Onsen Spa, Hotham Village

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Dinner Plain, on Victoria's Great Alpine Road, is the only freehold village in the Australian Alps. Its population is just 580 and the little village thrives year round. It has over 200 lodges and chalets to accommodate tourists who flock there for bush walking, horse riding, mountain biking and tennis, plus all the winter sports. The local pub offers excellent meals every day of the week.

The Onsen Retreat and Spa is part of the Dinner Plains central facility. Costing $6 million, the multi-purpose venue was crafted from an innovative architectural design. Something very special there is a Japanese-inspired onsen spa, day spa, lap pool and gymnasium.

An onsen is a heated bathing facility. Extremely popular in Japan, it has been used for centuries as a therapeutic and relaxation technique. Tradition says the water must be pure and come from the earth where its healing qualities are most potent.

Dinner Plain is renowned for its natural spring water, regarded as some of Australia's best. It comes from a deep aquifer and is filtered through 60 metres of decomposed granite rock. It is used exclusively throughout the spa, ensuring visitors an invigorating and therapeutic experience.

There are five treatment rooms at Onsen Retreat and Spa, and the day spa is perfect before and after a day on the slopes.

Qualified massage and beauty therapists offer a comprehensive range of treatments. Everything from remedial massage and warm rock therapy to facials, body wraps and Reiki can be enjoyed.

The Getaway crew had an enjoyable stay at Blowhard, Hotham Heights Chalets in Hotham Village. The 10-level accommodation is virtually a resort within a resort. It has a sky bar, large spa, cinema, games room, sauna, scenic sundecks and five separate living areas. It comfortably accommodates up to 12, and three ensuite bedrooms have a spa bath. There is undercover parking.

Location

Dinner Plain, 375kms north-east of Melbourne.

Cost

Onsen Retreat and Spa's 30 massage is $65. Signature spa treatments start at $250 for 100 minutes and Intimate Retreat Spa Ritual is $450 for four hours. It includes Japanese bath, hot stone massage, facial, foot therapy and spa cuisine.

For more information

Onsen Retreat and Spa
Big Muster Drive
Dinner Plain 3898
Ph: (03) 5150 8880
Fax: (03) 5150 8811
Website: www.onsen.com.au
Email: info@onsen.com.au

Blowhard
Hotham Heights Chalets
Hotham Village
Ph: 1800 468 426
Website: www.aucklandmaori.com/about.htm

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User comments

What a fabulous venue. The staff at 'onsen' are all so friendly and after an hour massage and soak in the onsen I did not want to leave. The facility is first class and what a location. With a facility like this open year round, it is truely worthy of a visit. Now all I need to do is encourage my employer to hold all our confrences

Hi guys, who is the artist of the soundtrack for this segment of the show?

I was lucky enough to stay at Dinner Plains a couple of months ago, and also to visit the fabulous Onsen Spa. Not only was there plenty of snow, the experience of sitting in an outdoor onsen hot spa while it was snowing was like nothing else I've ever experienced before. If you get the opportunity, you have to do it!! And, the people at Dinner Plains were all so friendly. We'll definitely be back!

I was lucky enough to stay at Dinner Plain in August this year, and also to vist the magnificent Onsen Spa. The experience of sitting in the hot onsen outdoor spa while it was snowing was like nothing else on earth. Do it if you can, because you won't be disappointed! And, everyone at Dinner Plain was just so friendly.