Outdoor Barrel Saunas have rapidly become one of the most popular choices for Australians looking to have their own luxury wellness sanctuary.
Today, we speak with SDS Australia’s Barrel Expert, Suz Vulic, about the incredible rise of cylindrical saunas over the past 12 months—and explore why they’re perfect for our nation’s outdoor lifestyle.
Hot Take: 8 Reasons Australians Love Barrel Saunas
- Heat-efficient design allows you to experience the benefits of heat-therapy
- Striking aesthetic complements the Australian landscape
- Panoramic views
- Perfect for backyards of all sizes
- Spacious feel inside the sauna
- Built for Australian conditions
- Versatile heating options
- Can be a great place to be social
Heat-efficient Design for a Premium Wellness Experience
The SDS Australia team has found a primary reason Australians have been trending towards Outdoor Barrels is due to the appeal of the sauna’s heat-efficient design.
The cylindrical structure creates a natural convection effect, promoting efficient heat circulation. This means the warmth flows evenly throughout the space, from the sauna benches to the ceiling, ensuring a consistently comfortable experience for users.
In turn, this makes it easy for people to experience the wellness benefits of heat-therapy when using a Barrel Sauna.
As Suz says, whether you’re in the middle of a scorching Queensland summer or the cool winters of Victoria, the highly functional design of a Barrel Sauna allows it to maintain its consistent heating performance.
Barrel Saunas & The Australian Landscape
It’s not just functionality that makes Barrel Saunas perfect for Australian conditions—it’s also the striking aesthetic.
While Barrel Saunas have Finnish origins, there’s something about the elegantly rustic charm of their design that resonates with the Australian outdoors. The distinctive round build and natural wood construction works to create a visual that seamlessly complements our various landscapes.
Whether you choose to have your Barrel Sauna integrated into a deck or positioned alongside a pool; placed near a bushland setting or nestled amongst your garden; it will look right at home in Australia’s various outdoor environments.
“Barrel Saunas really standout in our country’s landscapes”, states Suz.
“It’s pretty obvious that high-quality Barrels look incredible.”
Panoramic Barrel Sauna Views
For many Australians, the charm of a Barrel Sauna is more than its ability to blend with the native landscape—it’s the way it allows us to enjoy those surroundings.
“If you have a property with a view, then nothing beats a Barrel Sauna with a panoramic window. What better way to soak in the Australian landscape than sitting back in your sauna and enjoying the view?”, asks Suz.
“There’s a real sense of tranquillity to sitting in your sauna and looking out at the setting sun.”
Perfect Sauna for Australian Backyards of All Sizes
The rounded design of an Outdoor Barrel Sauna means it takes up less space externally.
In Australia—where outdoor living is huge part of our lifestyle—having that extra bit of outdoor space is often crucial. The smaller external footprint of Barrel Saunas makes them an ideal choice for urban backyards with limited space, as well as larger beachside and rural properties with numerous trees and flora around.
Spacious Internal Sauna Feel
“Yes, Barrel Sauna’s save space externally—but it shocks everyone how spacious Barrel Saunas feel once you get in there”, Suz explains.
Suz strongly believes that as more and more Australians find out how spacious a well-designed Barrel Sauna can feel, the more they’ll keep growing in popularity.
“I’ve spoken with so many people who thought Barrel Saunas were meant to be little. Then, after they step inside one of ours, they excitedly go, ‘Wow, this feels massive!’
Barrel Saunas are Built for Australian Conditions
Australia’s climate can be unforgiving—from intense heat to sudden downpours. High-quality Backyard Barrel Saunas are constructed to withstand these challenging conditions.
The Black Thermo Barrel Sauna, for instance, has been constructed from thermally modified Nordic spruce, making it highly durable and resilient. Thermal modification enhances wood’s stability and rot resistance, allowing it to withstand the Australian climate, including high humidity in coastal areas and intense UV-exposure inland.
Talking about this further, Suz explains, “For extra protection, SDS Australia has ensured all our Barrel Saunas are fitted with roof shingles to withstand the Australian climate”.
Versatile Sauna Heating Options
Every Australian is different when it comes to their sauna preferences.
Over the course of the past 20-plus years, one of the most common preference-splits the SDS Australia team have seen is from those who love electric sauna heaters and those who prefer a traditional wood-fired heater.
A great thing about Outdoor Barrel Saunas is that they’re available in both heating options, making them adaptable to diverse lifestyles across Australia. The ‘Natual’ Thermo Barrel Sauna, for example, can be utilised with a selected electric heater—providing a quick heating solution, perfect for those with busy schedules or limited outdoor space in urban areas. Alternatively, pairing a Barrel Sauna with a selected wood-fired heater delivers a rustic, off-grid experience, ideal for rural or remote Australian settings.
Social Sauna Experience
On top of everything else we’ve talked about; Australians are after a healthy lifestyle. Outdoor Barrel Saunas help to provide just that, offering a private wellness retreat just steps from your back door. They’re the perfect space to experience the benefits of heat therapy—whether by yourself or while relaxing with family and friends.
This point about relaxing with friends and family is an important one. It’s a crucial element for many Australians when they consider purchasing a sauna.
“Australians really love the social aspect of Barrel Saunas”, says Suz.
“Having the benches paired opposite each other allows friends and family to have a good chat while they heat up. That’s something Australians love!”
Shop Barrel Saunas in Australia
Suz and SDS Australia’s expert team believe that the popularity of Barrel Saunas in Australia isn’t just a passing trend. Rather, they see it as a movement that’s here to stay—reflecting the ever-growing desires of Australians for wellness-focused outdoor spaces.
“Ultimately, there’s a number of reasons behind the rise in popularity of Barrel Saunas. In the case of SDS Australia’s Barrel range, it’s the clever designs. The beautiful aesthetics. The premium quality. The affordable prices. And that ability to experience the great outdoors while putting your body through a bit of heat therapy!”
Want to indulge in the Australian landscape from your very own Barrel Sauna? Discover SDS Australia’s Barrel Saunas today or enquire with our friendly team for expert advice!
