Renowned for its picture postcard setting right on the Gippsland Lakes, Metung is a mecca for boating, fishing and nautical sports. But just outside of town, Metung Hot Springs is putting the place on the map for wellness and relaxation too thanks to a ready supply of groundwater for Zen-seekers to soak up. We spoke with Manager, Mike Ronchi, about what makes it special and why it’s well worth a visit.
Tell us a bit about Metung Springs.
It’s a tranquil and beautiful wellness hub that’s owned by the same group behind the very popular Peninsula Hot Springs. Metung Hot Springs was opened three years ago and is set on a 23-acre property that offers around a dozen pools and different geothermal bathing experiences. We’ve also got a couple of saunas onsite and offer a day spa service too.
Where do you get your water from?
We hold two take and use groundwater licences to access warm water that comes from an aquifer that runs along the southern coast of Victoria.
We’ve got two bores that tap into the water at approximately 500 meters underground and when it comes to the surface it’s around 46°C and averages around 42°C by the time it reaches our pools.
What makes your water so special?
It’s mineral contents and the temperature. The section of aquifer we source from isn’t as hot as it is in other places – it comes up at pretty much the perfect temperature. This is great because don’t have to use much energy pumping cold water around to get our pools just right.
We don't add any chemicals; it just comes straight from deep underground and is full of minerals. Depending on which pool you’re relaxing in the temperature can sit between 36 to 40°C.
The water is estimated to have been deep within the earth for more than 10,000 years and contains potassium, boron, magnesium, chloride, sodium and calcium. Bathing in our mineral rich waters provides a myriad of benefits, including improving sleep, easing points of tension and detoxification.
How do you manage your water sustainably?
Water is a precious resource that’s at the heart of our business and we whole-heartedly support its wise use.
We hold a licence for 30 megalitres in an unincorporated groundwater area and 164 megalitres in the Stratford Groundwater Management Area.
The licencing process is a robust one designed to manage a finite resource sustainably, protect environmental values and ensure a fair share among users. We were only granted the licences after we satisfied Southern Rural Water that we could meet stringent criteria.
Onsite, we treat and reuse water from our springs system to irrigate our property.
How do you work in harmony with your environment?
We have landscaped the property with natural and indigenous plants to this area, and you'd be surprised at how much animal life we have here.
Our lagoon has a thriving population of the long neck turtles, and we also have echidnas and wombats walking around as well as rich bird life.
Dusk is often a magic time when you see birds come home to roost and bump into marsupials waking up for their nocturnal activities.
We're very conscious of maintaining the environment and looking after the real locals at our venue.
Why is a stop at Metung Hot Springs worth it?
It’s an amazing place to chill and escape the crowds in one of the most beautiful parts of Victoria. You can come here, really wind down and walk away feeling genuinely relaxed.
We’re also in area that’s got so much going for it – amazing outdoor experiences, delicious food and wine, a thriving art scene – that makes a stop in Metung a must do.
We love being part of the community and want to become a flagship tourism experience that draws more people to the region from far and wide to help support other businesses in this part of the world. For example, we don’t have a restaurant and always recommend a whole range of local restaurants, pubs and hotels depending on what our guests want. As we grow, we will share those benefits with others too.
While we get a lot of Melbournians, we’re seeing increasing numbers of interstaters and international travellers stay with us and we see a bright future for tourism in the region.
More information
If you’re feeling inspired to immerse yourself in the warm waters of the region, then check out Victoria’s official tourism guide to Metung.