Cold outside? These Canberra saunas are worth booking into.
Posted on
So cold that you need to spend a few hours locked in a hot room to get some feeling back into your fingers again?
Forget turning on the heater; we have a suggestion that will not only warm you up but also give you a much-needed refresh: a sauna session.
Along with some blissful time soaking up heat like a lizard on a log, you’ll get all of the benefits of pain management, skin rejuvenation, improved sleep, and stress management. In short, booking a sauna session might just be the best decision you make this winter.
Whether you’re chasing post-work recovery, a reset after a busy week, or just an excuse to do absolutely nothing for an hour or two, consider this your guide to turning the temperature back up.
Floating Sauna (Yarralumla Bay)
Set on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra’s floating saunas are well worth booking into.
Featuring two large Scandi-style structures which float off a pontoon at the end of a 14-metre gangway off Alexandrina Drive in Yarralumla (halfway between the Yacht Club and the Canberra Rowing Club), the signature floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the lake offers stunning views while you sweat.
Featuring original Finnish wood stoves, the saunas are open 7 am to 9 pm seven days a week and are priced at $55 an hour. Our tip? Book for a misty morning sunrise or technicolour sunset to make the most of the experience.
35 Alexandrina Drive, Yarralumla | floatingsauna.com.au
High Definition (Phillip)
This all-female gym is not only great for those looking to improve their physical fitness, but it also focuses on wellness – including rest and restoration.
Home to sauna and cold plunge facilities, for $35 you’ll have access to the wellness space for an hour – perfect for a 45-minute infrared sauna session, time to change and a moment to enjoy a relaxing cup of tea.
Unit 7/82 Parramatta Street, Phillip | highdefinitionfitness.com.au
RESET Strength & Sports Recovery (Fyshwick)
A one-stop spot for your recovery and fitness needs, at RESET Strength & Sports Recovery, infrared sauna is just one of the many services on offer.
Ideal for some post-workout recovery, you can book a casual session whenever you need or join the gym for a discount on their services.
17/19 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick | resetssrc.com.au
Reverie (Campbell)
Combining chromotherapy, infrared heat, medical-grade red light and LED light wavelengths to support whole-body healing and recovery, the Reverie Sauna experience is as luxe as it sounds.
Also featuring Red Light Towers, it’s priced at $69 for an hour. And the best part of the session? It’s in Australia’s first 24/7 private wellness sanctuary, so you can book in for a contactless experience whenever you need to warm up (yes, even midnight).
G09/59 Constitution Avenue, Campbell | reveriewellness.com.au
GROUNDUP Wellness (Dickson)
Home to both traditional and infrared saunas, GROUNDUP Wellness is a paradise for anyone looking for somewhere to recharge and detox in the warmth.
Book yourself a single sauna visit for $45 or – if you know this needs to be a weekly ritual – splurge on the Unlimited Membership for $49.90 a week. Not sure if you want to commit? On Fridays, you can pop in between 5 pm and 7 pm to try it for free!
South Building, DKSN 2.0 Level 2, 23 Challis Street, Dickson | groundup.studio/wellness
The Red Shed (Acton)
There’s more than just rowing at The Red Shed – they also offer a comprehensive wellness experience thanks to Finnish and Infrared Sauna facilities.
Never heard of a Finnish Sauna? With temperatures ranging from 70°C to 100°C, this is an intense experience where the dry heat induces profuse sweating, helping to improve circulation, relaxation, detoxification, and stress reduction. Both priced at $28 for a casual visit or $220 for a 10 pack, you can book in for a standalone session or in conjunction with your rowing, gym, or wellness program.
45 John Cardiff Close, Acton | redshed.org.au
Sauna Float ACT (Belconnen)
Located on the foreshore of Lake Ginninderra, Sauna Float ACT has recently renovated their float room and transformed it into a private bathhouse experience designed for relaxation, recovery, and well-being. It features a Finnish sauna, float tank, and ice bath – they say it makes them the only studio in Canberra currently offering all three experiences together in one private setting.
You can also book an infrared session that will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. Unlike traditional saunas, infrared saunas use light to heat the body directly instead of heating the air – helping the heat penetrate your joints, muscles, and tissues. Starting from $50, the 45-minute session will leave you feeling nice and warm long after the lights have turned off.
9/114 Emu Bank, Belconnen | saunafloatact.com.au
Hale (Barton)
Love a massage at Hale? Why not level up your relaxation with some time in their sauna and steam room?
Anyone who books in for a treatment over 60 minutes can access the sauna and steam room at Hale, giving you the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a reset that will chase away the winter blues.
10-14 Macquarie Street, Barton | halehealth.com.au
City Cave (City)
Focusing on full body recovery and wellness, City Cave is a local favourite for a sauna session.
Using advanced light-based heat technology to safely warm the body from within, you can book in for a casual infrared sauna session for $49. For an extra $10, add the Red Light Tower to enjoy the rejuvenating benefits of red-light therapy.
11 Moore Street, City | citycave.com.au
Reju (Braddon)
Reju is a holistic wellness destination that offers both traditional and infrared sauna sessions – and on a cold day, what sounds better than curling up for 45 minutes to enjoy a private room sauna and shower session?
If you’re really committed, you can even sign up for a sauna membership, giving you access to two saunas per week for $50. Talk about bang for your buck.
G.3/35 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | rejuclinic.com.au
Feature image of Floating Sauna by Anne Stroud for VisitCanberra
