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Kuuma floating sauna boat cruising through the waters of Southern Tasmania

About kuuma

Australia’s first floating sauna, handcrafted in Hobart and shaped by the Tasmanian landscape.

The People Behind Kuuma

 

We are Nathan and Chloe, the creators, designers and builders behind Kuuma.

What began as an idea inspired by a sauna experience in Norway became a four-year journey of planning, designing and taking a leap into the unknown. Kuuma was then handcrafted in Hobart over the course of a year.

Kuuma founders Chloe and Nathan aboard the floating sauna boat

OUR STORY

​​​​​Kuuma was born from a shared commitment to each other, and to a different way of living. Our story begins long before the boat, on a cold northern coast in Norway. We stepped into a sauna by a frozen fjord and felt something ancient stir. Wrapped in silence and steam, we found more than heat. We found clarity. A ritual as old as fire that brought people back to themselves. We knew then that we wanted to carry this tradition home and share its magic with others. But back in Australia, life pulled us into a familiar current – work that drained us, the mental load of modern life, a growing disconnect between our values and our days. With a young daughter and long-held dreams, we stood at a crossroads. Redundancy came as both a shock and a sign. We could not keep going the way we were. So, we chose to begin again...​ In 2020, we started sketching the blueprint for Kuuma; a floating sauna moored in nature, shaped by Scandinavian wisdom and Australian wildness. Between parenting and planning, hope and fear, we slowly built both a boat and a business. We pitched ideas to National Parks, talked to locals, gathered stories, and adjusted sails. After many hopes and disappointments, leads and dead ends, we found light again in Tasmania. While living in Melbourne and boat building in Hobart, we juggled family, distance, and determination. In 2024, Kuuma was launched – Australia’s first sauna boat. Handcrafted in Hobart, it is a vessel of warmth and care. A space where people come to breathe deeply, feel fully, and reconnect with what matters. Every session reminds us why we began. We see it in the flushed cheeks, the quiet smiles, the friends who return again and again. Kuuma is not just about heat and cold. It is about showing up for yourself, finding presence, and sharing simple joy. To us, success looks like stillness in a fast world. It looks like a growing community of Australians rediscovering the power of ancient rituals, together. This is only the beginning. We dream of Kuuma inspiring a new wave of sauna culture in Australia – rooted in nature, built on connection, open to all.

Kuuma | Using the Tasmanian Mark
Brand Tasmania logo "A proud partner of Tasmanina"

Designed Around the Ritual

Kuuma’s floating sauna was designed around large windows, generous outdoor space and direct access to the water, allowing guests to move between heat, cold, rest and the surrounding Tasmanian landscape.

Guest entering the water from the Kuuma floating sauna boat in Southern Tasmania
Wood-fired sauna heater inside the Kuuma floating sauna near Hobart

The meaning of Kuuma

Kuuma means “hot” in Finnish.

For us, it also represents warmth in a broader sense: fire, care, connection and the feeling of returning to yourself.

Our Vision

Kuuma was created to offer a slower and more meaningful way to experience sauna.

Our vision is to grow a sauna culture in Australia that values connection, simplicity, nature and the ritual of taking time.

Guests sharing a quiet sauna experience inside Kuuma’s floating sauna in Southern Tasmania
Guest arriving at the Kuuma floating sauna at Margate Marina in Southern Tasmania

Australia’s First Floating Sauna

Kuuma is a custom-designed commercial tour vessel, handcrafted in Hobart specifically for sauna cruising.

The boat combines a wood-fired sauna, generous outdoor decks and direct access to the waters of North West Bay in Southern Tasmania.

Plan Your Visit Beyond Kuuma

Kuuma is located in Southern Tasmania, just a 20 minutes drive south of Hobart. The region is known for its natural beauty, cool climate produce, and easy access to bushwalks, beaches, and island adventures. Whether you are here for a short visit or an extended stay, there is plenty to explore nearby and further afield.

View of kunanyi / Mount Wellington across the forested landscape of Southern Tasmania

Nature & Outdoors

Close to Kuuma – perfect for before or after your sauna session:

  • Snug Falls – A short walk to a hidden waterfall, just 10 minutes away.

  • Coningham Beach – Sheltered, peaceful, and ideal for a refreshing dip.

  • Alum Cliffs Track – Clifftop views and a scenic trail between Kingston and Taroona.

Worth a detour – for a day trip or a longer stay in the region:

  • Bruny Island – Beaches, bushwalks, and local produce. Catch the ferry from Kettering, 15 minutes from Kuuma.

  • Hartz Mountains National Park – Rugged alpine landscapes and glacier-sculpted valleys, around 1.5 hours south-west.

  • Mount Field National Park – Home to Russell Falls, tall tree forests, and highland hikes—just over an hour north-west.

Forested Tasmanian coastline and clear water on North West Bay

Eat & Drink

Close to Kuuma – quick, quality bites just minutes away:

Worth a detour – for a scenic drive and a longer sit-down meal:​​

Guests relaxing inside the Kuuma floating sauna overlooking Margate Marina

Stay Awhile

Close to Kuuma – unique and restful places nearby:​

  • Poet Ode – Thoughtfully styled studio accommodation tucked in the hills above Margate.

  • Snug Haus – A peaceful, modern retreat in Snug with views over the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

  • Gate Keeper’s Lodge – A beautifully restored sandstone cottage on North Hobart, full of charm and history.

Worth a detour – slow stays a little further afield:

View of kunanyi / Mount Wellington across North West Bay from the Kuuma floating sauna
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