Victorians freed from lockdown on Wednesday can spend the weekend soaking their stress away in geothermal pools three hours drive from Melbourne.
Deep Blue Hot Springs in Warrnambool, 257.8km southwest of the state capital, is a ‘sanctuary of wellness’ filled with 15 natural mineral baths, waterfalls and aromatherapy pools that promise to wash your worries away.
Guests can reap the health benefits of the heated salt water while swimming through a network of sensory caves, connected to Victoria’s first-ever hot springs hotel.
Much like its more famous neighbour, the Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs, Deep Blue is surrounded by walking and cycling trails as well as some of the Great Ocean Road’s best beaches, including Warrnambool’s main beach and Middle Island.
Victorians freed from lockdown on Wednesday can spend the weekend soaking their stress away in geothermal pools (pictured) three hours drive from Melbourne
Deep Blue Hot Springs (pictured) in Warrnambool, 257.8km southwest of the state capital, is a ‘sanctuary of wellness’
A variety of day passes are available, with two-hour sessions starting at 8am for $46 per person and two-and-a-half hour slots at 11am and 2.30pm for $57 per person.
A special three-hour twilight session that runs from 6pm to 9pm is also on offer for $68 a head.
Visitors have been raving about the experience on Instagram, where an account dedicated to photos of the springs has attracted an audience of 7,195 followers.
‘Absolute heaven,’ one woman wrote.
‘I had the best time here, went back twice,’ added another.
One woman said immersing herself in the pools’ restorative water soothed muscle aches she had been having for months.
The spa is filled with 15 natural mineral baths (pictured), waterfalls and aromatherapy pools that promise to wash your worries away
Guests can reap the health benefits of the heated salt water while swimming through a network of sensory caves, connected to Victoria’s first-ever hot springs hotel
A second said her skin, nails and hair instantly felt stronger after two hours of bathing.
Others called the springs ‘winter bliss’ and the ‘best rest and relaxation’ destination they have visited in years.
Located on the south-western coast of Victoria, the Deep Blue hot springs remain off limits to millions outside the Garden State as lockdown continues in New South Wales and South Australians are shut out by border closures.
Victoria’s fifth ‘circuit breaker’ will end after two weeks at 11.59pm Tuesday, but residents are still banned from going to their friends’ houses and masks will be mandatory everywhere.
The state recorded another 10 cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday morning, however all cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period.
One woman said her skin, nails and hair instantly felt stronger after two hours of bathing
Premier Daniel Andrews said at a press conference that while Victorians will be allowed to leave home for any reason, many rules will remain in place.
Pubs, restaurants, cafes, and bars will open with a maximum of 100 people inside and 300 outside, and a quota of one person per 4sqm.
Live music venues, dance classes, and physical recreation facilities, including gyms, will also open with the same square metre rule.
The number of people allowed at funerals and weddings will be capped at 50.
Others called the springs (pictured) ‘winter bliss’ and the ‘best rest and relaxation’ destination they have visited in years
Mr Andrews said: ‘There will be people saying, ‘Why can I go to the pub but not mum and dad’s place for dinner?’ Well, there’s no QR codes at mum and dad’s place, no industrial cleaning, not the measures we have as a hospo venue.’
He also said crowds at football games, theatres and at large events will be banned for the next two weeks.
Victoria will return to the rule that ‘if you can work from home, you should work from home’ but office workers will be able to return up to 25 percent or up to 10 people – whichever is greater.
Families can go on holidays again, but only with members of their household.