Alba Thermal Springs was a really great experience. I had booked a Weekday Retreat package ($290) months ago. The package includes unlimited hot springs bathing, half hour massage and half hour facial and a light lunch of smoothie and plant based salad. I thought going to a hot springs during the hot summer would have limited appeal to most, but it was still quite busy. We saw many people, some from interstate on the grounds. Because we were all given white robes and white towels, it was quite the sight.
Alba is directly opposite the Peninsula Hot Springs. It is newer and more luxurious. The architecture of the building is so beautiful, the layout is well thought out and luxurious. Unfortunately no phones are allowed in the hot springs so the beautiful design of each thermal baths (25 plus 7 private baths) will only be etched in my mind and not in photos. There is also a lap pool, a cool plunge pool, dry sauna and steam room plus 6 shaded gazebos for resting. I did not see much resting in the wooden gazebos but plenty of resting in the pools.
Spiral staircase at the foyer near the change rooms and locker.
To give a few examples of the thoughtfulness of the end user design, each locker has a concealed heat pad on which a robe and towel rests, heated and ready for the guest's first use. Alba had me at 'Hello'.
Our experience started at 9:30am with bathing in the thermal baths. There are 25 to choose from, with varying styles and temperatures (from 19-41 degrees. Each bath has a small plaque displaying temperature details). There are many that we thought were our favourites, until we explored a new bath. By the end of the day although we did not try each one of the 25 pools, I think I can safely say that The Waves is our favourite pool. It is a jet spa for both the back and feet in 41 degree water with a shade sail overhead. It was great to get away from the sun and enjoy a massage in the pool.
Other notable mentions from the list of pools are The Shell (a very private, enclosed pool - but not great for more than one couple at a time), the Cascades (lower) (a hot pool 41 degrees, with a view of the waterfall), the Luna (shaped like the moon), the Eve (can see the sunset from this pool), the Cascades (upper) (view across the Peninsula). We particularly liked the first two pools.
Post an hour of bathing, we changed into a new robe and disposable undies and slippers and showed up at the Spa for our facial and massage treatment. We were greeted by a receptionist who showed us to some day double day beds with views of the scenic view outside, sipped on some herbal tea and filled up a questionnaire about medical conditions and so on. Then we were shown to a treatment room where our masseurs Ketut and Tayla were waiting.
Gaz was so relaxed that he slept through most of the session, snoring loudly as I am sure is music to Ketut's ears. I meanwhile, was relaxed and enjoying the massage. Although Tayla applied only low pressure, I could feel the after effects of the massage the next day, which is an indication of a good massage. After the massage, we received recommendations of what products to try (all of them used during the treatment) and actions (ours said to relax and hydrate - good recommendations!). We were also served some water, herbal tea and a chocolate coated apricot while decompressing on the double day beds. A couple next to us were so relaxed that they thought they were in their own bed at home and started pashing loudly.
12:30pm and it was time for lunch! We head back to the change rooms for our normal footwear and head to Thyme, the restaurant for our smoothie and salad. They were very busy but friendly and efficient. Our meals came out about a minute after we placed the order. Gaz had the eggplant which was a slice of grilled eggplant doused with olive oil and Szechuan chilli oil while I ordered the soba salad with snowpeas. It came with a liberal serving of coriander and Vietnamese mint, very green. Too bad we could not use our phones to take pictures of the food presentation (the restaurant opened out to the springs outside, hence the restriction). We did see some people use their phones taking pictures at the pools then tuck them into their shoe when bathing. Seems a nuisance to have to do that, better to enjoy the moment I say.
Unwilling to leave, we had another 3 hours of soaking in the gorgeous pools after lunch. We tried out the steam room and dry sauna but could not last more than 2 minutes each time. When it was finally time to leave, we enjoyed the rain showers in the change room and the pleasantly scented shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. A great feature of the change room is the swimsuit dryer which is akin to a washing machine drum during the spin cycle. No more wet clothing to haul back to Melbourne!
We really enjoyed our experience Alba and would come back. I thought I was silly to book a HOT springs bathing in the HOT summer but it turned out really well. The weather was a nice 19 degrees, not too hot but a wide brimmed hat and sunnies are highly recommended. Alba provides plenty of sunscreen stations and water fountains dot the landscape - another thoughtful and successful end user design.
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