Relax at these Mornington Peninsula hot springs and day spas

Soak in mineral waters, indulge in a massage or test out the latest body treatments on your next Mornington Peninsula holiday. Your mind and body will thank you.

How often do you come back from a break – whether a weekend or longer – feeling more tired than before you left? If your answer is “too often", you need to begin including downtime to allow yourself to recover, both physically and emotionally. On the Mornington Peninsula, just an hour from Melbourne, you could spend the whole weekend taking a deep breath in, soaking in mineral-rich waters and enjoying massages and treatments. These are the best Mornington Peninsula hot springs and day spas to make you feel like a new person.

1. Peninsula Hot Springs

Peninsula Hot Springs Couple Walking Into Pool — Sign up for a soothing dip surrounded by bushland. (Image: Visit Victoria)

This has been a hot spot for everyone from local mums to wellness gurus since it opened in 1997. Much has changed since then, but the central essence of Peninsula Hot Springs – pools of naturally heated, mineral-rich waters surrounded by natural bushland – has not.

With over 70 different bathing experiences across its Bath House and Spa Dreaming Centre, rather than of varying temperatures to take a dip in, a spa offering a range of treatments from detox body wraps to a Dreamtime stone massage developed in conjunction with an Indigenous medicine man (the cost includes site-wide bathing), plus a variety of bookable workshops – from body clay to hot springs yoga – there’s something for everyone and every age.

While there’s space for everyone, guests wanting a quieter bathing experience can book access to The Spa Dreaming Centre. This adults-only retreat features mineral spring pools, barrel bathing, falling water massage and more.

If you just can’t get enough, book one of the glamping tents or sleep-focused eco lodges (some even have their own outdoor heated mineral spring pool) to extend your blissful stay.

Address: 140 Springs Lane, Fingal, Mornington Peninsula

2. Alba Thermal Springs & Spa

a woman floating on Alba Thermal Springs & Spa, Mornington Peninsula — Enjoy total bliss in the calming thermal waters. (Image: Visit Victoria)

If beautiful design makes your heart sing, book a soaking session at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa . Architectural firm Hayball used the undulating landscape of the Mornington Peninsula as inspiration for this world-class bathing experience. The 31 pools of varying sizes, including geothermal pools, cold plunge pools and herbal-infused botanical pools, and the spa building are set on 15 hectares of regenerated dunes, surrounded by natural bushland and pretty gardens. The building, which is partly embedded in the hilltop, has 21 treatment rooms, including a dry sauna, steam room, Vichy shower, and single and double massage rooms, as well as a relaxation lounge.

Of the pools, 22 are accessible with a bathing pass, while there is also The Terrace, with private pools and a deck, The Salts, a private rooftop salt pool, and The Clouds, private rooftop geothermal pools.

Add a massage, facial or body ritual to your soak to extend the pleasure, and finish just in time for lunch or high tea at Thyme, the onsite restaurant serving healthy, delicious dishes, pressed juices, herbal tea or, if you prefer, a glass of wine or cocktail.

Address: 282 Browns Road, Fingal, Mornington Peninsula

3. Aurora Spa & Bathhouse

a woman bathing in a magnesium mineral pool at Aurora Spa & Bathhouse — Immerse yourself in magnesium, mineral-rich waters. (Image: Aurora Photography)

Part of the InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula development, Aurora Spa & Bathhouse is a refined Australian take on traditional European-style bathing. Spend about 90 minutes enjoying the magnesium mineral pools and hot and cold thermal experiences. The Daydream Pool, with its skylight and gentle bubbles, is heated to 38ºC to soothe your mind and muscles. Heat up in the Aroma Steam room before stimulating the immune system and boosting circulation by submerging in the chilled water of the Cold Plunge Pool. There’s also a salt therapy room, glacial mist room and reflexology pool.

Aurora offers a full suite of massages, facials and body treatments. Very popular is the Himalayan Sound & Stone Massage which nourishes the skin, balances the system and helps to eliminate congestion. Afterwards, you’ll feel deeply relaxed.

You can even check into the hotel for three days and enjoy a custom-designed retreat so you can turn off and refuel your mind and body. As well as bathing and spa treatments, you’ll head off on guided coastal walks, take private yoga classes and enjoy wellbeing coaching. Sounds like heaven.

Address: 23 Constitution Hill Road, Sorrento, Mornington Peninsula

4. One Spa at RACV Cape Schanck Resort

a couple soaking in the relaxation pool at RACV Cape Schanck Resort, Mornington Peninsula — Serene pools are sure to invigorate the senses. (Image: RACV Cape Schanck Resort)

Leave your normal life behind when you enter the architecturally designed One Spa at RACV Cape Schanck Resort . Spend some time in the hammam, where you can soak in the relaxation pool, spa pool, thermal stone steam room and immersive showers. There are other water-based treatments, including a soak in the hydrotherapy pool with its massaging jets, as well as a series of rituals that combine therapies to induce serenity, invigorate the senses, or reduce stress. There are also facials, body therapies and massages, as well as a number of half-hour additions to treatments, like gua sha facial massage or full body exfoliation. Bring along a book and spend some time in the relaxation lounge afterwards before, once again, facing the world.

Address: Trent Jones Drive, Cape Schanck, Mornington Peninsula

5. 1028 Mornington Day Spa

If you’re looking for a different type of massage, check out what’s on offer at 1028 Mornington Day Spa , owned by Thai woman, Apple. It offers lommi lommi, a traditional Hawaiian style of massage that involves long, flowing movements along the length of the body, as well as Tok Sen, an ancient Thai massage method that uses a special wooden hammer to relax muscles. Of course, you can always choose to go with a relaxation or remedial massage. Add a session in the infrared sauna or a facial to your time here. The prices are very reasonable, and Apple’s treatments are highly recommended by all who visit.

Address: 1028 Nepean Highway, Mornington, Mornington Peninsula

6. Timeless Day Spa

the treatment room at Timeless Day Spa, Mornington Peninsula — Their massage treatments will rejuvenate both body and mind. (Image: Supplied)

At Timeless Day Spa in Rye expect a high level of service, no matter which treatment you’re here to receive. There’s a range of spa treatments designed to leave skin soft and glowing, as well as relaxation and remedial massages and facials. You can also get your beauty treatments done here. If your pedicure needs attention, your legs need waxing, your tan needs a top-up, or your brows need sculpting, owner Jessica and her team will send you on your way looking and feeling better.

Address: 2275 Point Nepean Road, Rye, Mornington Peninsula

7. endota Day Spa

hands on the back of a woman, endota Day Spa, Mornington Peninsula — Treat yourself to a relaxing back massage. (Image: Supplied)

There are three endota Day Spas on the Mornington Peninsula, at Mornington, Moorooduc and Red Hill. The treatments are all designed to nurture, nourish and improve wellbeing. It offers a range of massages – relaxation, remedial, soothing stones and pregnancy – packages designed to help you detox, rebalance and revitalise, and a range of high-performance facials. You can choose to get a customised facial to target any skin problems you have or undergo microdermabrasion, a clinical peel or light therapy. endota also has its own range of face and body products, and therapists can help you choose the ones that are right for your skin.

Addresses: 30 Main Street, Mornington; The Coolstores, 475 Moorooduc Highway, Moorooduc; 159 Shoreham Road, Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula

8. The Private Sea Wellness Centre

the signage of The Private Sea Wellness Centre, Mornington Peninsula — The Private Sea Wellness Centre features floatation tanks and infrared saunas. (Image: Supplied)

If you’re not one for massages or body treatments, The Private Sea Wellness Centre can still get you started on your relaxation journey. It has floatation tanks, infrared saunas and salt therapy. It also features Pandora Star, a meditation unit that uses white LED lights to offer a relaxing, visual journey of colour and imagery. It is said to reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and bring about deep states of meditation and relaxation. You can also book a red light therapy session, which can help reduce pain and inflammation, improve skin conditions like acne, and boost recovery after workouts. Of course, you can choose to combine any of these with a relaxation massage.

Need something more specific? There are several allied health professionals, including naturopaths, a reiki therapist and physiotherapist, operating from the wellness centre.

Address: 3 Satu Way, Mornington, Mornington Peninsula

9. Sunset Spa

If you’re looking for an oasis where you can rest and relax, try Mount Eliza’s Sunset Spa . The treatment room is surrounded by trees and clients sit and discuss their needs with therapist Delyse before the treatment begins to ensure they get exactly what they need. She offers a range of massages, organic facials, body treatments and customised pampering packages. Afterwards, pour yourself a cup of herbal tea and either sit on the deck or by the fireplace in the lounge.

Address: 27 Sunset Crescent, Mount Eliza, Mornington Peninsula

Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

walking trails in the Yarra Valley — You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy — Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy — A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate , I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate — Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

kangaroos in Yarra Valley — Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

the Yarra Valley vineyards — Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway — The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

Playing there

the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley — Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art . Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

Eating and drinking there

Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station — The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)