An age old experience
"Taking the waters" is back in fashion. The ancient Greeks did it. The Romans did it. Europeans have been doing it for centuries. Now Australians are re-discovering how to do it too. ‘Taking the Waters’ does not just mean drinking mineral water or bathing in mineral water. It is an experience involving all the benefits of a spa. The word ‘spa’ comes from the Belgium town of Spa famous for it mineral waters since the 1300s. It has now come to mean a health resort based on therapeutic waters, such as thermal springs or mineral springs, involving a special atmosphere of fresh air, pleasant natural surroundings, rest and relaxation.
Bathing in Bath
Bath in England, first established as a spa by the Romans, was the foremost spa in eighteenth century Europe where wealthy patrons went as much for the hectic social whirl as for their health. Since then spa centres gradually developed a wider appeal but have always retained a strong link between healing, recreation and leisure.
The spa centre of Australia
Victoria contains most of the mineral springs to be found in Australia. There are a few scattered springs in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland but nothing like the number of springs in the Central Highlands of Victoria. There are about 100 mineral springs in Victoria, the majority within a 30 kilometre radius of Daylesford, all producing mineral water of excellent quality. This is why the Daylesford and Hepburn Springs area is called the ‘Spa Centre of Australia’.
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