This new Finnish-style sauna on the Forestier Peninsula is worth the day trip.
The newly-opened Dunalley Bay Sauna on Tasmania’s Forestier Peninsula is leaning into Australia’s obsession with sweating it out. Located an hour’s drive east of Hobart, it’s inviting wellness enthusiasts and those in need of some quiet time to unwind and feel the benefits of heat therapy against picture-perfect water views that instantly calm.
Built with cedar and a Finnish Harvia heater, the six-person sauna was founded by two sauna-loving locals who wanted to bring the cosy warmth of the Finnish tradition to a peaceful part of Tassie. Sitting in a coastal clearing on the waterfront in Murdunna (a few minutes’ drive past Dunalley village), the barrel design features large panoramic windows that reveal calming bay views.
This waterfront sauna blends comfort and style. (Credit: Ian Tyley Photography)
Visitors can book 60-minute group or private sessions, bouncing between heat and cold coastal air (or a refreshing lake dip). It’s recommended to do three cycles of approximately 15 minutes to experience the full benefits which include aiding muscle recovery and reducing stress.
Reset both body and mind. (Credit: Ian Tyley Photography)
What can I explore nearby?
Dunalley is a small fishing village located an hour’s drive east of Hobart. Beyond the sauna, highlights include the Dunnalley Denison Canal swing bridge and Bangor Vineyard Shed for world-class wine and ridiculously fresh oysters. It’s a lovely stopover on the way to the Tasman Peninsula which is home to the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site and the spectacular Three Capes Track.
We’ve also mapped out the ultimate sauna trail across Tasmania, which showcases the best spots for a sauna sesh while soaking in the island’s showstopping landscapes.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
The barrel design boasts large panoramic windows that face the bay, for optimum relaxation as you sweat it out. (Credit: Ian Tyley Photography)
The sauna features Finnish wood-fired heat. (Credit: Ian Tyley Photography)
Hit pause on the everyday hustle. (Credit: Ian Tyley Photography)
What should I bring to Dunalley Bay Sauna?
For optimum comfort, your best bet is to wear a swimsuit, or at the very most, breathable shorts and a t-shirt. As you will be sweating it out, a bottle of water will keep you hydrated.
Towel hire is available for $10, or you can bring your own.
What time of day is best to visit?
Given the sauna’s west-facing position, sunset makes for a lovely relaxation session after a day of exploring.
Details
Price: Public session, $35; Private sauna session, $140; Out of hours session, $240. 10-session sauna pass, $280; 5-session sauna pass $150.
Address: 3530 Arthur Highway, Murdunna, Tasmania, 7178
Facilities: Basic changing and rinse-off area and storage facilities. There are no toilets onsite.
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and Hotel Addict. She's responsible for the foundational content on AustralianTraveller.com, helping to manage and grow the brand’s destination guides. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love and Bed Threads. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.
In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.
Where to stay
Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.
Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.
For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart. Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline, and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique from your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).
For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles. Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.
1. Bruny Island
Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Credit: Elise Weaver)
Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.
Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.
Catch a rare glimpse of the white-furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked. Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.
2. Mount Wellington
Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Credit: Samuel Shelley)
At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.
Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes, which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).
For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.
2. Port Arthur
Wander through convict-built grounds and gardens. (Credit: Alastair Bett)
Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.
The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.
Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.
3. Launceston
Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)
You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.
Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo, for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.
4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.
Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.
5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley
Trace the river through history and wine country. (Credit: Alastair Bett)
Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol, said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.
Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.
