Hot Springs in Australia

Depending on how you say things, Australia could be the smallest continent on the planet or the largest island in the world. It’s nearly the same size as the United States in landmass. With this comes a plethora of hot springs, called “thermal springs” down under. These geo-thermally heated waters are available across the country.

List of Thermal Springs & Swimming Holes in AUS

From primitive thermal springs for soaking to fully developed resorts, you’ll find your pick in Australia. The natural springs here, like in other countries, come in all temperatures. You’ll find some warm springs, to those hot enough to relax all your aches and pains.  Camping and lodging are generally available in the vicinity, and even on-site at select thermal springs.

Map of Thermal Springs & Swimming Holes in AUS

• Click on a blue pin to view hot springs pool.
• Click the upper right corner to view the Australia Hot Springs Map in a new window.

Local Australian Hot Springs

Guide to Australia’s Springs & Swimming Holes

Australia has a wealth of truly fantastic mineral bathing experiences. In the country “Down Under” there aren’t active volcanoes since the country doesn’t sit on any tectonic fault lines. Therefore, the hot springs aren’t heated with magma’s energy but instead, the water bubbles up from so deep in the earth it’s brought to temperature by the earth’s core.

The balmy weather in this country near the equator makes outdoor bathing possible year-round. Both resorts and primitive thermal springs are represented in Australia. We’ll take a look at some of the top hot springs in the country below.

Note that not all of the following soaking and swimming options are sourced by natural springs. Some are fed by rivers and waterfalls and are just popular places to cool down on a hot Australian day.

6 States and 2 Territories:

• ACT = Australia Capital Territory
• NSW = New South Wales
• NT = Northern Territory
• QLD = Queensland
• SA = South Australia
• TAS = Tasmania
• VIC = Victoria
• WA = Western Australia

Northern Territory

In this north-central chunk of the country, there are several hot springs spots worth visiting. These include:

• Howard Springs Nature Park
• Mataranka Thermal Pool and Rainbow Springs
• Katherine Hot Springs
• Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park,
• Bitter Springs
• Berry Springs Waterhole
• Lorella Springs Wilderness Park
• Territory Wildlife Park (springs not safe for swimming)
• Buley Rockhole (Litchfield NP)

Maratanka Thermal Pool and Rainbow Springs may sound familiar to bookish types. It was a featured location in the novel We of the Never, Never.

Western Australia

This part of the country includes the capital of Perth and its own slew of hot springs. Here you’ll find:

• Zebedee Springs
• Middle Springs
• Molly Springs
• Millstream Chichester National Park
• Ellendale Pool
• Barrabup Pool
• Injidup National Spa
• Rocky Pool – Kalamunda National Park
• Rocky Pool – John Forrest National Park

Many of these locations offer on-site camping, allowing for several dips in the springs over the length of a vacation. In Zebedee Springs there are small pools that lie in a chain up an incline, with the largest of the bathing holes at the bottom.

Queensland

Queensland is located in Australia’s uppermost eastern corner. This area has fewer hot springs, although those located there don’t lack beauty. Burketown Hot Springs bubbles up more like a geyser than a typical spring pool, however, it is not safe for swimming and is toxic. Talaroo Hot Springs has small, rock-lined pools in a resort-like environment.

In Eulo, you’ll find Artisan Mud Baths where you can also bath in a clawfoot tub filled with spring water. Also in this section of the county is:

• Great Artesian Spa
• Innot (Nettel Creek) Hot Springs
• Noosa Springs Spa
• Cardwell Spa Pool

South Australia

As the name implies, this part of the country is the southern center of the nation, just below Northern Territory. Coward Springs is often called the spring “in the middle of nowhere,” and lies at the head of the Oodnadatta trail. Other thermal baths South Carolina is host to are:

• Paralana Hot Springs (toxic and radioactive – not for soaking)
• Dalhousie Hot Springs
• Blanche Cup and Bubbler Springs
• Sequoia Lodge

Like many of these hot springs spots, camping is available near the thermal spa.

New South Wales

Beneath Queensland is the territory of New South Wales, a portion of the nation with a healthy hot springs culture and home of Melbourne. In the past, you could have visited Gurley Hot Springs, a spring located in a farm field that has its own small showerhead for bathers to enjoy. However, Gurley is now private and indefinitely closed.

At Burren Junction Hot Springs the pool is surrounded by campgrounds and easily accessible by using the metal stairs down to the springs. Also in this part of the country are:

• Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool
• Artesian Bore Baths
• Pilliga Artesian Bore Bath (closed until further notice)
• Gwydir Thermal Pools Motel & Caravanpark
• Goodooga Artesian Springs
• Japanese Bath House
• Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre

Discover Australia’s Mineral Waters

Australia is certainly a hot spot for hot springs. No matter where you are in the country, a thermal pool is likely within driving distance. You can visit relaxing resorts with elegantly cultivated experiences like that at Japanese Bath House or Artisan Mud Baths or you can rough it, hiking to scenic locations like Katherine Hot Springs and Kerosene Creek.

Learn more about visiting Australia on our sister site, La Vida Nomad.

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