Peninsula Hot Springs visit: tickets and what to expect

A Peninsula Hot Springs visit starts with one choice: the social Bath House or the quieter Spa Dreaming Centre. The Bath House takes guests of all ages. The Spa Dreaming Centre is for guests aged 16 and over, and it holds the private bathing pavilions and pools. Bookings are essential, so book a time before you drive.

The springs sit at Springs Lane in Fingal, on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. The resort says the drive from Melbourne takes about 90 minutes. This guide covers the two bathing areas, how booking works, the age rules, what to bring and how to get there.

Sources for this section: Peninsula Hot Springs, home page (June 2018) and Frequently asked questions (February 2017).

Bath House or private bathing

The Bath House is the social option. The resort describes 20 bathing experiences, including a cave pool, a reflexology walk, a Turkish steam bath, a sauna, cold plunge pools, a family bathing area and a hilltop pool with 360 degree views. The Bath House opened in December 2009, as the second stage of the site.

The Spa Dreaming Centre opened in June 2005 and is the quiet side of the site. The resort lists thermal mineral pools, a cold plunge pool, an infrared sauna, a traditional sauna, a steam room and a licensed cafe. It is a mobile free zone, so plan to leave your phone in a locker. Towel, robe and locker hire are free in this area.

Private bathing sits inside the Spa Dreaming Centre. You can choose an indoor pavilion, which you can enjoy alone or with a friend, or an outdoor private pool for up to five people. Pavilion bookings include towel, robe and locker hire. Swimwear is optional in the private baths and pools, but it is required in the main bathing areas.

So which one fits? Families and groups of friends suit the Bath House. Couples and anyone who wants quiet suit the Spa Dreaming Centre or a private bath. If you only want the pools and a good view, the Bath House is the simple pick.

Sources for this section: Peninsula Hot Springs, home page (June 2018); Our story so far, Spa Dreaming Centre bathing, Private bathing and Before you leave home (all early 2017).

Booking and prices

Prices change with the season and the day, and the resort sets them on its own site. For that reason this guide gives no dollar figures. Check the resort price pages for the Bath House, the Spa Dreaming Centre and private bathing before you book.

The resort pointed out a few things in early 2017 that still help when you plan. Online bookings had no service fee, while phone bookings carried a small charge. Peak times were Friday to Monday and school and public holidays, and the Bath House can be very busy then. Concession rates were open to school concession and health care card holders, who show the card at reception.

Spa Dreaming Centre bathing is booked as part of a package, such as a dining or treatment package. Treatments there can fill up four to six weeks ahead, so a midweek visit is easier to book. The resort is open every day except Christmas Day.

When you book, you choose an arrival time. The resort asks you to arrive about 15 minutes early so you do not lose your spot. Friends and family who join you need their own booking too. Alcohol is not allowed in the Bath House.

Sources for this section: Peninsula Hot Springs, Frequently asked questions (February 2017), Spa Dreaming Centre bathing (February 2017) and Before you leave home (February 2017).

Age rules for families

One age rule matters for families. Children are welcome in the family bathing area of the Bath House all day, every day. Before 10:00am they can also use the bathing gully and hilltop pool. After 10:00am those two pools are kept for guests aged 16 and over.

The Spa Dreaming Centre is for guests aged 16 and over at all times. If you travel with young children, plan your day around the Bath House.

Sources for this section: Peninsula Hot Springs, Frequently asked questions (February 2017) and home page (June 2018).

What to bring and what to leave

Pack light. The resort suggests these items:

• Swimwear. Swimsuits are required in the bathing areas. Rash vests and boardshorts are fine, but jeans and cargo shorts are not allowed in the pools.
• Footwear for wet areas, to reduce the risk of slips.
• A water bottle. There are taps around the site to refill it.
• Concession or discount cards, if you hold one.

Leave the pram in the car, because of the layout of the Bath House. Inflatable rings are not allowed in the bathing area, though arm bands are fine. Keep jewellery at home or in a locker, since the mineral water can tarnish it. The water can also discolour swimwear, so wear an older pair. In the Bath House you can hire a robe, a towel and a locker.

Sources for this section: Peninsula Hot Springs, Before you leave home (February 2017) and Frequently asked questions (February 2017).

Getting there from Melbourne

The address is Springs Lane, Fingal. A car is the easiest way to go, and the resort gives a GPS address on its site. The resort says it is about 90 minutes from Melbourne, so a morning booking means an early start.

Public transport is limited. The resort suggests a Frankston line train to Frankston, then the number 788 bus to Rye, and then a taxi. The walk from Rye takes about one hour and ten minutes along a busy road, so take care. A shuttle run by Melbourne on the Move has also served the springs from Melbourne on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check its site for current times.

Book the pools first, then plan the rest of the day around your time slot.

Sources for this section: Peninsula Hot Springs, Transport options (January 2017) and home page (June 2018).

Sources

1. Peninsula Hot Springs, home page, archived 10 June 2018: web.archive.org
2. Peninsula Hot Springs, Frequently asked questions, archived 15 February 2017: web.archive.org
3. Peninsula Hot Springs, Transport options, archived 16 January 2017: web.archive.org
4. Peninsula Hot Springs, Before you leave home, archived 15 February 2017: web.archive.org
5. Peninsula Hot Springs, Spa Dreaming Centre bathing, archived 15 February 2017: web.archive.org
6. Peninsula Hot Springs, Private bathing, archived 15 February 2017: web.archive.org
7. Peninsula Hot Springs, Our story so far, archived 27 March 2017: web.archive.org