Body of water TRAVEL The restorative power of
thermal springs gets a new home at Alba.
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t’s a sparkling sunny morning and I’m nicely ensconced in the balmy, mineral-rich waters of Alba thermal springs, a bit over an hour – but seemingly a lifetime away – from the bustle of Melbourne. I’ve joined the ranks of the spa crowd, clad in a fluffy white gown and slippers, winding my way
through 31 pools on a gently sloping hill. Down below, some of the early visitors are rewarding themselves with a coffee at Thyme restaurant. The Mornington Peninsula may well be called Australia’s spa capital with the arrival of the glamorous Alba complex, next door to the established Peninsula Hot Springs. Both draw on the naturally heated, mineral-rich waters that lie beneath the coastal bushland. Bathing in hot springs has been popular for centuries. Think of Japan’s onsen or the ancient Greeks, who believed in the healing powers of mineral waters. Designed by Hayball, the Alba spa makes quite a statement on arrival. At check-in, visitors are asked to turn off their mobile phones and the signal is deliberately weak in case someone tries to cheat. “This is a digital detox destination,” general manager Craig Dodd says.
Across 15 hectares are 22 geothermal, cold-plunge and botanically infused pools, plus nine private pools on Alba’s rooftop. I start at the furthest Forest Pool (38 to 41 degrees) and work my way back. (Tip: Check a map before you set off.) I’m just getting into the swing of hot-spring bathing when I go inside for my massage with therapist Leah. It’s my first time having a massage with heated stones and oil and I must admit I’m a little sceptical. But the stones are smooth, the oil seductively warm and eventually my tired muscles decide to unwind. In all, there are 22 spa rooms with about 30 treatments. Food is not forgotten here, and I break for lunch at the 80-seat Thyme restaurant, where Karen Martini has designed a healthy and delicious menu and Mario di Natale heads up the kitchen. And there are some nice local drops to indulge in. Interestingly, visitors are limited to about 400 a day here while Peninsula Hot Springs can cater for about 700.
This is reflected in the price difference between the two places. “We limit numbers to afford true tranquillity,” says spa director Sonja Sorich. “Our focus is to provide guests with the opportunity to reconnect with themselves and nature.” Sorich has travelled the globe, checking out bath houses and geothermal springs and believes Alba is world-class. “We’re hightouch versus high-tech,” she says. While the wellness industry has been booming for several years, Sorich says the pandemic helped people appreciate how important health and social connection are. She feels she’s lucky to work in such a place. “Sometimes I go bathing at the end of my day and I feel like I’ve been transported to another land.” Well, the mix of fresh air, nature, thermal pools, good food and beautiful surroundings certainly works a treat for me. ● ● albathermalsprings.com.au
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