Australian hot springs operator Peninsula Hot Springs (PHS) has announced plans to open a new destination in the East Gippsland lakeside town of Metung, in southern Australia.

PHS has partnered with local tourism operators Adrian and Rachel Bromage to realise the new destination – called Metung Hot Springs.

Inspiration
Metung was originally a major hot springs attraction in Victoria, but closed to the public in 1992.

Located on the town’s northern, the new destination’s geothermal waters infused with natural minerals and trace elements come from a well 500m below the earth’s surface.

Growing up visiting the original Metung springs as children, the Bromages were passionate about reviving the communal hot springs experience in their hometown.

In 2018, they joined forces with PHS founder and creative director Charles Davidson to bring hot springs back to the town where they were first enjoyed in the state of Victoria.

“This expansion of the PHS group at Metung Hot Springs will help enhance the hot springs wellness offering we’ve been creating and evolving over the past 15 years,” Davidson told Spa Business.

The vision
An initial AUS$6m (£3.3.m, €3.9m, US$4.6m) infrastructure build in stage one of the project will include a glamping village, thermal bathing pools, sauna, plunge pools, dome day lounges and walking trails. These facilities will all sit on the main site with panoramic sweeping views over the Gippsland Lakes.

There will also be a 19th hole hot springs bathing facility, day spa, thermal bathing facilities and relaxation areas added to the existing King Cove Golf Club, creating Australia’s first Hot Springs golf course.

Davidson added that the club will be re-named as Kings Cove Country Club and Hot Springs.

Metung Hot Springs has an agreement with Kings Cove Club Limited to develop a management model to transform the existing golf club into a community recreation centre that will be known as the Metung Country Club.

Future phases will include the addition of a bathing valley, hot springs hotel, main reception, wellness centre and a marina with pools and saunas with direct views over Lake King.

This second facility will be situated on a striking piece of natural undulating land with spectacular lakeside views.

It’s also hoped that there can be a 700m extension to the famous Metung lakeside boardwalks that could connect Beach Road and the town to Tambo Bluff creating a 10km long public walking and bike riding trail.

Progress update
The project has garnered support from both State and Federal governments and is due to break ground in the coming months.

The development is centred around environmental regeneration and sustainability.

The first phase is set to be completed in Q4 2021/Q1 2022 with the realisation of the Kings Cove Country Club and Hot Springs.

The project is expected to produce 35 jobs after completion of the stages, and have a flow-on economic benefit to the region of over AUS$300m (£167.3m, €195.2m, US$232.5m) at maturity.

Metung Hot Springs is positioned to be a major attraction for the region, mirroring the impact of PHS’ original site on the Mornington Peninsula, a region that’s now the number one day trip destination for those visiting Victoria.