Review: Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa & Hot Springs in Queensland
If you’re heading out west in Queensland, chances are you’ll come across stories of natural hot springs bubbling away beneath the Outback. One of the most famous stops is Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa & Hot Pools, a spot that promises relaxation, history, and a very unique experience you won’t find in the city.
But is it really worth the detour, and what can you expect when you get there?
A lot of travellers aren’t sure what these Outback spas are like, will the water be too hot, and is it just a quick dip or something you can make a whole afternoon of? These are fair questions, especially when you’re planning a long road trip and deciding where to spend your time.
During our visit, I found Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa to be more than just a swimming stop, it’s a place where enjoy the therapeutic benefits of mineral-rich waters. In this review, I’ll share my experience at the Great Artesian Spa in Mitchell, including what the pools are like, entry costs, facilities, and a few handy tips to make the most of your visit.
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My Review of Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa & Hot Springs!
Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa & Hot Springs is located on Cambridge Street (please see location map HERE), which is essentially the main street running through town and the highway in and out.
It’s only 1 hour west of Roma and six and a half hours from Brisbane. The town itself is only small, with 1000 people, and was named after the explorer, Sir Thomas Mitchell, in 1846.
Overall, both Matt and I loved visiting Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa and wouldn’t hesitate to stop in when we pass through again. Both the Hot and Cold pools were relaxing and ended up chatting for hours with some others travellers passing through.
What is the cost to visit?
I felt the cost of Mitchell Hot Springs was reasonable for what it was and one of the best things you can do in Outback Queensland. When comparing them to the public pools I visit in Brisbane, these ones are even better with Artesian water and similar prices!
Current “One Day” entry cost to the Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa pools are:
- $10 AUD per Adult entry
- $8 AUD per Student/Concession entry
- $32 AUD per Family Entry
Know there are discounts for 2 & 3 days, 1 week, 1 month & 1 year all access passes to the pools. Plus $3 for use of a towel!
The Pools?
Two pools will be available when you first walk through reception and outside. One is just a Cool spa, and the other is the hot artesian basin water. Besides that, they are both filled with mineralized water, appear crystal clear, and are fed directly from the Great Artesian Basin.
The most obvious thing you notice is a siren sounding about every 15 minutes to highlight taking a break from the heated spa. This means you should change from the hot and cool pool every 15 minutes and stop you from overheating. Despite that, you can actually stay in the entire centre for as long as you want and your ticket entry is for the day!
They advise you to shower before jumping in and ensure you drink plenty of water before and during the experience. When you exit the pools, the minerals are still working for some time, and therefore, you should wait a few hours to shower.
Facilities Available?
There is a reception desk as your walk in and where you pay entry to the spa. However, this is also the Tourist information centre for the Maranoa Region, and people are there to help you with local information.
The whole area is nicely set up with plenty of chairs and tables, a water fountain, lots of tropical trees, and a shade cover. And a unique Artesian pump is constantly filtering water into the Hot Pool.
There are plenty of other facilities, from snacks, cold drinks, and coffee in the Café. To bathrooms, change rooms, showers, and lockers, if needed. Although, We just left our bags on the table and lounge chairs beside where we were swimming
However, don’t forget the FREE Wi-fi to catch up on your messages or posting your best picture of your visit to Instagram!
What are the opening hours?
Mitchell Spa is open every day from 8am to 6pm except Christmas Day (Closed) and Anzac Day (Half Day).
Car Parking
There is plenty of Angle Car Parking available at the front of the centre, but obviously this is the main street of town.
What are the Minerals in the Water?
The Great Artesian Water is believed to be some of the oldest and purest water on Earth! It’s been around for tens of thousands of years and has a wide variety of naturally present minerals.
This includes high levels of magnesium, lithium, bicarbonate, and traces of zinc, sodium, potassium, and sulphates, amongst others. Generally, these minerals all contribute to the invigorating, slightly mineral-tasting quality that you can get from drinking this special natural resource.
And there is good news, too – although we should always conserve our resources wisely, the Great Artesian Water is self-replenishing – so it never runs out!
Do you need help planning your trip to Queensland? Book a one-on-one consultation call with me, to get your questions answered & personalised help!
What are the benefits of a spa?
A trip to the spa can be the perfect way to treat yourself to some rest and relaxation. Not only is it a luxurious experience, but many benefits come from soothing soaks in mineral-rich waters.
It can help improve your circulation and skin tone and the therapeutic properties of the water can aid in reducing arthritic pain and stiffness, helping you move through your day with ease. Additionally, the stress relief can help benefit both your physical and mental well-being while providing an immersive, rejuvenating experience.
Below is just a brief list of the minerals found in the artesian water, along with the potential health benefits gained by soaking in the water.
- Chloride: Helpful for arthritis & central nervous systems
- Boron: Increases Muscle mass, boosts brain activity & strengthens bones.
- Magnesium: Produces healthy skin.
- Potassium: Extracts body toxins, lowers high blood pressure & produces healthy skin.
- Sodium: Triggers the lymphatic system & ease arthritic symptoms.
FAQ’s – Common Questions?
Why is the Basin important?
The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is an awe-inspiring underground water source, and not just in Australia – it stands as one of the most expansive groundwater systems on Earth.
It’s a unique resource to the driest continent since it provides copious amounts of reliable fresh water throughout much of its interior.
How big is the Basin?
The Great Artesian Basin has genuinely earned its ‘Great’ status – not just in name but also in size! It sits at a whopping 1,711,000 Km2, with a maximum depth of 3000 metres and an immense volume of 8700 million gigalitres of water underneath the surface.
It marvels many Australians that such an impressive basin resides beneath our soil, providing much-needed life-giving sustenance for our hardy outback species.
How hot is the water?
The waters average temperatures coming from it range from 30 to 50 degrees Celsius. Incredibly, this source of heat has been naturally occurring in the basin since its discovery over 150 years ago.
People often use it for therapeutic baths and spas, and you can find these mostly in Queensland, but there are others in New South Wales and South Australia.
Can you drink the water?
Artesian spring water can be a great alternative to plain drinking water if you can find it in your area. It is generally of higher quality than regular tap or bottled water because it is natural groundwater with various minerals depending on the source.
However, artesian spring water can sometimes contain a strong sulphur smell, and for that reason should be filtered or boiled before consumption to ensure no contaminants are present.
Other Things to do nearby!
If you’re already visiting Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa, it’s worth extending your road trip to explore more of Outback Queensland’s unique towns and attractions. I’ve put together a list of other destinations to consider, each offering something special along the way.
- Toowoomba – Known as the Garden City, Toowoomba is famous for its annual Carnival of Flowers, heritage architecture, and beautiful parks.
- Roma – A hub of cattle country, Roma is home to the Big Rig Oil & Gas Museum and the largest cattle saleyards in the southern hemisphere.
- Charleville – A stargazer’s dream with the Cosmos Centre & Observatory, plus the chance to learn about endangered bilbies at the Bilby Experience.
- Windorah – A tiny town with big skies, Windorah is the gateway to the Channel Country, the Welford National Park, and features incredible red sand hills.
- Birdsville – Iconic for the Birdsville Hotel, annual Birdsville Races, and nearby Simpson Desert with driving up the big red sand Dune, this town is a true Outback legend.
- Quilpie – Famous for its boulder opals, Quilpie also offers scenic drives, museums, lookout point at the Baldy Top and a relaxed country atmosphere.
- Eromanga – Australia’s furthest town from the sea, Eromanga is home to the Eromanga Natural History Museum, where you can see some of the country’s largest dinosaur fossils.
Wrap Up: Review Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa
With all the information in this blog post today, I hope I’ve convinced you to stop into Mitchell’s Great Artesian Spa & Hot Springs. With its comfortable pools and soothing treatments, you too, can experience all that this luxurious spa has to offer!
I hope you found everything you were looking for, but if you’re still researching, please check out my other Outback Queensland blogs for inspiration.
