Imagine planning your perfect getaway, only to find out that the destination of your dreams doesn’t actually exist. This is the perplexing situation facing visitors drawn to the Weldborough Hot Springs in Tasmania, as advertised on the Tasmania Tours website. The site promises an idyllic experience, describing the hot springs as a serene retreat where nature and tranquility converge.
It even boasts about being featured in the "7 Best Hot Springs Tasmania Experiences for 2026," claiming that visitors would be welcomed by pools brimming with therapeutic minerals. The website portrays it as a sought-after locale for individuals eager to connect with Tasmania’s unspoiled charm.
However, the reality is quite different: the hot springs, as depicted in the enticing imagery, simply do not exist. This misinformation has led many enthusiastic travelers to the nearby Weldborough Hotel, situated approximately two hours northeast of Launceston, seeking guidance on how to reach these non-existent pools.
Local publican Kristy Probert frequently encounters this confusion. She notes, "The Weld River running through Weldborough is freezing cold; it’s definitely not a hot spring." In fact, she humorously adds that visitors are more likely to stumble upon a sapphire than find any trace of a hot spring in the area. Ms. Probert fields daily inquiries from curious tourists, some even attempting to book accommodations in hopes of enjoying the mythical springs. Just recently, she recounted an amusing incident involving 24 drivers who detoured to visit the hot springs during their trip from the mainland.
"I told them, 'If you discover the hot springs, come back and let me know, and I’ll treat you to beers all night.' But they never returned," said Ms. Probert, showcasing the absurdity of the situation. This fictitious location was listed alongside real attractions like Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs and other dubious mentions, including the cold Liaweenee and the remote Savage River.
The Tasmania Tours website is filled with various articles and blog posts promoting must-see sites across Tasmania, such as the piece titled "12 Unmissable Things to Do in Hobart for 2026." Many of these entries appear to be generated by artificial intelligence (AI), complete with images that falsely claim to depict Tasmanian locales.
The company behind Tasmania Tours, Australian Tours and Cruises, operates several other booking platforms across Australia. Owner Scott Hennessy candidly admitted, "Our AI has messed up completely." He explained that the company had outsourced its marketing efforts to a third party that utilized AI to create content. Although they generally review all posts before publication, some slipped through the cracks while he was out of the country. The misleading hot springs article first went live in July 2025.
Hennessy emphasized that the use of AI was a strategy to remain competitive in a crowded market: "We don’t have enough manpower to produce sufficient content ourselves, which is why we outsource part of this function." He acknowledged that while AI can sometimes deliver quality material, it can also lead to significant errors—"I’ve seen it create bizarre creatures I’ve never encountered before, like three-legged wombats or crocodile-like beings."
He assured prospective customers that all AI-generated blog posts have been removed and are undergoing a thorough review process. Hennessy reassured people looking to book through Tasmania Tours that it is a legitimate website offering real tours. "We’re not a scam; we’re just a couple trying to provide genuine services. We are authentic individuals employing sales staff," he asserted.
In light of the rising reliance on AI tools, Anne Hardy from Destination Southern Tasmania stressed the importance of scrutinizing what she dubs "AI hallucinations." She noted that approximately 90% of itineraries produced by systems like ChatGPT contain at least one error, and a staggering 37% of travelers rely on AI-generated plans. Common inaccuracies can include incorrect business hours, misdescriptions of offerings, inaccurate hiking durations, and unclear equipment requirements.
Hardy referred to the fabricated hot springs as a valuable lesson in the necessity of maintaining quality control. "This scenario highlights a critical issue with online sales—businesses must continuously adapt to remain visible and relevant in search results," she remarked.
As the conversation unfolds, how do you feel about the increasing use of AI in travel planning? Do you think the benefits outweigh the risks associated with potential misinformation? Share your thoughts below!
