This is set to be summer’s most talked-about wellness experience.
Sydney Harbour has a new way to unwind and it might just be the most scenic sweat session in the country. A sleek, eco-friendly floating sauna has dropped anchor on the harbour, inviting guests to steam, plunge and sun-soak with uninterrupted views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Wellness Afloat, a Scandinavian-style floating sauna and cold-plunge deck, has officially launched, bringing a hit of Nordic wellness energy to Australia’s most iconic waterway.
Soak in the harbour views. (Image: Jack Moran)
The project is as sustainable as it is stylish. Housed on a purpose-built vessel known as the ARK, the sauna sits atop a structure made from over half a million recycled milk bottles. Beneath the surface, a thriving mini-reef habitat supports local marine life, while above deck an ocean-garden adds a layer of greenery that softens the industrial harbour surrounds. Even the interior furnishings lean into the eco-conscious ethos, incorporating recycled materials and low-impact design wherever possible.
Once onboard, the experience slows instantly. Guests move between an 80°C cedar-clad sauna with floor-to-ceiling harbour views, a refreshing cold-plunge swim in the open water and a breezy sun-drenched deck complete with herbal tea and space to stretch out. It’s a simple ritual – heat, cool, rest, repeat – but one that feels surprisingly elevated when Sydney’s skyline is quite literally part of the backdrop.
The experience
The two-hour experience is the perfect summer reset. (Image: Jack Moran)
The project is as sustainable as it is stylish. (Image: Jack Moran)
Wellness Afloat is part sauna, part scenic cruise and part social escape.
Departing from Campbells Cove at The Rocks, the two-hour session starts with a boat pickup and a scenic cruise past the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Luna Park before reaching the ARK in the calm waters of Berry’s Bay.
You’ll warm up in a beautifully built cedar sauna that seats eight, watching the harbour shimmer through expansive windows. When the heat peaks, you can take the plunge – either literally, with a dip in the harbour, or opt for a cold-splash shower if you prefer to keep your toes on deck. Afterwards, the rooftop recovery lounge awaits. Crafted from recycled materials and designed for lingering, it’s a quiet nook for herbal tea, deep breaths and soaking up one of the most photogenic views in Sydney.
Private groups can take things even further, with the option to add massage, yoga or fitness sessions for a customised wellness experience. It’s part sauna, part scenic cruise and part social escape – a fresh alternative for birthdays, team days, summer catch-ups or simply a weekend reset.
Whether you’re after a summer reset, a celebration with a twist or an activity guaranteed to impress visiting friends, Wellness Afloat is shaping up to be one of the season’s hottest tickets.
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her 4+ years at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? South Australia and The Kimberley.
Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.
The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.
The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.
By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.
Dive into the world’s best beaches.
That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.
But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.
Beyond the beaches
Dining
Enjoy a sundowner by the sea at Pippis Cronulla.
The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.
By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.
Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.
A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.
Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.
One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.
Pristine walking trails
Cool off with a coastal stroll.
Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.
Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.
Enjoy whale watching
Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)
Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around.Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.
Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.
