"The towns of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are surrounded by more than 60 natural mineral springs, and it was these, as much as the prospect of easy riches from gold prospecting, that attracted the first wave of Swiss-Italian migrants to the area in the early 1800s. Later that century, the Hepburn Bathhouse was constructed, and it has been restored to accommodate the reception and waiting area for this popular spa center. Now, the complex houses a general bathing area, contemporary, architect-designed The Sanctuary—it is semi-private, and guests can recline on spa couches in mineral-rich waters or float in a saltwater therapy pool—and a day spa with both wet and dry treatment rooms. It is all very serene, clean-lined, and inviting." - Carrie Hutchinson