Chuan Spa in Auckland

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PURE BLISS: Auckland's newest place of pampering - the Chuan Spa at the Langham Hotel, right on the edge of the city's CBD - offers a range of treatments with a difference.

The mosaic bath is big enough to swim in; the treatment room like a private suite. Tracey Strange enters the luxurious world of Chuan Spa in Auckland.

In the changing area you can sauna, steam and then splash your near-naked self with ice from a special machine. Stay the night and you'll sleep in a room purpose-built to ensure leaving is difficult. Welcome to the world of spa luxury, Chinese-style.

Auckland's newest place of pampering - the Chuan Spa at the Langham Hotel, right on the edge of the city's CBD - offers a range of treatments with a difference. Designed not only to leave you relaxed but also invigorated, they're based on balancing out all those little physical, mental and emotional kinks that leave you feeling fatigued. In short, they help you to rediscover your 'source'.

The process starts with a consultation to ensure the therapist knows exactly what you need - deep relaxation, increased energy, calming down - even if you aren't completely sure yourself. That's the thing about a good spa; all you should really have to do is get yourself there. Letting someone else work out what to do with you is an essential part of the experience.

And something like the Five Elements Rebalance is a perfect for knocking your sluggish and stressed life force, or Qi, into harmony.

It starts with a fragrant bath, follows with stone-therapy massage and ends with a heavenly foot rub and scrub. A healthy snack and herbal refreshment is also provided since all this rebalancing is bound to rev up your appetite. It's a perfect way to spend a winter afternoon. And if you're lucky, you can also book into one of the hotel's lovely spa suites for the night. Zzzzzzzzz.

Chuan Spa Five Elements Rebalance, three hours for $395 (single), $710 couple. Phone: (09) 300 2960.