Historically, I've planned most of the trips for Tom and me, which suits us both. But I was excited when he volunteered to organize something for the long weekend. Neither of us was feeling overly ambitious, so he booked a quiet trip down to the Mornington Peninsula.
One of the best things to do on the Peninsula in the winter is visit the hot springs. The mineral-rich waters originate over 2,000 ft below ground, and emerge naturally at temperatures between 93°F and 107°F.
Alba Thermal Springs is a contemporary geothermal sanctuary nestled into the rugged coastal landscape. It sits just across the road from Peninsula Hot Springs, which I had the pleasure of visiting two years ago with my friend Amanda.
Tom and I arrived early on Saturday to enjoy the first hour in a private terrace pool. We spent the rest of the day leisurely hopping between pools. The weather was mild and partly sunny—perfect for soaking. Holiday weekends are about as busy as it gets there, but the whole day still felt calm and unhurried. We spent the evening in Rye and drove home the next morning.
The following weekend, I met my friend Kate at the Cabinet Bar in the city before we went to the Australian Ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Regent Theatre. I hadn't read the play since high school, so I was a little rusty on the finer details of the story—and, of course, there’s no dialogue in a ballet. Fortunately, a program was circulated during the first interval, which helped fill in the gaps.
As the month went on, the days grew gradually colder and darker as we approached the winter solstice: sunrise at 7:35 am and sunset at 5:10 pm. I purchased a pair of neoprene gloves and socks to help me brave the cold ocean swims, with the water temperature currently hovering around 55°F. I savor the calm, quiet mornings when the bay is still and the water is like glass.
