Valentine’s Gifts For Her: If you’re looking for something to treat yourself with this week, THESE are our top picks for showing yourself a bit of love. (Or, maybe just drop this link to someone you think might like to get you a Valentine’s treat this year?!?)
Note: We handpick everything we recommend. We may receive revenue for sharing this content or when you shop through our links
Treat Yourself to a Spa Day
$200, SO/ Spa Valentine’s Day Escape, Auckland, or $250, Pullman Hotel Romance Destiny Package, Auckland
This is a seriously good way to spend some hard-earned dollars. I [Alice] was lucky enough to try out the SO/ Valentines Escape, just to make sure it was good enough to recommend to you all (I know, it’s a tough gig sometimes!), and I can now say with authority, this is BLISS. Your $200 goes a long way – you’ll get a divine 60-minute custom Waterlily hydrating facial and if you weren’t relaxed enough you’ll also get a 30-minute back, neck and shoulder massage (honestly this was my favourite part, getting to release those knotted up shoulders of mine!). Plus, you get Valet parking at SO/, so you don’t have to stress about finding a park, PLUS access to the wellness facilities. You can easily make a day of it here, enjoying the sleek 25-meter pool, jacuzzi and mixed sauna before and after your treatment. It’s only available from Feb 12 to 15 though, so get booking now!
And Kelly was also a lucky little thing, and gave the Pullman’s Romance Destiny Package a go – she popped into Luxe Spa at Pullman Auckland and tried their version – also a 30-minute massage (which she says was legit one of the best she’s had, EVER) and a 60-minute facial, plus a glass of bubbles post-treatment. She also got to enjoy the pool and sauna, and even treated herself to a delicious martini on the Pullman courtyard afterwards (justified by the fact Ubers were surging, so it made more sense to enjoy happy hour before getting home!). This one is available all of February.
Pick up a Beauty Cult Favourite
$199, Murad Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Treatment, available from Caci
Both Kelly and Alice are big fans of this overnight treatment which delivers on exactly what it says on the bottle. It’s clinically proven to tackle major signs of advanced aging: visibly lifts neck/jowl sagging and increases elasticity, whilst smoothing deep-set wrinkles and crepey skin. If you’re wanting people to start complimenting your skin, this is the perfect place to start.
Set Sail for V Day!
From $1,365 per person (twin share stateroom), 7-night Grand Princess Cruise, available from Flight Centre
If you’re looking for the ultimate gift to give yourself – or a loved one – book yourself a holiday! YOU DESERVE IT. Take it from Kelly and Alice, if you’re looking to really relax, a cruise is a great way to switch your busy mind off. There are no decisions to be made (except maybe for choosing which restaurant you want to dine at, which cocktail to order or which treatment to get at the spa – and look, the staff are so helpful, they’ll steer you in the right direction). Flight Centre currently has a great deal on for a seven night cruise departing next year on March 1 (we love having a holiday to look forward to), cruising from Brisbane to take in the incredible Great Barrier Reef, plus Townsville, Cairns and famous Airlie Beach before heading back to Brissy. It’s onboard the Grand Princess – part of the luxurious Princess line and all your main meals, entertainment, gratuities, government and port taxes are taken care of, all for $195 per person, per night (based on twin share). Um, see you onboard?!
Love Poems
$30.95 by Rupi Kaur available from Amazon
Hot off the press is Love Poems, a new hardcover edition that brings Rupi Kaur’s heartfelt love poems together in one collection for the first time! Love Poems by Rupi Kaur is a curated collection of love poems from Kaur’s acclaimed body of work, including poems from milk and honey, the sun and her flowers, and home body, along with an all-new introduction and shareable Valentine’s–and Galentine’s!– Day post cards. These timeless pieces capture the sensuality, romance, passion, and all-consuming nature of modern love, making it the perfect gift for anyone who has loved deeply or is learning to love themselves.
Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Espresso Machine
On sale at Farmers, $599 (down from $1099)
We’ve gone on about this coffee machine for a while but it’s because it’s just SO good – check out our review here! There’s no better treat than your morning coffee, so if you want to up your game with your cuppa and romanticise your life as you start your day. This machine from Ninja has three modes – espresso, cold brew and filter – and makes the exact same cup every time (it’s veeeery smart).
Have a Luxurious Galentine’s Catch Up
$130 for two, Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, Rotorua
If you’re after a bit of RnR this Valentine’s, leave your worries at home and head for a soak with a gal pal. Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa – Rotorua’s luxury geothermal resort – is offering a special ‘Soak and Indulge Package’ for the month of February to celebrate Valentine’s, or more specifically, Galentines. You get a 45 minute exclusive private pool session, followed up by Duck Island Ice Cream Sandwich served in their serene setting for the perfect sweet finish.
Wear Your Heart On Your… Ankle?
$100, Cashmere socks by Elle and Riley
As someone who runs cold (there’s only a couple of months in the year when you won’t find me – Alice – complaining that I’m freezing), socks are serious, serious business to me. They might seem like a strange thing to splurge on, but, in my experience a truly great pair of socks can change your life. And there is no greater sock than a cashmere sock. Yes, these are $100 socks (well, $50 a sock?!) but they’re the best pair you’ll ever own!
Give Your Skin a Treat!
$115, Skinsmiths B12 Hydrating Facial
Caci is my all time favourite place to visit to get a nice, relaxing feel-good facial – that’s also going to actually deliver longterm results to my skin. If you’ve got 30 mins on your hands, this Skinsmiths facial is such a dreamy little treat, that’ll have you walking out of the clinic with a bounce in your step and glowing skin. It begins with a gentle cleanse to remove any traces of make-up or debris, followed by an enzymatic exfoliation under steam that softly dissolves dead skin cells, leaving your complexion fresh and smooth. Next, Caci’s B12 Hydrating Face Mask is applied, enveloping the skin in deep hydration while a relaxing neck and shoulder massage completes the experience. Absolute bliss.
You Can Buy Yourself Flowers…
$66.42, LEGO Botanicals, available from Amazon
Sorry, yes, we’ve got Miley Cyrus stuck in our heads now too. If you’ve ever found yourself blissfully zoning out as you play with your kids’ LEGO, you’re not alone – and the folks at LEGO are really taking notice, because there’s more LEGO sets marketed at adults now than ever before. There’s an entire botanicals range (including this Orchid set) – or, if you’re like me you might be more interested in building the Home Alone House, or Hogwarts Castle.
How About a Bit of True Crime for V-Day?
From $39, Auckland’s SkyCity
Okay, yes, to celebrate Valentine’s Day you can grab tickets to Fever’s Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special where you can listen to timeless love songs from classic films played by a string quartet under the gentle glow of candlelight in Parnell’s Holy Trinity Cathedral. Ooooor, you can book into their other Valentine’s Day experience: The Jury Experience: Death By AI.
There’s (thankfully?) zero romance here. You’ve been called for jury duty! You step into a thrilling courtroom drama where you – the audience – become the jury. You’ll listen to testimonies, analyse evidence, and ultimately decide… guilty or not guilty.
In this particular case, you’re presented with a moral dilemma: A driverless car. A human life lost. And a question no court has ever had to answer before: who pays the price when technology is on trial?
Time to Start Up a Hockey Romance Obsession?
$20.60, Pucking Strong by Emily Rath, available from Amazon
Okay, before Heated Rivalry transformed Ice Hockey into the epicentre of hot and heavy romances, the book world was already on fire, serving up sexy ice hockey puns and novels. One of the greatest (and smuttiest?) series is by Emily Rath, a former university professor turned New York Times and internationally bestselling author whose chart-topping, sex-positive, queer-inclusive novels include the Second Sons Regency romances and the Tuonela Duet fantasy novels. But a great place to start is the “Why Choose” TikTok sensation, Jacksonville Rays Hockey Romances – with titles like Pucking Around, Pucking Wild and Pucking Ever After, Emily’s books are swoon-y, spicy and laugh out loud funny.
Hara Bra and Undies
From $48
We’re obsessed with Hara, an Aussie brand with GORGEOUS but also practical underwear and loungewear. Even if no one else is seeing your undies, there is something so satisfying and ‘I have my shit together’ about a matching set – we’d go with the Stella Low Cut Bra in Chilli, with matching undies (they have G’s, low rise and high rise so there’s a cut for you.
Mocka Sorrento Outdoor Three Seater Sofa – Beige
$899
Treating yourself to the perfect outdoor living set up is not only great for *aesthetic*, it’s a step forward in good self-care. Creating your own dream al fresco possie for reading, socialising, napping and just simply being is top of my [Kelly’s] to-do list this year, and I’ve had my eye on this three-seater sofa for ages. It’s a gorgeous colour, looks incredibly comfortable and makes me want to whip up an Aperol Spritz stat!
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
$2099
If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your phone for a while, treat yourself to the best one on the market – and one that will give you photos so perfect, your mates will be wanting to steal it off you after a night out (this did actually happen to me, Kelly, but I got it back eventually!). The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is both futuristic and nostalgic – if you always wanted a pink Motorola Razr but your mum said no, this is the phone for you – with a camera that blows your mind, amazing AI tech that actually helps your day run smoother and wildly impressive battery life that means you’ll never have to hunt for a random charger or battery pack again.