Watershed Queenstown

Aotearoa’s first, and finest, floating Sauna is (almost) here—and we’ve got the scoop. 

It turns out that Queenstown actually did need a glow up. The clear-pored and glassy complexioned-kinda glow-up, that one only gets after a session in the sauna. 

Enter Watershed: Queenstowns’ very own, purpose-built sauna, floating on Lake Wakatipu.  Just a stones’ throw from the CBD, it’s officially opening this December. 

It’s a game-changer for the sore, snow-boarded-out legs and thumping apres apres-ski heads of Queenstown. In your little wooden nook, 60-minutes will give you the best sweat, cold reinvigoration and view of the lake you can get in town. 

The nitty-gritty is taken care of. Towels, lockers, a place to store shoes are all sorted upon check in.

There’s two chic saunas to choose from. The roomy south-end sauna fits 14, and is a public space to connect with other wellness-loving folk. On the north-end, a compact sauna houses parties of six in a more private, book-it-out affair. 

Once in the sauna cabin: world’s your oyster. Bask in the heat with uninterrupted Lake Wakatipu views, lay out on the deck, submerge yourself in the in-built plunge pools, rinse and (literally) repeat. 

Of course, you're not tucked away from the many mountain peaks—floor to ceiling windows make sure you take in all the sights and sunsets.

But would you expect anything less? After all, it’s the brainchild of tastemaker extraordinaire Andrew Glenn (of Oyster Inn fame) and wellness aficionado Dominic Bowden. 

The cold plunge comes courtesy of Lake Wakatipu itself. A nice and nippy 9 degrees in winter, or 13 in summer, the crisp lake water reinvigorates the senses and pores between sweat sessions. 

The nature immersion doesn't stop there: the cabins’ internal plunge pools—on your very own deck—give you a literal pocket of lake’s crystal waters. Plus, you’re surrounded by sleek timbers and Narvi heaters that meld perfectly into the snow-capped mountains and lake surface. 

Watershed opens in December 2025. Keep your eyes out for opening times, sessions, activities and prices. We hear it’ll be a stacked roster.

Image Credit: Watershed | Supplied