites guests to join what it calls a blissful journey of wellness, relaxation and balance in a tranquil environment.
At the centre of the spa's offering is the Brazilian Signature Massage, available in 60 and 90-minute versions, with the 90-minute option marked as the spa's most-booked treatment. It's described as more than a massage — an immersive wellness experience combining expert technique, flowing movement, and holistic care, using intuitive massage techniques tailored to each guest's needs. The session finishes with a distinctive Brazilian touch: an aromatic heated towel, a refreshing glass of coconut water, and a piece of chocolate.
For guests after something firmer, the spa offers a Deep Tissue Massage using slower, purposeful pressure to work through tight areas and release long-held tension, alongside a Remedial or Relaxation Full Body Massage (nicknamed "Blissful") with a choice of aromatherapy or a revitalising back scrub with hydrating mask as an add-on. The Hanmer Springs Massage — Remedial or Relaxation Hot Stones Therapy, nicknamed "Heavenly," bundles several of the spa's most-requested enhancements together: aromatherapy, full-body hot stones, the back scrub and hydrating mask, and the signature heat therapy finish. A dedicated Pregnancy Massage rounds out the massage menu, designed to ease backaches, swollen legs and fatigue for expectant mothers.
On the skincare side, the Brazilian Signature Facial is the spa's most-booked facial, combining cleansing, exfoliation and nourishing masks for a radiant, hydrated, smoother complexion. For a fully personalised approach, the Glow and Go Facial Package uses a corneotherapy philosophy to customise every product to the guest's skin on the day of the appointment. Guests short on time can opt for the Signature Express Facial, a 30-minute refresh, while the Microdermabrasion Facial, High Frequency Facial and Face & Neck Lifting Facial each target more specific concerns — from dull skin and enlarged pores through to toning and lifting facial contours.
The spa also caters to shared experiences with its Couples Treatments, open to "any two people: partners, friends, siblings, or parents & kids." These range from the 90-minute Couples Massage, the spa's most-booked couples treatment, through to a 60-minute Set for Two Massage and a shorter Couples Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage. Because these bookings need two therapists available at the same time, the spa notes that online booking times are a suggestion only, with the team following up if any adjustment is needed.
Behind the treatments is a genuinely family-run team. Lilian, known to guests as "Lilian The Brazilian," is the spa's Director and Operator, trained originally in Brazil and bringing over 20 years of spa industry experience, including nineteen years in New Zealand as a Spa Manager and Senior Spa Therapist. Her son, Luiz Carlos Jnr, serves as Spa Manager and Massage Therapist, personally trained by Lilian and holding recognised New Zealand massage qualifications — as the spa puts it, "like mom, like son." Fiona Kamau, originally from Kenya, joined the team with over a decade of international spa experience across Kenya, Qatar and New Zealand, bringing intuitive touch and genuine care to every treatment.
Guests can request either male or female therapists, with assignment based on scheduling and availability, giving visitors flexibility alongside the spa's consistently personal, Brazilian-inspired approach to wellness.