a story of Peninsula Hot Springs shared by guest Sasha

Sasha works in customer service for local council, but she spent many years working in Melbourne’s tourism industry – a role that saw her travelling the world working on cruise ships. Sasha’s job involved recommending the best places to visit and shop across the globe, and she says “if you can get to a place by ship, I’ve pretty much been there!”

Having explored some of the most incredible international destinations, Sasha names Peninsula Hot Springs as one of her absolute favourite venues, worldwide. We spoke to Sasha about why Peninsula Hot Springs has such a special place in her heart.

Can you tell us about your first visit to Peninsula Hot Springs and your first impressions?

It was probably around 2008. I can tell you that it was probably the total immersion in nature and the opportunity the Hot Springs gives visitors to completely switch off and relax.

When is your favourite time to visit?

My favourite time of year is winter. There’s nothing like being immersed in the hot pools when the air is cold and the rain is falling. I try and plan my visits when rain is forecast. It doesn’t always work, but I try! There was one time I was at the Springs for about five hours and finally got out to go home. But while I was in the changerooms getting changed to go home, it started raining – so I got back in my bathers and went back into the pools! It’s a sensory experience to sit in the hot pool while cold rain is hitting all the parts of your body that are out of the water! I try and go in the pools where there is a ledge I can lie on, so the back of my body is in the water and the front of my body is getting rained on. Delicious!

My favourite time of day is first thing in the morning. I try and get there about 7am. It’s quieter and the air is cooler. Heavenly. Although going in the evening is also beautiful. I especially love being in the pool next to the cave in the evening. If you lie on the ledge there and look up you’ll see a tree full of fairy lights, which is just magical.

Have you celebrated anything special at Peninsula Hot Springs?

Multiple celebrations have been spent at the Hot Springs – with and without other people! Whenever I want to celebrate something for myself, by myself, the Hot Springs is where I come.

How would you describe the experience of immersing yourself in a hot spring?

There is absolutely nothing like sinking into a hot spring at Peninsula Hot Springs; especially the very first one of the visit. It’s like you’re being enveloped in a delicious, warm hug. It’s instant relaxation. It’s letting out a big breath and letting go of all the stress. And it’s not just any hot spring facility. I’ve been to other hot springs, but I haven’t gotten the same feeling as I get from Peninsula Hot Springs. I think it’s something to do with being surrounded by nature while being in the hot springs. And the design, tiles used, the paths, the landscaping – it all adds to the feeling. It’s the entire package, not only the warm, mineral water.

What's your favourite activity, experience or ritual at Peninsula Hot Springs?

Every single time I visit the Springs I have a ritual that I must do before leaving. I stand under a massaging shower until I’m really hot, then I jump in the cold plunge pool and I repeat that three times minimum (sometimes more, but never less). I then shower in the outdoor massaging showers, immediately followed by a cold plunge, immediately followed by a shower, cold plunge, shower, cold plunge. I can’t leave the hot springs without that ritual. It’s beautiful, refreshing and a balm for my senses. A sensory experience.

I also love lying in the Amphitheatre pools on my back with my ears under the water, listening to the music that is piped into the water through the underwater speakers. It was an unexpected surprise the first time I discovered the underwater music, and I’ve told so many people about it since! I feel like it’s a little secret that not many people know about.

Why do you think Peninsula Hot Springs is so beloved?

I can’t speak for everyone, because I’m sure different people love it for different reasons. But for me, visiting the Hot Springs is guaranteed to relax and refresh me. It’s impossible to have a bad visit. The immersion in nature, the opportunity to completely switch off and relax, the chance to be in community with other people doing the same thing. I also greatly appreciate that I can stay as long as I like – I can make a day of it if I want to. I can get in and out of pools, have lunch, read my book on a hammock, get back in a pool, sit on the sundeck. There’s not many places that will let you stay as long as you want!

What does Peninsula Hot Springs mean to you personally?

It’s almost impossible for me to describe what the Hot Springs means to me. It’s my place. It’s where I go when I want to relax, when I want to celebrate, when I need time to myself, when I need time in nature, when I want to get away, when I need to de-stress. When I don’t have much money to go on holiday, I know I can go to the hot springs for the day and it will be a mini holiday.

A few years ago, I had booked to go on a three-day retreat interstate, and it was unexpectedly cancelled last minute. I decided I’d already taken those three days off work, so I booked the hot springs for three days in a row and did a little personal mini retreat by bringing myself to the hot springs each day, with a book and a journal to write in! I come to the Hot Springs regularly and it’s what keeps me on an even keel. It’s how I keep stress and pressure in my life in check – by regularly bathing at the Springs and giving myself that time out. It’s not enough to say that I love coming to Peninsula Hot Springs. It somehow does not convey what I feel about the place. It means so much to me!

What does your typical visit look like?

I mostly come alone – although I’ll occasionally bring people if they haven’t ever been and I feel like they should know about it, or if I have a friend visiting from overseas. But it’s a different experience when I come with someone else and that visit would be in addition to my regular solo visits! I’ll typically book the Bath House although maybe once a year I’ll come to the Spa Dreaming Centre.

Mostly I’ll book to come at 7am and stay until about 2pm or 3pm – although recently I’ve been coming after school drop off (arriving at the Springs about 10am) and leaving by about 2.30pm to get to school pick-up. I’ll usually start in the Amphitheatre, because I love the Amphitheatre changerooms. When I used to use the original changerooms (before the Amphitheatre changerooms existed) I’d start in the deep water exercise pool and do some stretching there before moving into other pools. I’ll always spend some time in the Amphitheatre pools no matter where I start. I tend to pick one and stay in it for a while. I don’t move around too much. Then I’ll do a pool that has a large ledge at some point during my visit (in the other part of the Springs, not in the Ampitheatre) so I can stretch out and lie down while still being in the water – especially if it’s raining. And I’ll always spend some time doing my shower/cold plunge ritual.

I’ll always have lunch – either in one of the cafes, or sometimes I will bring a packed lunch and eat it on the sun deck or in the picnic area while reading my book.

If I’ve booked the Spa Dreaming centre, I’ll then spend some time in the infrared sauna. When it’s time to leave, I’ll head to the Ampitheatre changerooms and have a nice shower, before getting dressed and heading home.

I have a specific bag that I call my Hot Springs bag, which I pack with a toiletry bag that includes soap, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, moisturiser, a hair towel/turban, two towels (one to take with me to the pools, and one that stays in the locker to use for my shower at the end), thongs to wear walking around the Springs, and a change of clothes. I have another bag that I take with me around the Springs that I take a book, my water bottle and my towel in.

Why do you keep coming back?

I love it. It is the only place that I can completely switch off and relax. It’s an important part of my self care and I would not be able to live without it – really!

Have you had any memorable moments here that stand out?

The most special and memorable moment I ever had at the Hot Springs was when I came to see Lior perform in the Glasshouse at the Food Bowl. It was such an intimate setting, and Lior’s performance was magical. The combination of Lior’s beautiful acoustic set with the venue and the ambience was indescribable. And to then top it off with moonlight bathing was an experience I will never forget. Just beautiful.

The other moment that will always stand out for me was during Covid. As someone who visits the Hot Springs every couple of weeks generally, the lockdowns and not being able to visit were hard (I live about a 45-minute drive away). There was talk that the Premier was going to lift one particular lockdown the next day, but it hadn’t yet been confirmed. But I was so desperate to visit that I booked to visit at 7am the next day, not knowing whether I would be allowed to travel more than five kilometers, but hoping that the restriction would be lifted overnight. And I was in luck – it was! When I arrived at 7am the next day, I was one of only two people at the Springs. I had the Hilltop pool to myself for ages. A completely surreal experience and one I will never forget.

What additions to Peninsula Hot Springs have been some of your favourites?

The Amphitheatre is definitely one of my favourite additions. I wasn’t sure, as I loved the original pools so much, but as soon as the Amphitheatre pools opened I was an instant convert.

The addition of free daily yoga in the pools is something that I love, and I look forward to trying some of the other wellness activities.

I think the accommodation options are a great addition and something that are an obvious winner! I haven’t yet visited but the accommodation is definitely on my bucket list (I have stayed at the accommodation at sister site Metung Hot Springs and if it’s anything like that, it is amazing).

What would you say to someone who's never been to Peninsula Hot Springs?

You have to visit. There’s something for everyone – no matter what your preferences are. It’s almost impossible to describe, but you will never regret visiting and once you know, you know!

Learn where we began as we celebrate 20 Year of Peninsula Hot Springs.