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Australia’s first sauna festival is coming to the Blue Mountains

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
A steamy new festival is bringing the heat this August.

As wellness tourism continues to boom, Aussies have been treated to a wave of feel-good experiences, from bougie bathhouses and spa retreats to Scandi-chic saunas and community cold plunges.

The latest addition? Australia’s first-ever sauna festival, launched by the newly formed Australian Sauna Association (ASA). Aptly titled The Big Sweat, the two-day event is inviting both seasoned sauna-goers and curious newcomers to crank up the heat.

What is the Big Sweat?

The Big Sweat Sauna Festival, Leura NSW
Embrace the heat at Australia’s first sauna festival this August. (Credit: Declan Blackall Photography)

Taking place at the Blue Mountains Sauna in Leura from 22–23 August, The Big Sweat is the first festival of its kind in Australia. Rather than focusing on individual wellness, it embraces the communal nature of sauna culture as a shared social experience.

The two-day event marks a major milestone for the Australian Sauna Association, which officially launched in July of this year. The not-for-profit is Australia’s first national body dedicated to developing and supporting communal sauna culture Down Under, which has long gone without a unified voice.

The Big Sweat Sauna Festival, Leura NSW
At its core, sauna culture is all about slowing down and connecting with others.

But it’s not just about empowering existing operators, practitioners and enthusiasts. As part of its mission, the volunteer-led association is committed to education, accessibility and advocacy for all. Whether you’ve embraced the sauna life or barely dipped your toes in, you’re invited to be part of the movement – and there’s no better place to start than The Big Sweat.

A look at the program

As the Australian Sauna Association’s flagship event, The Big Sweat is a celebration of sauna culture and the community behind it. Naturally, the debut festival is centred around communal sauna experiences, using both outdoor woodfired saunas and indoor facilities at Leura’s Blue Mountains Sauna.

The Big Sweat Sauna Festival, Leura NSW
The Blue Mountains Sauna in Leura will act as the festival’s hub. (Credit: Declan Blackall Photography)

To add to the excitement, the wellness centre is set to unveil its new Savu smoke sauna, a traditional Finnish-style design often only found in the northern hemisphere.

Beyond the steam, visitors can explore everything from live music gigs and movement workshops to yoga classes and cold plunges, as well as food trucks, market stalls and expert-led panel talks.

The Big Sweat Sauna Festival, Leura NSW
Take part in everything from sauna sessions to cold plunges. (Credit: Declan Blackall Photography)

But arguably the program’s biggest highlight is its Aufguss ceremonies, considered one of sauna’s most celebrated rituals. The multi-sensory experience is performed by a trained master, who pours water (often infused with essential oils) over heated stones. Choreographed towel movements then circulate the steam throughout the space, resulting in a deeply restorative environment believed to release mental and physical tension.

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The details

The Big Sweat will take place from 22–23 August at Leura’s Blue Mountains Sauna, which can easily be reached via public transport. Train services run daily between Sydney’s Central and Leura stations, just an eight-minute walk from the festival venue.

The Big Sweat Sauna Festival, Leura NSW
The Big Sweat will run across two days at Leura’s Blue Mountains Sauna.

If you’re driving, the journey takes around 90 minutes from Sydney. While onsite parking is limited, the surrounding streets and nearby Woolworths have plenty of spots.

Tickets for The Big Sweat are on sale now, with single-day passes priced at $80 for adults and $40 for children. Weekend passes are also available for $150 and $70 respectively, providing the perfect excuse to book a cosy Blue Mountains cabin and turn it into a mini escape.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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8 Thredbo hiking experiences you can only have in summer

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    Thredbo in summer is a nature lover’s dream of show-stopping alpine beauty, cool mountain air and magical moonlit adventure.

    For many of us, Thredbo calls to mind shimmering slopes and snow-dusted gums, but come summer, this Alpine resort transforms into a playground of an entirely different kind. A cool mountain retreat despite the season, Thredbo summer hikes are astonishingly beautiful, criss-crossing over dramatic peaks, pristine glacial lakes and abundant flora and fauna.

    From approachable tracks for novice walkers to more challenging hikes across the Main Range and even journeys under moonlight, Thredbo puts on an unforgettable show of natural splendour all summer. Lace up your walking boots and take the chairlift from Thredbo village to embark on a self-guided exploration or a tour of the Snowy Mountains’ most compelling landscapes.

    These eight unforgettable hiking experiences are only available in summer and offer an alpine adventure like you’ve never experienced before.

    1. Full Moon Hike to Mt Kosciuszko

    Full Moon Hike to Mt Kosciuszko
    Stand atop Mt Kosciuszko at full moon.

    There’s something almost mystical about hiking by the light of a full moon. This guided experience begins with a 15-minute chairlift ride, where you’ll admire the Thredbo Valley below, bathed in the fading sun.

    Once at the top, you’ll pass rivers, alpine lakes and spot nocturnal wildlife on your way to the Kosciuszko Lookout and Lake Cootapatamba. By the time you reach the summit, sunset is well underway as you watch day give way to night and the alpine landscape magically illuminated by the lunar glow. Enjoy a hot chocolate here before following the path back to Eagles Nest, brightened by the night sky.

    This 13-kilometre hike will take place on 3 January, 2 February, and 2 April in 2026.

    2. Super Full Moon Hike

    Super Full Moon Hike in thredbo
    Take in the might of a super full moon.

    The only thing that could level up the celestial beauty of a full moon hike would be a super full moon hike. Following the same route, you’ll meet the moon when it is largest and closest to Earth by ascending to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko at an elevation of 2228 metres. From such a height, it almost feels as though you could reach out and touch its glowing surface.

    Given the rarity and splendour of the super full moon, limited spots fill up fast for this awe-inspiring hike, so be sure to book the 5 December in advance.

    3. Lunar Eclipse Hike

    Thredbo Lunar Eclipse Hike
    See dazzling celestial displays.

    What could be more extraordinary than witnessing a lunar eclipse from Australia’s highest peak? Whether you’re a keen astronomer or simply revel in nature’s beauty, this guided 13-kilometre hike will place you on top of Mount Kosciuszko just as Earth passes between the sun and moon, throwing shade over the lunar surface before transforming it with a deep-red hue.

    It’s an epic place to witness one of our galaxy’s most spectacular and rare light shows. Apart from the dazzling celestial display, you’ll also enjoy walking through the moon-bathed landscape, an evening chairlift ride, and a hot chocolate at the summit.

    Book now for 3 March.

    4. New Moon Hike

    New Moon Hike Mt Kosciuszko
    Catch the changing skies of a new moon.

    A stargazer’s delight, the darkness of a new moon gives the Milky Way full permission to dazzle with its shimmering display. Both astronomers and photographers will relish this opportunity to observe and capture the starry skyscape from the lofty height of Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko. Departing Thredbo Village at dusk and leaving its twinkling lights far below, you’ll arrive at the summit in time to see the sun slip away and the stars appear.

    Catch this hike during the new moon lunar phase on 20 December, 19 January, 17 February, 19 March or 17 April.

    5. Thredbo River Track

    Thredbo River Track
    Take yourself along the Thredbo River Track.

    Embark on a gentle entry into the Snowy Mountain scenery with an amble along the Thredbo River. This self-guided hike hugs the river and wanders along the valley floor, revealing snow gum forests, swimming holes and little waterfalls that make for revitalising cold plunges in the summer heat.

    6. Merritts Nature Track

    Merritts Nature Track thredbo summer hikes
    Stop at swimming holes along the way.

    On warm summer days, venturing into the cooler air of Thredbo’s alpine tracks offers relief from the heat. Particularly if you set course for the four-kilometre Merritts Nature Track, where there are opportunities to take a refreshing dip in swimming holes along the way.

    The two-to-three-hour self-guided hike meanders through towering ancient trees (dubbed the ‘Pixie Forest’ by locals), takes in stunning mountain vistas and is soundtracked by the melody of birdsong. Stop for a picnic and discover a hidden natural infinity pool, the location of which is given away by the roar of a cascading waterfall.

    7. Mt Kosciuszko Summit Tour

    Follow a guide along Mt Kosciuszko's summit.
    Follow a guide along Mt Kosciuszko’s summit.

    While you can easily steer yourself to Australia’s most iconic peak without a guide, following an expert guide to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko will colour your experience with a deeper knowledge of the landscape and its wild inhabitants. The 13-kilometre return trail puts the alpine scenery on display with 360-degree views from the highest spot in the country.

    The walk begins at the top of the Kosciuszko Chairlift and takes around four to six hours to complete, but is gentle enough to be embarked upon by all ages.

    8. Snowies Alpine Walk Experience

    Snowies Alpine Walk Experience
    Join a two- or three-day experience along Snowies Alpine Walk.

    If you’re looking to truly untether from daily life and embark on a real immersion in Thredbo’s stunning alpine scenery, pack your hiking boots for the newest multi-day walk in the mountains. The Snowies Alpine Walk can be tackled over two or three days and includes nightly accommodation in the iconic Thredbo Alpine Hotel, daily buffet breakfast, packed lunch and dinner vouchers, plus daily transfers to and from trail heads in a brand-new Defender.

    The two-day experience covers 24 kilometres, while the three-day experience almost doubles that at 44 kilometres. Along the way, explore barely trod landscapes, vast high-country plains and uplifting mountain horizons.

    Discover the full offering of summer hikes in Thredbo at thredbo.com.au.