6 luxurious Melbourne bathhouses for ultimate relaxation

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Nourish your body and relax your mind at these six Melbourne bathhouses and spas.

Yes, you can enjoy a soak in a mineralised pool, a detoxing sauna or a relaxing massage, but these newly opened Melbourne bathhouses have all that and more. Each one is unabashedly committed to holistic wellness and rejuvenation. Choose from communal baths to breathwork to reiki, guided meditation and state-of-the-art facials, all designed to calm your nervous system and reignite your inner glow and share their passion for a happier, healthier life, (though the snacks and beverages don’t hurt either).

1. Sóma Bathhouse, Essendon

the pool inside Sóma Bathhouse, Essendon
Hit pause on the everyday hustle at Sóma Bathhouse. (Image: Charlotte/Studio on Hampton)

Intentionally designed as a haven to take that cortisol down, Soma, (a poetic term for “the body") is all soft curves, low-lit spaces and timber accents. Here, the emphasis is squarely on contrast therapy with two infrared saunas, one built for four and another that houses two people, along with two cold plunge pools so you can dive straight in for that dopamine hit. A warm, mineralised spa will relax muscles and ensure a good night’s sleep. There are also plenty of private facilities, too in case you want to relax alone.

Price: From $55 for one hour
Address: 15 Rose Street, Essendon

2. Soak Bathhouse, South Yarra

the hot pool at Soak Bathhouse, South Yarra
Soak in a crystal blue magnesium pool. (Image: Supplied)

Soak’s leafy South Yarra bathhouse, with its crystal blue magnesium pool and marble walls, feels more like a self-contained five-star resort than a communal space to chat. But the pool is bordered by lounge chairs for a reason – Soak wants you to know self-care is more fun with friends. Hang out and chat with wellness snacks and drinks or hop into a hot spa, a cold plunge, a traditional cedarwood sauna, or a steam room. If that isn’t relaxing enough, massages are also available along with guided wellness journeys and LED facials.

Opening APRIL 2025

Price: From $39 for 60 minutes
Address: Suite 1, Ground Floor/10 River St, South Yarra

Soak Bathhouse Alexandria is Sydney’s newest bathhouse. Here's your first look at the gorgeous new space.

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3. Comma, Cremorne

a traditional sauna at Comma, Cremorne
Reinvigorate your senses at this contemporary bathhouse. (Image: Comma)

A comma in grammar indicates a pause and it’s the philosophy behind this immersive bolthole, adjacent to the CBD. Built on a former mechanics workshop, Comma proudly draws on Melbourne’s laneway culture with its hidden spaces and concealed rooms. Stepping into the Bath House, all ceramic tiles, timber and raw brass, you can smell the cedar from the traditional sauna and hot tub. Sit down on a hinoki stool to wash your body before submerging yourself in the magnesium-infused water. Reinvigorate your senses and skin underneath a pail shower or rehydrate and soak up a quiet moment at the Entry and Tea Lounge. Or enjoy a signature massage or facial to restore your inner glow.

Price: From $60 for one hour
Address: 10-12 Hill St, Cremorne

4. Trinity

Trinity is swathed in calming neutrals. (Image: Elisa Watson Photography)

Named after its founder, Trinity Scarf and the three pillars of wellness: balance, renewal and growth, this recently-opened sanctuary blends Roman-inspired bathing rituals with a contemporary Australian aesthetic. As well as contrast therapy facilities, there is massage, breath work, kinesiology, reiki, holistic health coaching and movement classes, including yoga and pilates. Kick back in the LED light therapy lounge after a soak to maximise benefits to your skin.

Price: Starting at $45 for 45 minutes of hot and cold therapy
Address: Ground Floor, 18 Thomson St, South Melbourne

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5. Sense of Self Day Spa Collingwood

the bathhouse at Sense of Self Day Spa Collingwood
Reset your body and mind with a mineral soak at Sense of Self Day Spa Collingwood.

Located on Easey Street in bustling Collingwood and housed within a two-storey warehouse building, Sense of Self’s light, airy ambience, white decor and large windows, certainly live up to its name. As well as a large mineral bath, traditional Finnish sauna and cold plunge, there’s a focus on their communal Hammam (steam room). Purchase a Sud and Mud kit for $35 for your own self-led Hammam ritual. Walk up the stairs and there are massages for the back and feet and a gua sha facial. Choose from an array of light refreshments and snacks to keep your energy up.

Price: From $65 for 2 hours
Address: 30-32 Easey Street, Collingwood

6. Inner Studio

friends dipping in a cold plunge at Inner Studio, Collingwood
Dip in a hot or cold plunge pool to fully unwind. (Image: Inner Studio)

Walking into Inner Studio, the shimmering green space in Collingwood, is a little like entering a rainforest. Their focus is on managing stress, so along with hot and cold plunge pools, there is a sauna in which to strengthen your heat tolerance and resilience and yoga to fortify your muscles. Breathwork and guided meditation classes are also available as well as a movement class, designed for anyone with an open mind.

Price: From $45 for open sauna and plunge (non-guided)
Address: Warehouse 9/5-11 Campbell St, Collingwood

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The best trails and natural moments around Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

    Gemma Kaczerepa Gemma Kaczerepa
    The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges boast some of Victoria’s most stunning natural scenery, making them a prime destination for outdoor experiences.

    There’s something very special about the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. A mix of rugged bush, mist-laden rainforest, gardens bursting with vivid blooms and a network of rivers and waterfalls, the landscapes here are layered and diverse. Late summer is a particularly good time to visit, when the days are long and the region’s outdoor offerings are ripe for sun-soaked adventures.

    The best part? Despite being only an easy one-hour drive from Melbourne, the area feels a world away from the hustle. You’ll be greeted by a slower pace with fewer travellers and more room to move – allowing you to truly switch off and take it all in.

    From rail trails to rainforest walks, this is where you’ll find nature at its most rewarding.

    1. Warburton

    Biking around Warburton is one best natural experiences in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.
    Hit the trails at Warburton Mountain Bike Destination. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Perched at the top of the Yarra River, surrounded by pristine national park, the town of Warburton is a haven for nature lovers. It’s known for its towering redwoods, found in the Californian Redwood Forest just 15 minutes out of town. You’ll be in utter awe of these giant trees, some of which reach heights of up to 55 metres.

    The Warburton Rail Trail is another way to experience the town’s natural beauty. This flat, 40-kilometre route goes all the way to Lilydale and is ideal for a stroll or cycle past native bushland, wineries, farmland and parts of the Yarra.

    If you want to up the pace a little, head to the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination, which encompasses 160 kilometres of purpose-built tracks amid wild bush terrain. For something a little more laid-back, the Rainforest Gallery is a standout spot for a wander. The gallery features statuesque Mountain Ash and Myrtle Beech trees, moss-covered logs and tree ferns, and a 40-metre elevated walkway that brings you right into the centre of the forest canopy.

    2. Yarra Glen

    Yarra Glen is a beloved food and drink destination, but it offers far more than excellent produce and top-notch wines.

    A highlight is Alowyn Gardens, which stretches over seven acres. Inside, you’ll find nine different gardens with vivid floral and seasonal displays, plus a nursery featuring exotic plant species. The Wisteria Arbour is a crowd favourite, a curved walkway connecting the different gardens with a display of cascading lilac blooms.

    Intersecting with the Warburton Rail Trail, the first stage of the Yarra Valley Trail runs from the gateway town of Lilydale to Yering Station. A more manageable track of just 7.5 kilometres, it takes you through rolling farmland and pockets of native bush, with ample opportunities for wildlife-spotting.

    If you’re travelling with kids, McKenzie Reserve is a non-negotiable stop. The reserve encompasses a skate park, plenty of open grass to stretch little legs, and a nature-inspired adventure playground to suit every age and every energy level.

    3. Healesville

    One of the best natural experiences in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges is seeing a Koala upclose.
    Get up close and connect with koalas. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Healesville is the region’s best place to meet local wildlife. It’s home to Healesville Sanctuary, where you can get up close to kangaroos, koalas, emus, dingoes, reptiles and more. Beyond giving you front-row access to these gorgeous creatures, you’ll appreciate the scenic charm of the tracks and trails that meander through the wildlife park.

    To see even more birdlife, head over to Badger Weir for a picnic. Situated among soaring Mountain Ash trees and tranquil waterways, the area supports several bird species, including crimson rosellas, Australian king parrots and the elusive lyrebird. Barbecue facilities are available, and several tracks leading to Badger Weir are pram-friendly.

    Fernshaw Picnic Area, located in the Yarra Ranges National Park, is another idyllic setting for picnicking and short walks, also encircled by Mountain Ash trees. Compared to Badger Weir, though, Fernshaw provides a slightly more secluded experience, making it ideal for quieter outings.

    4. Olinda

    Cloudehill Gardens is a beautifully curated, year-round garden destination featuring nine terraced gardens filled with seasonal blooms and lush plant varieties.
    Wander through terraces of ever-changing blooms. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Sitting more than 600 metres above sea level, the Dandenong Ranges have an enchanted feel and are shrouded in lush rainforest filled with tree ferns, mossy trunks and lingering mist.

    The town of Olinda is one of the finest places to experience this unique environment in all its verdant glory. At the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens, rhododendrons reign and drape the gardens in a riot of colour every spring.

    The nearby Cloudehill Gardens are well worth visiting any time of year. In each of the garden’s nine terraces, you’ll find an array of plant varieties that bloom and transform across the seasons, including weeping Japanese maples that have been growing here for nearly a century.

    Besides being a haven for arbory enthusiasts, the nearby RJ Hamer Arboretum is a spectacular spot to enjoy panoramic views. Here, more than 150 tree species grow and overlook the neighbouring Yarra Valley and Great Dividing Range.

    5. Emerald

    A lady eating with the view of Emerald Lake Park.
    Enjoy a lakeside picnic at Emerald Lake Park. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Set just behind the Dandenong Ranges, the foothills town of Emerald has a slightly more open feel, featuring rolling hills and open bushland. The town sits on the edge of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, with a patchwork of forested reserves and accessible bush trails on the Emerald side.

    You can also take to the water at nearby Aura Vale Lake, which is popular for sailing, canoeing, fishing for eel and perch, and picnicking on the grassy banks.

    The stand-out, though, is Emerald Lake Park, a sprawling green with multiple recreation zones. Across 52 hectares, there are walking tracks, playgrounds, paddleboats, a model railway, fishing sites and a family-friendly wading pool that comes to life every summer. The park also lies adjacent to the iconic Puffing Billy, making it a perfect stop if you’re travelling on the historic steam train.

    Start planning your next adventure at visityarravalley.com.au