Sauna Boat brings floating wellness to Docklands

Docklands has welcomed a new waterfront attraction with the launch of Sauna Boat Melbourne, a floating sanctuary berthed in Victoria Harbour at NewQuay near Melbourne City Marina. 

The timber-lined vessel combines the ritual of sauna and cold plunge with sweeping views of the city skyline, offering a new way to experience Victoria Harbour.

The project is the vision of Tasmanian couple Dan Bush and Grace Saffin, who first trialled the concept in Kettering, south of Hobart. After strong support from visitors – many of them Melburnians – the pair decided to bring their floating wellness idea to the mainland.

“It probably took about four years from the initial idea to getting everything up and running here,” Mr Bush told Docklands News. “There were engineering and maritime approvals to navigate – it’s a full-blown vessel under Australian maritime rules – but we always thought Melbourne would love one.”

Built in Wyndham Harbour and sailed across Port Phillip Bay to Docklands during a six-hour journey a few months ago, the sauna boat has been professionally engineered to ensure stability and safety.

“Weight distribution was critical,” Mr Bush said. “If you overload one side, a boat can tip, so we worked with specialists to get everything right before launching.”

The Docklands vessel features a single sauna that fits up to five people for private sessions, or four in smaller shared bookings to maintain an intimate atmosphere. On deck, two cold-plunge tubs offer contrasting temperatures: one set to Tasmanian winter ocean levels at a bracing 9–10 degrees, and another reflecting Victorian waters at 13–14 degrees. An outdoor cold shower completes the cycle.

From inside the sauna, guests look directly across Victoria Harbour towards Marvel Stadium and the city beyond.

“You sit in the heat, gaze out at the skyline, and then step onto the deck for a plunge – it’s a pretty special combination,” Mr Bush said, adding that its opening weekend in September drew a strong response.

“Everyone comes out feeling relaxed, limber, and in great spirits. You hear laughter, you hear screams from the ice baths, and it creates a really positive vibe,” he said.

The business fits neatly into Docklands’ broader renewal agenda, which has long sought to activate its waterfront with new experiences that draw residents and visitors.

Mr Bush believes Docklands is underrated.

“It’s beautiful and totally underrated,” he said. “You get that distinct feeling of a harbour with such a big body of water, and then you’re right next to the city. Grace and I have been checking out the local restaurants, and we think it’s a fantastic spot. If more people spent an afternoon here, they’d see how good it really is.”

For Docklands, Sauna Boat Melbourne represents more than a wellness novelty. It adds to the precinct’s growing reputation as a destination for unique activations and urban experiences.

As Mr Bush noted, “It’s not just about a sauna – it’s about giving people a reason to come to the waterfront.”

Sauna Boat Melbourne is open year-round, offering private and shared bookings for individuals, couples, and small groups. Sessions can be reserved online.•