"They call this neck of the woods "spa country" with good reason. The place is littered with hot springs and massage joints (the respectable kind) and Peppershell Place is one of the best. It specialises in "dual" massage and spa packages, designed for couples, friends or mother-daughter bonding outings, and for the duration of your visit you have the place entirely to yourself. Quiet and luxurious."
The Sunday Life Magazine
East meets west at Peppershell Place Day Spa (49 Ingrow Ln, off Vincent St North, tel: +61 (3) 5348 3135). Packages are designed for two and you can mix and match facials with massages. A blissful choice is the Massage, Face and Scalp package: a 45-minute aromatherapy facial massage including a soothing scalp massage plus a 45-minute body massage of your choice. Our pick is the traditional Shiatsu Japanese Massage: acupressure, relaxation massage and aromatic oils all rolled into one! Package prices from AU$270 for two people.
Jetstar Inflight Magazine
PEP-UP
Feel your stresses drift away with a spa package at Peppershell Place
For a few hours I escape from wearying summer heat into the cool lush gardens of Peppershell Place. Down a quiet Daylesford lane in the heart of the spa country, I feel like I’m light-years from the highway and buzzing cafes nearby. Inside, soft music plays in an elegant massage studio, coaxing me to rest. The day spa is mine exclusively for the duration of my treatment so I feel no embarrassment as I slip into the silky robe provided.
Peppershell Place is an ongoing passion for owner and founder Peter Troop, the unusual name deriving from his past nickname Pep, and his partner’s name, Shelley. Both have years of experience in their fields and still take an active role in some treatments. Yet what began as Pep and Shell’s Place has now taken on a life of its own with several other highly qualified therapists working with them to create something truly special.
Three words define this place – Relax, Refresh and Revive. These are the names of the relaxation packages on offer and choosing between them is the only pressing decision I need to make today. First, I choose either a spa or massage package for a friend and myself. All packages are for two people and the two styles differ only in the spa element.
Spa packages includes 20 minutes in a dual luxury spa, so are very popular with couples or mother and daughter outings. Those who feel less comfortable sharing a spa, such as friends or colleagues, will still find the massage package perfectly indulgent without it.
Next, I get to choose one of those delightful “R’s. Relax is a good choice for those just needing to oil creaking joints or give their travel-tired skin a bit of a polish. It involves a 45-minute massage and a 45-minute aromatherapy facial massage for each of you. Refresh gives you the same 45-minute massage but only a half-hour facial and a 15-minute scalp massage. This variation really does refresh like a good night’s sleep, giving vitality to those who might need it for a packed itinerary or an upcoming wedding. The ultimate, however, is the Revive massage or spa package. After an hour on the massage table a full 45-minute facial and the 15-minute scalp massage, you’ll want nothing more than to check into one of Daylesford’s romantic B&B’s. It’s like a week off work in one afternoon.
I choose the spa package and think a little refreshment might be just what I need. I begin with a 20-minute aromatic bubble spa. The luxury spa room is completely private and prepared for my comfort. I realise there’s nothing clinical about this health and beauty treatment – everything has a soft and elegant style. A glass of sparkling mineral water and a fine foil-wrapped chocolate are within my reach as I lay back in the steamy water. Delicately scented bubbles swirl around me in the turbulent jets. Even though it’s a hot afternoon, the water still feels good soaking into my tired limbs. I feel my muscles loosening and my shoulders relaxing as beads of sweat form on my brow. Music begins to play when its time for my facial.
I must confess I’m a little apprehensive, given my sensitive skin, but I soon realise my fears are unfounded. The aromatherapy facial massage offered at Peppershell Place is like no facial I’ve ever had. Rather than just applying products, Shelley gently massages the treatments into my skin until I’m so relaxed I almost fall asleep. I smell lavender and something lemony, something refreshing but for the most part I’m not thinking at all – just enjoying.
Their products contain a number of essential oils in various combinations, including lavender, rosewood, jasmine, ylang ylang, neroli, bergamot, rosemary and litsea cubeba. Other ingredients are aloe vera, ginseng, green tea, avocado oil, evening primrose, and wheatgerm oil. These fragrant concoctions are so gentle they leave even my skin looking radiant.
Shelley finishes up with a calming clay mask and a 15-minute scalp massage, which relieves any remaining tension in my temples.
The massage from Peter is both therapeutic and luxurious. With 13 years of experience, Peter has studied various types of massage including sports and remedial massage. He makes sure all the therapists at Peppershell Place are of the highest quality, association accredited and insured. His massage is firm enough to release the tension but gentle enough so there’s no pain. He alerts me to problem areas where perhaps my posture is causing tension when I work. From my fingertips to my toes, he kneads my muscles until they feel soft and pliable. I go home sleepy, but smiling, feeling relaxed and comfortable in my glowing new skin.
