About VELA
Immersed in nature, designed to restore. A new chapter for a 25 year legacy.
Our Story
In Spring 2026, Villa Thalgo Day Spa, cherished by the Hawkesbury community for more than 25 years, became VELA Spa & Bathhouse. A complete reimagining for luxury wellness in the Hawkesbury Valley. With the new name came a new identity and a new vision, elevating our beloved wellness sanctuary into NSW's first nature immersed luxury spa and bathhouse.
Our Ethos
Arrive
Leaving the pace of everyday life behind is part of what VELA is designed to facilitate. From the moment you arrive, the environment is built to shift the tempo so that the time here belongs to you.
Unwind
Moving through the bathhouse circuit, heat, cold and mineral water stimulate recovery, mental clarity and deep relaxation. That process of unwinding is often where the real benefit of a visit begins.
Restore
VELA takes its name from the Latin word for sails, a tribute to the Hawkesbury River and the morning mist that drifts through the valley each day. For centuries the river shaped this region, connecting communities and sustaining life in ways that are still felt in the landscape. For guests who knew this place under its previous name, the V carries a quieter meaning too, a nod to Villa Thalgo and the foundation it laid.
Awaken
Our goal is to leave you feeling better than you arrived — more rested, more present, with more clarity and calmness. Our home is a sanctuary you can always return to, as often as you need.
Our home
The eight-hectare setting with its incredible gardens and mountain views is as much a part of the experience as any treatment or therapy. It's what makes VELA unlike any other wellness retreat in New South Wales.
VELA's design draws from the ancient landscapes surrounding us. Every material, every space and every experience has been chosen to keep you grounded, in an environment that works with nature.
Our expertise
Meet Nicole. The curator of your VELA experience.
Nicole Scheib
Originally from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, Nicole brings over 18 years of experience across the beauty, spa and wellness industry. Now based in New South Wales, her career has been shaped by a genuine passion for both people and the transformative power of the spa experience.
Nicole’s connection to beauty began early, inspired by her late mother’s passion for beauty therapy. Although her mother didn’t have the opportunity to pursue it as a career, that influence became a meaningful driver behind Nicole’s own journey and continues to inform her approach today.
She began her career as a qualified beauty therapist, quickly progressing into leadership roles and expanding her experience across spa, clinic and global retail environments. Nicole has worked across every facet of the industry, from hands-on treatment and salon management through to education, business development and multi-site operations, most recently as a Retail Area Manager with The Estée Lauder Companies. This breadth of experience allows her to bring a balanced perspective, combining strong commercial awareness with a deep understanding of elevated guest experience.
Her return to spa was an intentional one. After nearly two decades in the industry, Nicole has found that it is the experiential element, creating spaces where guests can truly disconnect, reset and feel cared for, that resonates most deeply.
Outside of work, Nicole is passionate about wellbeing and living with intention. She enjoys yoga, Pilates, ocean swims and time in nature, alongside a love of fashion, travel, the arts and discovering local food gems with her partner. Daily meditation and movement are non-negotiables, and she believes in the importance of living life, embracing both ritual and indulgence, often marked with a glass of champagne.
