New barrel sauna brings Nordic, Swedish tradition to Sunshine Coast

Drawing inspiration from Nordic traditions, a Sunshine Coast barrel sauna that has just opened to the public is redefining wellness by reconnecting clients with nature.

Braeden Hodges, a personal trainer with more than 11 years’ experience in the health and fitness industry, has launched Heaters Sauna, the Sunshine Coast’s first Swedish sauna, which officially opened on Saturday in Crohamhurst, near Beerwah.

“It started about two years ago when my husband and I went on our honeymoon and we experienced a more natural outdoor sauna in Tasmania,” Ms Hodges said.

“It was like a floating sauna and it was all wood-fired.”

Braeden Hodges, founder of Heaters Sauna. Photo: Supplied

Inspired by their honeymoon experience, the couple wanted to create a similar connection to nature for their clients.

“Just being in nature and outside with the fire and the wood and the elements, it created this whole different sauna experience … you’re completely immersed in nature. We just don’t really have anything like that here,” she said.

Initially, the couple planned to create a floating sauna on the coast but encountered challenges with council regulations.

However, a visit to New Zealand last year led them to the concept of a barrel sauna, which they embraced for their business.

Ms Hodges contrasted their nature-immersed sauna with the more conventional options found in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

“You’re going into a commercial building, you’re going from your office with fluorescent light, you’re going back into another building with fluorescent light. It’s a completely different experience,” she said.

She stressed the importance of reconnecting with nature and simplifying health practices.

“There’s so much seriousness in the health space, it’s becoming really regimented and the purpose of it is to de-stress, and people are getting stressed out about de-stressing,” she said, laughing.

“It’s just about taking the seriousness out of the health space and going back to what you actually need, which is back to your roots and being in nature.”

To bring their vision to life, the couple collaborated with local property owners who offer HipCamps.

“We pitched them our idea and that was really simple … we just have an agreement with the property owners,” Ms Hodges explained.

Heaters Sauna. Photo: Supplied

Since opening day, the public response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s been really great. We’re pretty stoked with the small amount of momentum that we’ve got, being that we’ve only technically had one business operating day, which was on the Saturday just gone,” Ms Hodges said.

Friends, family, and clients attended the launch event, and the business owner described it as a huge success.

“Everyone loved it … everyone just felt so rejuvenated from just being out there,” she said.

Heaters Sauna. Photo: Braeden Hodges

The barrel sauna has a capacity of eight people and offers private hire or single-seat booking sessions.

“We do couple’s picnics on the property as well,” Ms Hodges said.

“You get access to the sauna for an hour and the cold plunge.”

The sauna operates at a temperature of 75 to 85 degrees. Guests follow a structured routine of alternating between 15 minutes in the sauna and a two-minute cold plunge in the creek, repeated three times.

Heaters Sauna. Photo: Supplied

“The booking timeslots are all one hour, and if you book a single seat, you pay $38 for that seat,” Ms Hodges said.

She highlighted the health benefits of hot and cold therapy, which include reducing inflammation, speeding up recovery, boosting immunity, and improving metabolism.

“It’s just really great,” she said.

Originally published as New barrel sauna brings Nordic, Swedish tradition to Sunshine Coast