Things are heating up at Australia’s Peninsula Hot Springs, which has plans to grow its offerings substantially over the next two years, add overnight accommodations and create an official hot springs region near its location in Victoria.

The owners have also recently purchased an additional historic hot springs in New Zealand, which they are in the process of transforming.

Peninsula Hot Springs has plans to add 16 new pools, plus a mud area, an ice cave, a large group sauna and an amphitheatre for entertainment and education. The natural hot springs currently has 41 bathing pools and experiences, and will add the first eight new pools by the end of this year and another eight in 2017, growing its offerings to a whopping total of 57 pools.

Open since 2005, Peninsula Hot Springs’ bathing experiences currently include the Bath House, open to groups of friends and families, which features more than 20 globally-inspired experiences, including a cave pool, reflexology walk, Turkish hammam, sauna, cold plunge pools, family bathing area, massaging thermal mineral showers and hilltop pool with 360-degree views of the region.

The Spa Dreaming Centre is reserved for guests aged 16 and over, with an emphasis on tranquil spaces, private pools and spa treatments, including Australian Aboriginal-inspired kodo full-body massages and facials, mud and salt wraps and ancient healing stone experiences.

“The emphasis of Peninsula Hot Springs is on relaxation and wellbeing for all the community,” says Charles Davidson, owner. “We want guests to relax in the natural environment and with each other.”

The company also plans to add accommodation over the next two to three years – adding 126 bedrooms designed by Australian architect Gregory Burgess in stages – and hopes to expand its current one-day wellness-related programmes and Happiness Retreats with weekend and week-long retreats.

General manager Brook Ramage, founder of Golden Door Australia, joined the team about six months ago, and will help create the retreat programming.

“Brook has an incredible amount of knowledge and experience in the wellness industry, particularly with wellness retreats,” said Davidson. “He brings that knowledge to the hot springs industry that will help raise the bar of wellness, bringing the best of health and wellness retreats to the natural health-giving powers of thermal mineral waters.”

Davidson is also working with several groups in the area that are interested in starting hot springs in order to create the Mornington Peninsula hot springs region, similar to the Rotorua hot springs district in New Zealand, where Davidson was involved with the master planning.

“The concept in Rotorua and in our region is to offer the full range of hot springs offerings that will help deliver an experience for all customer groups,” said Davidson.

Such groups include those seeking hot springs for entertainment and fun, such as a water park; hot springs for relaxation, health and wellbeing, similar to what Peninsula has on offer; and hot springs facilities for health care and rehabilitation.

The company has also recently purchased Maruia Hot Springs in New Zealand, a natural hot springs resort with overnight accommodations and more than 100 years of history.

“We are in the process of transforming this facility to become synonymous with ‘Pure New Zealand,’” said Davidson. “...As the current custodians, we feel it has the potential to deliver incredible wellness experiences,” said Davidson.