Wellness meets wilderness: Tasmania’s ultimate sauna trail unveiled

Emily MurphyBy Emily Murphy
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Follow this trail from the coast to the wilderness, with stops at floating saunas, mobile retreats and cosy stays along the way.

Tasmania’s cool climate is the perfect backdrop for a wellness retreat, especially when saunas and nature collide. Saunas have seen a surge in popularity worldwide, thanks to their numerous health benefits and the growing trend of wellness tourism. With the ability to boost circulation, detoxify the body and relieve stress, saunas have become a go-to for those seeking both physical and mental rejuvenation.

The traditional practice of alternating between intense heat and cold plunges is known to improve muscle recovery, enhance mood and even strengthen the immune system. As more people embrace the therapeutic effects of this ancient ritual, destinations like Tasmania have become prime locations to immerse yourself in sauna culture.

From portable coastal saunas to secluded accommodation with private wood-fired tubs, we’ve mapped out the ultimate sauna trail across the island, showcasing the best spots to sweat it out and cool down while soaking in Tasmania’s breathtaking landscapes. Here’s your guide to where to start and how to relax your way around the island’s most rejuvenating sauna experiences.

1. Savu Saunas, Devonport and Penguin

Begin your sauna journey along Tasmania’s scenic north western coast. With locations at The Bluff in Devonport, Australia’s top town for 2024, and the Dial Park Sports Complex in Penguin, Savu Saunas offer a luxury experience inside converted shipping containers. After a session of sweating it out, take a refreshing plunge into the cold waters for the ultimate detox.

Savu Saunas in Tasmania with the southern lights (aurora australis) in the background
Savu Saunas offer a luxury experience inside converted shipping containers. (Image: Supplied)

2. Floating Sauna, Lake Derby

Next, head east to the mountain biking haven of Derby. This off-grid, wood-fired sauna floats on Lake Derby, providing stunning lake views while you warm up. Finish the session with a bracing dip in the icy waters; perfect for cooling off after a day in the sauna.

Woman diving from Floating Sauna Lake Derby, Tasmania
Cool off after a floating sauna session. (Image: Chad Dewson)

3. Wilderness Saunas, Tasman Peninsula

From there, travel south to the serene Tasman Peninsula, where Wilderness Saunas await in Impression Bay. As the largest barrel sauna in Australia, this mobile sauna offers a traditional experience, complete with fire-heated warmth and views of Tasmania’s rugged wilderness.

Wilderness Saunas in Tasmania
Wilderness Saunas has the largest barrel sauna in Australia. (Image: Supplied)

4. Leighton House, Launceston

Before continuing your journey further south, stay the night at Leighton House , a luxurious 1840s homestead near Launceston. This beautifully restored property offers not only a relaxing sauna but also a wellness deck, complete with a hot tub and fireplaces, making it the perfect countryside retreat before continuing your adventure.

the sauna and hot tub at Leighton House, tasmania
Enjoy the sauna and hot tub at Leighton House. (Image: Adam Gibson)

5. Elsewhere Sauna, Hobart and Huon Valley

Next, head to Hobart and discover Elsewhere Sauna , a mobile sauna that travels to local water bodies for a unique outdoor wellness experience. On Sundays, you can find it set up at Randalls Bay in the Huon Valley, where you can unwind with complimentary herbal tea and body scrub during your session.

Elsewhere Sauna, mobile sauna in south tasmania
Elsewhere Sauna is a mobile sauna. (Image: Lindy Smith)

6. Kuuma Nature Sauna, North West Bay

For another floating sauna adventure, visit Kuuma in south Tasmania. This pontoon boat features a wood-fired sauna and a dip into the cool waters of North West Bay. Enjoy a communal or private session as you soak in the serenity of the Tasmanian coastline.

Person jumping into water from Kuuma Nature Sauna
Dip into the cool waters of North West Bay. (Image: Nina Hamilton)

7. Sauna Boat Tasmania, Little Oyster Cove

Located just outside Hobart in Little Oyster Cove, this Scandinavian-inspired sauna boat is crafted from Tasmanian timber and offers a unique way to relax while overlooking the serene waters. Unwind in the sauna and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Tasmania’s coastline.

Two women dipping feet into hot tub at Sauna Boat Tasmania
Sauna Boat Tasmania is Scandinavian-inspired. (Image: Natasha Mulhall)

8. Red Rock Hut, King Island

Journey to King Island and retreat to Red Rock Hut , a tiny house on Tasmania’s untouched west coast. This accommodation features a wood-fired sauna and hot tub, with panoramic views of the Southern Ocean. After a day of exploring, relax in the heat while soaking in the beauty of King Island.

Sauna and accommodation at Red Rock Hut in tasmania
Red Rock Hut is a tiny house on Tasmania’s untouched west coast. (Image: Sukma Bowling)

9. Bass Lodge, King Island

Also on King Island, Bass Lodge offers a luxurious escape with private beach access and a secluded sauna experience. The outdoor sauna and timber hot tub make it easy to unwind after a day spent enjoying the island’s rugged coastline and tranquil bushland.

Bass Lodge sauna and hot tub on King Island in Tasmania
Unwind at Bass Lodge after a day of exploring Tassie’s sights. (Image: Madeleine Roberts-Thomson)

10. Swan River Sanctuary, East Coast

End your sauna journey on Tasmania’s stunning east coast at the Swan River Sanctuary , an off-grid luxury lodge on a regenerative cattle farm. Nestled into the banks of the Swan River, this eco-friendly retreat features a wood-fired sauna and the chance to plunge into the river for a refreshing cool down.

Swan River Sanctuary in Tasmania
End your sauna trail at Swan River Sanctuary. (Image: Stu Gibson)

With so many unique sauna experiences across Tasmania, you can enjoy the perfect blend of wellness and wilderness. Whether you start on the north coast and finish on the east, or join the trail somewhere along the way, each stop on this sauna trail offers something different to help you relax and recharge in nature.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time 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? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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New Norfolk is fast becoming the Apple Isle’s most charming small town

    Christine AldredBy Christine Aldred
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    One of Tasmania’s oldest riverside towns is marking itself on the map with award-winning dining and creative spirit without forgetting its past.

    On the banks of the Derwent, New Norfolk wears its history proudly: Georgian cottages, historic precincts and a trove of antiques hint at its early days. But this riverside town – just 30 minutes from the mad arty world of Hobart’s Mona in one direction and the bountiful nature of Mount Field National Park in the other – isn’t content with nostalgia.

    With destination dining, a new wave of distillers and brewers, and creative energy reshaping its heritage buildings, New Norfolk is emerging as one of Tasmania’s most compelling small-town stories.

    A quick history lesson

    the Derwent River from Pulpit Rock Lookout
    Views of the Derwent River and town from Pulpit Rock Lookout. (Image: Mauricio E. Mozo)

    The town was established in 1807 on Leenowwenne Lands when military leaders and settlers abandoned the far-flung penal colony at Norfolk Island for then-called Van Dieman’s Land. Along with hops, salmon and timber, the town’s history is closely bound to the Willow Court Asylum, a convict hospital established in 1827 that grew into the nation’s oldest continuously operating mental health facility, closing only in 2000. The site’s vast footprint still dominates the town – a place layered with a difficult history but also with stories of healing.

    the Willow Court, New Norfolk
    The 1827-built Willow Court Asylum is a former mental health facility that you can tour. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Rob Burnett)

    Local guide Sharmaine Mansfield, who runs Willow Court Asylum Tours , is determined to keep that history alive. Her tours – historical by day, ghostly by night – approach the site with deep respect. “My number one priority is to be respectful of this former mental health institution and to those who lived and worked here. At night, we hold a minute’s silence to think of them.” It’s often then that guests report hearing and feeling things in the stillness of the evening.

    A delicious new chapter

    The Agrarian Kitchen from above
    The Agrarian Kitchen is one of the country’s most lauded restaurants and cooking schools. (Image: Luke Burgess)

    Within the Willow Court precinct, The Agrarian Kitchen continues to write a new chapter of history. One of Australia’s most celebrated restaurants has transformed a former hospital ward into a temple to Tasmanian produce. Since opening in 2017, the restaurant and its renowned cooking school have become a pilgrimage for food lovers, sealing the town’s place on Australia’s culinary map.

    a close-up of a dish at The Agrarian Kitchen, New Norfolk
    The produce from the garden is used in the dishes and for cooking classes. (Image: Stu Gibson)

    Just outside, a walled garden is abundant with herbs, vegetables and fruit trees and is open for guided tours; its produce heads straight to the restaurant or neighbouring kiosk.

    The Agrarian Kitchen detail, New Norfolk
    The Agrarian Kitchen is a pilgrimage for food lovers. (Image: @PuddleHub)

    A stay steeped in history

    The Woodbridge, New Norfolk
    The Woodbridge is one of the country’s grandest stays. (Image: Christine Aldred)

    For a night dripping with history, The Woodbridge – one of the country’s oldest grand homes which this year celebrated its 200th birthday – offers a rare experience. Built by convicts in 1825 as the residence of the colony’s first constable, it now operates as a luxe heritage-listed hotel.

    inside a suite at The Woodbridge, New Norfolk
    The building was restored to become a hotel.

    It feels like a gracious country estate. Behind an iron gate, a crunching gravel driveway on one side and sweeping lawns rolling to the river on the other. From my room’s terrace, I can peer beyond the tiered gardens across the Derwent to the original toll gate for passing merchant vessels or settle into inviting lounge and library spaces with a book or glass of muscat.

    the river at Woodbridge, New Norfolk
    Seek serenity by the river. (Image: Christine Aldred)

    It’s happenstance this Tasmanian grande dame is still here at all, saved by its dedicated owners who spotted it on a holiday visit. The Woodbridge was teetering on the brink of destruction when Laurelle and John Grimley bought it in 2003. After an exacting, multi-year restoration, it’s been coaxed back to life.

    a telescope at The Woodbridge, New Norfolk
    Peer beyond the tiered gardens. (Image: Christine Aldred)

    Today, modern comforts – elegant rooms, contemporary furnishings and new bathrooms – sit easily with the original blackwood floors, stone walls and Georgian-paned windows, complementing and respecting its rich history. Laurelle is well proud that the building’s future is now assured. “If we didn’t save it, who would? I feel this is my legacy,” she says.

    Sourcing antique charms

    inside the Flywheel boutique stationery store, New Norfolk
    Flywheel is a boutique stationery store in town. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Nick Osborne)

    Known as the antiques capital of Tasmania, New Norfolk hums with history. Visitors can forage for hours at the sprawling Willow Court Antique Centre or the beautifully curated and styled Drill Hall Emporium in town.

    inside the Flywheel letterpress studio in New Norfolk
    Visit the letterpress studio in New Norfolk. (Image: Christine Aldred)

    Books and coffee pair perfectly at Black Swan Bookshop on a sunny corner while The Quilted Teapot mixes lattes and lunches with quilting supplies. Don’t miss Flywheel , a stunning boutique stationery shop and working letterpress studio in an old bakery.

    a bartender holding a glass of rum at New Norfolk Distillery
    Sample rum at New Norfolk Distillery. (Image: Jess Curtis)

    Thirsty travellers can taste-test award-winning rum at New Norfolk Distillery in a quirky industrial space with weekend snacks and sci-fi vibes, or sip craft brews at Welcome Swallow Brewery – an inviting microbrewery brimming with warmth and a veritable jungle of plants. History buffs shouldn’t miss the 1825-licensed Bush Inn, said to be the state’s oldest continually licensed pub. It’s also where the very first long-distance telephone call was made in Australia in 1888.

    More reasons to visit

    a group having a picnic during the Tasmanian Autumn Festival, New Norfolk
    The Tasmanian Autumn Festival includes events and experiences across the region. (Image: Stu Gibson)

    Each April, the Tasmanian Autumn Festival brings the region to life in a month-long celebration, with food and tipple trails, blacksmithing workshops or the chance to meet a highland cow or alpaca. Platypus spotting, pottery classes, glamping on a truffle farm, kayaking and vineyard visits are other Derwent Valley temptations, all close enough to make New Norfolk a natural hub.

    And there’s more change afoot. The newly opened Bridgewater Bridge means easier road and river access. And within the Willow Court complex, the Nurses Quarters and Ladies Cottage are being meticulously restored to create an evocative event space with commercial kitchen, and boutique accommodation to follow. In this town, heritage is a living asset: respected but ever evolving into something new and inviting.