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Historic Mineral Springs at Clifton Springs

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by Julie Mundy (subscribe)
Julie is the author of a number of guidebooks, including 'Melbourne's Best Bush Bay and City Walks' & 'Melbourne for Dogs' (with RSPCA). Read more of her adventures at her walks blog: walksmelbourne.com
Published February 21st 2013
View east from above the Boat Harbour at Clifton Springs
Until 1915, there was a lively mineral spa scene happening at Clifton Springs - gorgeous bathhouses, a mineral water bottling plant, ferry loads of tourists coming down from Melbourne to 'take the waters'. And any wonder, with 5 natural springs bubbling up from underneath the ground right through the sand on the protected and picturesque beach.
Mineral Springs walk, Clifton Springs
Start of Mineral Springs walk, Clifton Springs

Today, you can no longer reach Clifton Springs by ferry, though it is little over an hour's easy drive from Melbourne, just past Geelong and before you reach Drysdale and Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula. Sadly, the bath houses and bottling plants are also long gone, but you can still walk along the beach and hear and see the rather amazing sight of fresh water bubbling up through the sand and shallow waters beside the beach.
Mineral water bubbling up into the rockpools

The hand made brick remnants of some of the old wells still remain, as do shatterings of the thick glass bottles, with rounded bottoms, which were imported all the way from Belfast and other places to bottle the precious waters.
Remains of Mineral Water well at Clifton Springs (c) JP Mundy
Remains of mineral water well at Clifton Springs

The old springs site is accessible along a walking track which follows beside the beach to the right of The Dell, a secluded picnic ground which is reached by means of a long, steep staircase at the end of Springs Street (Melways reference 456 H5) . This is an excellent adventure for families with kids, who will love hunting for the bubbles, especially on a hot day, when the shallow and safe waters of Clifton Springs will bring welcome respite. You could also round out the day by hiring a boat from Mike at the Clifton Springs Boat Harbour Boat Hire, for a spot of fishing or sightseeing, or just kick back with a picnic lunch at The Dell.
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Why? For an interesting day out by the sea
When: Anytime, all year round
Where: Clifton Springs, Bellarine Peninsula
Cost: Free
Your Comment
Great Article and Photos.
by SocialHummingBird (score: 3|1453) 1261 days ago
Great history. I must do this walk. Metung will be reopening this year. Old mineral springs
by Nadine Cresswell-Myatt (score: 3|6150) 786 days ago
Amazingly those bubbling waters still have E.Coli present from the sewage pits of the long gone hotel; 100+ years!
by harfo (score: 0|2) 1093 days ago
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