Your First Sauna
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If you've never done a traditional Finnish sauna before, this is for you. It's simpler than it looks, and there's no wrong way to do it but a few things are worth knowing before you arrive.
Cedar & Salt is a wood-fired sauna by the water. Our saunas are handcrafted and fully portable Japanese cedar battens outside, New Zealand redwood and thermally modified European alder within. Sessions run 60 minutes, with panoramic views of the harbour or the surf, and the ritual of hot heat and cold saltwater at the centre of it.
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he ritual is a cycle: heat, cold, rest. Repeat.
Here's what we recommend for your first time.
Start with a cold dip. Into the ocean or harbour before you go anywhere near the heat. It sounds backwards. It isn't it makes the first round of heat feel extraordinary. Dry yourself before entering the sauna.
10-15 minutes in the sauna. Sit high if you want it hotter, low if you're easing in. Leave whenever you like; nobody's counting.
Rest. Come out, cool down, breathe. Don't rush this part the rest is where the ritual does its work.
Back in the water. Another dip.
Repeat.
Finish on cold then let your body warm up on its own.
Löyly (pronounced LOW-loo) is the Finnish word for the wave of steam that rises when water hits the hot stones. It's the heart of a proper sauna, and it's where our parent company takes its name.
You don't have to follow any of this exactly. Listen to your body, leave the heat when you want to, and drink water throughout.
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A fair question, and one we'd rather answer than have you wonder about.
The sauna is cleaned between every session & a deep clean at the start and end of each day]. Benches, walls, floors are wiped with non toxic cleaning chemicals. (Vinegar, Water & Eucalptus Oil)
Everyone sits on a towel. No exceptions. Any part of you touching the bench is covered it's the single biggest thing that keeps a shared sauna hygienic, and it's standard practice in Finland.
Guests wipe down after themselves before they leave, and take their towel with them.
Heat does a lot of the work. A wood-fired sauna runs at approx. 80 degrees which is inhospitable to most of what you'd worry about.
Cold freshwater outdoor showers are on site, along with changerooms and bathrooms.
Benches get sanded periodically are treated with non toxic sauna bench oil to protect the timber.
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What to bring
A towel to sit on inside the sauna — essential, not optional
Swimmers
Drinking water
A second towel if you plan to swim or rinse off
That's it. Everything else is provided.
On site: cold freshwater outdoor showers, changerooms and bathrooms.
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Create your profile and sign your waiver online. Both take about a minute and they save you standing at the door while everyone else settles in. Create your profile →, then sign your waiver using the same email address — that's what links the two automatically.
Arrive 10 minutes early. Time to check in, change, and not feel rushed.
Bringing someone? Each guest needs their own reservation. You can check under the Reservations tab in your profile.
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Keeping it wild, together
We're a trailer sauna — cosy is part of the charm. These are the things that make a shared session good for everyone.
Move through the door quickly. Every second the door is open, heat leaves. In and out, no lingering in the doorway.
Towel down, always. Sit on a towel, and make sure any part of you touching the bench is covered. Give the bench a quick wipe when you leave.
Take your towel with you when you go.
Stay seated in communal sessions. Lying down takes bench space that someone else needs. Save the sprawl for a private booking.
Share the top bench. It's the hottest spot in the room. Slide over and make space.
Ask before adding löyly. Always check with the room before pouring water on the rocks — not everyone wants the heat turned up at the same moment.
Leave the grooming for later. No stretching, shaving or self-care routines in the sauna. Before or after is perfect.
Keep the conversation kind. Chat is welcome. Just keep the vibe good.
Kids are welcome. Children under 16 need to be with a parent or guardian.
Session sizes: communal sessions are capped at 10 so everyone has room. Private bookings fit up to 12 comfortably.
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Aufguss is a European sauna ritual — heat, steam, scent and movement combined. Water infused with essential oils goes over the stones to create löyly, then it's circulated through the room with rhythmic towel work and fans.
Every Cedar & Salt session includes elements of this. Our facilitators use rain ladles, fans and essential oils to move the heat through the sauna in waves.
Our founder Rob has trained with Aufgussmeisters from Aufguss.it, who also judge at the Aufguss World Championships. Keep an eye out for our guided Aufguss sessions — a choreographed 12–15 minute ritual with ice bowls, essential oils and music.
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Is sauna right for you?
Sauna is safe and restorative for most people, but not everyone.
Please talk to your doctor first if you're pregnant, have a heart condition, low or high blood pressure, or any other medical condition affected by heat.
Don't sauna after drinking alcohol. Come hydrated, drink water throughout, and step out any time you feel lightheaded. There's no prize for staying in.
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Do I need to be experienced? No. Most people at any given session are in their first handful of saunas. Our facilitators will look after you.
What do I wear? Swimmers. Bring a towel to sit on.
How hot does it get? Between 70 - 95 Degrees. You control your experience by where you sit — the top bench is hottest, lower benches are gentler.
How long should I stay in? Around 15 minutes at a time is a good starting point. Leave earlier if you want to. Nobody is keeping score.
Do I have to do the cold plunge? No, though it's where a lot of the magic is. Start with a quick dip and build up.
Can I book privately? Yes — private sessions fit up to 12. We also run sauna hire for events. Get in touch →
Where are you located? Manly Wharf and Barangaroo, plus locations across Sydney's Northern Beaches. See all locations and book →
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Sessions run 60 minutes, seven days a week, on the water.
New to Cedar & Salt? Kolme — our introductory offer — is three sessions for $75, the price of two. Available once per person, valid 30 days, use it at any Cedar & Salt location.