The best stops along Queensland's Wellness Way Hot Springs Trail

Artesian springs, pools, spas and bathhouses await along outback Queensland’s Wellness Way Hot Springs Trail.

Vast red plains. Dry, dusty heat. Farm and wild animals. These are all images that the term ‘outback Queensland‘ conjures up. But what about wellness? What you might not know, is that beneath the surface lies the great artesian basin, the largest and deepest in the world. In fact, it covers nearly a fifth of the country. Known to promote skin health and relieve muscle tension, mineral-rich artesian water attracts health and relaxation nuts the world over. So it’s really the perfect place for Wellness Way Hot Springs Trail to pop up.

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If, like me, you are a person who hates cold water, then hot springs are heaven. If, again like me, you hate getting back out of the water and making the short, shivery run through the cold air to your towel, then this hot springs trail through outback Queensland is your Nirvana.

With 24 different artesian springs, pools, spas and bathhouses to stop at, the Wellness Way has to be the only road trip that will leave you feeling fresher when you finish than when you started. Beginning in Mitchell and working its way up to Talaroo, the trail will change your perception of the outback. These are some of our top picks along the way.

1. Charlotte Plains

Charlotte Plains queensland — Step into the free-flowing artesian baths and lakes. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

This might be a working sheep station, but they’re better known to guests for their free-flowing artesian bathing . Settle into the campground (whether you’re pitching your own tent or caravan, or booking into one of its cabins) and get an insight into life on the station with a property tour. Help feed the farm animals, spot wild ones and then end (or start, or break up) the day relaxing in the outdoor baths. Guests rave about the peace and quiet, with plenty of space to find a spot all to yourself.

The bore here was first sunk in 1892 and pulls water from the great artesian basin. The best part? It’s naturally heated to about 42 degrees and here the baths are open 24/7. Head out at night to recharge your body under a blanket of stars, or set your morning up the right way and enjoy the outback views of reds and shrubby greens.

Address: 1993 Charlotte Plains Road, Cunnamulla

2. Eulo Artesian Mud Baths

The only thing better for the skin than artesian water? Artesian mud baths. Drive 500 metres out of the small town of Eulo to find a unique outdoor environment, created for pure relaxation. Making use of the artesian water, here it is mixed with clay to create a milky grey natural mud. Jump in the bath and pat it on your skin, letting the mineral-rich mud, clays and minerals cleanse, tone and revitalise your skin.

Where does the mud come from? It’s formed deep below the earth’s surface, creating ‘mud mounds’ that over time dry out into grey or white hillocks. Here, they take that mud and pop the moisture back in for the ultimate skincare routine.

Book a bathing experience, which lasts about 1.5 hours. There is nowhere to stay onsite, but nearby you can stay at Eulo Queen Hotel , Troys Free Campground or Club Boutique Cunnamulla .

Address: 6889 Adventure Way, Eulo

3. Yowah Artesian Pools

What could make for a better caravan park to stay at on your road trip, than access to two baths of differing temperatures filled with naturally heated mineral waters? You can do just that when you stay at Artesian Waters Caravan Park .

Accommodation is simple but clean and tidy. And it comes with that friendly country service. Listen to the symphony of birds and cicadas as the sun goes down while you reinvigorate your mind and body in the baths. Relax in this oasis from the harsh but beautiful outback environment. After your bath, find a cold shower to rinse off in, dressing rooms and toilets with a separate disabled access toilet.

Address: Harlequin Drive, Yowah

4. Dunblane

people in open air bath at Dunblane campground — Watch the stars from your open-air bath. (Image: Hipcamp)

For campers who relish the chance to feel alone in this landscape, this campground is the perfect option to enjoy an outdoor bath with no one else in sight. Dunblane is a wool sheep grazing property that can be found just off the Landsborough (Matilda) Highway, eight kilometres west of Barcaldine.

Book your site through Hipcamp , and be sure to choose one of several options with their own hot water, open-air baths. As the sun starts to set, setting the wide open sky alight, and the stars start to twinkle, it’s an unforgettable experience. During the day, take a self-drive tour around the property to learn about wool growing, spot wildlife like brolgas, red kangaroos and echidnas, and visit the livestock.

Some sites come with amenities, so check before you book if you need them. Kids under 15 stay for free and dogs are welcomed.

Address: 42164 Landsborough Hwy, Barcaldine

5. Saltbush Retreat

two people in the outdoor bath at saltbush retreat queensland — Step back in time to the beautifully rustic Saltbush Retreat. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Longreach is worth a visit for more than its aviation history. Step back in time to the beautifully rustic Saltbush Retreat. Stay in 4.5-star Homestead Stables, the four-star Slab Huts or the Outback Cabins for an authentic but luxe outback experience.

The ultimate drawcard, however, is the shared traditional claw-foot bath on the exclusive outdoor bath terrace. Book a pamper package to enjoy the bath with slippers, bath salts, chocolate and more.

Address: 63-65 Ilfracombe Rd, Longreach

6. Julia Creek Caravan Park

two people in Julia Creek Caravan Park baths at sunset — Enjoy drinks and cheese in a relaxing tub. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

A town of approximately 14 people, it doesn’t get much more ‘small town’ than Julia Creek. Tumbleweeds roll down the main street, the local pub is the place to be (in fact, it was the setting for the famous bar brawl scene from Crocodile Dundee) and the surrounding farmlands are vast. Yet it’s also home to one of the most popular outback destinations; Julia Creek Caravan Park .

Here you’ll find spots for caravans, motorhomes and camping, as well as self-contained units. Award-winning two-course Bush Dinner nights happen each Monday, made from local produce and raising money for a local non-profit community group. Live music happens often, and locals love to chat with guests around the communal campfire.

But the real pull is the artesian bath houses. Positioned to take in the vast and beautiful country vistas, expanding to the horizon, enjoy a drink and some cheese as you soak in the healing waters. As this experience is super popular, bookings are very limited. Be sure to book ahead.

Address: Corner Julia Street and Old Normanton Road, Julia Creek

7. Talaroo Hot Springs Soaking Pools

aerial of Talaroo Hot Springs boardwalks — Take a guided tour around this unique geological feature. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Talaroo Hot Springs offers an experience different to the rest of the trail. The travertine terraces and hot springs spread out here, reminiscent of the famous Rotorua Hot Spring in New Zealand, yet utterly unique to Australia. The connection between this land and these formations traces a connection to Ewamian Traditional Owners back millennia.

Unlike the rest of the trail, it’s one of only two mound springs in Australia, and it’s not fed by the Great Artesian Basin but from water seeping from kilometres underground which gets heated by hot granite rocks on the way up. The water takes an epic 20,000 years to complete its journey

At the surface, the water temperature is up to 68 degrees Celsius. That might seem too hot to sustain life, but very special aquatic ecosystems thrive here and are able to be studied – making it a globally significant site. For this reason, access to the pools is only available on guided tours.

Thankfully, the geothermal mineral waters are cooled down for any visitors who would like to book a session in the private soaking pools. The water is prized as having healing properties for both body and soul, so why would you miss it?

Bath sessions are included in every Hot Springs Discovery Tour , and the Private Soaking Pools can be booked separately. Sessions last 40 minutes, and each pool can accommodate up to six people.

Address: Gulf Savannah Way, Mount Surprise

Find the full Wellness Way trail guide here , and be sure to check out one of our other favourite outback Queensland stops here.

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.

7 of the best stops along Queensland’s Wellness Way Hot Springs Trail