our journey

where our story with water began

The Peninsula Hot Springs journey was inspired by global bathing and driven by passion. It all began with two brothers: Charles and Richard Davidson. After travelling to Japan in 1992, Charles became enamoured of hot springs bathing and wondered if outdoor bathing could take shape in Australia. Perhaps the ancient connection between nature and humankind can help others achieve a harmony of body and soul?

On his return, Charles learnt that hot geothermal waters had been discovered on the Mornington Peninsula back in 1979. By 1997, the brothers had founded Peninsula Hot Springs.

a family vision begins to flow

Working in partnership, the two brothers were drawn to the sand-dunes, remnant bushland and inherent beauty of the 42 acres on which Peninsula Hot Springs nestles today. As they started their families together, they also started a journey that would redefine hot springs bathing for Australia.

Years of hard work followed as the Davidson families evolved their vision and secured a water licence and planning permits. Their trickling idea gushed with celebration when they drilled a bore 637 metres underground to a plentiful aquifer of 54-degree Celsius natural hot mineral waters. You can watch the beginning of this remarkable journey in this National 9 News February 2002 footage.

a stream of connections

In our story, our connection with family features as strongly as our connection with water. From two brothers sharing a family dream, to creating a space for families to come together.

The Davidson brothers worked in collaboration with others to create a beautiful space to help people connect with the water and one another. Investor Norm Cleland and his family came on board to help create stage one of Peninsula Hot Springs. In June 2005, the Spa Dreaming Centre opened to offer guests bathing, spa treatments and dining experiences.

By December 2009, the second stage of the vision was the Bath House, which extended the global bathing experiences available and provided an area for families. With a sensitivity towards the Australian coastal landscape and design philosophies that worked with nature, rather than against it, new bathing experiences continue to evolve.

new ideas and energies surge

By 2014, after many years dedicated to the foundation and evolution of Peninsula Hot Springs, Richard Davidson and Norm Cleland moved on to pursue other interests. Charles was joined by Bharat Mitra and Bhavani Lev, owners and founders of Organic India, who continue to develop Peninsula Hot Springs as world leader in the spa, wellness and hot springs industry.

In September 2018 we unveiled the latest stage in the Peninsula Hot Springs story with the opening of our new Bath House Amphitheatre. Our Amphitheatre space is designed to bring the community together for arts and entertainment performances, wellness classes and cultural experiences. The area features seven new hot spring pools, two Amphitheatre saunas, an Ice Cave, Deep Freeze, Wellness Centre, Amphitheatre café, open-air stage and Cultural Meeting Space, plus a Food Bowl currently in the works.

award winning waters and vision

Peninsula Hot Springs was recognised for excellence with its first Victorian Tourism Award in 2010. Since then, Peninsula Hot Springs has been inducted into the Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame in Health and Wellbeing, Tourist Attraction and Ecotourism categories.

On a global scale, Peninsula Hot Springs has been announced as a winner at the World Luxury Spa Awards in 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Peninsula Hot Springs redefines the meaning of hot springs bathing in Australia. Our award-winning thermal mineral waters are natural places of connection for family and friends.

Today Peninsula Hot Springs is a highly-regarded employer of over 290 staff, and visited by 450,000 people annually. It has written itself into the story of many Mornington Peninsula locals as well as visitors from every corner of the globe.