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

Kellie FloydBy Kellie Floyd
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
Kellie Floyd
Kellie Floyd is a freelance writer with a deep curiosity for cultures and lands. She feels right at home in her hiking boots, exploring the great outdoors with her kids and firmly believes in the educational power of travel. Kellie loves to pen articles about her family and solo adventures, as well as sustainable travel. At home, you’ll find her snuggled up with a coffee in hand, reading about places she has yet to visit but knows she will someday.
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How a $1 deal saved Bendigo’s historic tramways

    Megan ArkinstallBy Megan Arkinstall
    Continue
    The passionate community that saved Bendigo Tramways has kept the story of this city alive for generations.

    It was an absolute steal: a fleet of 23 trams for just $1. But such a fortunate purchase didn’t happen easily. It was 1972 when the Bendigo Trust handed over a single buck for the city’s historic collection of battery, steam and electric trams, which had transported locals since 1890.

    inside the historic Bendigo Tram
    Bendigo Tramways is a historic transport line turned tourist service. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    The city’s tram network had been declared defunct since 1970 due to post-war shortages in materials to upkeep the trams and declining passenger numbers as motor vehicles were increasing. However, determined locals would not hear of their beloved trams being sold off around the world.

    The Bendigo Trust was enlisted to preserve this heritage, by converting the trams into a tourist service. The Victorian government approved a trial, however news spread that the Australian Electric Tramways Museum in Adelaide had acquired one of the streetcars for its collection.

    a tram heading to Quarry Hill in 1957
    A tram on its way to Quarry Hill in 1957. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    An impassioned group rallied together to make this physically impossible. Breaking into the tram sheds, they welded iron pipes to the rails, removed carbon brushes from the motors, and formed a blockade at the depot. The community response was extraordinary, and a $1 deal was sealed.

    A new chapter for the city’s fleet

    the old Tramways Depot and Workshop
    The old Tramways Depot and Workshop is one of the stops on the hop-on, hop-off service. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Today, Bendigo Tramways welcomes some 40,000 passengers annually, operating as a hop-on, hop-off touring service aboard the restored trams. Fifteen of the now 45-strong fleet are dubbed ‘Talking Trams’ because of the taped commentary that is played along the route. The trams loop between Central Deborah Gold Mine and the Bendigo Joss House Temple, which has been a place of Chinese worship since 1871, via other sites including the old Tramways Depot and Workshop.

    a Gold Mine Bendigo Tram
    The fleet comprises 45 trams that have been restored. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

    Keeping things interesting, throughout the year visitors can step aboard different themed trams. Tram No. 302 becomes the Yarn Bomb Tram, decorated both inside and out with colourful crochet by an anonymous group of locals.

    During the festive season, Tram No. 15 operates as a tinsel-festooned Santa Tram, and the big man himself hides out somewhere along the route for excited children to find. And on selected dates, the adults-only Groove Tram runs nighttime tours of the city, accompanied by local musicians playing live tunes and a pop-up bar.

    the historic post office turned visitor centre in Bendigo
    Visitors can hop on and off to see the city’s sites such as the historic post office turned visitor centre. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    As well as preserving the city’s history, however, the continuation of the tram service has kept the skills of tram building and craftsmanship alive in a practical sense. Bendigo’s Heritage Rail Workshop is world-renowned for restoring heritage trams and repurposing vehicles in creative ways.

    Locally, for example, Tram No. 918 was transformed into the Dja Dja Wurrung Tram with original Aboriginal artworks by emerging artist Natasha Carter, with special commentary and music that shares the stories and traditions of Bendigo’s first people. You can’t put a price on preserving history. Nonetheless, it was a dollar very well spent.