Saunas are popping up everywhere from bathhouses to recovery clinics with hot-cold contrast therapy but can you sauna where you sleep, too? You can at these slow stays.
1. Still at Freycinet, Coles Bay, Tas
Ladling water over the hot coals, steam rises in front of floor-to-ceiling glass – the only thing separating you from the pristine waters of Coles Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula.
Guests at Still at Freycinet – a three-bedroom architectural abode designed with hygge in mind – are invited to indulge in a ‘Nordic cycle’ during their stay: a hot sauna followed by a blast of cold beneath the outdoor shower, then a moment in the outdoor lounge to refuel with cider, chocolate and nuts from the complimentary sauna ritual pack. And repeat!
Thick, fluffy bathrobes and essential oils add to the spa-like atmosphere while private yoga, meditation and sound bath sessions can be arranged during your stay. A private chef is also available to whip up Nordic-inspired meals post-sauna, either booked alone or part of a three-day self-guided wellness package.
2. Salty Brush, Kangaroo Island, SA
‘Luxurious wellness retreat’ is the vibe of this new three-bedroom bolthole, 150 metres from the sands of Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island.
The brainchild of two mates from Sydney, a builder and an electrician, the sustainable build – using prefabricated timber installed on ground screw piers to minimise waste and environment impact – is not only aesthetically beautiful inside but a six-person spa bath and a traditional Finnish barrel sauna elevate the al fresco experience for year-round appeal.
Salty Brush is fuelled by rainwater and 80 per cent renewable energy thanks to the onsite solar panels and batteries, while walls are hung with works from Sydney artist, Montana Moore, all of which are available to purchase.
3. The Pavilion, Spring Beach, Tas
Overlooking a full-size tennis court, The Pavilion not only has the perfect bush-swaddled setting for Pimms in the sun after a few sets, but the west-facing sauna and wellness deck allow you to take in the beautiful sunsets at the end of the day.
Alternate between the traditional Finnish sauna and cold shower, with robe, slippers and a hydration sachet at hand.
Then turn your eyes to the sky to spot the resident wedge-tailed eagle, wander down to the sands of Spring Beach, and make use of the supplied pizza base ingredients to cook up a feast in the woodfired pizza oven.
4. Fila Marrakesh Private Retreat, Doonan, Qld
Found 15 minutes from the hubbub of Hastings Street in Noosa, Fila Marrakesh Private Retreat has been designed with wellness in mind. A sister property to Alsahwa Retreat in Noosa (a wellness-focussed farm stay on a regenerative macadamia farm), here a sparkling pool hovers over lush landscaping while a converted shed houses an infrared sauna, ice bath, and private gym.
While it’s open to regular stays, it really comes into its own as a retreat venue. Design your own or call on the in-house concierge service to add a private chef, personal trainer, breathwork sessions or yoga classes.
Four bedrooms are in the main residence, while a tiny home with two more double beds is also included in the price, sleeping up to 13 guests.
5. Shearers Studio at Little Valley Farm, NSW
Hovering above a machinery shed on a working farm in the Wollombi Valley, the sauna experience at Little Valley Farm is as down-to-earth and authentic as it is secluded.
Crafted by hand by co-owner Euan Wilcox, using mostly reclaimed timber, the Finnish wood-fired sauna and adjacent rainwater-fed shower is beloved by guests who report the deepest sleep they’ve had in years – especially snuggled in the king size bed beneath a handmade doona filled with alpaca wool from their farm.
The Shearers Studio is set 100 metres from their other quirky accommodation offering – a 1950s Sydney Train carriage.
6. Leighton House, Tas
The sandstone wellness deck at Leighton House in northern Tasmania is so spectacular you could be forgiven for spending all your time outdoors. Here, the stage is set for a rotation between the cedar barrel sauna, outdoor shower and hot tub – either before or after you roll out the yoga mats for a stretch.
Light the fire pit and return with a glass of wine picked up from the Tamar Valley, right on your doorstep. As beautiful as the 121-hectare farm is – with views of Ben Lomond Mountain – the suites in the meticulously restored Georgian cottage and its architectural extension are also worth retreating to on their own.
7. Dales Run, Jamberoo, NSW
Set between rolling green hills and the ocean just five minutes from Kiama on the South Coast, Dales Run provides the ultimate setting for a DIY wellness retreat.
Owner and health practitioner, Jessica McIntyre-Geering, noticed a lot of people struggling with post-Covid nervous system burnout and built a specialised Wellness Room alongside essential oil and tea rituals in response.
During your stay, you’re invited to pick a ritual card that resonates and jump in the infrared sauna, have a cold outdoor shower, then enjoy the outdoor bathtub and finish around the firepit, sipping tea blended by Jess.
Yoga mats and virtual classes are on hand, while onsite massages, kinesiology and NER (Naturopathic Emotional Release) sessions can also be arranged.
8. Scandi House, Lorne Vic
If there’s one thing five-time Olympian and gold medallist Lydia Lassila knows, it’s the power of recovery. Combine that with a professional athlete spouse, who’s also a Finn, and it’s inevitable that their luxurious Lorne holiday home would come with a sauna.
Scandi House keeps the whole family happy while you treat your temple – give them the plunge pool and inground trampoline, while you take the reformer pilates studio, sauna and deep bathtub overlooking the beach.
