Mangapapa Spa Retreat - Hawkes Bay

Mangapapa Petit Hotel is set in the tranquil grounds of an historic homestead, just 5 minutes from the centre of Havelock North and Hastings city and 15 minutes from Napier in the heart of Hawkes Bay wine country. 

This historic property is 125 years old, built in 1885 by William Nelson, founder of the Tomoana Freezing Works in Hastings. Sir James Wattie purchased the homestead in 1946 to grow fruit and vegetables for his cannery business. Sir James and his wife, Gladys, moved into Mangapapa in 1950. The farm, was known to the locals as "Wattie’s Place”, although it retained the name Mangapapa.

In the late 80’s, Mangapapa was sold as part of the Goodman, Fielder, Wattie assets when it merged with Heinz. Bought by european business interests to develop as a restaurant and luxury hotel in December 1993, Mangapapa changed hands again in May 1999 and now operates as the Mangapapa Petit Hotel.

Mangapapa launched its new Spa Retreat in April in partnership with the ‘Thalgo Supreme Award winning Beauty Therapy Salon’ Andrea’s Hair and Beauty, offering a unique destination Spa experience for local and international guests. A full range of Spa services from the world of Thalgo creating a time to relax and revive after long distance travel or for any body fatigue. These are sensorial journeys that let your senses emerge renewed and vital during two hours of care. 

The Spa Retreat provides an environment to unwind and be rejuvenated. The indoor facilities include private amenities of showers, baths, sauna and spa pool alongside an outdoor pool. Trained therapists use the same innovative Thalgo products and spa rituals that are available around the world in many other Thalgo Spa destinations. The Spa Retreat offers a couples suite for a shared spa experience.

David and Andrea Napier and Catherine Hobbs- Turner General Manager of Mangapapa Petit Hotel ( Five Star )

David and Andrea Napier recently visited Villa Thalgo in Paris courtesy Thalgo NZ for winning the ‘Thalgo Supreme Award’ for the 6th Year in a row!  Images managed to catch up with a very busy Andrea:

To win the Thalgo Supreme Award for the 6th year in a row, is a marvellous achievement, what does winning this award mean for you?

Winning this award is a great accolade to be acknowledged for our dedication to the Thalgo brand and the training and ongoing education required to remain at the pinnacle of a fast growing industry.  It is a team commitment and I am truly proud of my team and their focus.

Did you enjoy Paris, what other attractions did you take in? 

Paris is such an amazing city to envelope ones self in the food the fashion the culture and the language. We walked for miles every day tasting as much as we could while staying in a beautiful Parisian Hotel just opposite the Louvre again courtesy of Thalgo New Zealand. 

Having experienced a fabulous Villa Thalgo visit ourselves last year, how did you find it?

Villa Thalgo’s serene atmosphere is indeed what we are aiming to achieve at the Spa Retreat at Mangapapa, while we have a smaller population here in Hawkes Bay and our Spa is a smaller scale, we wish to feature on the International scale of Retreats to escape to. 

Tell us about the Spa Retreat, what ‘point of difference’ do you offer clients?

There are many day spa beauty clinics in Hawkes Bay, but there are not any Destination Spa’s in the city limits where accommodation and meals and real privacy are able to be enjoyed. You could stay a few days and be anonymous as it is truly a hide away tranquil space.

What percentages of your clients are international versus local?

The market is mostly visitors to Hawkes Bay and New Zealand, however 30 % are locals and we wish to encourage this area

What are the most popular Spa Packages requested?

Thalgo’s Ocean Memory Ritual is our signature service, and the journey for us is to encourage clients to have a ritual and not just the massage portion of the treatment. The Ocean Memory exfoliate, bath, massage and wrap will have you relaxed and intensely replenished will your skin is reborn and glowing with life in a lingering scent of citrus, bergamot, mandarin, iris and marine extracts.

Finally can tell us what appeals to you about the Thalgo brand?

The benefits of sea water span the ages, from 420 BC when Euripides said "the sea washes away the ills of man” and more recently noteworthy 19th century scientist Dr Quinton said "the inner environment of the human body alone has the same mineral make up and the same general aspect as sea water. Thalgo has the ability to heal the body & skin and that is also the role of the beauty therapist and Spa Therapist. Thalgo offers results and that’s why I love it.