Thermal springs have been popular for many years as the ideal way to relax and revive and regenerate bodies. Here are a few you may not have heard of.

Peninsula Hot Springs, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Peninsula Hot Springs was founded by brothers Charles & Richard Davidson and Norm Cleland. The inspiration for the project began when Charles visited several hot springs while living in Japan in 1992. This sparked off several years of touring and studying hot springs around the world

In 1996 Charles heard a rumour that hot geothermal water had been discovered on the Mornington Peninsula in 1979, and Department of Minerals and Energy records substantiated it.

Stage one, the Spa Dreaming Centre facility, opened in June 2005, and in December 2009 the second stage Bath House centre opened vastly increasing the number of bathing experiences and providing a area for children and families.

Bathing areas have continued to increase with addition of a Turkish Steam bath, reflexology walk, sauna, massaging thermal showers, a 360 degree view hill top pool and many more. Future plans include a continual increase in bathing experiences, accommodation, a restaurant and more wellness focussed facilities

Peninsula Hot Springs is the first natural hot springs and day spa centre in Victoria, just 90 minutes from Melbourne. Natural thermal mineral waters flow into the pools and private baths providing the idyllic setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. Peninsula Hot Springs makes it possible to bathe in the naturally healing waters of mineral rich thermal pools.

Two facilities provide a relaxation experience for everyone:

The Bath House has over 20 bathing experiences on offer with areas suitable for visitors of all ages including a Hill Top pool (right) with 360 deg views, reflexology walk, Turkish steam room, sauna, cave pool, family bathing area, 16 years+ bathing area and many more.

The new 30sqm Lakeside Pool is the latest addition to Peninsula Hot Springs. Lakeside is located at water level on the west side of the lake and can accommodate 15 people in a shallow 'spa couch'. Shaping is curved to marry with the lake edge; a special place to relax and watch the lake wildlife.

Beijing Hot Springs, China

One of the most enjoyable activities as the weather cools down is spending a few days dipping in the deliciously warm waters of a hot spring. Unknown to most, Beijing has a wide variety of beautiful hot spring resorts within a short drive from the city center, which are perfect for a fall weekend getaway.

Perfectly paired with a trip to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, the Jiuhua Hot Spring Spa Resort offers a wide variety of pools and other spa treatments. The pools are fed by a prehistoric underground lake that provides the perfect amount of heat to relieve any aching joints.

Another great hot spring close to Beijing is the Chunhuiyuan Resort. Located nearby Mutianyu Great Wall, the stylish Chunhuiyuan is a 5-star facility featuring indoor and outdoor hot spring pools. It's a great place to relax after at visit to Mutianyu, even if you opt for the cable car up and down the Wall.

This year, the China Guide is offering new Hiking and Hot Spring Tours as day trips or overnights. English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, and Korean guides are on offer.

Hoshinoya, Karuizawa, Japan

At the foot of Mount Asama, surrounded by dense forests of Japanese maple, running streams and hot springs, HOSHINOYA Karuizawa Hotel is just an hour from Tokyo. Here you can relax to the pace of old Japan in a contemporary villa, and enjoy hot-spring spas and superb Japanese cuisine.

Visit the spa and immerse yourself in a natural hot-spring bath and feel life's stresses lift from your shoulders. Or start the day with some morning stretches in the Chaya (teahouse).

In the early evening, take a twilight eco tour through the forest and discover the region's rare wildlife from songbirds to flying squirrels and glowing fireflies.

Hanmer Springs, New Zealand

Set in a breathtaking natural landscape, surrounded by forests and mountains, the award-winning Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa on New Zealand's South Island, offers visitors a wide range of experiences, from soothing indulgence to exciting family fun.

The spa has a range of pools - twelve open-air thermal pools, three sulphur pools and six private indoor thermal pools, as well as a sauna/steam room.  The new freshwater, heated swimming pool has resort-style walk-in beach access and a Lazy River.

The thermally heated spring water means the pools range in temperature from 28-42C, perfect for soothing away aches and pains or for just unwinding. The Hanmer Springs geothermal water is drawn from a bore adjacent to the reserve complex, providing natural water of the highest quality.

To complete the experience, visitors can also enjoy a range of massage and beauty treatments from the trained professionals at The Spa. These include Swiss and sports massage, detoxifying body wraps and aromatic facials

Korea's many spas

Next time you visit Seoul perhaps you should pack bathers rather than a shopping bag. Korea's hot spring resorts are equipped with the latest beauty and spa facilities, and also have many restaurants and tourist attractions nearby.

Visiting a hot springs resort isn't just about relaxing. At some of Korea's resorts you can enjoy the thrills of wave pools and waterslides in the hot spring's warm waters.

Spa Greenland (above) has an outdoor Garden Foot Spa as a special feature of the complex. This is an area where visitors can walk in a specially installed forest through which hot spring waters flow.

Jayuro Aqualand (above) is situated near to Seoul. It is an enormous spa that is able to accommodate over 10,000 visitors at once. Aqualand offers a variety of sauna facilities such as an underwater massage system. The all-natural hot spring water gushes directly up from under the ground without any added chemical treatments.