Hot springs you can soak in near Melbourne

Heaven really is a place on Earth – and you’ll find it at this world-class wellness oasis on the Mornington Peninsula. Alba Thermal Springs is a sustainable, $90 million sanctuary that boasts a collection geothermal pools within its perfectly manicured 15-hectare grounds. This relaxation destination has been meticulously curated to evoke calm and tranquility from the moment you enter through its curved, concrete entranceway complete with a moat-like water feature. There are 31 pools dotted among the undulating landscape – some intimate and private, others large and more social – and they range from geothermal pools and cold plunge pools to herbal-infused botanical pools and invigorating rain pools. Bookings start at $80, but if you feel like splurging, there are a variety of packages going all the way up to the $1400 price point.

Peninsula Hot Springs is Victoria’s first geothermal mineral springs and day spa. It’s here you’ll find more than 70 bathing experiences, including shared thermal mineral pools, wet and dry saunas, a hydrotherapy pool, Turkish and Moroccan hammams and the frequently Instagrammed hilltop pool, which boasts 360-degree views over the farmlands of Fingal. If you’re brave, you can also try swapping between the 60-degree hot sauna and the ice cave, which sits at a cool -17 degrees. Feeling like a midnight soak? The hot springs also offers moonlight bathing from 11pm to 5am every day. Just make sure you book in advance for that one. Entrance to Peninsula Hot Springs starts at $30, with prices increasing during peak times.

Metung Hot Springs is a brand new hot springs and day spa that is the perfect spot to relax, refresh and rejuvenate. Located in Metung overlooking the Gippsland Lakes, the secluded, tranquil site was chosen for its natural warmth, breathtaking vistas and, of course, close proximity to geothermal waters. It is divided into two separate areas: the bathing valley and hilltop escarpment. The former boasts seven pools of varying depths, massaging geothermal showers, relaxation lounges and a reflexology walk, while the latter (which is reserved for guests aged 16 years and older) offers a cold plunge tub, stargazing pool and individual bathing barrels. Bathing prices start at $30 for one-hour sessions.

In case you missed it, the Continental Sorrento (aka ‘the Conti’) has recently undergone a multi-million dollar redevelopment, and now, the final element of this luxurious refurb is almost ready: a state-of-the-art spa, thermal bathhouse and wellness hub. The Aurora Spa and Bathhouse is i​​nspired by the healing powers of water and ancient European water therapies. Inside this soothing and serene oasis – which covers 1,000 square metres and fits 60 guests at a time – you’ll find four interconnecting hydrotherapy pools, an aromatherapy steam room, a halotherapy suite (which offers salt treatments), sensory showers and a glacial mist chamber. And then there’s the pièce de résistance: a timber-lined Nordic sauna – one of the largest in the southern hemisphere. Entrance starts at $95 for a 1.5-hour bathing session.

Fun fact: 80 per cent of the country’s mineral springs are in the Daylesford region, which makes it perfect for spa treatments. You’re here to relax, so begin your getaway by visiting arguably the most famous spa in the region, Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa. Here you can enjoy a massage or simply slip into the warm mineral waters of the communal bathhouse and feel your body begin to unwind. For something even closer to nature, have a soak in the outdoor creekside spa. Aching muscles? The mineral salts of the circular mineral bath under a giant skylight is the ticket to relaxation. Entrance to the Hepburn Bathhouse starts at $55.

Southwest Victoria is also home to some geothermal mineral springs thanks to an ancient water source called the Dilwyn Aquifer. The water passes through 850 metres of prehistoric rock and earth layers to reach the surface at Deep Blue Hotel and Hot Springs in Warrnambool. Explore the geothermal rockpool and rainforest cave, each heated from 38 degrees to 45 degrees. Bathing prices start at $46 for two and a half hours in the water.

If you want complete privacy while you soak, this Montrose property might be for you. Swimwear is optional in each of the three bathing pools: traditional Japanese cedar hot tub in a Japanese garden, Japanese rock pool in a Japanese garden, and tropical garden pool. It's billed as a romantic couple's retreat, and each of the pools has its own private change room and shower, as well as complete privacy for bathing. This one's on the pricey side, as bathing starts at $140 per person for 50 minutes - but can you really put a price on bathing in the nude en plein air? There is also accommodation and spa treatments on-site, so if you want extra brownie points with your partner, book a package deal.