When Charles Davidson visited Kusatsu hot springs in Japan in 1992, he was struck by a realisation that some of Australia’s natural wonders were hidden far underground – in liquid form, like the deep wellsprings like The Great Artesian Basin. He returned to Australia, determined to see hot spring bathing become part of the culture. Fast-forward and Davidson’s award-winning Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula is a sanctuary of more than 50 mineral bathing pools, massage showers, cold plunges and saunas nestled amongst knotty tea trees and verdant gullies. It’s easy to spend a full day here – starting by being cocooned in numerous bathing pools and dining from the nourishing menu featuring exquisite local produce, before indulging in rejuvenating spa treatments. And the best bit is that once the waters have soothed and relaxed you, you won’t have far to go when you stay overnight in one of the property’s charming glamping pavilions. peninsulahotsprings.com

Just minutes away from Peninsula Hot Springs is Alba Thermal Springs and Spa – an opulent carbon-neutral retreat where over 30 pools are dotted throughout native grasslands and meticulously landscaped gardens. It’s recommended that you digitally detox by leaving your phone in your locker, but it’s hard to comply when the design and architecture are this stunning. There are curved shell-like geothermal pods, herbal-infused pools, concrete grottos and deep, cool plunge pools. If you can pull yourself away from taking the waters, book in a treatment at the spa, a true haven of calm and tranquillity that will only deepen your state of relaxation. And make sure you dine at Thyme, Alba’s onsite restaurant, where the menu was created by Karen Martini. It can get busy in the middle of the day, so a hot tip is to arrive in time for breakfast or enjoy a late supper of dishes that emphasise the bounty of produce that’s grown on the Peninsula.albathermalsprings.com.aualbathermalsprings.com.au

Set on a natural undulating site that overlooks the Gippsland Lakes, the views are just as calming as the hot springs at Metung Hot Springs. There’s a family friendly section, called Bathing Ridge, and an adults only section called Hilltop Escarpment. At Bathing Ridge you’ll be able to soak your stresses away in the sauna pool and wombat pool, both immersed in nature. Within Hilltop Escarpment a dip in barrel baths is a must. There is also a cold plunge pool, geothermal showers and a sauna on site. Metung Hot Springs is a three hour and 50 minute drive from Melbourne, but well worth a road trip. metunghotsprings.com

Hepburn Springs’ only historic Bathhouse, has been providing traditional wellness bathing since 1895. Mineral-rich waters are drawn directly from their natural source. You can soak in the public Bathhouse Mineral Bathing or choose to relax in privacy in a Private Mineral Bathing. hepburnbathhouse.com

Bringing a sample of Japanese bathing tradition to Victoria, Japanese Mountain Retreat allows guests to bathe with or without clothes in a traditional cedar hot tub, rock pool or tropical garden pool (all are outdoors). The pool or hot tub can be hired for 50 or 80 minutes, or two hours, which allows bathers to relax in ultimate seclusion. The baths are filled with healing mineral waters that will help your body unwind. For those wanting to bathe indoors, Japanese Mountain Retreat is also home to a Roman bathhouse that has a high domed ceiling and is built from exotic marble and mosaics. Just 55 minutes from Melbourne this is the perfect spot to escape the city and destress. japanesemountainretreat.com.au

Okay, so it’s not a hot spring, but Sorrento’s Aurora Spa and Bathhouse is worth bending the rules for. Part of The Continental Sorrento precinct, Aurora is owned by wellness industry maven Lyndall Mitchell who has created a hypnotically relaxing bathing ritual in the 1000 square metre subterranean space. Moving through the suggested ‘hot, cold, rest, repeat’ ritual you’ll bathe in magnesium-rich waters, brave a frigid plunge pool, relax under hydro-massage jets and breathe easier in a halotherapy (salt) suite. And if you’re truly looking to indulge, book in for the signature Himalayan stone and sound massage – but be warned, this trio of bathing and hot springs experiences on the Mornington Peninsula isn’t easy to beat. auroraspa.com.au