This wellness-first stay is MICHELIN’S latest obsession.
Over the last year, MICHELIN has quietly added 14 Australian hotels to its global list of high-quality stays, and this serene bathhouse retreat is the latest. Meet The Sanctuary at Alba Thermal Springs and Spa, the wellness-led stay that shows exactly what MICHELIN is rewarding right now.
MICHELIN does not hand out hotel recognition lightly. So, when the guide adds new stays to its global list, it is worth paying attention. This year, 14 Aussie hotels have been added to its “Selections", bringing the national total to 72. In addition to those, 25 hotels hold One MICHELIN Key, nine have Two MICHELIN Keys, and just one has received the coveted Three MICHELIN Keys.
Why MICHELIN is obsessed with this Mornington Peninsula stay
The Sanctuary’s five luxurious stand-alone villas and two additional studio rooms opened in June 2025.
Set among native bushland on the Mornington Peninsula, The Sanctuary is Alba’s luxury accommodation offering. It is calm, pared back and entirely built around wellness. Private villas. Soft lighting. Thermal bathing rituals. Silence that feels intentional.
This is not luxury built to impress on arrival. It’s luxury designed to slow you down.
MICHELIN’s interest here is telling. Across its global hotel coverage, the guide is increasingly drawn to stays that prioritise experience over excess. Nature. Wellbeing. A strong sense of place. The Sanctuary ticks every box.
What MICHELIN “Selections" actually means
The Sanctuary includes inclusive access to Alba Thermal Springs and Spa for each day of your stay.
MICHELIN’s hotel guide sits alongside its restaurant ratings but follows a different system. Every hotel included in the guide is considered a high-quality stay, assessed by MICHELIN’s inspectors using the same global standards applied worldwide.
From within this collection, the very best are awarded One, Two or Three MICHELIN Keys, the hotel equivalent of MICHELIN Stars for restaurants.
In other words, “Selections" are hotels that have already met MICHELIN’s international benchmark. Keys identify the most exceptional of the exceptional. Many Selection hotels go on to earn Keys later, but all are considered worth travelling for.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
The 14 newly added Australian hotels
The Sundays is the first new hotel to open on Hamilton Island since 2007.
InterContinental Sydney boasts the city’s most spectacular views.
Design-savvy travellers will love Kimpton Margot Sydney.
The Sanctuary at Alba Thermal Springs and Spa, Mornington Peninsula, Vic
Alba Thermal Springs and Spa is a destination in its own right.
The Sanctuary’s moment in the spotlight feels like a turning point. MICHELIN is clearly leaning into wellness-led stays, quiet luxury and hotels that offer something deeper than a beautiful room.
For travellers, this list is a shortcut to what is genuinely worth booking right now. For Australia’s hotel scene, it is confirmation that bathhouses, slow travel and nature-connected stays are no longer fringe experiences.
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges boast some of Victoria’s most stunning natural scenery, making them a prime destination for outdoor experiences.
There’s something very special about the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges . A mix of rugged bush, mist-laden rainforest, gardens bursting with vivid blooms and a network of rivers and waterfalls, the landscapes here are layered and diverse. Late summer is a particularly good time to visit, when the days are long and the region’s outdoor offerings are ripe for sun-soaked adventures.
The best part? Despite being only an easy one-hour drive from Melbourne, the area feels a world away from the hustle. You’ll be greeted by a slower pace with fewer travellers and more room to move – allowing you to truly switch off and take it all in.
From rail trails to rainforest walks, this is where you’ll find nature at its most rewarding.
1. Warburton
Hit the trails at Warburton Mountain Bike Destination. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Perched at the top of the Yarra River, surrounded by pristine national park, the town of Warburton is a haven for nature lovers. It’s known for its towering redwoods, found in the Californian Redwood Forest just 15 minutes out of town. You’ll be in utter awe of these giant trees, some of which reach heights of up to 55 metres.
The Warburton Rail Trail is another way to experience the town’s natural beauty. This flat, 40-kilometre route goes all the way to Lilydale and is ideal for a stroll or cycle past native bushland, wineries, farmland and parts of the Yarra.
If you want to up the pace a little, head to the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination , which encompasses 160 kilometres of purpose-built tracks amid wild bush terrain. For something a little more laid-back, the Rainforest Gallery is a standout spot for a wander. The gallery features statuesque Mountain Ash and Myrtle Beech trees, moss-covered logs and tree ferns, and a 40-metre elevated walkway that brings you right into the centre of the forest canopy.
2. Yarra Glen
Yarra Glen is a beloved food and drink destination, but it offers far more than excellent produce and top-notch wines.
A highlight is Alowyn Gardens , which stretches over seven acres. Inside, you’ll find nine different gardens with vivid floral and seasonal displays, plus a nursery featuring exotic plant species. The Wisteria Arbour is a crowd favourite, a curved walkway connecting the different gardens with a display of cascading lilac blooms.
Intersecting with the Warburton Rail Trail, the first stage of the Yarra Valley Trail runs from the gateway town of Lilydale to Yering Station. A more manageable track of just 7.5 kilometres, it takes you through rolling farmland and pockets of native bush, with ample opportunities for wildlife-spotting.
If you’re travelling with kids, McKenzie Reserve is a non-negotiable stop. The reserve encompasses a skate park, plenty of open grass to stretch little legs, and a nature-inspired adventure playground to suit every age and every energy level.
3. Healesville
Get up close and connect with koalas. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Healesville is the region’s best place to meet local wildlife. It’s home to Healesville Sanctuary , where you can get up close to kangaroos, koalas, emus, dingoes, reptiles and more. Beyond giving you front-row access to these gorgeous creatures, you’ll appreciate the scenic charm of the tracks and trails that meander through the wildlife park.
To see even more birdlife, head over to Badger Weir for a picnic. Situated among soaring Mountain Ash trees and tranquil waterways, the area supports several bird species, including crimson rosellas, Australian king parrots and the elusive lyrebird. Barbecue facilities are available, and several tracks leading to Badger Weir are pram-friendly.
Fernshaw Picnic Area, located in the Yarra Ranges National Park , is another idyllic setting for picnicking and short walks, also encircled by Mountain Ash trees. Compared to Badger Weir, though, Fernshaw provides a slightly more secluded experience, making it ideal for quieter outings.
4. Olinda
Wander through terraces of ever-changing blooms. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Sitting more than 600 metres above sea level, the Dandenong Ranges have an enchanted feel and are shrouded in lush rainforest filled with tree ferns, mossy trunks and lingering mist.
The town of Olinda is one of the finest places to experience this unique environment in all its verdant glory. At the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens , rhododendrons reign and drape the gardens in a riot of colour every spring.
The nearby Cloudehill Gardens are well worth visiting any time of year. In each of the garden’s nine terraces, you’ll find an array of plant varieties that bloom and transform across the seasons, including weeping Japanese maples that have been growing here for nearly a century.
Besides being a haven for arbory enthusiasts, the nearby RJ Hamer Arboretum is a spectacular spot to enjoy panoramic views. Here, more than 150 tree species grow and overlook the neighbouring Yarra Valley and Great Dividing Range.
5. Emerald
Enjoy a lakeside picnic at Emerald Lake Park. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Set just behind the Dandenong Ranges , the foothills town of Emerald has a slightly more open feel, featuring rolling hills and open bushland. The town sits on the edge of the Dandenong Ranges National Park , with a patchwork of forested reserves and accessible bush trails on the Emerald side.
You can also take to the water at nearby Aura Vale Lake, which is popular for sailing, canoeing, fishing for eel and perch, and picnicking on the grassy banks.
The stand-out, though, is Emerald Lake Park, a sprawling green with multiple recreation zones. Across 52 hectares, there are walking tracks, playgrounds, paddleboats, a model railway, fishing sites and a family-friendly wading pool that comes to life every summer. The park also lies adjacent to the iconic Puffing Billy, making it a perfect stop if you’re travelling on the historic steam train.
