Posted on 07 January 2026

Australia’s best hot springs, thermal pools and artesian bores — Where warm water meets the bitumen and beyond: Part one

Words Robert Crack, Allison Watt and John Ford, pics Supplied

There’s something about a long day on the road or offroad tracks that makes a soak in hot water feel earned. Caravanners know it. Grey nomads swear by it. And remote-area 4WD travellers plan routes around it.

Across Australia, hot springs, thermal pools and artesian bore baths bubble up from deep underground — many straight out of the Great Artesian Basin — offering weary travellers a place to slow down, loosen up and let the dust settle.

Some are polished and popular. Others are rough around the edges.

All are worth the detour.

But the offerings and variety are huge, so we’re bringing them to you in three parts. For part one, we’ll kick off where the first Artesian bore was sunk: New South Wales.

A picturesque mountain setting at Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool (Credit: John Ford)

Soaking in an artesian bore bath is more than a pleasant break from the road — it’s an encounter with one of Australia’s most important underground resources.

Artesian water is drawn from confined aquifers, where water is trapped between layers of rock and held under natural pressure. When tapped by a bore, it can rise to the surface without pumping. Many of Australia’s best-known baths source their water from the Great Artesian Basin, a vast hydrogeological system covering more than 1.7 million square kilometres across Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

After travelling underground for thousands of years, this water often emerges naturally warm and rich in dissolved minerals, including calcium, magnesium and silica. Temperatures vary widely, with some bores discharging much hotter water and requiring care.

Thermal artesian bathing has long been associated with muscle relaxation, joint relief and improved circulation. The warmth encourages blood flow, while mineral content may support skin and skeletal health.

Whilst the practice of bathing in thermal mineral waters for relaxation and healing purposes was first referenced by Greek physician and philosopher Hippocrates around 500 B.C., the origins of ‘taking the waters’ can also be traced to ancient Egyptian and Roman times as well as to several indigenous cultures around the world, not the least of which are the First Nations cultures of Australia. Yet the word that itself describes the formal scientific study of thermal bathing — balneology, from the Latin balneum (bath) — didn’t come about until the 19th century.

The word 'artesian' comes from the French artésian, denoting ‘of, pertaining to or named after Artois’, being the French province of Artois where pressurised underground wells were first bored in the 18th century by engineer, author and French army officer, Bernard Forest de Bélidor.

Today, Australia’s artesian pools remain valued rest stops — places to slow down, recover and reconnect with the landscape beneath the wheels.

The Great Artesian Basin — A continent-sized underground miracle

Beneath much of inland Australia lies one of the country’s quiet marvels — the Great Artesian Basin.

Formed over millions of years, this vast underground reservoir began as an inland sea during the age of dinosaurs. Layers of sand, shale and clay slowly built up, with porous sandstone trapping rainwater beneath hard, impermeable rock. As the land shifted and compressed, pressure built — creating the artesian system we rely on today.

At almost a quarter of our continental landmass — the Basin is the largest and deepest Artesian basin on Earth. Water that falls as rain along its eastern margins can take hundreds of thousands, even millions, of years to slowly migrate underground to places such as southwest Queensland and northwestern NSW, where it resurfaces as hot springs and bores.

Artesian Bore Head and Cooling Ponds, Birdsville

The first bore is sunk

The first successful European bore was drilled on Kallara Station in the colony of New South Wales. We know this from an article titled ‘Artesian water in New South Wales’^, published in The Sydney Morning Herald on 11 May 1892:

“In our own colony attention was first drawn to the artesian supply by the successful bore on Kallara Station in 1879, which tapped water at 140ft. from the surface, and has flowed 26ft. above the kerb ever since.”

“Mr. Henderson, a superintendent of drills in 1885 and prior to Mr. Slee's appointment, tapped artesian water in a bore for coal near Lake Macquarie; also a few somewhat shallow bores were put down in the neighbourhood of Bourke. In 1885 the Tinchelooka bore at the 75-mile peg, Bourke-Wanaaring-road, gave 33,000 gallons per day, rising 20ft. above the curb (sic). During the same year a bore for coal at Ballimore, near Dubbo, tapped at 550ft., yielded 24,000 gallons per day, which rose 30ft. above the curb (sic). In 1887 the Cuttaburra bore, 101 1/2 miles from Bourke, yielded 22,000 gallons, rising 8ft. above the curb (sic). All these were put down as a result of the Kallara bore, and by the advice of the late Mr. C. S. Wilkinson, Government geologist in order to open up a well-watered stock route from the Mount Browne goldfield to Bourke.”^

Fast forward from 1879 to the present day, and Kallara Station is the sort of place you come to slow right down. Owing to it being the location of Australia's first European bore, if you're tackling the Darling River Run before or after you undertake The Great Artesian Drive, we reckon it's as good a place as any to spend a few nights.

Set on a quiet bend of the Darling River in outback NSW, this working station offers simple, secluded bush camps with big skies, red dirt and the steady flow of river life. No crowds. No noise. Just space.

Be sure to contact Kallara Station well in advance of your intended stay to check whether they are open; flooding on the Darling River can mean that they may be closed. Camping costs $5 per person, per night, with basic comforts including toilets and hot showers — keep them short, three minutes max. Firewood is available but only collect fallen timber. Leave the living stuff standing.

Days here are made for fishing (think Murray cod and golden perch), birdwatching, bushwalking and poking along station tracks in low range. Nearby Paroo–Darling National Park turns the volume up for birders, with more than 200 species recorded.About 50km southwest of Bourke, Gundabooka National Park is known for its Aboriginal rock art (don’t miss the Mulareenya Creek Art Site track and Yapa (Mulgowan) Aboriginal art site walking track) and other beautiful walking trails. This area holds great significance to the Ngemba and Kurnu Baakandji people, and these trails and rock art will show you why.When you’re ready for a pub meal, Tilpa Hotel delivers cold beers and solid country fare. For more exploring, Gundabooka National Park’s rock art and walking tracks are well worth the drive.Pack well, tread lightly, and let the Darling do the rest.

New South Wales

New South Wales alone has eight artesian bath locations linked by The Great Artesian Drive, winding through the state’s northwest.

Highlights include Pilliga, Moree, Lightning Ridge, Burren Junction and Boomi — each with its own flavour, facilities and following.

Pilliga Artesian Bore Baths

Located about 100km west of Narrabri and about 100km southeast of Walgett, Pilliga is often the first artesian bath experience for travellers — and a hard one to beat.

(Credit: Robert Crack)

Built in 1902, the covered pool draws water that has been rising from the basin for more than a century.

Water temp: Around 37°C
Access: Fully sealed roads
Hours: 24/7
Entry: Free

Adjacent to the baths is a large, no-frills campground.

$5 per night
No power or water
Max stay: four nights

(Credit: Allison Watt)

Sunset in the Pilliga (Credit: Robert Crack)

Sunset here is prime time.

Steam rises. The bush goes quiet. Conversations drift.

Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre

Moree does artesian bathing at scale.

After a $7 million redevelopment, the Anne Street complex now attracts more than 250,000 visitors (from outside the region) annually, including international travellers chasing the therapeutic mineral water first discovered here in 1895.

That’s more visitors annually than to either Kakadu National Park or Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park. That’s really saying quite something.

Facilities include:

Two outdoor hot pools (up to 41°C)
Wellness pool
Gym
Kids’ waterslide

Adult entry: $2

A polished stop — and excellent value.

Please note that at time of writing, only one of the Artesian Hot Pools is available. The second one is undergoing repairs, and two additional thermal pools are under construction.

Lightning Ridge Artesian Bore Baths

Lightning Ridge is quirky at the best of times.

Its bore baths are no exception.

Whilst the bore baths were only opened in 1962, the town claims that the 40°C water is two million years old. The concrete 20m-wide circular pool is open 24 hours a day (except for cleaning). There is also a well-maintained amenities complex and a smaller, cooler pool popular with children and those who find the main pool too hot.

Lightning Ridge Bore Baths (Credit: #amandamundell)

Entry is free.

Shower before entry (seriously)
Glass and alcohol are banned

There’s also a cooler pool for kids and heat-sensitive adults.

Stay nearby, watch a sunset almost as colourful as the opal for which Lightning Ridge is famed and then wander over to the bore baths after dark — it’s a classic Ridge experience.

BIG4 Opal Holiday Park - Lightning Ridge is the closest of Lightning Ridge’s three holiday parks to the Lightning Ridge Artesian Bore Baths. The other two — Lightning Ridge Holiday Park and Lightning Ridge Outback Resort & Caravan Park — are also within walking distance of the baths, although on a hot day in summer after rains the bush flies that you may encounter can en route might have you wishing you’d jumped in the car.

Burren Junction Bore Baths and Camp Ground

If your travels take you from Wee Waa to Walgett (or vice versa), you’ll come across Burren Junction and the Burren Junction Bore Baths and Campground, a short drive east of the township. At time of writing, these are amidst the summer season closure and are scheduled to reopen in April 2026. When they do, this bore first sunk in 1921 is the perfect place to pull up for a relaxing dip in the therapeutic artesian water after you’ve set up your camper trailer or caravan at the RV Friendly campground next door which has unpowered sites. There are toilets and showers, wood-fired barbecue facilities (BYO firewood) and a dump point. The campground itself is open all year, and fees apply ($5 per night per vehicle).

Contact: Walgett Shire Council or 02 6828 6100

If you want a powered site, the Junction City Hotel (aka the Burren Junction pub) in the township has powered and watered sites behind the pub (fees apply), amenities block and laundry facilities. The bistro serves lunch and dinner seven days per week.

Contact: Junction City Hotel or 02 6796 1440

Welcome to Burren Junction (Credit: Robert Crack)

Another unpowered option about 40km north of Burren Junction is the beautifully rustic Rowena Village Inn which offers free camping (unpowered sites), access to amenities, free wi-fi and a communal fire pit. Be sure to buy a meal and an icy cold frothy at the pub!

Contact: 02 6796 5109

Boomi Artesian Pool

First constructed in 1905 and with present day baths dating back to 1975, Boomi Artesian Pool draws artesian water from a depth of over 1200m. Accompanying the hot artesian spa are a 25m cold water lap pool and a wading pool. For accessibility, the hot artesian spa pool is equipped with a bariatric wheelchair and the 25m pool has easy access steps. Next door you’ll find a free barbecue, tennis courts, a Community Co-op Shop/Café and the Boomi Caravan Park.

Mungindi Hot Artesian Pool

Straddling both sides of the NSW and Queensland border and spliced by the Barwon River, Mungindi is about 120km northwest of Moree. The Mungindi Hot Artesian Pool, located on the NSW side, was drilled in 1996 to a depth of over 1000m. Water temperature is a constant 38 degrees Celsius.

There is also a 33m cold water pool and a kids’ wading pool.

Check with Moree Visitor Information Centre for opening hours of the various pools as these can change with the seasons.

Please note that at date of publication, the Walgett Artesian Bore Bath and Collarenebri Artesian Bore Bath are both closed.

Goodooga Artesian Baths

Goodooga Artesian Baths are proof that the outback does luxury its own way.

On the edge of this small northwest NSW town, a naturally heated 40°C artesian pool steams day and night, surrounded by wide skies and deep quiet. The mineral-rich water is known for easing sore joints, calming the mind and promoting proper rest — especially after long hours on the road (or off it).

Free camping sits right beside the baths, with 24-hour access during the season (March–November), hot showers, dump point, barbecues and shaded picnic areas. The pool is fully wheelchair accessible.

Roll in, set up your camping rig and soak under the stars.

Sometimes the best camps come with hot water built in.

Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool

Set deep in the Snowy Mountains between Cooma and Tumut, Yarrangobilly is not artesian, but geothermal.

Rainwater sinks deep underground, heats naturally, then resurfaces at a constant 27°C.

Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool (Credit: John Ford)

First built in 1896, the pool sits within the Yarrangobilly Caves precinct and is especially popular in winter, when snow lines the surrounding hills.

When first built, the pool became part of the Yarrangobilly Caves complex which was the most popular resort in New South Wales during the early 1900s. The current 20m long pool dates back to 1968.

Be aware that it’s a steep walk back to the carpark, the pool can be very busy in school holidays and, whilst pool access is free, access to Kosciuszko National Park is not; park entry fees apply.

Combine it with a cave tour and make a day of it.

Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool interpretive sign (Credit: John Ford)

Acknowledgments and citations

Quoted newspaper articles referred to were sourced from Trove, a collaboration of the National Library of Australia and hundreds of partner organisations around Australia.

^1892 'ARTESIAN WATER IN NEW SOUTH WALES.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 11 May, p. 3., viewed 05 Jan 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13843681