Do the new sleep rooms at Peninsula Hot Springs Eco Lodge help?

Known for its tranquil springs, the new Peninsula Hot Springs Eco Lodge now offers a sanctuary for sleep. But did it help this restless sleeper find the ultimate night’s rest?

The Peninsula Hot Springs on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula has long been a beloved escape for Melburnians, where therapeutic geothermal water invites visitors to unwind. While rest and rejuvenation have always been at the heart of the hot springs, the launch of the luxurious Eco Lodges this Saturday, November 9, brings a new emphasis on restorative sleep. I was invited to spend a weekend in the Peninsula Hot Springs Eco Lodge Peninsula Suite. As a notoriously poor sleeper, I was eager to see if this new sanctuary could genuinely deliver on its promise of restful sleep.

The quest for rest

Inside the new Peninsula Hot Springs Eco Lodge Spring Room — Guests can sink into luxurious linens or relax on the daybed.

We all know how essential quality sleep is. So much so that some hotels now market themselves as “sleep hotels", offering sleep-enhancing amenities once you’ve slipped into your PJs. But at Peninsula Hot Springs, my journey to restful sleep begins when I arrive. The Wellness Centre staff greet me warmly, their slow, soothing tone creating a subtle shift toward slowing down. Their calmness is contagious, and my usual brisk walk eases to an unhurried pace as I head to my suite.

Inside the sleep suite

Eco Lodge Peninsula Hot Springs lounge room — The spacious Peninsula Lodge boasts a lounge room, dining room, and kitchenette.

The suite has everything needed for a restorative getaway: a large master bedroom with windows that look out over wetlands, a well-appointed kitchen, comfy sofas and a private geothermal hot pool outside – a detail that thrills me. As someone who could happily soak in a bath all day if only the water didn’t go cold, having my own private hot pool feels like pure luxury. But will it help my sleep? I remain unconvinced.

The suite’s technology is tailored for rest, with features like circadian lighting that transitions from bright white by day to a warm evening glow, then dims to darkness for sleep. I appreciated the concept, even after accidentally overriding it. At the touch of an iPad, I can access a calming playlist, a Yin Yoga class, and breathwork guides to unwind.

Eco Lodge Peninsula Hot Springs bathroom — The bathroom features a double vanity and underfloor heating powered by geothermal water.

The concierge is available for an added luxury touch, and the wellness team suggests champagne and a cheese board, allowing me to relax by my private pool without needing to venture into the shared areas.

Of course, as anyone would expect, a thoughtfully curated sleep pack includes neuroscience-inspired tips to optimise rest. The pack offers a room spray, mineral magnesium mist, eye masks, organic sleep tea, and bath salts to help build a soothing pre-sleep routine. For light sleepers like me, earplugs are also tucked away in the bathroom drawers—a considerate touch.

The relaxation routine

Spa Dreaming Centre Restaurant at peninsula hot springs — Dining in a bathrobe is almost the best part.

I spend the afternoon drifting between my private sanctuary and the pools in the shared areas, all surrounded by Coastal Tea Trees, Moonah, and Drooping Sheoaks. A night in the Eco Lodge includes a choice of a wellness activity. I choose a Body Clay Ritual, where I paint detoxifying clays over my body, a playful yet grounding experience.

I dress for dinner at the Spa Dreaming Centre, and to my surprise, most guests are still in their bathers and bath robes —a humorous sight in such a refined restaurant. Next time, I’ll join them. My welcome pack in the suite encourages me to choose tryptophan-rich foods like chicken, salmon, or legumes, all known to promote better sleep. I chose the Nourish Bowl; roasted chicken, roasted, pureed, sautéed, and pickled vegetables – the perfect pre-sleep meal and absolutely delicious!

The evening wind-down experience

Eco Lodge Peninsula Hot Springs private hot springs pool — Bathe in your private geothermal pool until 11 pm (you may even be visited by the local ducks).

As the night settles, I eagerly await the moment of truth. Would the tranquillity of the Eco Lodge be enough to quiet my mind and deliver a good night’s sleep? There’d been mention of local frogs serenading guests all through the night, and as a light sleeper, I am worried the sounds of nature might be a bit loud. But they end up only being a gentle background hum. I hear no artificial sounds.

I am also a little concerned that my eagerness to try out all the in-suite wind-down experiences might leave me buzzing with excitement, but my worries are unfounded. After a whole afternoon of bathing, my mind naturally drifts toward rest. Following an after-dinner dip in my private pool, I have a soothing tea, listen briefly to a breathwork session, and switch off the lights.

It would be unreasonable to assume that, after years of waking through the night, I would suddenly sleep through. I do wake up a few times, but I notice a calm awareness rather than the usual busy mind. I easily drift back off to sleep.

Verdict: A dream come true?

eninsula Hot Springs hilltop pool — Soak in the geothermal waters, then return to your private Eco Lodge.

As a self-proclaimed shocking sleeper, the pressure to sleep well was real. Did the Eco Lodge live up to its promise? Yes, but not only in the traditional sense. In a world where sleep can feel like a luxury, this Mornington Peninsula weekend offered me something so much more – the rare gift of meaningful rest. It was a rest woven through every part of the experience, reaching far beyond just sleep itself. But yes, my sleep was wonderful, too!

Details

The Eco Lodges can be booked for groups or individuals.
Packages for two people include unlimited bathing, one wellness activity and breakfast starting at $930

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten , the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery , a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades .

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho , José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits . At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial , which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections .

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle , ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.

I’m a bad sleeper! Do Peninsula Hot Springs’ new ‘sleep suites’ help?