Watershed Saunas

If you thought that Queenstown couldn’t possibly squeeze in another “only here” experience, think again. Watershed Sauna is Aotearoa’s first floating sauna, literally bobbing on Lake Whakatipu, just a few minutes’ wander from the centre of town.

A custom pontoon houses two handcrafted saunas: an intimate 6-person and a larger 14-person space. Nodding to clean Scandinavian design, both have big picture windows framing incredible, uninterrupted views across open water to craggy peaks. As per authentic Finnish principles, löyly (steam), considered to be the spirit of the sauna, is created by doses of water sprayed over the hot stones at the touch of a button, deepening the enveloping heat.

But the heat is only half of the equation; part and parcel of any sauna experience is the cold dunk in between sweat sessions. At Watershed, your options include jumping in the private plunge pool – that is, straight into the fresh, glacial waters of Lake Whakatipu – or dousing yourself under the waterfall bucket and shower (which is nothing too tepid; it uses the very same lake water, albeit in a less intense immersion). 

In a place known for its multitude of high-adrenaline offerings, it’s imperative to have balance, somewhere you can’t do anything other than slow right down. Still the body and mind, a much-needed reset ahead of or after a busy day, as you soak up the outstanding natural landscape (and freshwater). An hour at Watershed will make you feel all the more grounded when you step back onto dry land.