Baby, it’s cold outside! And while stripping down to your birthday suit in the great outdoors may seem counterproductive to staying warm, when there’s a hot tub waiting it makes perfect sense.
Surrounded by mountains, towering native trees, lakes and a blanket of stars, a regular bath at home will seem like a non-event compared to these incredible bathing experiences.
From Swedish wood-fired tubs to good ol’ spas, it’s time to sink into Australia’s best Slow Stays with hot tubs.
Cedar Cottage Meander
Meander, TAS
Photos by Natasha Mulhall Photography
Like a warm friendly hug, Cedar Cottage Meander is a hand-built masterpiece where everything is considered and well-loved. Found at the foot of kooparoona niara / the Great Western Tiers in Tasmania, surrounded by tonnes of short walks, this bespoke cottage is the ultimate rest stop when darkness begins to fall. Kick off your boots and huddle around the firepit, before climbing into the private cedar hot tub to gaze at the stars. You’ve never seen the Milky Way quite like this.
Wildernest Tiny T1
Tallong, NSW
Photos by Abbie Melle
Retreat to the off-grid Wildernest T1 in the Southern Highlands, about two hours out of Sydney, and upon arriving soothe stressed and tired limbs with a wash in the outdoors. Private, except for a few curious kangaroos, and bordered by old gumtrees, follow the steppingstones from this picture-perfect tiny house to find the unique, wood-fired hot tub. An afternoon spent relaxing here, gives the notion of ‘forest-bathing’ a whole new meaning.
Froghollow Lake House
Lillian Rock, NSW
Leave the kids and four-legged friends behind, and escape to peace and quiet at Froghollow Lake House. A secluded stay on the Northern Rivers, complete with its own private lake and mountain vistas, switching off to the chaos back home is inevitable in a setting like this. For serious relaxation vibes, plunge into the outdoor spa, then head to bed with a glass of red and a good book as the woodfire crackles beside you.
Blueberry Bay Cottage
Lymington, TAS
Bottom photos by Bec Willox
When you’re not cooking up a feast with handpicked produce in the self-contained kitchen, kayaking out front or nursing a full belly from a morning of farm tastings and cider swigging, be sure to carve out time to slip into the hot tub at Blueberry Bay Cottage. Overlooking the bay but completely private with eight acres of natural bushland cocooning the Swedish-inspired bath, this is one soaking experience you’ll need to plan for as pre-heating is required.
