Rest House Float

The Verdict

Rest House Float in Hampton East is the latest Melbourne float centre to send customers in to a dreamy, deeply relaxed state.

Chances are, if you’ve been hanging around on Instagram, you’ve clapped eyes on those space age, floating pods. But what arrrreee they? If you’re not familiar with floating, let us give you a bit of a background.

In layman’s terms, they’re giant pods that are filled with extremely saline water. The combination of 500 litres of water and 500kg of epsom salts means that you’ll float effortlessly in the water. The water is treated to a perfect 35 degree celsius—an optimum skin temperature. I trotted off to Rest House Float to experience it for myself.

I don’t mean to gush, but it really was like no other experience. As a first time floater, I had a few apprehensions— what if I got claustrophobic? What if I couldn’t float? Fear not, my friends! The gorgeous team at Rest House Float made me feel completely at ease and explained everything.

Once I hopped into my pod and settled back, it was barely a jiffy before I felt like I was in la-la land.  As the temperature of the water is skin temperature, I quickly lost all sense of where my body started and finished and I slipped in to a deeply relaxed state. I’m fully aware how bizarre that sounds, but it has to be tried to be believed!

Essentially you can enjoy the weightlessness of being in water, but you don’t have to put any effort into floating. There is a seemingly endless list of benefits, but to touch on a few of the biggies, it’s great for relaxation, to release muscle tension, for concentration and brain function, and for sleep! No, I’m not talking about having a snooze in the pod, though plenty do. I’m talking about the ongoing benefits that floaters feel post-float. Plenty of people who struggle with insomnia or broken sleep report a dramatic improvement in sleep quality immediately following a session in the pod.

The Rest House facilities are magical— every element has been carefully thought out and the result is ‘relaxation’ personified. Towels are provided, the private shower and change facilities are top-notch and the reception area is just the sort of place you’ll want to hang around in after your float. I floated for one hour (though there are 90 minute and two hour options as well) and after I emerged, I was treated to a bevvy of relaxing activity options— hello herbal tea and colouring in!

Rest House Float is located in Hampton East, only a short distance from the Moorabbin train station. There are plenty of package options available and there’s a cheaper deal for first timers. 

Image credit: Michelle Jarni for The Urban List