Hot Steam, Cold Plunges and Forest Bathing: Inside WA’s New Floating Sauna

They say that good things come to those who wait, and that’s certainly the case for Western Australian wellness lovers with the recent opening of Pemberton Floating Sauna, which opened on July 30 after a two-year planning process.

Positioned among native karri forest in WA’s Southern Forests and Valleys region, on the waters of historic swimming hole Pemberton Pool, the floating sauna is a 90-minute drive from Margaret River and a 3.5-hour drive from Perth.

This is Nigel Reeves’s third location after opening Australia’s first floating sauna in the mountain biking town of Derby in Tasmania in 2020, and a second location at Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra last year. The Floating Sauna owner says Pemberton was a natural fit for his third sauna venture.

“Being an area that’s popular for mountain biking, and an ex-forestry town that’s transitioning from forestry to tourism, there are some striking similarities between Pemberton and Derby where I started out,” he says.

Reeves, a Bikram yoga and mountain bike enthusiast, found hot and cold contrast therapy and sauna offered the perfect physical recovery after a day spent on the trails. Combine this with the mental health benefits of forest bathing and you have a winning wellness experience.

“Sauna therapy creates a whole raft of benefits, from improving circulation and respiratory health to the detoxification of organs,” Reeves says. “That hot and cold contrast adds another layer with the release of endorphins and adrenalin forcing a rebalance of chemicals in the nervous system.”

Unlike other sauna experiences popping up around the country, Reeves says his floating sauna model allows for an immediate contrast experience. “Because it’s floating and you jump into cold water within seconds, you’re minimising the gap between the hot and cold plunge.”

So, what’s the experience like? Modelled on the traditional Nordic style, Pemberton’s two new saunas are made with imported Finnish cedar and fuelled by a woodfired stove. It’s something you smell and hear as soon as you step in the door, with natural oils permeating the air, and the crackle and pop of the fire.

With water ripples reflecting on the light-coloured timber and floor-to-ceiling windows giving overwater views to karri forest beyond, the indoor experience is peaceful. For $55, sauna-goers can opt for a one-hour shared sauna session capped at six people.

Saunas often act as social spaces, and at Pemberton there aren’t any rules around talking. If you’re after a silent experience, you can book an hour-long private session for $305.

With the natural pool just steps from the saunas, leaping into icy water feels exhilarating. The central position of the ladder provides quick access back to the floating platform, and the knowledge that you’re so close to the warmth of the sauna also feels reassuring if the cold is too jolting.

All up, the new floating sauna in Pemberton is definitely worth a daytrip. Better yet, it can be combined with a few more days in the area to explore boutique wineries, like award-winning Ampersand Estates, and nature-based experiences such as climbing the recently reopened Gloucester Tree, or following a section of the Munda Biddi Trail – with the world-famous 1067-kilometre mountain biking track from Perth Hills to Albany running right alongside Pemberton Pool.

Pemberton Floating Sauna is located at Swimming Pool Road, Pemberton. Bookings are open now.

www.floatingsauna.com.au

@floatingsauna_pembertonpool