Press & Media

By Claire Isaac Floating saunas are bobbing up on Australian waterways, bringing with them a wealth of wellness benefits.

By Emma Joyce A new wave of Finnish-style saunas is bringing the heat to lakes, rivers, marinas and beaches. Here are a bunch of spots around the country where you can discover just how good it feels to immerse yourself in hot steam then plunge into icy cold waters.

By Lifestyle Collective We are no longer merely seeking a change of scenery; we are seeking a change of pace. As “digital fatigue” becomes a global diagnosis, the travel trends of 2026, from “whycations” to “mystic outlands”, point toward a singular desire: to be restored rather than merely entertained.

By Natasha Bazika Tasmania’s rugged coastline is the ideal setting for Chloe and Nathan Gore to launch Australia’s first sauna boat, Kuuma Nature Sauna, just a 30-minute drive from Hobart / Nipaluna. Passionate about the outdoors and inspired by traditional Finnish hot–cold therapy, they wanted to create an experience that was both adventurous and restorative, while remaining distinctly Tasmanian.

Image by Anna Critchley

By Owen Sinclair These businesses have claimed serious silverware at Tasmanian Tourism Awards gala.

By Darren Wright Southern Tasmania’s tourism operators have again proven their excellence on the state’s biggest stage, taking home a remarkable share of honours at the 2025 Tasmanian Tourism Awards.

By Natasha Bazika They may sit on opposite ends of the planet, one skirting the Arctic Circle, the other floating above Antarctica, but Tasmania and Scandinavia share more than just latitude extremes.

By Adelaine Ng Tasmania is evolving as a preferred destination for travellers seeking nature, culture, a slower pace, and unique wellness experiences amid growing international interest...

By Katrina Lobley With such a harsh and brutal history, it’s no wonder Tassie is now unafraid to embrace winter weirdness.It challenges visitors to push themselves right out of their warm comfort zones...

By Sami Lukis You've made it to July. Now, you're desperate for a holiday. Even a cheeky weekend away would do. You don't have time to travel too far, but it's always fun jumping on a plane, isn't it?

By Constantina Demos Brrr. Is the winter chill getting to you already? Instead of running from it, why not embrace it? Tourism Tasmania reckons it can turn anyone into a winter lover with its ‘Winternships’, and applications are officially open.

By Denise Stephens I sat sweating in the sauna, watching the scenery go by as the Kuuma putt-putted to a sheltered cove. Music played softly in the background and flames flickered in the log fire.

... If you are in Hobart for Dark Mofo 2025 (which you should be!), hop aboard a one-hour floating wood-fired sauna with Kuuma Nature Sauna (kuuma.com.au). The sauna boat will be on Hobart's waterfront from 5-15 June for its Dark Dip 90º/6º experience...

Brought to you by Tourism Tasmania Choose invigoration with a floating sauna. Moored in picturesque locations and particularly dreamy when shrouded in winter’s morning mist, floating saunas have become almost de rigueur in Tassie and offer the invigorating thrill of cold plunges in the wild.

By Zofia Zayons In Finnish, ‘Kuuma’ translates to ‘hot’: a fitting name for this unique experience heating up Tasmania’s wellness scene.

By Alexis Buxton-Collins, Alexandra Carlton, Bek Day, Bridget de Maine, Kirsten Galliott, Kendall Hill, Helen Martin, Jackie Shaw, Dilvin Yasa My favourite spot to anchor is Peggys Beach,” says skipper and sauna master Nathan Gore, who ferries people across the rugged waters of North West Bay, just 20 minutes south of nipaluna/Hobart, in his eight-person woodfired sauna boat, Kuuma.

By Luke Slattery The coastline south of Hobart on this soft spring afternoon is as sweet as it’s ever been but the water, at 15 degrees, is more provoking than inviting. After a spell in a Finnish-style sauna heated to 80 degrees – a floating sauna

by Anne Banas and Sophie-Claire Hoeller Tasmania, Australia Australia's smallest and least populous state can boast some major superlatives, especially when it comes to nature and wildlife.

By Alice Hansen Discover the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation aboard the Kuuma Pontoon Boat. Located on the beautiful North West Bay just 20 minutes south of Hobart, this floating oasis offers a unique experience that combines the tranquillity of nature with the rejuvenating warmth of a wood- fired sauna.

The Kuuma Sauna Boat is another outstanding design and the first sauna boat to have ever achieved commercial survey in Australia. It is a bespoke, custom-designed commercial tour vessel, specifically built for sauna cruising.

By Claire Isaac A sauna experience in a boat on the Tasmanian water may leave you cold … and then hot … and then cold. It’s a cool day in Hobart and I’m standing in my swimmers on a floating pontoon, warming my hands on a cup of peppermint tea.

A little pampering: Drift away in steamy bliss on Kuuma, Australia’s first mobile floating sauna boat, a 20-minute drive from Hobart.

By Melissa Woodley Tasmania’s newest floating sauna blends the timeless Scandinavian ritual with the serenity of open water.

Why enjoy a regular sauna experience when you can jump aboard a luxury sauna boat? Floating 20 minutes south of Hobart in Tasmania on the Margate Marina, the vessel does exactly what it says on the tin: a two-in-one boat and sauna experience for up to eight guests. The Kuuma is simple yet superior, combining sweeping views of the Tasmanian landscape with a unique 1.5-hour wood-fired sauna experience onboard the floating pontoon. Guests can also opt for a three-hour Private Sauna Charter with skipper/sauna master and stop-offs at nearby beaches.

Sauna in Style - All aboard! Kuuma (kuuma.com.au) - Australia's first fully mobile floating sauna boat - takes visitors on southern Tasmania's most stunning pristine waters.

By Alice Hansen From Hobart to Bruny, here's where to try Tasmania's hottest winter ritual: wood-fired saunas, sauna boats and icy ocean plunges.

By Christina Karras | Photography by Eve Wilson When it comes to booking a holiday, we’re big believers that the very best recommendations always come from a local who actually knows the place like the back of their hand.

By Lume When I first met Chloe and Nathan Gore almost two years ago, one half of this entrepreneurial couple was flying down from Victoria every weekend to run their new business, Kuuma, Australia’s first fully mobile sauna boat.

By Sue Bailey Tasmanian couple's waterfront sauna venture has struck gold at tourism awards just months after opening, as locals embrace the Nordic-inspired wellness experience

By Helen Kempton A KING Island accommodation business, a tour operator who provides visitor experiences across the North-West and a luxury resoirt overlooking Bass Strait have all been recognised in this year's Tasmanian Tourism Awards.

By Pulse Tasmania Tasmania’s tourism industry has once again proven its strength, with 30 gold medals awarded across a range of categories at the 2025 Tasmanian Tourism Awards on Friday night.

By Duncan Abey This year's awards recipients sho the sheer diversity of products and experiences which combine to make Tasmania's tourism industry one of the best in the world.

By Traveller Team Go on an inner journey to these locations lauded for restfulness, rejuvenation and peace. Read on for our Wellness award winners.

By Koji Tsurumoto

By Angela Mollard In a city where saunas float and prisons speak, Hobart spins a tale of creativity and contrast – hot and cold, luxe and raw, old and original – inviting travellers into its ever-evolving story.

Hayden Cornes | Reporting Hobart will officially descend into darkness tonight, as Dark Mofo begins to paint the town red.

By Sarah Stanley SINGAPORE – For the first time, Tasmania is inviting one Singapore resident to embrace winter life Down Under on a week-long trip in August...The winner will visit three establishments in Australia’s southernmost state – Kuuma Nature Sauna, Devil’s Corner Cellar Door winery and Curringa Farm

By Carrie Hutchinson ... I’m heading south of Hobart to board Kuuma Nature Sauna. Nathan Gore built a Finnish-style sauna on a pontoon boat and now guests sweat it out while cruising.

Never mind that it's 4 degrees. Or that you're stepped out of an 84 degree sauna. A cold plunge is sure to warm the cockles. Winter in Tasmania demands nothing less than full commitment. A big breath. A bigger splash. Cannonballs will not be denied ...

Brought to you by Tourism Tasmania Take a chilly dip after a sweat session. Usually moored at Margate Marina, ...But from 5 to 15 June, it’ll dock at Kings Pier Marina...

By Shane Jolley Join Amanda and Shane on a seaplane adventure and river cruise in Hobart, winery and distillery tours in the Derwent Valley, a visit to an apple farm in the Huon Valley and a tour of Port Arthur.

By Kellie Floyd Australia’s growing Scandinavian sauna culture invites you to feel the heat, embrace the cold, and reconnect with nature in breathtaking destinations.

Discover a unique retreat at KUUMA Nature Sauna, Australia’s first mobile sauna boat. Just a 20-minute drive south of Hobart, this enchanting experience combines luxury and nature.

By Melissa Woodley Unwind on Australia’s first fully mobile sauna pontoon boat, TAS - The game plan here is simple: cruise, sweat, swim, repeat. Having launched in winter 2024, Kuuma Sauna brings the ultimate relaxation experience to southern Tasmania.

By Floyd Cowan Tasmania's crisp climate and stunning natural landscapes lends itself perfectly to saunas, ideal for anyone looking to unwind and reconnect with nature...

By Claire Isaac A sauna experience in a boat on the Tasmanian water may leave you cold … and then hot … and then cold. It’s a cool day in Hobart and I’m standing in my swimmers on a floating pontoon, warming my hands on a cup of peppermint tea.

Tasmania’s crisp climate lends itself perfectly to saunas, particularly during the Off Season. Kuuma - Nature Sauna In Southern Tasmania, you’ll find warmth through Kuuma, a pontoon boat which features a rejuvenating wood-fired sauna and a coastal waters dip in North West Bay. Whether a communal or private session, Kuuma offers a reviving experience of wellness and nature.

Inspired by the sauna cul­ture of North­ern Europe, hus­band and wife team Nathan and Chloe Gore wanted to take the Aus­tralian sauna o­ering to the next level. The ingeni­ous res­ult? Kuuma, Aus­tralia’s first sea­far­ing sauna pon­toon boat, which o­ers scenic sail­ings around North West Bay from Bar­retta, a 20-minute drive south of Hobart. Kuuma’s “a spe­cial place where every­one can unwind, recon­nect with nature, and enjoy moments of peace and mind­ful­ness” says Chloe. Book a com­munal spot or round up seven besties for a mem­or­able private out­ing. See kuuma.com.au

By Casey Bartholomeusz Relax at Kuuma Nature Sauna Imagine blending the ancient tradition of sauna therapy with the serene beauty of open water. Kuuma Nature Sauna has done just that. Situated just 20 minutes south of Hobart at Margate Marina in Barretta, this sauna boat promises an unique escape into nature during the off season.

By Kristie Lau-Adams Say yes to the country’s best sunrise activities to let a new day inspire and invigorate you. 11. Dawn, Heat and Dip at Kuuma Nature Sauna, Tas.