Australia and New Zealand sit right on top of some seriously active geothermal zones. That means you’ll find hot pools that feel as wild as they do indulgent. This isn’t about a quick dip in a hotel spa — think steaming mineral water rising straight from the earth, meeting cedar decks, alpine views, or even the ocean stretching away in front of you. People swear the minerals help aching joints, wake up sluggish circulation, and make your skin ridiculously smooth.
Here’s a handpicked list of 15 springs worth planning a trip around — each one with its flavor of luxury.
Onsen Hot Pools Queenstown
Perched up high over Queenstown, Onsen’s cedar tubs look out across jagged peaks and the shimmering Shotover River. Some people book a slot just to watch the sunset melt into the mountains, others to lie back under a ceiling of stars.
It’s private, quiet, and comes with the option of spa treatments after your soak. Couples tend to fall in love with this place — sometimes all over again.
Wai Ariki Hot Springs
Right on the edge of Lake Rotorua, Wai Ariki wraps its guests in centuries-old Ngāti Whakaue wellness traditions. You can drift in the pools, try the geothermal mud lounge, then wander into a treatment that blends luxury with cultural depth.
The Sanctuary (Āhuru Mōwai), feels almost sacred — warm mineral water straight from the earth, hushed lighting, and a sense you’ve stepped into a space meant for healing, not just pampering.
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Peninsula Hot Springs, Victoria
Just over an hour from Melbourne, these springs sprawl across rolling hills with more than 70 different bathing experiences. You might end up in a hilltop pool staring at the horizon, or tucked into a cave bathed away from everyone else.
There’s a Turkish steam room, reflexology walk, and an adults-only area for pure peace. If you can’t bear to leave, the glamping tents are ready and waiting.
Alba Thermal Springs
Alba is the Mornington Peninsula’s new darling — sleek, modern, and surrounded by bushland. There are botanical pools scented with herbs, salt pools that let you float weightless, and in 2025, they’re opening villas with pillow menus and mini-bars stocked with local wines.
It’s the kind of place where you could lose track of time completely.
Maruia Hot Springs
Hidden away on the Lewis Pass, Maruia feels like the sort of spot you stumble across in a travel diary. Snow-capped peaks all around, pools that steam gently in the cool air, and Japanese-style private baths if you want total seclusion.
Guests often stay longer than planned — the organic food, yoga classes, and mountain silence tend to have that effect.
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Tekapo Springs Hot Pools
It’s not every day you can soak in hot water, then go snow tubing or ice skating within a few steps. At Tekapo, that’s exactly the deal. Come nightfall, the pools turn into front-row seats to one of the clearest night skies in the world.
People float on hammocks here, staring at stars they swear they’ve never seen so bright.
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools
Part spa, part alpine water park, Hanmer Springs covers a lot of ground. You can drift between sulfur pools, hot rock pools, and aqua therapy areas, or retreat to the adults-only section with its private corners.
Families love it for the variety, but there’s still plenty of space to find calm if that’s your goal.
The Lost Spring Whitianga
A few steps from the beach, but you wouldn’t know it once you’re inside. Lush plants, winding channels of warm mineral water, and pools designed for lingering rather than rushing from one to another.
There aren’t dozens of pools here — just enough to feel personal. It’s the kind of place you want to keep a secret.
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Hastings Cave Thermal Springs
Ninety minutes from Hobart, you can soak in warm mineral water, then head underground to see caves that have been growing for tens of millions of years. Stalactites hang like chandeliers, and the air is cool and still.
Coming back up to the warmth of the pool afterwards feels like stepping into another world.
Japanese Bath House
Set high above the Blue Mountains, this place leans fully into Japanese bathing culture. Mineral pools both inside and out, mountain views framed like paintings, and a quiet focus on ritual.
You might end up sipping tea in a robe after your soak, feeling like you’ve been gently rewired.
Cunnamulla Hot Springs
In outback Queensland, under skies that seem impossibly big, these artesian-fed pools bubble up right beside the Warrego River. You can move between hot pools, cold plunges, and saunas, or paint yourself in cool mineral clay before rinsing off in a warm shower.
At night, the stargazing is so good that people forget to talk.
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Metung Hot Springs
Overlooking Gippsland Lakes, Metung pairs steaming pools with cozy glamping. Some guests soak in private wooden tubs on their deck, others wander to the lakeside pools for sunrise.
The tents come with king beds and soft lighting — luxury, but with the sounds of nature outside.
Zebedee Springs, Western Australia
Getting to Zebedee means a short walk through a forest that feels prehistoric — towering palms, birds calling overhead. The pools are clear, warm, and edged by smooth rocks.
They’re only open in the mornings, which somehow makes them feel even more special.
Hot Tubs Ōmārama
Between Wānaka and Tekapo, these cedar tubs sit out in the open, filled with fresh mountain water and heated by wood fires in winter. The air is crisp, the mountains close, and at night the sky looks like it’s been dusted with diamonds.
It’s simple, but unforgettable.
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Waikite Valley Thermal Pools
Here, the water comes straight from Te Manaroa Spring — the biggest single source of pure geothermal water in the country.
Pools range from lively family areas to quiet corners, and a short walk takes you to the source itself, steaming and alive. Staying overnight means you can start the day with the springs almost to yourself.
The ultimate soak down under
From the volcanic heart of Rotorua to the red-dirt outback, these springs turn nature’s heat into something unforgettable. Some will charm you with privacy, others with culture or sheer scale.
Either way, once you’ve stepped into that warm, mineral-rich water, it’s hard to imagine a better way to slow down.
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