Have you tried this hot travel trend with benefits?

We're seeing the trend bubble to the surface across Australia, from the Indigenous-run Talaroo Hot Springs in North Queensland to the recently renovated Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre in remote New South Wales. But the hot bathing trend has been most evident in the south, with the new Great Victorian Bathing Trail, an iconic 900-kilometre route that connects hot springs, mineral springs, and sea baths along the state's coast.

Around the world, some hot springs are huge tourist attractions. There's the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, which feels like the most crowded place in an otherwise sparsely-populated country; there's the town of Bath in England, where tour guides hold up flags to keep groups from getting lost in the historic streets; and there's the Széchenyi Baths in Budapest, which are even used for huge dance parties on Saturday nights.

Thankfully you can avoid the crowds and soak up the atmosphere at plenty of other interesting hot springs around the world, some of which are quite remote but have fascinating local stories.

The Romans were using the hot springs around Baden bei Wien more than two millennia ago, but it was the Austrians who popularised the town just south of Vienna from the end of the 1800s. With the Habsburg emperors visiting the spas, so the aristocracy came too. Along with elegant bath houses, they built hotels, a theatre, and a casino.

These days, you can soak in the same waters that Mozart and Beethoven once did, in a town that's been revived in recent decades. Historic hotels have been renovated and modern bath complexes added. Drink natural sulphur water from the public fountains or dine in the local restaurants gaining a reputation for excellent gastronomy.

In Colorado, a small 1880s ghost town in the middle of nowhere has been converted into a boutique resort focused around its thermal waters. The accommodation at Dunton Hot Springs is sturdy hand-hewn wooden cabins that miners once lived in. More than a century ago, they blew up the springs with dynamite and directed the water into a bathhouse to relax after a day of hard work.

Guests can now bathe in the restored bathhouse or in four other pools, with inside and outside options. With steam rising up around you, stare out across the Rocky Mountains or enjoy the details of the heritage decorations.

From the luxurious to the rustic, Kikuletwa Hot Springs is a natural oasis amongst the dry plains of Tanzania. In the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, a collection of palm and fig trees covers the pools of Kikuletwa, which are sacred to the local Chagga people and have been left untouched by development, with only a modest entry fee.

You can soak, swim, or even swing on the rope that hangs from a branch. Some of the fish in the water will eat the dead skin from your feet (perfect after a mountain climb) while a couple of enterprising vendors rent snorkels and goggles if you want to catch a glimpse of the underwater world.

In northern India, at the foothills of the Himalayas, the Manikaran Hot Springs have as much religious importance as therapeutic significance. A sacred place for both Hindus and Sikhs, temples line the river where steam rises up from the pools along the waterfront.

The water from the springs is so hot that worshippers are able to use it to cook rice and vegetables as part of a tradition related to a legend of its discovery. If you're worried about cooking yourself, don't worry, it's not nearly as hot in the pools. However, many tourists don't come for the bathing, but rather to soak up the atmosphere of a scenic pilgrim town in the mountains.

Tungurahua Volcano looms over the town of Banos de Agua Santa in Ecuador, its underground magma heating the water that bubbles up at the Termas de la Virgen hot springs. Legend says the Virgin Mary appeared in a waterfall here one day, leading locals (and pilgrims) to bathe in the waters, hoping for a miracle.

Now it's families that fill these hot springs, with large waterslides even circling down into one of the pools. It's also popular with tourists looking for some relief after nearby adventure activities like hiking or canyoning. There may be plenty of infrastructure, but a soak in Termas de la Virgen still feels like a local authentic experience.

And finally my favourite country for hot springs, Japan, where I've been to countless onsens over the years.

The first was when I was on exchange as a teenager and my host family took me to Ringo Onsen in Yamagata, where apples bobbed in the water (and I was warned not to eat them... yuck, imagine!)

A delightful example of what you can find in Japan is Hottarakashi Onsen, between Tokyo and Nagano. From the open-air baths you get a spectacular view of the countryside and across to Mount Fuji. Choose from the smaller rustic bath or the larger modern one that offers more panoramic vistas. The name of the onsen translates to 'neglected', meaning this is peaceful and unpretentious. A hot spot in only one sense.