Outdoor Saunas for Glamping and Retreats: Is the Investment Worth It?
By Trove Collective Co. | Outdoor Living
Why saunas have become a must have amenity
Wellness has moved from something guests book separately to something they expect as part of the experience. For operators, a sauna is a way to give guests a reason to stay longer, book a second night and walk away with the kind of experience that gets shared and reviewed.
There's also a growing body of interest in the genuine wellness benefits, improved circulation, muscle recovery, better sleep and stress relief among them. Guests increasingly search specifically for properties with wellness amenities and a sauna signals exactly the kind of considered, elevated experience that justifies a premium nightly rate.
What to look for before you buy
Not all saunas are built equal, and the cheaper end of the market often cuts corners in ways that matter even more when a sauna is being used by guest after guest, season after season.
Timber quality. Look for naturally rot resistant timber suited to outdoor conditions. Cheaper timber warps, cracks and deteriorates far faster, particularly in harsh Australian sun and rain and faster under the wear of regular guest use.
Insulation. A well insulated sauna heats faster and holds heat more efficiently, which matters both for guest comfort and for running costs over time, especially if it's heating up multiple times a day.
Heating type. Electric saunas are simpler to install and use, and tend to suit sites managing multiple bookings, while wood fired saunas offer a more traditional ritual and experience but require more space, preparation and ongoing maintenance.
Build and warranty. A premium sauna should come backed by a genuine commercial warranty and be built to last well beyond a few seasons. This is not a product where it pays to go cheap, particularly when downtime for repairs means lost bookings.
Is it worth it for a family home?
For homeowners who genuinely value wellness, want a reason to be outside more often, or are creating a backyard that feels like a retreat rather than just a yard, the answer is generally yes. A sauna is the kind of feature that gets used year round, not just during a single season and it adds a sense of luxury to a property that few other additions can match.
It's also increasingly seen as a feature that adds genuine value to a home, particularly as buyer interest in wellness amenities continues to grow.
Is it worth it for glamping sites, eco retreats and hospitality venues?
For operators, the case is arguably even stronger. A sauna is exactly the kind of feature that turns a one night stay into a weekend booking, and a good experience into a five star review. Guests increasingly search specifically for properties with wellness amenities, and a beautifully positioned outdoor sauna, especially one with a view, becomes the photo every guest shares.
It also extends your usable season. A property that relies purely on summer weather for its outdoor appeal loses momentum in winter. A sauna gives guests a reason to book in the cooler months too, smoothing out seasonal demand.
The bottom line
A premium sauna is a genuine investment, not an impulse purchase and it should be treated that way. Done properly, with quality materials and the right setup, it's the kind of feature that gets used for years, whether that's by your own family or by guests who book your property specifically because of it.
We're building out our sauna range at Trove Collective Co. to meet exactly this standard, premium, long lasting and curated for both homeowners and operators who want a feature that earns its place.
