Australia’s best hot springs, thermal pools and artesian bores — Where warm water meets the bitumen and beyond: Part two
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. Across Australia, hot springs, thermal pools and artesian bore baths bubble up from deep underground, offering weary travellers a place to slow down, loosen up and let the dust settle.
In the first part of our Australia’s best hot springs, thermal pools and artesian bores series we covered eight great spots to discover in New South Wales, including:
- Pilliga Artesian Bore Baths
- Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre
- Lightning Ridge Artesian Bore Baths
- Burren Junction Bore Baths and Campground
- Boomi Artesian Pool
- Mungindi Hot Artesian Pool
- Goodooga Artesian Baths
- Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool
And as an extra bonus we covered a bit of artesian bore history.
If you missed it, check it out here.
In this second part, we’re continuing with hot springs, thermal pools and artesian bores in Queensland.
The Lake, Quilpie (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland / Grant Hunt AM)
Queensland’s Wellness Way takes in no fewer than 25 artesian springs, spas, pools and bathhouses in outback Queensland. That’s more than we can cover so we’ve decided to pick the eyes out of them and cover our favourites.
Queensland
Innot Hot Springs
Outside the Outback Queensland tourism region and only a couple of hours out of Cairns you’ll find Innot Hot Springs Caravan and Leisure Park, just west of Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tablelands.
As written in the article ‘Innot Hot Springs’ in The Cairns Post published on 9 April 1940, “The Innot Hot Springs are said to have been first discovered in the early seventies by the late Mr. John Atherton (after whom the town of Atherton is named), when with a party of men he was riding overland from Emerald End, rear Mareeba, to explore the then unknown grazing country, which is now held by the Gunnawarra Pastoral Company.
“Coming to what is now known as Nettle’s Creek the party discovered that the water issuing from the spring in the bed of the creek was so hot that they were compelled to cross farther down where the creek and spring water mingled. Little importance appears to have been attached to this discovery by the party, as nothing further was heard of the now famous hot springs until 1885.”
Innot Hot Springs has been soothing travellers since the 1890s and now anchors a well-equipped caravan and leisure park with six pools (range of temperatures, indoor and outdoor options and some are adults-only).
Warning: the hottest indoor pool is not for lingering.
Powered and unpowered sites are available, as is cabin accommodation. Day visitors are welcome — but booking ahead is wise.
The parallels once drawn with Europe’s great spa towns was arguably drawing a bit of a long bow; chances are, the people who made such comparisons had never themselves travelled to the likes of Baden bei Wien in Austria, Bad Ems, Bad Kissingen or Baden-Baden in Germany, or England’s iconic Bath. This notwithstanding, the European settler history of Innot Hot Springs is as long as the as the spa histories of many of the spa towns of Europe, and besides, you’ll be sharing your dip at Innot Hot Springs with far fewer other people than you would be in Europe!
Sure, Baden-Baden’s spring waters date back almost 2000 years to Roman times, and, if the legends are to be believed, the springs in Bath date back to their discovery in 863 BCE by Prince Bladud and his herd of pigs.
But it was at Innot that it was learned that First Nations people had been using the hot mineral waters for countless millennia, recognising the healing qualities of the waters, which they called Jahmboolgnlai, meaning ‘Big Fire’.
Please note that Innot Hot Springs Caravan and Leisure Park undergoes a summer season closure from 1 November until late March each year, during which time the thermal pool are also closed.
Great Artesian Spa, Mitchell
Mitchell is one of those outback towns where the road invites you to stop — and the water convinces you to stay.
Sitting on the Maranoa River in southwest Queensland, Mitchell draws travellers in with its calm pace, friendly locals and one very good reason to kick the boots off: the Great Artesian Spa. Fed by mineral-rich water from the vast Great Artesian Basin, the spa offers a welcome reset after long kilometres of bitumen and gravel.
The experience is simple and effective. Slip into naturally heated pools sitting around 37–39°C, let the minerals ease stiff joints and tired muscles, then cool off in the adjacent pool. It’s not flashy or overdone — just warm water, open sky and time to unwind. Accessibility is well thought out, making it suitable for all travellers, including those with limited mobility.
Beyond the spa, Mitchell rewards a longer pause. Free riverside camping near the Neil Turner Weir is a favourite, while the town’s Major Mitchell Caravan and Cabin Park offers shaded sites and modern amenities. History runs deep here too, from Sir Thomas Mitchell’s explorations to stories of the Kenniff brothers (Australia’s last known bushrangers), alongside galleries, museums and quiet river walks.
The Mount Moffat section of Carnarvon National Park, in Queensland’s Sandstone Wilderness, is approximately 220km north of Mitchell and is home to the 36km out-and-back High Country Drive to the head of Carnarvon Creek on the 1000m+ high Consuelo Tableland, for which a high clearance 4WD vehicle is essential. Here you can follow in the footsteps of the Kenniff brothers; the Kenniff Drive (an 8km out-and-back return from a turn-off along the High Country Drive at about 5km in from the start at the intersection of Mount Moffat Circuit Drive) traverses country that was a hangout for the Kenniffs.
The views from the ‘Rooftop of Queensland’, the highest plateau in the state, are nothing shy of spectacular.
Camping is available at the Rotary Shelter Shed (Mount Moffatt) camping area. Bookings are required and fees apply. This camping area is for high-clearance 4WD vehicles and high-clearance offroad camper trailers only. Caravans, generators and pets are not permitted.
There is a picnic shelter, long-drop toilet and wood-fired barbecue facilities. You must bring in your own purchased clean-milled firewood; bringing in collected firewood or collecting firewood within the national park is prohibited.
There is a picnic shelter, pit toilet and water which must be treat before drinking. Better still, stock up on potable water before you leave Mitchell for Mount Moffat.
Whatever direction you are heading in, Mitchell is more than a fuel stop.
Build it into your plan. Soak. Slow down. And let the outback do what it does best.
Cunnamulla Hot Springs
Cunnamulla is the kind of outback town that rewards travellers who stop, breathe and stay a while.
Set on the banks of the Warrego River in southwest Queensland, this small Paroo Shire community of around 1200 people is surrounded by big plains, river red gums and night skies that seem to stretch forever. It’s classic outback country — open, honest and quietly powerful.
One of Cunnamulla’s standout experiences is Cunnamulla Hot Springs, where geothermal artesian water rises from deep underground, rich with ancient minerals. Soaking here is about more than relaxation. It’s about slowing the pulse after days on the bitumen (or beyond it), easing stiff muscles and letting the landscape do some of the work for you.
Cunnamulla Hot Springs (Credit: Jane Crack)
The bathing experience blends hot mineral pools with sauna, steam room and cold plunge options, all tucked beneath coolabahs beside the river. After dark, the stars come out in force, turning an evening soak into something genuinely memorable. For something different, the body clay ritual adds a grounding, hands-on element using Australian clays.
Beyond the baths, Cunnamulla offers layers of history — from rail heritage to the iconic Cunnamulla Fella statue — and easy access to vast outback scenery and wildlife.
It’s not flashy. It doesn’t need to be.
If you’re crossing the southwest, pencil in time for Cunnamulla. Your body — and your travel pace — will thank you.
For caravan, cabin and camping options, check out Warrego Riverside Tourist Park, Cunnamulla Cabins and Caravan Park or Cunnamulla Tourist Park. Further out from Cunnamulla you can camp at Francvillers Station, approximately 30km south.
Charlotte Plains
Charlotte Plains is one of those outback stays that quietly rewires your expectations.
Set approximately 50km east of Cunnamulla in southwest Queensland, this working sheep station sits deep in the Mulga Lands, where red earth plains, coolabah-lined creeks and wide skies define the rhythm of life. The Warrego River system threads through the country, but it’s the artesian water that really steals the show.
At the heart of the station, naturally heated artesian spa baths bubble up from the Great Artesian Basin at a steady 42°C. Sink in as the sun drops, wetlands glowing gold and birds settling in for the night. It’s hard to think of a better reward after a dusty day on the tracks.
Charlotte Plains, Matilda Way, Cunnamulla (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland / Jack Harlem — Firme Agency)
Charlotte Plains has been in the same family for nearly a century, and owner Robyn Russell brings that history to life on guided station tours, during which you’ll visit the bore, the historic woolshed, pioneer huts and the station cemetery.
Beyond the baths, there’s bushwalking, birdwatching, canoeing the wetlands, self-guided four-wheel driving and some of the clearest night skies you’ll ever camp under. Accommodation ranges from powered sites at the Shearer’s Camp to wide-open bush camping near the bore, plus the Shearer’s Quarters or a Merino Cabin. A day pass for the baths is priced at $15 for adults, $10 for children and kids under five years are free. For more information, visit Charlotte Plains.
It’s authentic, restorative and unmistakably outback.
Add Charlotte Plains to your map — and give yourself time to soak it in.
Artesian Mud Baths, Eulo
Eulo has a habit of surprising you.
Tucked 67km southwest of Cunnamulla on the Adventure Way, this tiny outback town is famous for two things: artesian water and people with grit. Both come together at the Eulo Artesian Mud Baths.
The mud here is the real deal. Mined from ancient artesian mounds west of town, it’s estimated to be around 20,000 years old and loaded with minerals such as silica, magnesium and iron. Smooth as silk on the skin, it feels a long way from glossy city-day spas — and that’s exactly the point.
The baths were created in 2006 by locals Ian and Nan Pike, who saw curious travellers wanting access to the mud mounds and figured there had to be a safer, better way. They were right. What started as a single tub grew into one of outback Queensland’s most unexpected indulgences.
The ritual is simple and memorable. Soak in warm artesian water. Coat yourself in mud. Sit back with a drink while it dries. Then rinse off, moisturise and wander away feeling lighter than when you arrived. Sunset sessions overlooking the billabong are gold.
Today the baths are run by Edyta Brummell and Gary Smith who took over in 2021 and who have kept the spirit alive — warm welcomes, no fuss and an experience that’s authentic to the core.
Pass through Eulo without stopping and you’ll miss it.
Give yourself an afternoon here. You won’t forget it.
The Lake, Quilpie
This is where artesian water meets wide Channel Country skies.
Some places don’t ask much of you.
They just ask you to slow down.
Set just outside Quilpie in southwest Queensland, The Lake Quilpie is one of those rare outback stays that blends genuine station life with a touch of indulgence — the kind you didn’t know you needed until you’re easing into warm artesian water as the sun drops behind the gums.
Only 4km from town, it’s easy to reach, hard to leave and perfectly positioned for travellers exploring the Channel Country.
At the centre of this 1012-hectare working sheep, cattle and goat property is Lake Houdraman, a permanent body of water that not only forms the hub of station life but also creates a beautiful setting to relax with its shady eucalypts and, in good seasons, water lilies.
The Lake, Quilpie (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland / Grant Hunt AM)
Days here are simple, in the best possible way. Cast a line. Paddle a kayak. Swim, stroll, or pedal the loop track around the water’s edge.
Birdlife is abundant, the pace is unhurried and sunsets tend to stop people mid-sentence.
Importantly, access to the station is straightforward for caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes, touring coaches and 2WD vehicles (weather permitting), making it an easy inclusion on an outback itinerary.
This is artesian soaking, done properly.
And if that hasn’t sold you, then make sure you check out the station’s newest and most talked-about addition: The Lake Bathhouse.
Overlooking the water, this lakeside bathhouse offers a deeply relaxing soak in mineral-rich artesian water, heated naturally and designed for pure end-of-day recovery. Steam drifts upward as the sky shifts colour and stress quietly slips away.
There are two large clawfoot baths, a pot belly heater for cooler evenings and thoughtful extras such as a mud face mask, extending the experience well beyond just a hot soak.
You bring the towel, the playlist and the sundowner. The Lake Bathhouse and the outback sky do the rest.
For travellers keen to understand the land they’re staying on, a private 4WD station tour offers a deeper look behind the scenes.
Hosted by owner Dan Hoch, these guided drives explore the working property and its history, which dates back to the late 1800s. Expect stories of the land, stock and seasons — the kind you only hear from people who live it.
Accommodation at The Lake Quilpie is flexible, welcoming everyone from self-sufficient campers to travellers chasing a little comfort.
This destination isn’t about flashy extras or ticking boxes, but instead focuses on authenticity, soaking in ancient artesian waters and relaxing by the fire with likeminded travellers. It’s Channel Country hospitality, done right.
Channel Country Tourist Park and Spas, Quilpie
Some caravan parks are just a place to pull up. Others quietly become part of the journey.
Right on the edge of town, the Channel Country Tourist Park and Spas is one of outback Queensland’s most popular places to stay — and for good reason. It’s simple, welcoming, well set up for travellers of all kinds and home to something every outback driver appreciates at the end of the day: hot artesian water.
Located just off Quilpie’s main road, the park is easy to reach and easy to settle into, with fully sealed-road access all the way from Brisbane, Longreach or Cunnamulla. That means no surprises, no corrugations and no last-minute detours. So you can conserve your tyres for the rough stuff wherever you’re headed offroad after this place.
Whether you’re rolling in with a big rig, pitching a tent or checking into a cabin, everything is straightforward — parking, access and layout included. Many travellers arrive planning a single night and end up staying longer.
Quilpie has that effect.
Three artesian spas, straight from the basin.
Once you’ve checked in, the best advice is simple: head for the spas. There are three of them, straight from the Great Artesian Basin. The water comes out of the ground at around 80°C, so yes — it’s cooled first.
The result is a deeply relaxing soak with well-known therapeutic benefits, perfect for easing road-weary muscles and washing away a day of dust and kilometres.
During the season, campfires are often lit nearby, creating a relaxed, social atmosphere that suits the outback perfectly.
The Channel Country Tourist Park and Spas caters to a wide mix of travellers, from solo road trippers to families, workers and groups. They have powered and unpowered sites, cabins, (including several large drive-through sites suitable for big rigs), airconditioned cabins and budget ‘donga’ rooms.
The hot water throughout the park also comes from the artesian bore — it’s soft, plentiful and unmistakably outback (including its distinctive aroma).
Staying here puts you within easy walking distance of town.
The Quilpie Bowls Club is just down the road, with other dining options along Quilpie’s main street only a short stroll away. The town is known as the Home of the Boulder Opal, and fossicking areas, local displays and opal shops are all worth a look.
Bookings for 2026 and the Big Red Bash (7–9 July 2026) period open from 1 February 2026, with prepayment required and non-refundable conditions applying.
The Channel Country Tourist Park and Spas isn’t trying to reinvent the outback caravan park; it’s simply doing the essentials very well. And for travellers heading west, north or south through Quilpie, that’s exactly what you want.
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.
*1940 'INNOT HOT SPRINGS.', The Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1965), 9 April, p. 10. , viewed 06 Jan 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42232374
Return for part three
We’re not finished with Australia’s best hot springs, thermal pools and artesian bores yet! Come back soon for part three, where we’ll go for a soak in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Plus, we’ll explore a few more Artesian bore baths in Queensland, including Julia Creek Caravan Park Artesian Bathhouse Experience, Lara Wetlands (Barcaldine), Blackall Aquatic Centre and Saltbush Retreat in Longreach.
Maps so you don’t get lost
Australia Road & Terrain Map — $15.95
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