Stay toasty with the best hot springs, natural mineral baths and bath houses around Melbourne.
As the temperature plummets, so too does your motivation to leave the house. Although, if there’s one winter activity in Victoria worth abandoning the comfort of the indoors for, it’s natural mineral baths and hot springs.
Sure, if you’re lucky enough to have a bath in your home you’re probably thinking ‘why bother?’. Aside from the fact your housemates secretly resent you for hogging the bathroom and using all the hot water, nothing compares to the therapeutic effects of bathing in natural mineral water.
Balneology – the branch of medical science concerned with the therapeutic value of baths – suggests that bathing in hot springs can help a range of ailments from arthritis to high blood pressure. What’s more, they can improve sleep, promote healthy skin, bones and muscles. Go on, dive in.
Peninsula Hot Springs
Peninsula Hot Springs is a secluded oasis that feels as if it’s been plucked straight from a Japanese mountain. Not only does this bathing hub offer social and private thermal mineral pools, but it’s also got falling water massage, barrel baths, traditional and infrared saunas, a cold plunge pool and many other options for peak relaxation. This award-winning geothermal hot springs and day spa was founded in 1997 and bases its treatments on research around physical and mental health and wellness. Peninsula Hot Springs tends to get pretty busy (and for good reason), so be sure to secure your spot before making the trip.
Find Peninsula Hot Springs at Springs Lane, Fingal.
Hepburn Bathhouse
Providing traditional social bathing since 1895, Hepburn Bathhouse is a tried and tested water therapy experience. As well as specialising in therapeutic mineral bathing, this bathhouse also boasts an aromatherapy steam room, underwater spa couches, a salt and magnesium therapy pool, outdoor creekside bathing and a mineral Hammam room – a traditional Turkish steam room. Located within the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve, there are several natural springs nearby worth visiting while you’re in the area.
Find Hepburn Bathhouse at Mineral Springs Reserve Road, Hepburn Springs.
Deep Blue Geothermal Baths
Sourcing its water from the Dilwyn Aquifer, found 850 metres underground and ageing back approximately 50 million years, Deep Blue Geothermal Baths offers social and private mineral spas ranging between 38 and 45 degrees. The ancient waters contain a rich blend of naturally occurring chlorides, sodium, potassium, magnesium, bicarbonate and sulphur. The pricing here is very affordable, so if you’re looking for a treatment that’ll have you feeling like a million bucks without the price tag to match, Deep Blue is the spot for you.
Find Deep Blue Geothermal Baths at Worm Bay Road, Warrnambool.
Japanese Mountain Retreat
If you aren’t keen on straying too far from the city, Japanese Mountain Retreat is your best bet. Located within the Dandenong Ranges, just 45 minutes out of Melbourne, Japanese Mountain Retreat offers traditional Japanese accommodation and spa packages that make for the perfect staycation. Japanese Mountain Retreat has a range of options, including private outdoor baths, indoor mineral baths and couples baths – swimwear optional. Mineral water sourced from the local mountains is heated to a toasty 39 degrees in your choice of outdoor Japanese-walled garden bath, tropical oasis or opulent indoor Roman bathhouse.
Find Japanese Mountain Retreat at 14 Mountain Crescent, Montrose.
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