A row of giant wine barrels, ready to be filled with steaming geothermal water, sit in prime position overlooking Lake King. Bulldozers are busy moving mounds of earth in the gully below. Wooden platforms are being hinged together to form the bases for glamping sites, stage one of the accommodation phase of the Metung Hot Springs.
Rachel and Adrian Bromage, both from East Gippsland and with decades of experience in the tourism sector, are excited about the Metung Hot Springs development which has been in the planning stages for several years. Twenty-five hectares of green hills dotted with gum trees and overlooking the Gippsland Lakes, are being transformed into the hot springs resort using geo-thermal water, mineral water heated by the earth’s core. “It is pretty special” said Adrian. “It will be a great tourism asset for East Gippsland”
Adrian and Rachel have partnered with Charles Davidson from Peninsula Hot Springs to develop the hot springs in Metung. Charles’ enthusiasm for geothermal springs began when he lived in Japan and discovered the health and well-being benefits of Onsen, the Japanese hot springs experience. Rachel and Adrian are extremely grateful for Charles’ input into the project. “Charles has always been happy to share his knowledge. He is passionate about the health benefits of hot springs and envisages a bathing trail through Victoria” said Adrian.
Rachel and Adrian also praise the late Chas Heath and his vision for the development of Kings Cove and the Hot Springs. In the 1930s an oil company drilling for oil found geo-thermal water by accident. The original Metung Hot Springs was at the site of the hole drilled by the oil company. In 1993 Chas had a bore drilled on the site of King’s Cove in anticipation of a hot springs resort. “Chas already had most of the necessary planning permits in place,” said Adrian. “Without the early groundwork by Chas our project would have been much more difficult to get off the ground.” A later stage of the development is a marina in Lake King below, also kick started in the planning process by Chas.
Stage one’s opening date coincided with Spring; 10 safari-sized tents were ready, sitting on individual platforms with a pair of hot tub wine barrels perched on each deck, four of them overlooking the water. “They are spectacular,” said Adrian. Eight pools and barrels overlook Lake King and a reception and changing facility to welcome guests.
Major service structures are going in at stage one in preparation for the subsequent stages of development. The project attracted funding of $1.5 million received from the Victorian Government’s Gippsland Tourism Recovery Package and $1.5 million received as part of the Australian and Victorian Governments’ Local Economic Recovery Program.
Although the hot springs are primarily about bathing, there is a need for accommodation due to the distance from Melbourne. “We want to attract people to Gippsland all year around, not just in the summer,” said Adrian. “We are close to other East Gippsland attractions such as Buchan Caves and the Gippsland Lakes. The hot springs will add to the whole East Gippsland experience.”
The Peninsula Hot Springs attracted 750,000 people per year, pre-Covid. It grew from 50,000 visitors in its first year, 15 years ago, when it began as a horse paddock. Post-covid, health and well-being is foremost in many minds. “The health and well-being sector is one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world,” said Adrian. “The minerals and high salt concentration in the hot water is good for our health.”
The Metung Hot Springs is set to bring new tourists and jobs to East Gippsland. “We are very excited about it,” beams Adrian.
