No Dip in Sight

Concept for the Alba Thermal Springs and Spa.

for emerging Bathing Industry

With self-care and reconnecting with nature becoming the focus for many, Victoria is leading the surge in Australia’s geothermal spa tourism. Gwen Luscombe looks at the growing trend and support for wellness and bathing tourism and why Victoria is leading the way

This year, on World Bathing Day (22nd June), Alba Thermal Springs & Spa announced their winter 2022 public opening on the Victorian Mornington Peninsula to offer contemporary bathing experiences and spa treatments. The expansive 15-hectare space is set to offer a wide selection of indoor, open-air, and outdoor treatment rooms and bathing pools.

Alba General Manager Craig Dodd explains “we’re excited to be creating a luxury spa and thermal bathing destination on the Mornington Peninsula.

“The Peninsula is the ideal location - close to Melbourne for people wanting to take time out of their schedule, leave their phone at home and recalibrate. The Peninsula also has plenty to offer people wanting to stay a little longer and immerse themselves in its natural beauty.”

Partnering with architects Hayball and landscape architects Mala Studio, Alba Thermal Springs & Spa has committed to respecting the natural environment with low-impact development offering luxurious spa and bathing experiences, some of which can be booked privately. In addition to thermal springs, exclusive spa, health and wellness treatments will also be part of the offering.

Alba Thermal Springs & Spa is just one of a cluster of new bathing facilities slated for Victoria over the next few years. After a year when so many have experienced lengthy lockdown periods, increased awareness of mental health and wellbeing and a rise in regional tourism, Victoria has become the epicentre of investment in new offerings in the wellness tourism and bathing niche.

Also on the Mornington Peninsula, Peninsula Hot Springs recently underwent a $13 million expansion inclusive of additional pools, a ‘fire and ice experience’, a new cafe, private igloo-style retreats and a luxury glamping experience for the half-million plus bathers it hosts annually.

It’s all part of a growing trend of wellness tourism says Matt Sykes, author of a blueprint for the emerging hot springs and bathing tourism strategy in Victoria, The Victorian Bathing Trail.

Peninsula Hot Springs.

Sense of Self (and below right).

Sykes says Australia is well-placed to champion a world-class wellness and bathing industry, particularly with its availability of quality bathing experiences diverse migrant cultures with traditional bathing customs.

Sykes is also spearheading the development of a Hot Springs and Bathing Tourism Strategy as part of a broader nature-based, wellness tourism plan.

He says that Victoria, in particular, is leading the way in Australian hot springs tourism illustrated by several new establishments slated to open over the next few years in Victoria alone, from Metung Hot Springs in the east to 12 Apostles Hot Springs in the west. Add in upcoming facilities such as Geelong’s Mineral Springs, Eden Anglesea, East Gippsland’s Nunduk Spa Retreat and Phillip Island’s Saltwater Springs and the trend is clear.

Sykes comments “through the support of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council’s Lynette Bergin Fellowship I had the privilege to study remarkable bathing cultures; from the onsen of Japan to the saunas of Finland.”

In 2019, he visited Japan to research the avid hot springs culture before moving on to Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark to discover a huge variety of hot spring tour packages inclusive of whale watching and bathing to hiking and hot springs packages.

Sykes adds “it became clear that back in Victoria, investing in the hot springs industry could create extensive flow-on benefits to the broader nature-based tourism industry.”

And the growth isn’t solely dedicated to the regional areas. Late last year, an inner-city bathhouse and wellness space, Sense of Self opened in Melbourne’s inner north suburb of Collingwood centering around a large mineral bath set at 39 degrees and a Finnish sauna. Guests can also relax and retreat to the courtyard for a cool down.

Unlike existing bathhouses in Hepburn Springs and Mornington Peninsula, Sense of Self doesn’t require a day (or overnight) trip outside the city. Remaining open until 9 pm on weeknights and offering multi-passes similar to a fitness centre, it makes visits after work on an average Tuesday as easy as going to the gym, changing the concept of bathing as an indulgence.

Sykes notes “importantly, all of the aforementioned Victorian geothermal projects demonstrate a strong commitment to environmentally sustainable design. This shared philosophy is core to the branding and marketing of the bathing trail.

“It has potential to inspire the restoration of vast terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments between and around the trail.”

It’s a concept that’s already proven successful in destinations such as the United States with the celebrated Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop.

Sykes says Victoria benefits from the strong leadership in the industry, committed to pioneering the concept such as Charles Davidson of Peninsula Hot Springs and Gene Seabrook of Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs. With the additional support of the tourism industry including Visit Victoria and Tourism Australia, it could all be effectively and most importantly, successfully coordinated. Gwen Luscombe is Director of the Ideas Library and a frequent contributor to Australasian Leisure Management on tourism, business events, technology and hospitality.

Peninsula Hot Springs (below) and concept for the Alba Thermal Springs and Spa (right). Deep Blue Hot Springs Warrnambool.