67 Metung Hot Springs – Springing to life

SPRINGING TO LIFE

METUNG HOT SPRINGS IS SET TO BECOME EAST GIPPSLAND’S ICONIC NEW DESTINATION AND AN INSTANT DRAWCARD IN ATTRACTING MORE VISITORS TO THE REGION

WORDS BY CHRIS WEST IMAGES KINDLY SUPPLIED BY METUNG HOT SPRINGS

“WE’RE EXCITED TO INVITE GUESTS TO BATHE AMONGST WILDLIFE AND NATURE FLORA AND FAUNA UNIQUE TO OUR REGION.” ADRIAN BROMAGE.

Fancy the idea of soaking away the stresses of your busy life and immersing yourself in the pure bliss of a luxurious wellness wonderland?

Who wouldn’t? Well, soon this indulgent dream will become an accessible reality with the upcoming opening of Metung Hot Springs later this autumn.

Construction works have been progressing with clockwork precision since late last year and visitors from day one are certain to be in awe of the breath-taking setting and experience that will await them.

Metung Hot Springs has brought together some of the most creative and entrepreneurial minds in this field. The project is a collaboration between Charles Davidson, co-creator of the hugely successful Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula, and prominent local accommodation and tourism operators, Rachel and Adrian Bromage.

Rachel and Adrian have a proven history of success in owning and operating businesses throughout East Gippsland, including McMillans of Metung, 5 Knots, The Moorings and Director Boat Charters. They were also responsible for the refurbishment of the historic Riversleigh Hotel in Bairnsdale.

Both are bringing their renowned energy and excellence in overseeing the on-ground management of Metung Hot Springs – Adrian as Managing Director and Rachel in the role of Operations Manager. It is a combination that ensures that everything from the facilities and amenities to the customer experience will be of the highest standard.

Together with Charles Davidson and his partners who form the Peninsula Hot Springs Group, Rachel and Adrian have master-planned a worldclass, multi-faceted wellbeing experience. With expert skill and precision, they have purposefully designed Metung Hot Springs to harmonise perfectly with the stunning natural topography and capitalise on spectacular views of Lake King.

“The project draws upon the inspiration Charles has utilised with such great effect at Peninsula Hot Springs, but it is not simply a clone of that facility,” Adrian explains.

“It was really important in our planning that Metung Hot Springs has a strong identity of its own,” he adds. One of the key motivating forces behind the development was Rachel and Adrian’s long-held desire to revive hot pool bathing in Metung. With Rachel having grown up in Bairnsdale and Adrian originally from Bruthen, they hold many fond memories of the former Metung Hot Pools which were located on the northern side of the town and operated for over 30 years before closing in the 1990s.

“We had that local connection through childhood with the old pools. There was nothing fancy about them. They were corrugated tubs and pretty rustic, but they were part of the fabric of the local community,” Rachel recalls.

“Many people have tried to resurrect them. Adrian and I tried for three years while we were at McMillans but things just didn’t fall into place. We reached out to Charles Davidson in 2010 but he was focused on the Peninsula site at the time, so we decided to put the idea to bed.”

After then spending eight years operating the Riversleigh, the Bromages were preparing to move to Perth to pursue a career opportunity for Adrian when the job suddenly fell through at the last moment. Four days after they received that deflating news, an upbeat Charles Davidson rang to deliver an announcement that changed everything.

“Charles suggested it was finally time we did a hot springs project together and revealed that he had found the perfect location in Metung adjacent to the Kings Cove Golf Club. The 25-acre property had an inland lagoon within its environs and undulating hills that would provide incredible, panoramic views. Charles said he couldn’t think of anywhere in the world better suited to bathing,” Rachel remembers.

“The timing was all quite serendipitous, and somewhat ironically, the land was owned by a group of developers, one of which happened to be my father. Having thought by then that the hot springs dream had probably passed us by, suddenly the opportunity presented itself and became a reality. Adrian and I had actually previously recognised the potential of the site ten years earlier, but again the timing hadn’t been right back then.”

After acquiring the property, it has been a three-year journey to bring Metung Hot Springs to life, as the project has passed through various stages of planning, consultation, permit approvals, and finally, civil construction.

“Everything we are doing now in our infrastructure works is provisioning for the future and setting up the rest of the development,” Adrian states.

Geothermal water needed to supply the pools is being bored from 500 metres below ground. The water is naturally infused with minerals and trace elements to add to its detoxifying and rejuvenating qualities.

WHAT CAN VISITORS TO METUNG HOT SPRINGS EXPECT?

Visitors will have the option to come for the day or stay. Daily attendance numbers will be capped to prevent overcrowding.

“We are going to offer some amazing relaxation and accommodation experiences in a secluded setting that is next-level beautiful,” Rachel promises.

It is important for prospective visitors to understand that the project is being delivered in stages. “We have ensured there will be many different experiences to enjoy from day one, yet still so much more to look forward to as we progress,” Rachel explains.

To kick things off, an impressive array of facilities will be ready to open in the first phase of Stage 1 this autumn including:

10 luxurious hot spring pools of varying depths and temperatures up to 41 degrees Architecturally designed Hillside sauna and Floating sauna with geothermal showers A boutique day spa offering Relaxation/Stretch tent Clay Ridge – an outdoor area offering body painting with natural clays providing enriching therapeutic benefits Reflexology Walk Reception/Coffee Shop 10 Safari glamping tents offering five-star standard accommodation

The most exclusive bathing experience will be enjoyed at the Hilltop Escarpment pool which offers the site’s best views of Lake King. This area, which will be accessible only to visitors aged 16 and above, also features seven 500-litre bathing barrels.

The glamping tents at Metung Hot Springs are also certain to be highly coveted, with each equipped with their own four-poster bed, ensuite and private deckside bathing barrels. More glamping tents are in the pipeline for planned introduction later this year.

“Accommodation is going to become an increasingly important part of what we’re doing here as we continue to grow,” Adrian comments.

“The whole element of the attraction plus accommodation is going to be pivotal. We need to have the balance of both, because when people come to East Gippsland from Melbourne and other major centres, they’re not just coming for a day trip.”

Visitors to Metung Hot Springs will be able to escape the hustle and bustle of their busy lives and immerse themselves in a setting of blissful tranquility and incredible beauty.

“In everything we’ve done we’ve purposefully worked around the natural environment,” Adrian says.

“It’s important we integrate all the facilities with the environment. We have seven hundred metres of water frontage to the lake and there are some ecologically sensitive areas in the buffer between Lake King and our internal lagoon which we’ve had to be mindful of in our planning.”

Several thousand new trees are being planted within the overall site, part of a strategy to go beyond sustainability into regeneration with the project.

FUTURE STAGES

The second phase of Stage 1 involves taking over the operation of the Kings Cove Golf Club and updating the venue into a country club environment with its own small hot springs facility. Plans are currently awaiting permit approval, but a full refurbishment of the clubhouse is intended to proceed later in 2022 independent of that process.

Beyond Stage 1, plans for Stage 2 of development at the main site include the addition of further bathing pools and accommodation options, an Amphitheatre and other visitor amenities which would increase Metung Hot Springs from a 100-person facility to more than three times that size. The jewel in the crown is the intended future creation of a resort and marina. The timing of the delivery of Stage 2 is dependent upon funding and subject to the necessary approvals.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

The local community has been at the forefront of consideration in the planning for Metung Hot Springs.

“Our location dictates that we will attract visitors who need to stay somewhere so hopefully that economic benefit will flow through the whole village of Metung and nearby towns. In creating Metung Hot Springs we are giving people a reason to not only stay but stay for longer. It will be easy to combine a visit with enjoying the many other attractions in the surrounding region – everything from golf to the wineries, the lakes and the high country,” Rachel comments.

“Local people will also enjoy the direct benefit of convenient access to our walks, yoga classes and community concerts we plan to host. We are also creating a wide variety of employment opportunities for locals, covering positions from construction jobs through to pool cleaners, gardeners, administrative and customer service positions, and food and beverage roles.”

COUNTDOWN TO OPENING

Metung Hot Springs is set to welcome its first visitors in the coming months. With demand certain to exceed capacity, pre-bookings will be recommended to guarantee entry.

“Everything is on track for our planned autumn opening, but we are also hoping to tie in an official launch celebration in conjunction with the East Gippsland Winter Festival, which is perfect timing, as the colder weather is the best time for hot bathing,” Rachel notes. “We’re confident that Metung Hot Springs is going to have an immediate impact and become a year-round attraction which will add to East Gippsland’s appeal as a must-see destination. It will be particularly important in reducing the seasonality factor by providing a welcome boost to the traditionally quieter times for local tourism in winter and the shoulder seasons.

“I think there will be a real sense of anticipation around our opening, as one of the by-products of Covid is that people are now valuing and prioritising their own personal wellness, both physically and mentally, more than ever.”

For news updates or general enquiries, connect with us via any of the following platforms:

Metung Hot Springs 73 Storth Ryes Avenue, Metung Phone: (03) 5141 2300

Web: www.metunghotsprings.com Email: info@metunghotsprings.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/metunghotsprings Instagram: www.instagram.com/metunghotsprings

Gippsland Lifestyle will be following the progress of Metung Hot Springs in future editions over the coming year.