Broadsheet

The best Nordic and Finnish saunas around Australia

Sauna culture is on the rise across Australia, from luxury spas to little hot-box cabins in the bush to floating pontoon saunas with riverside views. Aside from the myriad physical benefits to be gained from sitting together in loyly (a Finnish term for the holistic sauna experience) then cooling down with an ice-cold dip – such as better sleep and improved blood circulation – it’s also a hot way to hang out with others.

Here are 10 outdoor sauna cabins around the country that prioritise connection with nature as well as connection with others.

Cedar & Salt Sauna, Long Reef Beach, Collaroy, New South Wales

Freshwater local Rob Dempster-Smith first introduced Cedar & Salt, a woodfired Finnish sauna, to Q Station in Manly in 2024. In summer 2025, it was relocated to a patch of grass overlooking Long Reef Beach, where its expansive windows reveal panoramic ocean views. The portable sauna fits up to 12, kitted out with a woodfired heater from Finland, timber seating and a rain screen made from Japanese cedar, freshwater showers and Collaroy’s sand and surf. Dempster-Smith recommends alternating between 15 minutes in the heat, a rest, then a cold ocean dip. The sauna also offers aufguss sessions, a German ritual using heat, ice and essential oils to create a meditative environment. You can book hour-long communal sessions or hire the whole sauna for a private experience. Cedar & Salt operates from Wednesday to Sunday.

Written By: Emma Joyce
Link: https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/travel/article/best-nordic-saunas-australia-2026