Soak in mineral waters, indulge in a massage or test out the latest body treatments on your next Mornington Peninsula holiday. Your mind and body will thank you.

How often do you come back from a break – whether a weekend or longer – feeling more tired than before you left? If your answer is “too often", you need to begin including downtime to allow yourself to recover, both physically and emotionally. On the Mornington Peninsula, just an hour from Melbourne, you could spend the whole weekend taking a deep breath in, soaking in mineral-rich waters and enjoying massages and treatments. These are the best Mornington Peninsula hot springs and day spas to make you feel like a new person.

1. Alba Thermal Springs & Spa

If beautiful design makes your heart sing, book a soaking session at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa. Architectural firm Hayball used the undulating landscape of the Mornington Peninsula as inspiration for this world-class bathing experience. The 31 pools of varying sizes, including geothermal pools, cold plunge pools and herbal-infused botanical pools, and the spa building are set on 15 hectares of regenerated dunes, surrounded by natural bushland and pretty gardens. The building, which is partly embedded in the hilltop, has 21 treatment rooms, including a dry sauna, steam room, Vichy shower, and single and double massage rooms, as well as a relaxation lounge.

Of the pools, 22 are accessible with a bathing pass, while there is also The Terrace, with private pools and a deck, The Salts, a private rooftop salt pool, and The Clouds, private rooftop geothermal pools.

Add a massage, facial or body ritual to your soak to extend the pleasure, and finish just in time for lunch or high tea at Thyme, the onsite restaurant serving healthy, delicious dishes, pressed juices, herbal tea or, if you prefer, a glass of wine or cocktail.

Address: 282 Browns Road, Fingal, Mornington Peninsula

2. Peninsula Hot Springs

This has been a hot spot for everyone from local mums to wellness gurus since it opened in 1997. Lots has changed since then, but the central essence of Peninsula Hot Springs – pools of naturally heated, mineral-rich waters surrounded by natural bushland – has not.

Its size means that if you arrive at the hammam and there are a few people in there, you can try the underground sauna or reflexology walk before coming back. The most popular of the pools is the one at the top of the hill – the view is spectacular – but you can even arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the most popular times.

The Spa Dreaming Centre is an adults-only retreat with mineral spring pools, barrel bathing, falling water massage and more. Surrender yourself completely by booking one of the spa treatments (the cost includes site-wide bathing), from detox body wraps to a Dreamtime stone massage developed in conjunction with an Indigenous medicine man.

If you just can’t get enough, book one of the glamping tents or the new sleep-focused eco lodges to extend your blissful stay.

Address: 140 Springs Lane, Fingal, Mornington Peninsula

3. Aurora Spa & Bathhouse

Part of the InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula development, Aurora Spa & Bathhouse is a refined Australian take on traditional European-style bathing. Spend about 90 minutes enjoying the magnesium mineral pools and hot and cold thermal experiences. The Daydream Pool, with its skylight and gentle bubbles, is heated to 38ºC to soothe your mind and muscles. Heat up in the Aroma Steam room before stimulating the immune system and boosting circulation by submerging in the chilled water of the Cold Plunge Pool. There’s also a salt therapy room, glacial mist room and reflexology pool.

Aurora offers a full suite of massages, facials and body treatments. Very popular is the Himalayan Sound & Stone Massage which nourishes the skin, balances the system and helps to eliminate congestion. Afterwards, you’ll feel deeply relaxed.

You can even check into the hotel for three days and enjoy a custom-designed retreat so you can turn off and refuel your mind and body. As well as bathing and spa treatments, you’ll head off on guided coastal walks, take private yoga classes and enjoy wellbeing coaching. Sounds like heaven.

Address: 23 Constitution Hill Road, Sorrento, Mornington Peninsula

4. One Spa at RACV Cape Schanck Resort

Leave your normal life behind when you enter the architecturally designed One Spa at RACV Cape Schanck Resort. Spend some time in the hammam, where you can soak in the relaxation pool, spa pool, thermal stone steam room and immersive showers. There are other water-based treatments, including a soak in the hydrotherapy pool with its massaging jets, as well as a series of rituals that combine therapies to induce serenity, invigorate the senses, or reduce stress. There are also facials, body therapies and massages, as well as a number of half-hour additions to treatments, like gua sha facial massage or full body exfoliation. Bring along a book and spend some time in the relaxation lounge afterwards before, once again, facing the world.

Address: Trent Jones Drive, Cape Schanck, Mornington Peninsula

5. 1028 Mornington Day Spa

If you’re looking for a different type of massage, check out what’s on offer at 1028 Mornington Day Spa, owned by Thai woman, Apple. It offers lommi lommi, a traditional Hawaiian style of massage that involves long, flowing movements along the length of the body, as well as Tok Sen, an ancient Thai massage method that uses a special wooden hammer to relax muscles. Of course, you can always choose to go with a relaxation or remedial massage. Add a session in the infrared sauna or a facial to your time here. The prices are very reasonable, and Apple’s treatments are highly recommended by all who visit.

Address: 1028 Nepean Highway, Mornington, Mornington Peninsula

6. Timeless Day Spa

At Timeless Day Spa in Rye expect a high level of service, no matter which treatment you’re here to receive. There’s a range of spa treatments designed to leave skin soft and glowing, as well as relaxation and remedial massages and facials. You can also get your beauty treatments done here. If your pedicure needs attention, your legs need waxing, your tan needs a top-up, or your brows need sculpting, owner Jessica and her team will send you on your way looking and feeling better.

Address: 2275 Point Nepean Road, Rye, Mornington Peninsula

7. endota Day Spa

There are three endota Day Spas on the Mornington Peninsula, at Mornington, Moorooduc and Red Hill. The treatments are all designed to nurture, nourish and improve wellbeing. It offers a range of massages – relaxation, remedial, soothing stones and pregnancy – packages designed to help you detox, rebalance and revitalise, and a range of high-performance facials. You can choose to get a customised facial to target any skin problems you have or undergo microdermabrasion, a clinical peel or light therapy. endota also has its own range of face and body products, and therapists can help you choose the ones that are right for your skin.

Addresses: 30 Main Street, Mornington; The Coolstores, 475 Moorooduc Highway, Moorooduc; 159 Shoreham Road, Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula

8. The Private Sea Wellness Centre

If you’re not one for massages or body treatments, The Private Sea Wellness Centre can still get you started on your relaxation journey. It has floatation tanks, infrared saunas and salt therapy. It also features Pandora Star, a meditation unit that uses white LED lights to offer a relaxing, visual journey of colour and imagery. It is said to reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and bring about deep states of meditation and relaxation. You can also book a red light therapy session, which can help reduce pain and inflammation, improve skin conditions like acne, and boost recovery after workouts. Of course, you can choose to combine any of these with a relaxation massage.

Need something more specific? There are several allied health professionals, including naturopaths, a reiki therapist and physiotherapist, operating from the wellness centre.

Address: 3 Satu Way, Mornington, Mornington Peninsula

9. Sunset Spa

If you’re looking for an oasis where you can rest and relax, try Mount Eliza’s Sunset Spa. The treatment room is surrounded by trees and clients sit and discuss their needs with therapist Delyse before the treatment begins to ensure they get exactly what they need. She offers a range of massages, organic facials, body treatments and customised pampering packages. Afterwards, pour yourself a cup of herbal tea and either sit on the deck or by the fireplace in the lounge.

Address: 27 Sunset Crescent, Mount Eliza, Mornington Peninsula