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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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9 of the best Sydney hotel bars for a local adventure

(Credit: Nikki To)

    Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
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    A great night out doesn’t need a road trip, just the right bar. Swap the long drive for an evening at these standout Sydney venues.

    If you’re thinking of a staycation or a long weekend (with foodie benefits), you can’t get much better than the bright lights and beautiful vistas of Sydney. From tucked-away bars to late-night hidden hangs, Australia’s (unofficial) favourite city is packed full of venues that make staying local feel like an adventure.

    1. El Vista, Circular Quay

    bar tender at El Vista, Circular Quay sydney hotel bars
    Enjoy tasty cocktails and gorgeous Sydney views. (Credit: Mario Francisco)

    This welcoming bar by the Maybe Sammy team offers a fun buzz and jaw-dropping harbour views. Part of the Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, this lounge bar sits above Circular Quay with the harbour on one side and the Botanical Gardens on the other. You may start here for pre-dinner drinks, but you won’t want to leave before the early hours. If the 1960s Acapulco vibe isn’t enough, the views will be – the Sydney Harbour Bridge is so close it hardly fits in the window, while ferries glide by all night.

    2. Bar Allora, CBD

    Bar Allora, CBD Sydney hotel bars
    Settle in for a taste of Italy.

    Inspired by Milan in the 1980s, Bar Allora brings Italian style and culture to the CBD. Although it’s officially part of the Mantra 2 Bond Street hotel, it’s designed to look and feel like you’ve travelled to Italy for all-day dining. Think espresso in the morning, aperitivo in the afternoon and Negronis late into the night. Accompany your liquid diet with Italian-style small plates and pastas with a modern twist.

    3. Percy, Pyrmont

    Percy Sydney hotel bars
    Spanish-style tapas and wine is the name of the game. (Credit: Steven Woodburn)

    Taking centre stage in the luxe foyer of the Woolstore 1888 Hotel in Pyrmont, Percy is a popular Spanish-style tapas and wine bar serving food that makes you want to linger. The restored 138-year-old wool store creates an atmospheric backdrop to your glass of merlot with exposed timber beams, brick and the echoes of Sydney’s past. With an air of Barcelona, expect low conversations, creative dining and the city moments away.

    4. The Crudo Bar at Flaminia, CBD

    The Crudo Bar at Flaminia, CBD Sydney hotel bars
    Seafood lovers should head to The Crudo Bar. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Grab a seat at the beautifully designed crudo bar, taking centre stage in Giovanni Pilu’s latest CBD restaurant, Flaminia. Enjoy a glass of chilled Vermentino from Sardinia or prosecco from the hills of Treviso, matched with freshly shucked oysters. Complement your seafood with a range of special dressings, influenced by iconic Italian port cities. It’s the perfect spot for a pre- or post- glass of wine before visiting the Sydney Opera House.

    5. Mee So, Sydney Central

    Mee So sydney
    Enjoy Japanese-influenced food and drinks.

    For something a little different, Mee So is a modern, neon-lit Japanese-influenced bar in the Ibis Sydney Central. Serving bold flavours and umami-heavy dishes alongside sake and yuzu-infused cocktails, this Tokyo-esque venue offers an escape from the busy streets outside. Order steaming ramen, a Japanese whisky, and make a corner of Mee So yours for the night.

    6. Bar Morris, Haymarket

    Bar Morris sydney
    Settle into old-world European glamour.

    Housed in a 1929 heritage-listed building, Bar Morris brings old-world European glamour to the Hotel Morris Sydney, part of Accor’s Handwritten Collection. More of a destination than a pitstop, this bar leans into its Art Deco past with velvet features, intimate lighting and bold brass finishes. Here you can order smaller plates like burrata, cured meats, and seasonal seafood to match your martini.

    7. Pumphouse, Darling Harbour

    Pumphouse sydney
    Enjoy a tipple inside a building from the 1880s.

    When you first walk into Pumphouse, you’ll quickly notice the high ceilings, exposed brick and industrial-style decor. Officially part of the busy Novotel Darling Square, this busy local hang doesn’t feel like it; it’s housed inside a former hydraulic pumping station from the 1880s – hence the name – and is a local institution. Grab a seat if you can and order off the classic modern Australian menu, before trying one of the many craft beers on tap to wash it down.

    8. Wentworth Bar, CBD

    Wentworth Bar sydney hotel bars
    Drink where the celebrities once did.

    Designed for big groups and late-night cocktails, this open-air terrace bar is part of the Sydney Sofitel Wentworth – one of Sydney’s most iconic hotels. Once the watering hole of royals and celebrities, this mid-century building has recently been refurbished to be sleek, modern and inviting. The stunning rooftop bar attracts Sydneysiders who love to watch the sunset with a table full of Vietnamese and French-inspired dishes.

    9. Monica Rooftop Bar, Paddington

    Monica Rooftop Bar, Paddington sydney
    See the city skyline, drink in hand.

    Sitting pretty on top of a restored 110-year-old theatre, Monica is a Hollywood-style rooftop bar with views across Paddington and the city skyline. Part of the 25hrs The Olympia hotel, this isn’t a quick drink kind of place; it’s a ‘let’s stay all night’ kind of venue. Weekend DJs will take you from sunset to late-night conversations, while you graze on ceviche, grilled meats or sharing plates.

    For more information on how to enjoy Sydney for a long weekend, visit ALL.com.