For thousands of years, people have turned to water for restoration, and natural springs have turned have been revered as spiritual places of healing. This is especially true for Aboriginal Australians, whose traditions stretch back 60,000 years. It’s fitting, then, that the country has joined the ranks of the world’s great spa destinations.
The Great Victorian Bathing Trail: Australia’s 900km-long geothermal spa route
Abundant in geothermal aquifers, which bubble up mineral-rich waters at 50°C, Victoria has now launched the Great Victorian Bathing Trail . This 900km route links eight of Victoria’s hot spring locations, inspired by international examples like New Zealand’s Thermal Explorer Highway and Switzerland’s Grand Tour Deluxe.
Mornington Peninsula’s hot springs
Some of the trail’s spa venues are still under construction, with full completion slated for 2030. However, others, including Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula, are well established. “We wanted to nurture a bathing culture here while making it easy for visitors to follow a trail,” says Charles Davidson, who founded Peninsula Hot Springs with his brother Richard in 2005, and is one of the originators of the new trail.
Set across 17 hectares an hour from Melbourne, Peninsula’s hot springs are lush and lively. Once barren grazing land, the site has been replanted with local species since 1998. Pools sit beneath a thriving canopy, wetlands attract birds and frogs, and the onsite Food Bowl amphitheatre supplies the kitchens.
The venue is split between the tranquil, adults‑only Spa Dreaming Centre and the more social Bathhouse. For Davidson, the bathing experience is as much about connection as it is about quiet. “I’ve visited hot springs in 54 countries, and often they’re social spaces as well as wellness spaces,” he says. That’s not to undersell the wellness offering: treatments range from nature‑focused body therapies with organic products to saunas and ice plunges, while accommodation includes eco‑lodges with geothermal pools and glamping tents with private decks.
Nearby, the newly opened Alba Thermal Springs & Spa draws on the Mornington Peninsula’s serene landscape, with contemporary architecture by Hayball. A rectilinear reception leads to a lounge overlooking the grounds, where you can rest after enjoying a menu of treatments, including massage, facials, hammam and Vichy rituals.
Outside, 34 cool-grey limestone pools are tucked among grasses, flowers and sky‑facing openings. “We set ourselves the challenge of offering new and different experiences,” says general manager Craig Dodd. “Many of our guests have never bathed like this before, while others are enthusiasts.” Alba’s accommodation – five villas and two studios – offers wide vistas and deep stone baths, with thoughtful service and a menu by celebrity chef Karen Martini.
“We’ve found that wellness means different things to different people,” says Dodd. “For some, it’s about meditation and green smoothies. For others, it’s about treating yourself to good food and a glass of sparkling wine away from the everyday.
Therapeutic retreats in Warrnambool
Further west on the Great Ocean Road, Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs in Warrnambool is a hotel‑style retreat with a strong therapeutic focus throughout its 17 pools. Shallow rock pools, caves, and aromatherapy and light‑therapy baths celebrate the region’s mineral waters, shaped by ancient geology and varying in their composition – and therefore their wellness properties – by location. “One of our defining features is our Sensory Caves, where colour light therapy enhances the experience,” says marketing manager Lauren Orero. Inside, private bathing spaces are available, and the spa includes a salt room, infrared sauna and a range of body treatments, while rooms are spacious, with upper floors offering views of the town and foreshore.
The surrounding landscape is part of the draw too, with the towering limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles, the walking trails of the Grampians and the Unesco‑listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape – a millennia-old Indigenous aquaculture site – all within reach. Closer by, sunrise often finds racehorses training at the breakwater. Whether your journey includes one or several destinations, the trail offers a compelling proposition for the newbie and the veteran – for relaxation, a more focused wellness retreat or simply an expression of Victoria’s diverse terrain in its most elemental, restorative sense.
Plan your Great Victorian Bathing Trail adventure
While public transport is available, hiring a vehicle is a more efficient way to navigate the springs with ease. When booking with Hertz, Cathay members receive special rates and perks with every rental.
The Great Victorian Bathing Trail is easily accessible from Melbourne, Australia's cultural capital. Peninsula Hot Springs and Alba Thermal Springs lie 70km (roughly one hour) south of Melbourne CBD.
Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs in Warrnambool sits further west along the famous Great Ocean Road, approximately 240km (3.5 hours) from Melbourne. This road trip is one of Australia's most spectacular coastal routes, passing through charming seaside towns and offering stunning ocean views.
More Victoria hot springs to discover
Extend your wellness journey with five more of the trail’s top bathing destinations.
Metung Hot Springs
Visit this retreat for natural thermal pools overlooking the Gippsland Lakes, with private bathing experiences and a serene bushland setting.
Geelong Eastern Beach Sea Baths
A historic, Art Deco seawater bathing pool enclosed by a promenade, offering swimming with views of Corio Bay.
Hepburn Bathhouse
A luxury spa in the Hepburn mineral springs precinct, featuring vitality pools, steam caves and private baths.
Phillip Island Hot Springs
A modern hot spring resort near Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade, this property offers family-friendly hydrotherapy pools and wellness treatments.
Twelve Apostles Hot Springs & Resort
You’ll find this seaside thermal retreat close to the Twelve Apostles rock formation, blending natural hot springs with a Great Ocean Road setting.