Steven Lambert, author of Great Thermal Way, shares his favourite hot springs around Australia and how he came to write a book about them after travelling around the country.
In Australia, hot springs can be found in all states and territories and are an amazing place to spend some time to relax and soak your weary bones. The reason they are so relaxing is mainly due to the many minerals that are contained in the thermal waters. In total, there are more than 27 minerals that assist the detoxification of your internal organs.
My passion for natural springs started back in 2005 when I was doing my usual thing – driving around and trying new areas to see what they had on offer. On this occasion, I was up on the Atherton Tablelands and located a small town called Innot Hot Springs where there are five thermal pools fed from Nettle Creek. The thermal water flows to the surface at 78ºC, and is then pumped into the facility’s pools. This appealed to me, so I towed my rig over and stayed for three months. It was an amazing experience and I felt completely rejuvenated. So much so, in fact, that I commenced the journey to locate more facilities for my own use as I continued my travels. This took me on a journey for another four years to research the untapped source.
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By late 2008 I had located more than 40 facilities, so I then sat back in Blackall to write the book. After many drafts, I travelled to Toowoomba to print off 2,000 copies of the first edition. On completion, I headed to Boomi to commence my marketing stage – I always have a thermal pool nearby when I do business. The other reason I wrote this book was to assist others in planning their journeys as I had always heard the comment while on the road, “Where do we go next?”
I am always asked by the travelling fraternity which is my best pool. I usually say that they are all so different that it’s up to the individual to decide. I prefer a basic tub in the middle of the bush, looking up at the stars. Others prefer a more up-market dip, though it’s really up to what experience you’re looking for. You really require a two-week dip to really detox the body.
To give you a brief insight, I will list my favourite facilities in each state and territory.
There are three main areas – Perth, Shark Bay and the Kimberley. My choice is Francois National Park near Shark Bay and the big round tub. There’s also a fair bit of interesting history associated with it.
The Northern Territory is full of natural springs and thermal pools all the way from Darwin to Mataranka. My favourite is Bitter Springs as it is an amazing facility. Don’t forget your noodle and thongs!
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Queensland is full of facilities as it sits on the Great Artesian Basin, the same as New South Wales and South Australia. From top to bottom, you can always find a hot soak. My favourite is the Lara Wetlands just south of Barcaldine. Eulo is also the only place in Australia where you can enjoy a mud bath, so definitely put it on your list.
If you are looking for choice, Moree is the spa capital of Australia with five facilities that have thermal pools. Some have five pools to choose from with differing temperatures, so you can really mix and match your preferences.
Victoria has many spa facilities but only three are genuinely geothermal. These are Warrnambool, Rhy and The Bayview Boathouse at Bairnsdale.
South Australia’s springs are created due to the overflow from the Great Artesian Basin. Dalhousie Springs is my choice as, yet again, it’s a bubbler under the stars.
There are only two natural thermal pools in this state and they are both on the cooler scale at around 28ºC. My choice is Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs in the south west.
There aren’t any thermal springs in the ACT and the closest is the Yarrangobilly Caves with its 28ºC pool in the Kosciuszko National Park.
So that is a quick overview of some of the facilities available to the travelling fraternity to enable you to enjoy a hot soak. If you would like to continue the journey and visit them all, visit www.greatthermalway.com.
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