Australia – The best open-air baths for stargazing
A steamy outdoor bath at sunset with a bottle of local sparkling is indulgence, Tasmanian style. Sink into a deep tub, watch as sunset turns to dusk and a blanket of stars settles overhead. Let your mind drift. Sink deeper.
There are outdoor tubs in Tasmania with peerless ocean views and mountain outlooks. Tubs made for forest bathing and alpine immersion. There’s even a floating sauna at Derby – heat up, then hit reset with a refreshing dip in the lake just outside. Grab the towel and beanie – you’ll be smitten with these outdoor tubs.
Eagles Nest Retreat
Which bath to choose? An outdoor 12-jet farmer’s bath, a lakeside spa bath, a mountain-view bath or a milk-vat bath? With views of bucolic farmland and Mount Roland, each suite at Eagles Nest Retreat offers a special bathing experience.
Thalia Haven
The coastal hideaway of Thalia Haven comes with its own secluded beach, a deckfront outdoor bath and a wood-fired sauna. Fill your tub and sink in with nothing between you and the lapping waves of Great Oyster Bay.
Floating Sauna Lake Derby
Embrace the extremes at Floating Sauna Lake Derby, moored just a short walk or ride from the mountain-bike hub of Derby. Spend an hour alternating between the wood-fired sauna, relaxing behind a wall of glass, and repeated plunges in the chill lake outside.
The Keep
Take a long, hot soak in a carved granite outdoor bath with astonishing views all the way to the eastern and northern coastlines. Right on the border of the Blue Tier Forest Reserve, The Keep is a private retreat, perfect for those who want to unplug.
Left of Field
What a way to unwind after an adrenaline-pumping day at Maydena Bike Park or exploring Mount Field National Park. Left of Field camping and caravan park has a wood-fired outdoor bath tub tucked away in the forest.
King Billy Spa
The King Billy Suite at Cradle Mountain Lodge comes with a private outdoor tub. A barrel bath rests on the deck and the dense surrounding bush provides all the privacy you’ll need.
Freycinet Lodge’s Coastal Pavilions
Hidden in the forest beside Great Oyster Bay are the environmentally-friendly Coastal Pavilions. Custom-fit into the landscape, there are dreamy views of beach or bush from deckside outdoor tubs.
The Retreat
On the shore of Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake, bookend days exploring the wilderness with time spent soaking in a secluded open-air tub at The Retreat at Pumphouse Point. Best teamed with a glass of Tasmanian wine from the honesty bar.
Taraki Lodge
Alternate between sessions in the wood-fired sauna atop the dunes and the adjacent deep outdoor tub at Taraki Lodge on King Island. Follow up with conversation around the firepit.
Porky Beach Retreat
This outdoor tub is perched high on the dunes of a private beach on King Island. Enjoy a platter of King Island cheese with a glass of Tassie pinot overlooking a rugged coastline.
