Down here in the southern parts of Australia, we’re only just emerging from a cool, wet spring.

As we head toward the sunshine and warmth of late spring and early summer, it’s time to embrace some warm-weather wellness rituals. 

Live seasonally

Enshrined in many cultures around the world is the idea of living in harmony with the seasons, and attuning yourself to the time of year. 

Eating seasonally means choosing fruit and vegetables that are in season, which also helps reduce your carbon footprint. For spring and summer, this means consuming produce such as asparagus, peas, broad beans, parsley, basil, tomatoes and capsicum, followed by late-summer fruits like apricots, cherries and figs. 

Shopping at your local farmers’ market or farm gate is a great way to access fresh, seasonal produce. 

Rise with the sun 

Traditional Chinese Medicine, which dates back over 3,000 years, suggests getting up with the sun as the mornings get lighter and brighter. Spring and summer are seen as more yang times of year (as opposed to autumn and winter, which are yin), meaning we generally feel a little more energetic, outward-looking and expansive. 

From a scientific perspective, exposing ourselves to morning sunlight helps regulate your circadian rhythm. Light in the morning signals the brain to promote alertness, while in the evening, dim light triggers melatonin production, encouraging sleepiness as the sky gets darker.

To encourage a healthy circadian rhythm, allow natural light to filter into your bedroom in the morning, and dim your lights as the sun goes down. 

Add in cold water immersion 

If the idea of cold therapy resonates with you, the warmer months can be the perfect time to start incorporating it into your routine. Cold water therapy is reported to reduce inflammation and improve mood and alertness, among other benefits.

Begin with cold or cool showers, or simply finish your shower with 30 seconds of cold water. From there, you might experiment with more intense cold exposure if you have access to a beach, cold plunge pool or ice bath.

Of course, since we’re in Victoria, there are plenty of days in spring and summer where a sauna still appeals – and the combination of hot and cold experiences (or ‘contrast therapy’) offers health benefits such as improved circulation and cardiovascular performance. 

Our Fire & Ice workshop runs daily and guides you through our sauna, mineral showers, cold pool, and – if you’re feeling adventurous – our four-degree Celsius ice plunge pool. 

You can also experience the magic of various kinds of Nordic-inspired saunas, complimentary with Bath House bathing, in our Pop-up Sauna Space until the end of November. 

Take an after-dinner walk 

Given that spring and summer generally grant us a little more energy, this can be a great time of year to ramp up your exercise regimen – perhaps by getting outside and enjoying a walk, run or cycle in the sunshine. 

Daylight saving also gives us the perfect opportunity to take a walk after dinner. In Italy, this ritual is known as la passeggiata, a gentle evening stroll that supports digestion and encourages connection. Taking a walk toward the end of the day (ideally, without your phone) will allow you to decompress and process the day before bedtime. 

Naturally, be led by your own personal season and what feels intuitive for your body. 

Enjoy a spa treatment

The changing of the seasons can be a deeply enjoyable time to receive a spa treatment. Experiencing a massage, facial or body treatment can help ground you and give you a moment of pause as we shift into a new phase of the year. 

As the weather warms up, mud wraps can be cooling, while a body scrub can be an invigorating way to greet the new season. Try our Subtle Energies Rasayana Detox body wrap or Synthesis Organics volcanic mineral mud wrap (available in our Tranquillity package) for a calming yet refreshing experience. 

Meanwhile, a massage such as our signature Kodo treatment has the power to balance and restore, and our facials bestow a sense of renewal as we head into the festive season. 

Enhance your water 

Staying hydrated is especially important in the warmer months. If you struggle to drink enough water, consider enhancing your water with ingredients such as lemon, cucumber and mint. Doing so can encourage you to consume more water while offering trace amounts of vitamins and antioxidants. Or, if you enjoy herbal tea in winter, you might like to make some iced tea for hotter days. 

Spend the day at our coastal oasis 

We might be named Peninsula Hot Springs, but our wellness destination truly has something to offer in all weather and seasons. 

When the outside temperature rises, guests like to explore our various cold plunge pools, relax in a hammock under the shade of the sheoak trees, unwind in the cool darkness of our Sensory Dome, soak up some sunshine on our Rooftop Terrace, or enjoy our outdoor massaging mineral showers. We also cool our geothermal pools down on particularly hot days. 

Our open-air Amphitheatre and Bath House cafes serve up refreshments such as iced coffee, choc tops, acai bowls, chia pods, salmon soba noodle salad, sushi, tapas and local wines. 

Whatever your routine looks like, carving out time to establish wellbeing rituals will hold you in good stead and grant you moments of peace and tranquillity amid the most bustling, vibrant time of year.