The best Victorian hikes and spas for a wellbeing escape this summer

Gippsland
‘The Prom’, Wilsons Promontory is as popular as Victorian trails come. Luckily, there are still plenty of sweet spots along the way to relieve you of urban overexposure. White sand beaches, granite mountains, rainforest and fern gullies are all less than four hours from Melbourne. The Prom’s 59-kilometre Southern Circuit is Victoria’s most popular multi-day bushwalk. But there are different walks to experience, varying in length and difficulty and the best bit: The Prom is only one part of the stunning Gippsland region to explore.

The High Country
Take the high road into the mountains for a spot of alpine hiking. Perfect for trail runners and walkers alike, the 7 Peaks Run trails, sheathed with snow gums and winding through alpine wilderness, make both the journey and destination to stunning lookout spots equally enjoyable. About three hours drive from Melbourne, there are a variety of walks (or runs for the ambitious).

The 40-kilometre Great Walhalla Alpine Trail, linking the town of Walhalla to Baw Baw National Park, offers a taste of the epic 650-kilometre Australian Alpine Walking Track. While Mount Buffalo National Park has trails ranging from one to 18 kilometres in length.

The Goldfields Track
Drive an hour-and-a-half from Melbourne, and the bustle of the city will seem worlds away. Walk through historic towns and ancient rainforests along this 210-kilometre old miners’ trail that extends from Ballarat to Bendigo. Tracks here vary in length and include world-class mountain biking trails.

RELAX

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa
Once you’ve finished your trekking (or biking) for the day, get soaked at Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa in a pure mineral water bath. The baths infused with Celtic Sea, Himalayan and Epsom mineral salts will help soothe tired muscles, while the serene surroundings will tend weary souls.

Salus Daylesford Day Spa
A prime spot to unwind after a hard day of walking is Salus at Lake House, which happens to be one of Victoria’s best places to enjoy good food if you get peckish. A massage, hot mineral spa in a treehouse or facial is enough to build an appetite, without having to put on your hiking boots.

Peninsula Hot Springs
“Ah, the serenity!” as old mate Darryl Kerrigan would say. It doesn’t get more serene than this award-winning natural hot springs and day spa. Bathe (there are moonlit bathing experiences for romantics), be fed, grab a spa treatment, take one of the regular workshops (fire and ice bathing, anyone?) or choose a package to truly plunge into relaxation.

Deep Blue Hotel and Spa
For those tackling any of the Great Ocean Road hikes, make this your one-stop-spot to recharge. Located on the Warrnambool Foreshore, there are hot springs bathing experiences, rock pools, sensory caves and a “cleansing waterfall” – and who among us does not want to be cleansed by a waterfall? Fill up at the Nourish Dome café once you have floated from your pick of massage, organic facial or body therapy.

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