City views, a sparkling harbour and the serenity of a floating sauna? Sign us up.
Picture this: just you (add a small handful of your favourite people to this fantasy, if you wish) and the city skyline, the buzz and worries of city life melting away as you sit on your boat. And it’s not just any boat, it’s a custom-built floating sauna experience offering hot and cold therapy right on the deck. It’s Sauna Boat Melbourne.
Saunas have become the hottest trend in wellness. And while we may not have three million of them like Finland, the obsession is growing in Australia, with stunning sauna experiences popping up all over the country. From hinterland havens to urban sanctuaries, the growing number reflects the interest in the benefits of hot and cold therapy.
Australia’s first-ever floating sauna experience is now in Melbourne. (Image: Jackson Loria)
Sauna Boat Tasmania grabbed our attention for being Australia’s first-ever floating sauna experience. The custom-built timber and brass-clad sauna cabin is moored on a pontoon at Oyster Cove Marina and offers floor-to-ceiling windows revealing views across Little Oyster Bay and Bruny Island. Wellness enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that the experience is expanding, with a second outpost set to open in Melbourne.
Recently launched in Docklands, Sauna Boat Melbourne offers hot and cold therapy from its custom-built boat that boasts uninterrupted water and skyline views. Visitors can alternate between basking in the warmth of the timber-lined sauna and plunging into the ice baths on the deck, a practice which may promote relaxation, improve circulation and reduce inflammation.
Sauna enthusiast and founder Daniel Bush designed and hand-crafted both boats, intending to create spaces where people can pause, breathe deeply and leave feeling rejuvenated.
Wellness enthusiasts can expect to feel the benefits of cold and cold therapy. (Image: Jackson Loria)
“In the rush of everyday life, we often forget to slow down. Sauna Boat Melbourne invites you to do just that – sweat, plunge, breathe. It’s wellness made simple, on the water, in the heart of it all," explains Bush.
Onboard, guests will find a timber sauna room, cold plunge baths, a cold freshwater shower and outdoor seating. There are also changing facilities aboard the boat, but you’ll need to pop into the toilet before boarding.
And, it’s all eco-friendly. The fully-electric sauna maintains an optimal temperature of around 80°C.
Operating year-round, guests can pick the Melbourne season that most suits their vibe. Is it misty Melbourne mornings? Sunlit summer afternoons? Or maybe golden-hour plunges?
Sessions are available for private groups or small shared bookings, so come solo, as a couple, or with friends.
The Docklands location means this sauna is the perfect micro-retreat for busy Melburnians and visitors alike, whether you’re seeking a solo wellness escape or a shared experience with friends.
Enjoy city and harbour views with your wellness. (Image: Jackson Loria)
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
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The details
Where: Victoria Harbour, Docklands Availability: initially open for bookings on weekends between 7am and 7pm, with additional days to be added Website: saunaboatmelbourne.com.au
Originally written by Rachael Thompson. Updated by Kassia Byrnes.
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
A change is as good as a holiday, but never more so than in the Bendigo region when it’s the seasons putting in the transformative work.
With its gold rush history, opulent architecture and booming food and wine industry, there’s no denying that the Bendigo region is beautiful to visit at any time of year. Visit between March and May, however, and you’ll find the Bendigo in autumn really comes alive. Foliage erupts in a canvas of golden colours and the cooling air makes immersing yourself in nature all the more enticing.
Need a few ideas to get you started? We’re so glad you asked.
1. Tackle the bike trails
Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)
Welcome to a region that punches well above its weight when it comes to cycling. This is where hammies are tested on multi-day rides, and first-timers fall in love with the sport on short (and ridiculously pretty) trails.
The 49-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail is the headline act, following the old railway line between Bendigo and Heathcote. Cross the Campaspe River at Axedale Recreation Reserve and pause at the Platypus Compass Sculpture and the First Nations mural marking the connection between Djaara and Taungurung Country, with Axedale acting as the perfect halfway stop to refuel at a pub or cafe.
Pedal a little further Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve to be rewarded with views of sculpted pink clay cliffs and narrow gorges that are perfect for a photo stop. Searching for a different type of reward? The Heatchote Wine Region is full of inviting cellar doors.
There are plenty of other options in the Bendigo region, from the 210-kilometre Goldfields Track , to the Bendigo Creek Trail and Back Creek Trail – both ideal for riders of all abilities. The 3.7 kilometre Little Lake Boort loop is a great family-friendly option.
Prefer something more adventurous? Spring Gully Mountain Bike Park has been keeping BMX Bandits’ dreams alive for years.
2. Enjoy the crunch of autumn leaves
Pack a picnic and head to the Valley of Liquidambers.
Blinding clusters of crimson, burnt orange and brilliant yellow; here, autumn leaves are crisp confetti of fire and gold. See the magic up close with a slew of parks seemingly dedicated to showcasing Mother Nature’s colour wheel, especially from mid April to early June.
Pack a picnic for an afternoon at Valley of Liquidambers in Heathcote, where Liquidamber trees transform into a wonderworld of magical foliage. Don’t miss taking a leisurely stroll across the swinging bridge back towards the main street.
Rosalind Park might be celebrated for its annual tulip display come springtime, but it’s hard to compete with the theatre of autumn. Here, many trees date back to the 1800s, and there’s no better place for a romantic stroll than along the elms, oak and Queensland Kauri that dominate this park.
Head straight to Lake Weeroona, where an ornamental lake begs for a leisurely lap around its edges, either on foot, or with pedal power.
3. Immerse yourself in First Nations culture
Explore Kooyoora State Park on a cultural tour.
Its ‘Mountain of Light’ (Guyura in the Dja Dja Wurrung language) title is impressive, but so too is Kooyoora State Park’s rugged landscape of granite outcrops, rocky ridgelines and wide-open skies.
While there’s nothing to suggest you couldn’t explore Kooyoora’s walking tracks on your own, the best way to understand the 40,000 years of history behind its natural wonders is to book a 2.5-hour Kooyoora Cultural Tour with Dumawul Tours .
Led by Djaara cultural guides, expect a traditional Welcome to Country smoking ceremony, before engaging storytelling rewinds the clock to reveal the deep cultural significance of the land, its flora, fauna and its continuing connection to Country.
Keen to stay a little longer? Consider staying overnight at the campground and committing to the park’s wealth of walking trails, such as the 5.3-kilometre hike from the camping ground to the lookout on the Long Rock Walking Track.
4. Splash in the region’s waterways
Paddle through Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail. (Image: Visit Vic)
Water babies rejoice: the Bendigo region offers a wealth of waterways to explore.
Flowing 392-kilometres from the Great Dividing Range to the Murray River, the best way to enjoy Loddon River is with a stop at Bridgewater. Here you can swim in the natural infinity pool or tackle the all-abilities, five-kilometre Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail before browsing the cute stores in town. Hungry? Grab a bite at Bridgewater Hotel .
Lake Eppalock is popular for water activities, but don’t miss a visit to Little Lake Boort and Big Lake Boort. Birders, in particular, will love the former, thanks to the large variety of bird species that nest in the boardwalk area surrounding the lake.
Meanwhile, Big Lake Boort is celebrated for its significant Indigenous history and over 400 scarred trees, and offers an opportunity to spot birds and go canoing.
Meanwhile, watersports and recreational activities at Crusoe Reservoir, located on the outskirts of Bendigo, are the order of the day. Take a walk to the picnic spots of No. 7 Park nearby, and maybe even camp there for the night.
5. View epic lookouts
Spend time at Peregrine Ridge.
Sometimes a holiday requires a phenomenal spot on which to perch as you survey your temporary kingdom below. The Bendigo region, happily, doesn’t do anything by halves.
Located in Heathcote-Graytown National Park, Viewing Rock Lookout – a rocky outcrop offering spectacular views over Heathcote and surrounds – remains a popular choice. Take the hour-long Viewing Rock Circuit Walk and try your hand at gold prospecting nearby.
Prefer the romance of sunrise or sunset? Pyramid Hill, a stunning granite hill rising 187-metres above sea level, is the place to be (preferably with a coffee and a bagel)
Over in Terrick Terrick National Park, a walk to the summit delivers a full 360-degree panorama of woodlands, farms and open-sky plains. Pack lunch – and perhaps a tent – as picnic tables and camping are available.
Carve out time for Peregrine Ridge , a vineyard situated at the eastern side of Mt Camel Range with an elevation ranging from 250-290 metres. Be rewarded with delicious wine and a cellar door which offers floor-to-ceiling views.
6. Enjoy the Bendigo region’s parks and gardens
Stroll through Bendigo’s best gardens. (Image: Visit Vic)
Rosalind Park, located right in the centre of town, is considered Bendigo’s backyard and rightly so. Home to the Bendigo Easter Festival , it’s just as popular year-round for its sixty acres of rolling lawns, towering elms, fernery and winding paths – not to mention the playground which has plenty of little fans of its own. A short drive away, Bendigo Botanic Gardens – established in 1857 – offers a more tranquil space for deep-level nature immersion.
Those who favour something a little more formal, cottage-style Canterbury Park Gardens – famous for its dahlias in autumn – delivers. Stroll through its meticulously maintained ornamental gardens before checking out Lake Tom Thumb and Lake Neangar nearby.
