A place to pause
At South Australia's Monarto Safari Resort, Marula Day Spa offers more than treatments - it's a journey through the senses, guided by the scents and textures of the surrounding wilds. WORDS Tatyana Leonov
The sun spills over Monarto Safari Park's bushland. Set in the heart of South Australia's Murraylands and just an hour's drive from Adelaide (Tarntanya), it's a unique slice of wilderness. Tucked inside the Park's neighbouring Monarto Safari Resort, Marula Day Spa feels like a hidden retreat. Open to resort guests and the general public, it is a destination worth visiting in its own right. As you enter, the faint, earthy scents of Kakadu plum, quandong, eucalyptus and rose drift through the air, drawing you into a space where the wilds meet quiet, restorative luxury.
Spa Manager Alison Lawlor, with her quiet confidence and more than 25 years' experience, welcomes every guest not with a script, but with a presence that reads the body and senses. "Wellness starts with connection to yourself, to the land, to the rhythm of nature," she says. "Even small gestures, like noticing where the body holds tension, can help the mind begin to unwind." For Alison, this is more than technique; it's about understanding the individual in front of her - how they carry stress, how they breathe, how they respond to touch. Each interaction is personal, a reminder that care is as much emotional as it is physical, and that real relaxation begins the moment someone feels truly seen.
““Wellness starts with connection to yourself, to the land, to the rhythm of nature.””
MORE THAN A MASSAGE
Guests are invited to choose essential oil inhalations tailored to their mood, from calming lavender to soothing rose or refreshing lemon. "That's the first layer," Alison explains. "The breath, the scent, the mind... then the oils warm on the skin and the body follows." Many of the spa's treatments focus on touch - shoulders, neck, and face, the usual holders of stress. Every motion, every press, encourages release, drawing out stiffness while inviting the body to remember its own ease.
The massage oils themselves are exquisite: Jurlique's blends, infused with macadamia oil, rose, lemon and lavender, alongside native extracts of Kakadu plum and quandong. "Jurlique started here in the Adelaide Hills more than 40 years ago," Alison says. "Everything still comes from the farm - the soil, the botanicals, the harvest - and I think people feel that authenticity when it touches their skin." Surrounded by Monarto Safari Resort's open bushland and wildlife, every glide of oil connects the body with the landscape outside. "Your skin is a reflection of the inside," Alison notes. "When the body relaxes, the skin responds." Every stroke and every scent is intentional, turning a massage into a truly restorative experience.
A PLACE TO REMEMBER
Marula Day Spa's four treatment rooms are warm and textured with soft linens and gentle fabrics, chosen to relax the senses. Before a massage begins, guests are asked to share their preferences for pressure and scent, to personalise the treatment. There's a range of blends specifically designed to promote relaxation and sleep, each created to enhance the sensory journey. Sound, too, is carefully woven into the experience. African drumbeats and gentle didgeridoo tones play quietly in the background. Alison explains that these subtle touches of scent, texture, sound, and light transform a facial or massage into an experience that lingers, bringing the body and mind ease long after the session ends.
A treatment at Marula Day Spa is more than care for the body; it's a chance to pause. A time to be calm, check in with yourself and connect with the natural beauty surrounding the sanctum. For hours or even days after, the mind recalls the soft light on skin, the scent of native botanicals, the warmth of oils, the gentle rhythm of inhalations, and the weightless ease of muscles set free. A little luxury that lingers long after you leave, a reminder that wellness is not just a moment, but a feeling that stays with you.
THE DETAILS
Spend a day indulging at the Marula Day Spa and Soak House. Book from a range of spa services using native botanicals and Australian-made Jurlique products. Rejuvenate in the Soak House's vitality hydrotherapy pool and cold plunge pool. Open to resort guests and the general public, with bookings recommended. For more information visit monartosafariresort.com
