21 blissful bathhouses and hot springs within easy reach of Melbourne

For something in the city, wander into Arima Spa. This Japanese-inspired wellness retreat has a tranquil bathhouse, filled with a communal magnesium pool, individual soaking baths and a cold plunge. Heat up in the sauna, steam room or Himalayan salt room, and unwind in the tatami area or relaxation lounge, where you can watch TV. A bathhouse ticket comes with light refreshments, including a drink and fruit platter. Other body treatments, such as massages, are available for an additional price.

Retreat to the blissful sanctuary of Soak Bathhouse in South Yarra. Spanning 700 square metres, this urban oasis features large mineral pools and cold plunge pools, set among lush, leafy foliage. When you’re not relaxing in the pools, heat up in the dry cedarwood sauna and steam room. Other experiences, like massages or an infrared sauna, are also available for an extra cost. This is quite a social setting, so bring a friend and have a chat while you pamper yourself. On select evenings, you can also expect special events, like live acoustic music.

At Sense of Self in Collingwood, everybody is welcome. This converted brickhouse features a bathhouse on the ground floor, complete with a large mineral bath, Finnish sauna, cold plunge and Hammam. Enhance your experience in the Hammam by trying out one of their scrubs. Head upstairs for a massage or facial treatment. Find out more.

Pause and unwind at Comma, a boutique bathhouse and spa in Cremorne. The intimate bathhouse can fit only five guests at any time, and features a magnesium hot tub, heated stone Hammam and Finnish sauna. Feel invigorated with the cold pail shower or cold plunge. While you’re there, try one of their treatments, like a detoxifying body clay, invigorating massage or a cleansing facial. See more here.

Duck into the Inner Studio in either Collingwood or South Yarra for a reset. Surrounded by natural greenery, you can heat up in the magnesium pool and sauna, before cooling off in the cold plunge. They’ve also got group classes for you to try, offering yoga, Pilates, breathwork and movement sessions.

For a Scandinavian-inspired escape, book yourself in for a hygge-filled session at Navia Bathhouse. Slow down with five different heated experiences, from the magnesium pool to the traditional Finnish sauna. Try out the different cold plunges, or upgrade your experience to include the infrared sauna or red-light therapy session. The cafe on-site invites you to linger after your visit.

Feel refreshed with a visit to the Bathhouse at EQ in South Melbourne. There, you’ll find a toasty 38°C Mineral Spa, as well as an aromatherapy steam room and Finnish sauna. Contrast it with a cold plunge or cold pail shower, then slow down in the tea lounge. If you need a little more me-time, try out the Signature Journey, which includes bathhouse access, as well as guided breathwork, and a moment to slow down in the Light and Sound Dome.

This urban sanctuary in South Melbourne has a Roman-inspired bathhouse, which fits up to four people. Rotate between a traditional cedar sauna, a cold plunge and a warm, magnesium-infused bath. At Trinity Curated Wellness, you can also take part in group classes, or try other treatments like facials, massages or kinesiology.

Drift into Wellness Social Club, and spend your day recharging your mind and body in a holistic space that’s not quite a gym or a day spa. In this space, you’ll find classic wellness experiences like a Finnish sauna, infrared sauna and both a hot and cold pool for contrast therapy. For something a little more fancy, try hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, BrainTap tech and more. If you’d like to try a class, you’ll find yoga sessions, sound healing, breathwork and more.

If you love visiting new venues, mark your calendars for the opening of AUN Bathhouse. Nestled in North Melbourne, this Japanese-inspired venue is set to open in September. In a 70-minute session, you can wind down with a soak in the hot pool, a visit to the sauna and a dip in the cold plunge, before resting in the recovery area.

Treat yourself to a peaceful session in Sóma Bathhouse. Heat up in the magnesium bath, try out the ice bath and warm up in the infrared sauna. The communal area fits just 8 people, but if you need a little more quiet, you can also book a private room, which comes with a shower, sauna and cold plunge.

For a romantic getaway, escape to Japanese Mountain Retreat in Montrose. This five-acre destination is adults only, with secluded gardens, mineral springs, fine dining and more. Book a completely private bathing space with one couple per pool, and indoor or outdoor options. Relax in tranquil mineral waters under the stars, or try out the opulent Roman Bathhouse. Pamper yourself in the day spa, with Hammam body exfoliation, aromatherapy facials, massage treatments and more. Upgrade your experience with an overnight stay or multi-course meal.

For a peaceful experience without too many people, escape to Pond Bathhouse in Mornington. Set inside the former St Peter’s Church of England Vicarage, this 1880s building fits just 16 people at a time. Unwind in the bathhouse, where you’ll find two magnesium-enriched plunge pools, as well as ice baths, an infrared sauna, dry sauna and steam room. Sip on herbal tea in the lounge, or put on sound headphones in the relaxation area and feel swept away by soothing soundscapes. Pamper yourself a little further by adding on a massage or facial.

Situated within The Continental Sorrento, you’ll find the luxurious Aurora Spa & Bathhouse. This relaxing space includes a 500 square metre bathhouse, filled with a range of thermal experiences and different magnesium mineral pools of varying temperatures. Move through the retreat at your own pace, or follow their Bathhouse Ritual, an eleven-step circuit designed to optimise results. You’ll find serenity in the day spa, with facials, body wraps, massages and a private salt float therapy room.

For a popular getaway, you can’t go wrong with Peninsula Hot Springs. At this beloved retreat, you’ll find over 70 bathing and wellness experiences. The pools are filled with natural geothermal mineral waters and you can experience it in the day time, or in the moonlight from 10pm to 2am in the Spa Dreaming Centre. Refresh your body with one of their spa treatments, or try some wellness activities like yoga. Make the most of it and stay overnight. You can go glamping or retreat into one of their eco lodges.

Just 90 minutes away from Melbourne, you’ll find Alba Thermal Springs & Spa. With 31 bathing pools and 22 spa treatment rooms, there’s lots of ways for you to relax and unwind in this peaceful oasis. Immerse yourself in nature with geothermal pools, cold plunge pools and herbal-infused botanical pools. Then, enjoy luxurious treatments and rituals, including body exfoliation, clay wraps, facials, massages, steam therapies and more. After a day of pampering, complete the experience with a nourishing meal at their restaurant Thyme, or stay overnight for a luxurious getaway.

If you’re heading to the Surf Coast, take a moment to pause and unwind at About Time Bathhouse. Soak in the large indoor magnesium pool, or head outside for some social bathing in the hot and cold magnesium pools. Get nice and toasty in the wood fire sauna or rock sauna, try out their custom steam room or hang out by the fire pits. Other treatments, like facials, scrubs or massages, are also available.

Head to the heart of spa country to find Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa, a historic bathhouse that’s healed the community since 1895. This bathhouse invites you to relax and bathe in its mineral waters. Feel rejuvenated in the social or private pools, float in a magnesium salt pool and relax your muscles inside their aroma steam room. Relax even further with their massages, facials and body spa experiences. To enhance your stay, unwind in one of their luxury villas overnight. You’ll feel completely refreshed in the morning!

Hide away at The Mineral Spa, a peaceful haven on the grounds of The Mineral Springs Hotel in Hepburn Springs. Relax in The Retreat, a bathing area filled with mineral-rich spring water. Private bathing is available as well, and allows you to choose between three types of essential bath oils. As for treatments, find your bliss in a healing mineral cocoon, feel refreshed with their mineral rituals, relax with a massage and more. Stay the night at the hotel for further relaxation.

Feel like you’ve left Melbourne for Japan at the blissful Shizuka Ryokan in Hepburn Springs. This haven has a private bathing area, a restaurant, and six rooms for you to stay overnight. But if you’d prefer a quick visit, that’s ok too! A small number of bathing sessions are available for day visitors. Relax in a hinoki timber tub in a private courtyard garden. While you’re there, book yourself in for a treatment like a massage, or end your day with an omakase dinner.

The next time you’re on Phillip Island, take a moment to chill out at Wellbeing Elements. This wellness space was designed with contrast therapy in mind, with clearly zoned spaces in the bathhouse, allowing you to move between heat, cold and rest at your own pace. In the bathhouse, you’ll find two magnesium hot pools, a cold plunge, an ice pool, a steam room and a sauna. Add on a visit to the infrared sauna or try out the compression therapy boots for a bit more pampering.