Koala Hats Sauna Rating
9.3/10
A wood-fired barrel sauna, a lake plunge and mountain views. Simple, raw and one of the best we have visited.
We visited The Secret Sauna at Lake Hāwea, about 15 minutes from Wānaka in New Zealand's South Island, in mid-October 2026 as part of our search for the best saunas we can find. It is a wood-fired barrel sauna right on the lake, and during our session it sat at roughly 90°C. We rated it 9.3/10.
If you are searching for a Secret Sauna Lake Hāwea review, here is what the session was like, what it costs, what to bring and who we think it suits.
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Secret Sauna Lake Hāwea review: the short answer
The Secret Sauna is one of the best sauna locations we have visited so far. It is a handcrafted wood-fired barrel sauna on the shore of Lake Hāwea, with proper heat, mountain and lake views from the bench and a plunge straight into the water. It feels simple, raw and authentic rather than overly commercial, and at about NZ$35 for an hour it is very good value. If you are anywhere near Wānaka, it is worth planning around.
Secret Sauna Lake Hāwea quick facts
Location
The Camp, 1208 Makarora-Lake Hāwea Road, Lake Hāwea, about 15 minutes from Wānaka
Sauna type
Wood-fired barrel sauna
Temperature
About 90°C during our session (they say 70 to 95°C)
Cold plunge
Straight into Lake Hāwea
Session
1 hour, three rounds with lake dips
Price (checked Oct 2026)
Shared sauna from NZ$35 for 1 hour
Bring
Swimwear and two towels
Koala Hats rating
9.3/10
Prices, session times and availability change, so check the official Lake Hāwea page before you book.
Watch our Secret Sauna Lake Hāwea review
This is the video from our Instagram Reel. It shows the road in, the barrel sauna, the views over the lake and the cold plunge. Watch the original Reel on Instagram.
What is The Secret Sauna Lake Hāwea?
The Secret Sauna launched in 2023 with a single eight-person barrel sauna and has since grown to two locations: this lakeside sauna at Lake Hāwea and a mountain sauna in Cardrona. At Lake Hāwea there are two wood-fired barrel saunas, one for up to eight people and one for up to twelve. According to the team, the saunas are custom handcrafted in Christchurch from Western Red Cedar and Baltic Pine.
The sauna sits at The Camp, a lakeside campground on the edge of Lake Hāwea township, around 15 kilometres from Wānaka. You can follow them on Instagram at @the.secret.sauna.nz.
A couple of clips from the visit:
The sauna and the heat
This is a proper wood-fired sauna, and it felt completely different to a commercial electric sauna. During our session the heat sat at roughly 90°C, which is strong, honest sauna heat. The Secret Sauna says its saunas run between 70 and 95°C and that the temperature can shift through the session because it is wood-fired. The hottest spot is by the fire and the coolest is by the door.
A one-hour session is three rounds of 10 to 15 minutes in the sauna, with a plunge into the lake between each round. Your host gives a short briefing first, and the sauna uses music and essential oils to set the atmosphere.
We wore our 100% Australian merino Koala Hat throughout the session. At around 90°C the heat is strongest around your head, and a wool sauna hat helps reduce direct dry heat exposure, helps with head heat comfort and supports hair and scalp comfort. It made the hot rounds feel more comfortable, which is why it comes with us to every sauna.
New to sauna hats? Read why people wear hats in the sauna.
Built for the heat.
The Koala Sauna Hat is made from 100% Australian merino wool and designed for regular sauna users who want natural insulation, head heat comfort and a cleaner sauna routine.
Shop The Koala HatThe Lake Hāwea cold plunge
The cold plunge is the lake itself, and it is a big part of why the whole thing works. You walk straight from the sauna down to the water, dip in, then head back for the next round. The team recommends crocs or similar footwear for the walk, and says the lake is the best way to rinse off afterwards.
You do not have to go into the lake if you do not want to. Guests who prefer can pour lake water over themselves from a bucket instead. If you are new to hot and cold routines, our guide to building a sauna and cold plunge routine covers timing and beginner tips.
Location, views and atmosphere
The views are why people talk about this place. From the bench you look out over Lake Hāwea and the mountains, and it feels remote and wild rather than manicured. The whole experience felt simple, raw and authentic. It is a sauna on a lake with a fire, not a spa, and we loved that.
There is a heated lounge yurt with changing rooms and storage, an outdoor shower, and free herbal tea afterwards. Plan to arrive in your swimwear because changing rooms can be busy.
Price and value
When we visited, a shared one-hour session was about NZ$35. At the time of writing The Secret Sauna lists the shared sauna at NZ$35 for one hour or NZ$64 for two hours, and a private eight-person sauna from NZ$199 for one hour. They also sell multi-session passes and gift cards.
For a wood-fired lakeside sauna with a host, tea and this kind of view, we thought it was excellent value. Confirm current prices and times on the official page before you book.
What to bring
- swimwear, which is required
- two towels, one to sit on and one to dry off (towels can be hired on-site)
- a water bottle
- a mug for the free herbal tea
- crocs or similar footwear for the walk to the lake
- warm, loose clothes for afterwards
- your Koala Hat
The team also asks guests to take off metal jewellery and keep phones on silent. Our sauna essentials checklist has the full list.
What we loved and what to know
What we loved
- a proper wood-fired barrel sauna
- strong heat, about 90°C in our session
- lake and mountain views from inside
- the lake as a natural cold plunge
- simple, raw and authentic, not overly commercial
- free herbal tea and a lounge yurt
- great value for the setting
Things to know
- book ahead, sessions often fill
- swimwear is required
- public sessions are 18 and over
- the lake is cold, and you can use a bucket instead
- wood-fired heat varies through a session
- hours change by season, and over 27 December to 10 January it is open only to Camp guests
- check current pricing before you book
Koala Hats Sauna Rating: 9.3/10
The Secret Sauna Lake Hāwea earned a 9.3/10 from us. Here is how each part of the visit scored.
The heat was strong and authentic, and the lake plunge made it feel like a proper contrast session. Facilities are simple by design, with a yurt, changing rooms and an outdoor shower, which is part of the charm rather than a flaw. Value is hard to beat, and the location is the standout. Lake, mountains and a wood fire is about as good as it gets.
Who we would recommend it to
We would recommend The Secret Sauna to anyone visiting Wānaka or Queenstown who wants an authentic sauna rather than a polished spa. It suits couples, groups of friends and solo travellers, and the host briefing makes it easy for first-timers. If you want a private or luxury setup with a refrigerated plunge, you may prefer something else. If you want the lake, the fire and the view, it is hard to beat.
Back home, Harbour Heat at Q Station in Manly is the closest thing we have found in Sydney. It is also wood-fired with a natural plunge, though the setting is the harbour rather than a lake.
Make a day of it: Blue Pools and Mt Iron
There is plenty to do nearby, and a couple of activities pair well with a sauna session.
Blue Pools, before or after
The Blue Pools are in Mount Aspiring National Park near Makarora, on the Haast Pass road that runs north through Lake Hāwea. It is an easy walk of about 3 kilometres return, taking around an hour, through beech forest and across swing bridges to clear turquoise pools. It works well before a session to stretch the legs, or after one to wind down. The water is glacier-fed and very cold, so most people come for the walk and the view. Check the Wānaka visitor guide for current track details.
Mt Iron at sunset
We finished the day with a sunset walk up Mt Iron in Wānaka. It is a roughly 4.5 kilometre loop that takes around 1.5 hours, with panoramic views over the town and lake. Check the Wānaka visitor guide for current track details.
Secret Sauna Lake Hāwea FAQs
Where is The Secret Sauna Lake Hāwea (Hawea)?
The Secret Sauna is at The Camp, 1208 Makarora-Lake Hāwea Road, Lake Hāwea, about 15 kilometres and 16 minutes from Wānaka by car. Follow the signs to the designated parking area.
How much does The Secret Sauna Lake Hāwea cost?
At the time of writing, a shared one-hour session is NZ$35 and a two-hour shared session is NZ$64. A private eight-person sauna starts at NZ$199 for one hour. Check the official website for current pricing.
How hot is the sauna at Lake Hāwea?
The team says their saunas run between 70 and 95°C. Ours sat at roughly 90°C. Because it is wood-fired, the temperature can vary through the session, and it is hottest near the fire and coolest near the door.
Is there a cold plunge at The Secret Sauna?
Yes. The cold plunge is Lake Hāwea itself, steps from the sauna. You do not have to go in, and a bucket of lake water is an option if you would rather not.
What should I bring to The Secret Sauna?
Bring swimwear, two towels, a water bottle, a mug for the free herbal tea and crocs or similar footwear for the lake. Towel and robe hire is available on-site.
Do I need to book The Secret Sauna?
Yes, booking ahead is strongly recommended because sessions often fill or are booked privately. Book through the official website.
Is The Secret Sauna open all year?
Yes, it is open in all seasons, with opening hours that change through the year. From 27 December to 10 January it is open only to guests staying at The Camp, so check the website for current dates.
Can you wear a sauna hat at The Secret Sauna?
We wore our Koala Hat throughout our session. A merino wool sauna hat helps reduce direct dry heat exposure and supports head heat comfort in a hot wood-fired sauna.
Build your sauna protocol.
The Koala Protocol is a free session builder that creates a personalised sauna and recovery routine based on exactly how you are feeling and what you have access to that day.
Build your protocolFinding the best saunas
This review is part of our ongoing search for the best sauna experiences, from Sydney's private recovery studios to wood-fired saunas on the water. So far we have reviewed TC Recovery in Drummoyne, Harbour Heat at Q Station Manly and The Secret Sauna at Lake Hāwea.
Where should we visit next? Tell us on Instagram and we will add it to the list.
Sources and links
- The Secret Sauna, Lake Hāwea
- The Secret Sauna website
- The Secret Sauna on Instagram
- The Camp, Lake Hāwea
- Blue Pools Track, Wānaka
- Mount Iron Walk, Wānaka
- Our Secret Sauna Reel on Instagram