Deep Blue Hot Springs, Warrnambool

Swimming Hole Heaven in Victoria

Escape the cold water blues with a hot dip at the Deep Blue Hot Springs sanctuary on the foreshore in Warrnambool in western Victoria. The springs are an outdoor geothermal pool complex for bathing, relaxation and rejuvination. Depending on how you count them, there are around a dozen individual pools ranging in water temperature, depth, size, and atmosphere. Above: Rockpool 1 (the hottest pool) and Rockpool 2 at Deep Blue Hot Springs in Warrnambool (Order this image)

I visited during a late morning session on a typically cold, windy, and occasionally showery winter day in Warrnambool. The contrast between the cold weather and the warmth of the pools made it all the more enjoyable. Shivering lightly after emerging out from the changing rooms, I felt instant relief starting with the shin-high walk through the thermal foot bath, before settling in to the aromatherapy pool. This was one of my favourite pools because it felt both open and enclosed at the same time. That is, it felt open because there was no roof or high walls around the pool, with plenty of room in the water, but also comfortably enclosed with a neat little border of small, gently scented shrubs around the edge of the pool. My other favourite pools were Reflection Bay, which was a shallow pool with a curved base in the shape of a recliner for laying down on while staring up at the sky, and Rockpool 1, which was the hottest pool on site at 41 degrees Celsius that elevated my core temperature the fastest. Above: The cafe and lawn area next to the hydrotherapy pool that has water jets under the surface (Order this image)

The pools are arranged in a fairly compact formation, which meant that I spent very little time out of the water getting cold again when moving from one pool to another. It did rain a little bit when I was there, but it did not really matter to me. There were several pools with domed rooves for those who do not like getting rained on, noting that two of those had waterfalls that you have to walk through (and hence get your head wet anyway) to reach further into the pool. Despite being on the foreshore, the hot springs were well protected from the wind. For those who like to be thermally challenged, there were also two cold water plunge pools to get that adrenalin rush followed by the skin tingle when jumping back into the warm water pools again. Above: One of the caverns at Deep Blue Hot Springs in Warrnambool (Order this image)

I combined my visit to the springs in winter with some whale watching at the Logans Beach whale sanctuary, a few minutes drive away, and a visit to Hopkins Falls in nearby Allansford. It made for a great winter getaway in Warrnambool. Unfortunately I did not see any whales, but after being blasted by the winds coming off the southern ocean at the elevated whale watching platform, heading to the hot springs after that definitely did not disappoint. Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this site, you need to sign a waiver prior to entering the hot springs, outlining some of the potential health risks associated with bathing in hot water, with those risks being elevated for people with certain medical conditions. The managing authority recommends not bathing at the hot springs while pregnant. Make sure you stay hydrated and hop out of the pools at regular intervals to avoid overheating. The marker indicates the approximate location of the car park at the hot springs. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can occur with some browsers, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
View Larger Map Can kids swim at Deep Blue Hot Springs?Yes, children aged 5 to 16 can swim at Deep Blue Hot Springs during the daytime sessions, but children are not permitted in the twilight sessions after 6pm.

How hot is the water at Deep Blue Hot Springs? There are different pools set at different temperatures, ranging from approximately 34 degrees (which is a water temperature often used for pools dedicated to hydrotherapy or kids swimming lessons in indoor heated municipal pools) up to 41 degrees (which is similar to a hot bath).

Can I hire a locker at Deep Blue Hot Springs? Yes, lockers are available for hire. They give you a waterproof wrist band with your key embedded in the band. I found the lockers were large enough to store valuables and clothes for a couple of people, with a pigeon hole underneath for any non-valuables if you have extra gear. The lockers are in communal area, so you do not need to get a separate male and female locker if visiting with friends or family.

Can I visit Deep Blue Hot Springs in the rain? Yes, as long as there is no lightning. Hot springs in the rain is one of my favourite things to do. There are several pools with rooves to shelter from very heavy rain if needed, and a cafe with a roof over it.

Can I bring my own food to Deep Blue Hot Springs? You can bring your own water bottle, but cannot bring any food into the hot springs. There is a cafe on site.

If you have any other questions not answered above, leave a comment for me using the comment box below. If you would like to leave a comment about these hot springs, please fill in the comment box below. I'm particularly interested in your experiences after visiting, and any changes in conditions. All fields are required if you would like your comments published on this website.

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