Six of the Best Natural Hot Springs and Spas in Victoria to Visit When You Need Some R&R

Drive 90 minutes northwest of the city and you’ll find the suitably-named town of Hepburn Springs, home to Australia’s largest concentration of rejuvenating mineral springs. To properly experience what the area has to offer, your best bet is to head to the historic and luxurious Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa. Ranging from 33–40 degrees, guests can wander through underwater spa couches, hydrotherapy pods, a mineral hammam, an aroma steam room and several kinds of pools, including one for salt therapy and another for outdoor bathing. You can also extend your stay by booking into one of the newly-renovated wellness villas — a private sanctuary overlooking the surrounding bushland complete with plush furniture, an oversized marble spa bath, king bed, yoga mats with guided videos and an indulgent fireplace.

This $100 million development from the minds behind Mornington Peninsula favourite, Peninsula Hot Springs, is a cool four-hour drive away from Melbourne and well-worth the journey. The 25-acre site is a haven of wellness and indulgence, surrounded by coastal bushland and located within strolling distance of the quaint lakeside village of Metung. The first phase currently boasts two bathing areas with multiple mineral-rich hot springs, a sauna, cold plunge pool, reflexology walk and day spa. Geothermal springs are open in the Bathing Ridge, as well as the Hilltop Escarpment which overlooks the gorgeous Gippsland Lakes. But the crowning jewel here is the luxurious glamping tents, which come equipped with geothermal bathing barrels. Overnight guests can enjoy private, 24/7 bathing barrels in luxurious glamping tents positioned by the lagoon or along the hillside.

Images: Sharyn Cairn

Located on 15 tranquil, rolling bushland hectares in the heart of Fingal, this modern wellness sanctuary has been years in the making. And Alba Thermal Springs & Spa is a certified stunner. If bathing is on the agenda, you’ll find 31 idyllic pools, each one built for a different purpose and carefully integrated into its own immediate landscape, right down to the choice of native flora surrounding it. Forming a trail down the hill known as The Hemisphere, they range from the secluded to the more social; with everything from botanical-infused baths to icy plunge pools. One might feel like you’re stepping into an Ancient Roman bath, while another envelops you with high walls carving out your own private view of the skies above. Plus, the onsite restaurant Thyme, helmed by renowned chef Karen Martini, is a lofty indoor-outdoor space overlooking the pools. It’s an all-day affair, championing local produce via a menu filled with plates designed to both satisfy and nourish.

Images: Chris-McConville

Escape the hustle with a jaunt out to the Yarra Ranges. Just over an hour away from the city lies Japanese Mountain Retreat in Montrose, a luxurious mineral hot springs haven boasting a series of fully private outdoor mineral pools, meaning you won’t have to share your soak with any strangers. There’s a variety of these romantic, secluded, private spaces available to book (for one couple at a time), featuring backdrops like zen Japanese-style gardens and leafy rock pool grottos. What’s more, they’re open until 9pm, primed for a spot of romantic bathing under the stars. There’s also an opulent Roman-style bathhouse for those who prefer an indoor dip, and a range of add-on dining experiences available to amp up any visit. You can even stay the night, with a variety of pamper-filled accommodation packages on offer.

Naturally occurring and mineral-rich hot spring water is the seller at Deep Blue Hotel and Hot Springs, located just three hours from Melbourne in Warrnambool. An iconic spot for rest and relaxation, the site boasts 15 therapeutic geothermal pools rich with sulphurous mineral waters, overnight accommodation, an indoor bathhouse, day spa and an onsite food and beverage eatery dubbed the Nourish Dome championing seasonal produce. Guests will find a range of bathing across the dreamy openair hot springs sanctuary, including sensorial caves, waterfalls, a hydrotherapy pool and a cold plunge pool. Bathers can choose from a range of special access choices, including an all-inclusive overnight retreat package, early morning session, or twilight sessions.

The drive down the Mornington Peninsula to the Peninsula Hot Springs retreat is somewhat of a Melburnian pilgrimage — where Victorians escape the chill of the city every winter via thermal means. A $13 million upgrade in 2018 saw the addition of two cold plunge pools, seven new hot spring pools and an impressive outdoor Bath House Amphitheatre to the site’s remote and picturesque hilltop location. Guests also have access to two 30-person saunas, a chilled (and Australian-first) ice cave and a ‘deep freeze’ treatment room, which will be kept at a cool 25 degrees below freezing. This is in addition to the existing hammam, underground sauna, cave pool and hilltop pool, which affords 360-degree views of the area. The venue also has a new cafe, a cultural meeting space designed in collaboration with local Indigenous elders, and a multipurpose wellness centre for classes and talks.