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Melbourne’s floating sauna combines relaxation and city views

Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
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.

two women in timber sauna on sauna boat melbourne
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. 

man in cold plunge bathg on sauna boat melbourne
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.

woman under cold shower on sauna boat melbourne
Enjoy city and harbour views with your wellness. (Image: Jackson Loria)

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

Discover the wellness retreat hidden in an ancient rainforest

Originally written by Rachael Thompson. Updated by Kassia Byrnes.
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.
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This hidden region in Victoria is home to a peaceful lake trail

    Craig TansleyBy Craig Tansley
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    Video credit: Tourism Australia

    From pink salt landscapes to oases fringed by forests of red gums, the lakes of this rural region are astounding. 

    You’re going to find peace and quiet when you take a road trip through the lakes of the Wimmera Mallee region. Whether it’s mirror-like pink salt lakes that look like an inland sea, or lakes fringed by forests of red gums that showcase Victoria’s arid beauty, there’s a lake for you out here somewhere.  

    1. Lake Tyrrell  

    Lake Tyrrell
    The colours of Lake Tyrrell blend into the sky. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Located in the dead heart of the Mallee, Victoria’s largest salt lake, Lake Tyrrell , is a landscape photographer’s dream – especially at sunrise and sunset when the pink salt flats look like a gigantic mirror. It’s easy to camp or park a caravan nearby, too, though the tiny town of Sea Lake is just south (with accommodation). In winter, shallow water covers the salt, creating surreal reflections of the sky.  

    2. Nhill Lake  

    There’s a permanent water source here, so there’s always plenty of water for water skiing, swimming and fishing (the trout and redfin fishing here is legendary). Located beside the pretty heritage town of Nhill with its main street of historic buildings, there’s options for eating and drinking right next door. There’s also a barbecue area with plenty of shady picnic spots and a boardwalk for walking around the lake.  

    3. Lake Bringalbert  

    Lake Bringalert
    Lake Bringalert is a great spot for aquatic adventures.

    Located south-west of the pretty Mallee town of Kaniva, Lake Bringalbert epitomises the best of ‘outback’ Victoria. It’s ringed by red gums and red mallee and feels completely hidden from the world – you’ll barely ever see another person. There’s basic camping on its foreshore and Kaniva offers more accommodation options. It’s the perfect lake for swimming, kayaking and skiing, and the stars at night come without even a hint of city glow.  

    4. Lake Hindmarsh 

    If you’re a bird fan, you’ll love Lake Hindmarsh . Located north of Dimboola, Victoria’s largest natural freshwater lake is like an inland sea full of pelicans, swans and numerous species of ducks – but it also teems with everything from spoonbills to parrots. Sunsets here will blow your mind – the lake is a mirror for the pinks and golds you’ll see on the horizon. There’s free camping spots along the foreshore if you’d like to really contemplate the magic of the lake.  

    5. Pink Lake 

    pink lake
    The Pink Lake is most vivid after rain. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Also known as Loch Lel , the summer months offer up some seriously vivid pink water colour at this lake north of Dimboola. The pink varies throughout the year, but is best after rain (hence why summer is the time to visit).

    pink lake
    Pink Lake, also known as Loch Lel, is located near Dimboola in the Grampians. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    There’s plenty of birds, including wedge-tailed eagles, but you’re as likely to spot big lace monitors, kangaroos and echidnas. Nearby, check out the uber-cute heritage town of Dimboola and its eclectic shops, and Little Desert National Park, full of walking trails through mallee heathland. 

    6. Lake Lascelles 

    Lake Lascelles
    You can camp at Lake Lascelles.

    On a hot summer’s day, there’s nowhere better for a cooling dip, kayak or boat ride. You can camp by the lake , or at powered caravan sites – or the pretty town of Hopetoun offers numerous accommodation options a short walk away. At night you’ll see the lights of Hopetoun reflect off the lake. Fish for yellow belly, redfin or catfish, or try water-skiing. There’s also a great walking trail around the lake, where there’s more birds than you can count.