How to Visit Peninsula Hot Springs on a Wellness Escape

Lonely Planet recently published ‘Wellness Escapes’, a guide to the world’s wellness getaways. Wellness is a buzz word of late, and many travellers are flocking to destinations where they can rest, refuel and replenish their bodies. The timing of this publication is uncanny, and I think this is a sign of the times in which we live.

I don’t remember another time in my lifetime when we were busier, more stressed and sick. The world we currently live in is set up to influence us to live this way, but there is also another motivation we can’t ignore – our own motivations. Why are we pushing ourselves to the brink of, and beyond, fatigue? Why are we so driven to lead such busy lives that our accelerated actions are detrimental to our health? I’m no stranger to fatigue and ill-health, as a result of pushing myself. It sometimes seems too easy to forget about slowing our pace. But what I do realise is that I can recognise the signs when my body starts to say ‘no’. Once I recognise the signs, I can then do something about it.

Australia is very fortunate because its home to 15 wellness retreats, all of which are published in Lonely Planet’s guide. I was grateful to have visited one of these retreats recently, Peninsula Hot Springs, and it was a day of pure relaxation and happiness. There’s nothing more refreshing than to jump in the car and head down the freeway to the Mornington Peninsula. As I’ve experienced this roadtrip many summers over the course of my life, I can vouch for the feeling you get. You can literally feel the stress peel away from your body once you see the Peninsula’s grassy ranges in your sights.

Peninsula Hot Springs is an expansive collection of geothermal hot springs, located in Fingal on the Mornington Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula is one of Melbourne’s favourite beach locations for road-trippers, just over a one-hour drive from Melbourne’s central business district. The geothermal hot springs, and their medicinal properties, have also been known to local indigenous people for generations.  According to Peninsula Hot Springs, the waters are “high in mineral content” and come to the pools “straight from the earth’s core”; 637 from below the earth’s surface; estimated to be over 10,000 years old.

One point I have come to realise over years of travel is that travel itself can be stressful. It’s one thing to plan a roadtrip to a retreat but it seems to defeat the purpose when you aim to plan for what you can’t anticipate. What you can’t anticipate can cause stress so what’s the point in going to a retreat if you’re stressed?

Visiting Peninsula Hot Springs is definitely not a stressful experience. Having said that, I thought I’d share my quick tips so you can maximise your experience at Peninsula Hot Springs while minimising your stress levels.

Timing is everything

Weekends are great for any roadtrip, but keep in mind that Peninsula Hot Springs does get busy. Super-busy. Weekend days are peak times, especially during the sunnier months between September to February. Book in for a bathe, the entry-level way to experience Peninsula Hot Springs. This is the most natural and back-to-basics way to experience Peninsula Hot Springs. Upon booking, you’ll also need to choose an arrival time. If you choose an afternoon you can stay for as long as you wish without too much crowding. If you can organise a weekday off from work, book your visit for a weekday so you can avoid the weekend crowds. If you book during weekend ‘peak’, it’s $55 per adult compared to $45 weekday ‘off-peak’. If you’re an early bird, you can arrive before 9am and only pay $25 per adult.

What should I take?

That age-old travel saying ‘less is more’ rings true here. Wear your bathing gear underneath some comfortable casual clothes and pack a daypack with the basics (change of underwear, sunscreen, towel, extra layers for afterwards if you’re cold) and flip-flops. Once you arrive, there’s the option to book a locker in the change-rooms for an additional $5. Lockers are activated by a waterproof, electronic wristband.

But what about my phone?

Let me propose this. You’re visiting a wellness retreat to de-stress and relax. To minimise stress, pack your phone in your daypack and lock it up in your locker. If you do have to take your phone, keep in mind that you are bathing with families, and people who aren’t happy with being filmed in the background. I urge you to leave your phone in the locker. Not only you will be less stressed, those around you will be, too. If you just have to take your phone, make sure its housed in a waterproof case.

Are robes and towels available?

Robes and towels are definitely available, but at an added cost ($10 and $5 respectively). You can bring a big beach-towel from home and you can wrap this around you in between navigating the plunge pools. This works just as well, and hooks/racks are dispersed around the grounds, available to hang your towels on. If you’re on a budget, it’s best to spend your $5 on a locker instead.

Are all the bathing springs hot?

All of the mineral springs are hot, though there are a few cold plunge pools dispersed around the grounds if you need to ‘cool off’. The naturally occurring minerals here (boron, magnesium, potassium and sodium) have been known to offer health benefits such as reduction in blood pressure, detoxification, and rehabilitating muscles and joints, even sleep improvement. If you do have any medical conditions or concerns, it’s best to seek medical advice from your doctor before you plan to go to Peninsula Hot Springs.

Is food available at Peninsula Hot Springs?

There are two main cafes onsite – the Bath House Café and Amphitheatre Café. Vegan options are minimal though are available, particularly at the Amphitheatre Café. You can book bathing and food packages, though you can approach your experience at Peninsula Hot Springs. Pack a picnic basket to enjoy before or after your bathing in the picnic gardens here, or opt to make a pit-stop at a café nearby. One of my favourites – and a midway point on the road – is Conscious Cravings Co. on the Moorooduc Highway in Moorooduc.

Take a weekend wellness trip to Peninsula Hot Springs, 40 Springs Lane, Fingal, Victoria Australia 3939. Phone: +61 3 5950 8777. Hours: 7.00am to 10.00pm daily. By car is the easiest mode of transport to Peninsula Hot Springs but you can visit the Peninsula Hot Springs website for more transport options. Vouchers are also available to purchase for a birthday or Christmas present!

All travel costs, entry fees and incidentals were paid in full by Justine de Jonge. All thoughts and advice expressed in this post are of her own and are not affiliated with Lonely Planet and/or Peninsula Hot Springs.

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