Key Facts
• An Australian travel company website posted a blog about a secret hot spring in southern Tasmania.
• Tourists flocked to the hot spring based on the blog article.
• The article was generated by AI and the hot spring does not actually exist.
• The blog named the spot “Weldborough Hot Spring,” described as a quiet, hiker-favored hidden gem.
• Weldborough is a small rural town about 110 km from Launceston in northern Tasmania.
• The article was published on Tasmania Tours’ website and later removed.
• Tasmania Tours’ parent company called it a “complete AI error” on ABC broadcast.
• Hotel owner Christy Probert in Weldborough reported a surge in hot spring inquiries since September 2025.
• Initially, only 2-3 calls came, then large groups arrived seeking the hot spring.
• Probert responded to all inquiries jokingly, offering beer if the hot spring was found.
• Tasmania Tours’ owner acknowledged the difficulty of constantly updating information for a small company.
• Probert emphasized there are many things to do in Weldborough, but no hot springs exist.
Summary
A blog article generated by artificial intelligence on an Australian travel company’s website falsely promoted a hidden hot spring called “Weldborough Hot Spring” in northern Tasmania. This led to many tourists visiting the small rural town of Weldborough, located about 110 kilometers from Launceston, seeking the non-existent hot spring. The article was published on Tasmania Tours’ website but was later removed after the error was discovered. The parent company described the incident as a “complete AI mistake.” Hotel owner Christy Probert reported a significant increase in inquiries and visitors since September 2025, responding humorously to requests about the hot spring. Despite the confusion, Probert noted that Weldborough offers many attractions, though no hot springs are present. This case highlights challenges in relying on AI-generated travel content and the importance of verifying information to avoid misleading tourists.
