A Totally Indulgent Guide To Daylesford Mineral Springs & Spas

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are renowned as Australia’s premier spa and mineral spring country. Come visit and indulge in the enriching effects of both natural mineral bathing and drinking the mineral elixir.

People travel from all over the globe to experience the many physical, mental and spiritual benefits of submerging oneself in mineral springs. Daylesford and Hepburn Springs reign supreme when it comes to destination spas that invigorate the soul and soothe the mood. Here’s a definitive list of the best in the region to retreat from the fray and soak (or sip) nature’s bounty all in.

Mineral springs in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs

It is a common misconception that Daylesford is home to natural hot springs; if you’re after a soak in a hot spring in the Daylesford region, skip ahead to the spas and bathing houses section to find out where you can soak in the manually heated mineral water. The mineral springs here are actually famed for their taste and many travel to pump mineral water to take home, all have unique mineral qualities that contribute to the overall taste. Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve is a veritable ‘hot spot’ of places to visit. The same goes for the watery wonders of Central Springs Reserve in Daylesford.

a scenic view of Lake Daylesford — Lake Daylesford is surrounded by several mineral springs. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Central Springs Reserve – Lake Daylesford

Lake Daylesford is one of the easiest places to access some of the best mineral springs in all of Australia. Park your car here or take a short walk from the town centre and meander your way to these four delightful springs. We recommend bringing a picnic blanket and a few delicious takeaway snacks from the excellent cafes on the main street. Look out for wildlife on your way because you just might see an echidna, turtles, wallabies, and cute ducklings about.

a man-made lake in Daylesford — Lake Daylesford is a short walk from the town centre.

Hard Hills Spring is a highly photogenic and physically beneficial spring in Daylesford. This deep piped trench features two outlets. It’s always a highlight for visitors exploring the Central Springs Reserve.

Wagga Spring is a sanctuary for natural bathing and is easily accessible by the addition of manmade steps. It’s easy to spot as you stroll along the sidewalk.

Sutton Spring was originally founded by miners (the sons of Thomas Sutton) who were sluicing for gold in the area. Subsequently, said miners inadvertently assisted in the creation of a limestone-lined trench that feeds the definitive ‘eye’ of the spring here.

Wombat Flat Spring is just a short walk from the centre of Daylesford. It’s nestled between the shady trees and grassy banks of the stunning lake. An excellent spot for a leisurely picnic lunch.

Jubilee Lake Mineral Spring

Jubilee Lake Mineral Spring is one of Daylesford’s most relaxing mineral springs. It’s a quick drive from town and is arguably much quieter than other more well-known spas in the area. There’s a kiosk here if you’re hungry après swim.

a scenic view of the Jubilee Lake — Jubilee Lake is one of Daylesford’s must-see attractions. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Glenlyon Mineral Spring

Glenlyon Mineral Spring is located adjacent to the scenic Glenlyon Recreation Reserve. It’s a divine place to picnic and/or BBQ while you enjoy sipping on the pure mineral spring. Fact: Glenlyon Mineral Spring features some of the highest levels of soluble salts in the area and is a rich source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium.

Woolnoughs Crossing Mineral Spring

Woolnoughs Crossing Mineral Spring now here’s a secluded haven that is ideal for rest and relaxation. Situated on scenic Kangaroo Creek the spring here is surrounded by decorative stonework and the water features a mineral combination of calcium, magnesium, and sodium.

Leitchs Creek Mineral Springs

Leitchs Creek Mineral Springs is a peaceful nook surrounded by enchanting forest scenes. Note: it’s only a short drive from here to spectacular Trentham Falls and some of the best wineries in the region like Passing Clouds.

Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve

The mineral spring pump at Taradale is a beautiful place to visit and drink the refreshing water whilst enjoying a picnic. It’s also close to the regal Taradale House Estate , a boutique property with luxe cottage-style accommodation.

Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve

Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve is the first to be found in the area, this place is great for enjoying nature walks and filling up your water bottle with the refreshing tonics from the series of springs here. Sip on samples from the following springs within the reserve; Soda, Sulphur, Liberty, Wyuna, Golden and Argyle and experience the benefits of consuming calcium, silica, magnesium and an abundance of other wonderful minerals. There’s also a fun kids’ playground and a neat picnic/BBQ area for visitor use. Remember to bring your own refillable water bottle along and stop by the famous Hepburn Springs Bathhouse which is located in this reserve.

Spas and bathhouses

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are the heart of spa country. It’s an alluring destination with a penchant for gourmet cafes and restaurants along with the ever-present benefits of the coal mineral springs. What a terrific combination and an excellent excuse (do you even need one?) to plan a Daylesford itinerary that features an indulgent visit to any of the following spas and bathhouses here.

The Spa at Lake House

Anyone who has been here will enthusiastically attest to how fantastic it is! The impeccable location, the variety of treatments and the opulent suites at the famed Lake House make it one the best destination spas in the country. Their heated hydrotherapy spa is set in a mystical, private location amid the willow trees.

back view of a woman on a treetop spa at Lake House Daylesford — Whisk yourself into a state of zen at The Spa in the Lake House. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Did you know that the mineral spring water in Daylesford is said to help boost circulation and help with the detoxification process? Well, you do now. The Spa at the Lake House is open to guests and visitors and all their signature rituals utilise the Lake House’s own small-batch luxury bath and body products, many of which harness natural ingredients from the region.

Pool at the Lake House with views of Lake — Bask in serenity at The Spa within the iconic Lake House in Daylesford. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Acqua Viva Day Spa

Offers exceptional service and a tempting spa menu that’s bound to impress. Book in for a blissful massage, mineral water spa soak, facial treatment, Vichy Shower Steam Bath and/or a mud wrap. It’s a popular day spa in Hepburn Springs with reasonably affordable treatments. A great central location near all of our favourite accommodation options.

Shizuka Ryokan Japanese Country Spa

Open to in-house guests and day trippers alike, the Shizuka Ryokan Japanese Country Spa is a tranquil space to enjoy a private Japanese bathing ritual, yoga class and/or a traditional shiatsu massage.

Their signature ‘geisha facial’ leaves your skin and spirit feeling refreshed and revitalised. Be sure to check out their tailored accommodation and spa packages before booking.

a person eating Japanese meal at Shizuka Ryokan Japanese Country Spa — Cap off your experience with an authentic Japanese meal.

The Mineral Spa

A restorative, highly acclaimed spa that boasts potent healing treatments that draw from natural earth elements. After something a little different? Night bathing in the ‘retreat area’, an indoor/outdoor mineral water therapy zone is a totally unique spa experience. All other spa packages (including a combination of mineral springs soaks and body treatments) are available seven days a week from 9am.

Note: the pools here are a balmy 380 degrees Celsius and there’s also a cool plunge pool to invigorate you, a basalt stone sauna, 11 treatment rooms and a dedicated steam room. The Mineral Spa is located within the grounds of the historic Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat in Hepburn Springs – one of the best luxury stays in the region.

Two women soaking in hot springs at Peppers Mineral Springs in Hepburn — Detoxify at Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat in Hepburn Springs. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa

A peaceful haven for people seeking wellness-themed treatment, a soak in the onsite mineral springs, a nutritious lunch, or all of the above.

The historic Hepburn Bathhouse draws mineral-rich water directly from nature’s source for guests to enjoy and the dedicated spa therapists are experts in deluxe body massages, facials, thermal mud rituals and more.

Travel Tip: enquire about the great range of Hepburn Springs spa packages before you visit.

the pool at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, Daylesford — Soothe your tired muscles in the rejuvenating pool at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Daylesford Day Spa

Destress your body, mind, and spirit via an indulgent treatment here. This award-winning venue offers an excellent range of Daylesford spa packages. The expert therapists are all about the ‘art of relaxation’ and you will be too after a treatment or two.

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten , the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery , a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades .

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho , José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits . At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial , which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections .

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle , ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.

A totally indulgent hit list of mineral springs and spas in Daylesford