For a corporate wellness retreat, choose Peninsula Hot Springs when your group needs breadth and a larger-scale thermal experience, and consider Alba when a smaller group prioritises a more intimate, design-led setting. The practical choice also depends on your programme, travel route, group needs and confirmed booking availability. This guide compares both options to help you brief a considered retreat programme.
Peninsula Hot Springs, Fingal
Peninsula Hot Springs is the Peninsula's original and most established thermal springs destination, drawing on natural geothermal mineral waters that have been flowing for millions of years. Located at Fingal, near Rye, the facility has grown over 20 years into one of Australia's most iconic wellness destinations, with more than 50 globally-inspired bathing experiences across a 30-hectare site.
For corporate groups, Peninsula Hot Springs offers dedicated all-inclusive packages designed to remove the planning burden from event organisers. The flagship corporate offering is the Wellness and Nourish package, which combines bathing access, a wellness workshop, and dining, and is available for groups from six people. Larger groups can access the Royal Moroccan Marquee, a private, secluded space for up to 30 people with exclusive bathing access and catered platters.
What makes it distinctive: Scale and variety. With more than 50 bathing experiences including hillside pools, cave pools, hydrojet pools, and four different sauna environments, Peninsula Hot Springs can accommodate large groups while still offering a genuinely immersive experience. The facility also has a day spa, a restaurant, and a cafe, making it a self-contained half-day or full-day destination.
Best for: Groups of 6 to 30; full-day retreat programming; groups who want a structured wellness experience with catering included; first-time visitors to the Peninsula who want the most comprehensive experience.
Practical details: Located at 140 Springs Lane, Fingal. Open daily. Corporate packages available for groups from 6. Book well in advance for weekend dates.
Alba Thermal Springs and Spa, Mount Martha
Alba Thermal Springs and Spa opened in 2021 and has quickly established itself as the Peninsula's most design-forward wellness destination. Located at Mount Martha, overlooking Port Phillip Bay, Alba's architecture, a series of sculpted concrete pools and pavilions set into a hillside, is among the most beautiful of any wellness facility in Australia.
Alba's approach is more curated and intimate than Peninsula Hot Springs. The facility is smaller, the pools fewer, and the experience more focused on stillness and restoration than on variety and activity. The thermal circuit, which moves guests through a sequence of hot and cold pools, steam rooms, and relaxation spaces, is designed to be experienced as a journey rather than a menu.
What makes it distinctive: Design and atmosphere. Alba's architecture and landscaping create a sense of arrival and occasion that is unlike any other wellness destination on the Peninsula. The facility's position on the Mount Martha hillside, with views across Port Phillip Bay, is extraordinary. For groups who want a wellness experience that feels genuinely luxurious, Alba is the right choice.
Best for: Smaller groups (up to 20); groups who prioritise design and atmosphere over variety; leadership teams who want a restorative experience rather than an activity-based one; groups visiting the northern Peninsula (Mount Martha is closer to Melbourne than Fingal).
Practical details: Located at 1 Purves Road, Mount Martha. Open Thursday to Sunday. Private group bookings available. Book at least four to six weeks in advance.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Peninsula Hot Springs | Alba Thermal Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Fingal (southern Peninsula) | Mount Martha (northern Peninsula) |
| Scale | Large (50+ experiences) | Intimate (curated circuit) |
| Atmosphere | Vibrant, varied, active | Still, design-forward, restorative |
| Corporate packages | Yes, structured packages available | Private group bookings available |
| Group size | 6 to 30+ | Up to 20 |
| Best for | Variety, larger groups, full-day programs | Design, intimacy, restoration |
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Peninsula Hot Springs if: your group is larger than 20; you want a structured corporate package with catering included; you are visiting the southern Peninsula (Fingal is well-positioned for groups staying near Sorrento, Portsea, or Flinders); or you want the most comprehensive and varied thermal experience available.
Choose Alba if: your group is smaller and values design and atmosphere over variety; you are visiting the northern Peninsula (Mount Martha is the first major destination after the freeway); you want a more intimate and restorative experience; or the visual quality of the setting is important to your group.
Both destinations can be integrated into a Peninsula retreat itinerary as a half-day experience, typically scheduled in the late afternoon before a Peninsula dinner. The team regularly incorporates both into retreat programs depending on the group's preferences and the itinerary's geography.
Considering a corporate wellness retreat?
Thermal bathing can sit within a broader leadership or team programme when it suits the group's objectives and practical needs. Explore corporate wellness retreat options, or share a retreat brief to discuss a format, travel considerations and confirmed availability.