Feeling hot hot hot

Is it just us or has the cold snap hit your vibe too? The winter blues are real, but luckily, Navia Bathhouse in Byron Bay is here to warm you up and keep your wellbeing in check. Now that’s hot.

Nestled in the heart of Byron Bay, Navia Bathhouse is where Scandinavian sauna culture meets barefoot Aussie lifestyle. Call it self-care, call it survival, Navia was built on the Nordic principle of “hygge” – that hard-to-translate word that basically means warm and fuzzies. The good vibes high.

But the team behind Navia doesn’t just want you to feel good, they want you to feel alive. Whether you’re flying solo or bringing your sweat squad, this is the kind of place that reminds you to slow down and reconnect with yourself.

This sleek, black-timbered sanctuary is on a mission to turn your wellness routine into a full-blown ritual. Think of it as your new weekly religion, with the holy trinity of sauna, soak and chill.

Whether you’re dipping a toe into cold plunges or going full Viking, there’s a spot for you at Navia. Their two-hour bathhouse sessions give you the keys to a sensory wonderland: a black timber sauna that makes you feel like you’ve landed in Stockholm, a eucalyptus-infused steam room, a magnesium hot pool to soak away your sins, and not one but two icy plunges to test your limits (we’re talking 0–2ºC for the brave and a breezy 8ºC for the rest of us).

Between dips, there’s a chic lounge space with snacks and sips, because rehydrating with style is part of the deal.

To round out your sauna experience, massages are available to melt away any worries you’ve been holding onto. With 60 and 90 minute sessions, you can opt for deep tissue to soothing relaxation and gentle pregnancy treatments.

But if you’re as serious about self-care as we are, you must join the Sauna Club. Hosted three times a week, this is no ordinary sweat sesh. It’s a guided group experience for those wanting to level-up their sauna game. You’ll be led through breathwork to master the heat and conquer the cold, while learning why putting your body through hot-cold therapy isn’t just borderline bonkers, it’s scientifically backed to boost your mood, metabolism and immunity.

Numbers are capped at eight, so it’s intimate, supportive and probably the only club in town where it’s socially acceptable to wear nothing but a bikini this time of year.

If you’re ready to go all-in on the steam scene, Navia has options. Memberships are $90 per week with unlimited bathhouse access (yes, you can steam and soak until your heart’s content).

Prefer to dip in and out? Grab a 5-pack for $60 a session or go the distance with a 10-pack at $55 per visit. Your nervous system will thank you.

Where: 7 Marvell St, Byron Bay
When: Monday – Sunday 7am–8pm

Words by Lisette Drew