By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Queenstown is a city of extremes. By day, its peaks are alive with skiers carving fresh powder, hikers tracing alpine trails and gondolas carrying passengers over glittering lakes. By night, the town pulses with energy, drawing travellers from around the world to its lively restaurants and bars.
Yet amid the rush of adventure, there is a growing craving for spaces where time slows and the senses can breathe. This December, The Bathhouse Queenstown will answer that call, marking The Bathhouse Group’s first international venture while bringing their signature blend of luxury, design and wellness to New Zealand’s adventure capital.
The Bathhouse Group has long redefined modern wellness in Australia. Its flagship sanctuary, The Bathhouse Albion in Brisbane, has become both a local favourite and a must-visit for discerning travellers.
More than a bathhouse, it is a carefully curated experience where guests are invited to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with themselves. Now, that philosophy of restorative indulgence crosses the Tasman, bringing a sense of calm to a city celebrated for its thrill-seekers.
Nestled in the heart of Queenstown, just steps from Skyline Queenstown and Bespoke Kitchen, The Bathhouse Queenstown promises a serene retreat amid the town’s vibrant energy. Imagine emerging from a morning hike to the crisp mountain air, slipping into a heated pool while soft natural light filters through the space or surrendering to a Finnish sauna with a crackling fireplace as the scent of natural oils lingers on the skin.
Every corner has been considered. Every moment is unhurried. The experience is indulgent yet grounding, inspired by the extraordinary mountains, lakes and trails that frame the town.
Hannah Hardy, General Manager of The Bathhouse Group, explains why Queenstown felt like a natural choice:
"Queenstown felt like a natural next step for The Bathhouse Group. It is a destination globally celebrated for adventure, wellness and nature and attracts guests who share the same ethos our brand is built on,” she says.
"We are bringing an unrivalled luxury bathhouse offering to Queenstown with our fully immersive, comprehensive offering of hot and cold pools, saunas and steam rooms delivered with a first-class customer experience.”
Drawing on the timeless traditions of European bathhouses, The Bathhouse Queenstown combines refined, minimalist design with a sensory-led approach. Studio Snell, the architectural studio behind the project, has created a space where natural materials, subtle textures and atmospheric lighting come together to encourage pause and presence.
Guests will feel the contrast of warm and cold, the gentle hum of meditative soundscapes, the calming influence of natural scents, all while their eyes drink in the soft interplay of light and shadow across stone, timber and water.
Amenities are designed to offer the full spectrum of restorative experiences. A 38 C heated vitality pool is complemented by a cooler ambient pool and a 12 C cold plunge. For those who prefer dry heat, there is a Finnish sauna with a fireplace, a scented steam room and two infrared saunas.
Beyond bathing, the experience extends to multiple tea lounges, high-end change facilities and curated touches such as unlimited complimentary towel use. Hair and body care products by locally founded brand Sans[ceuticals] and Dyson styling tools ensure that guests leave feeling pampered from head to toe. The entire sanctuary is phone-free, encouraging a deeper connection to self and the space around you.
Despite its name, treating the Bathhouse Queenstown as a basic bathing facility does it no justice. Instead, it is better considered a carefully orchestrated pause in a city that never stops, an invitation to linger, to breathe, to reconnect. It promises a balance of adventure and calm, thrill and serenity, that is increasingly rare in the modern world.
For travellers seeking an immersive, sensory-rich wellness experience, this is the place to let the mountains and lakes fade into the background while every detail of design, scent and warmth draws you deeper into the moment.
Opening in December 2025, The Bathhouse Queenstown is poised to become a destination in its own right and is already creating a stir among those who crave both adventure and calm.
Follow the journey on Instagram at @thebathhousegroup or register for updates at www.thebathhousequeenstown.co.nz.
