The new wellness concept brings elements of European bathhouse tradition to the idyllic Mornington Peninsula.
Set in the coastal town of Sorrento on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Aurora Spa & Bathhouse is a new wellness destination from Australian entrepreneur, Lyndall Mitchell.
The 500sqm space is home to a sauna that is said to be one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, and a Glacial Mist Room intended to replicate the Finnish tradition of rolling in the snow after a sauna. The room has been custom-designed to recreate the elements indoors, including mist, rain, ice, and wind — set at an alpine temperature between six and 10 degrees Celsius.
Guests can make the most of the facilities at their leisure or follow Aurora’s Bathing Ritual in the newly opened Bathhouse.
A 10-step journey comprised of hot and cold experiences, hydro massage, and magnesium-rich waters, the program incorporates a botanical salt ritual and immersion in the daydream (36 degrees Celsius), cold plunge (10 degrees Celsius), reflexology, and vitality pools. Guests then experience sensory showers, a Nordic sauna, an aromatherapy steam room, a halotherapy (salt) suite, and thermal lounges.
Traditional spa treatments are administered in eight serenely designed treatment rooms, while a magnesium float room, mediation, wellness coaching and retreats are also available.
On opening the new wellness destination, Mitchell said: “I drew inspiration from my experiences around the world, honing in on the healing power of water and the traditions of European bathing culture.”
Aurora Spa & Bathhouse is the latest addition to open at The Continental Sorrento precinct, which debuted in 2022 with luxury accommodation at the InterContinental Sorrento, and dining venues such as Audrey’s restaurant by renowned chef Scott Pickett.
The Aurora Spa brand has been an industry forerunner since the opening of its first Melbourne retreat in 1997, with retreats in luxurious destinations like the Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast, and Qantas first-class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne.