Best Outdoor Sauna in Australia: 2026 Buying Guide

Most outdoor saunas look the same in photos. The differences that decide how long a sauna lasts sit inside the walls and under the roof, where you can't see them before you buy. This buying guide covers the eleven things worth checking before you choose the best outdoor sauna for your Australian home.

1. Choose a traditional sauna or an infrared sauna first

A traditional sauna heats the air with an electric heater and a basket of hot rocks. You ladle water over the rocks to create steam, known in Finland as löyly. An infrared sauna uses panels that warm your body directly and runs at much lower air temperatures with no steam. If you want real heat and steam in your backyard, you are looking for a traditional outdoor sauna. Our guide to traditional vs infrared saunas explains the difference in detail.

2. Check where the timber comes from

Not all cedar is the same. Many saunas sold in Australia use Japanese Cedar, which grows faster and produces softer and less dense timber. Canadian timber grows slower in a colder climate. That creates a tighter grain that stays more stable outdoors. Every Nova Sauna is built from 100% Canadian timber in either Canadian Hemlock or Canadian Red Cedar.

3. Ask for full-length boards, not finger-jointed staves

Many cheaper saunas are built from finger-jointed staves. Short offcuts of timber are coated in adhesive and pressed together to make a full-length board. The joins are weak points that can split and move over time. Ask the seller whether every wall stave is one solid piece of timber. Nova only uses full-length boards with no glued offcuts.

4. Look for thermally modified timber

Thermal modification is one of the most expensive steps in building a sauna. It is also one of the easiest to skip because you can't see it when the sauna is new. Each board is heat treated in a low oxygen environment to remove moisture and sugars from the wood. The result is timber that resists warping, shrinking and gaps. Every Nova Sauna uses timber that is thermally modified for 72 hours.

5. Compare wall thickness

Thicker walls hold heat better and make a sturdier sauna. Many outdoor saunas use 30mm panels. Nova uses 38mm timber, which is 27% thicker. When you compare specifications, check the wall thickness in millimetres rather than relying on words like "solid" or "premium".

6. Check the roof

An outdoor sauna sits in sun, rain and wind every day of the year. A proper roof protects the timber below it. Every Nova Sauna comes with SAUNAPROTECT™ weatherproof bitumen roof shingles. Together with the thermally modified timber, this lets the sauna stay outdoors and fully exposed with no extra cover.

7. Choose the right sauna heater from the start

The heater shapes every session you will have. Three things matter most.

• Power: the heater must suit the size of the room. The 2 person Sauna Lite uses a 6kW Harvia or 4.5kW HUUM heater. The 4, 6 and 8 person models use 9kW heaters.
• Controls: a manual heater has dials on the unit. A heater with a control panel and WiFi lets you set the exact temperature and schedule sessions from your phone.
• Rock capacity: more rocks hold more heat and give softer steam. The Harvia The Wall holds 20kg of rocks and the HUUM Drop holds 60kg.

Upgrading a heater later is costly because it means replacing the whole unit and rewiring. See our sauna heater comparison before you decide.

8. Measure your backyard

Measure the area where the sauna will sit and allow room to walk around it. These are the external sizes of the Nova range.

• Sauna Lite (2 person): 1750mm long, 1290mm wide and 2060mm high
• Sauna Cabin (4 person): 2246mm long, 1740mm wide and 2386mm high
• Sauna Cube (6 person): 2080mm long, 1800mm wide and 2060mm high
• Sauna Lodge (8 person): 2306mm long, 2300mm wide and 2459mm high

Think about how many people will use it at once. A sauna that fits the whole household gets used more often.

9. Plan the base, power and installation

An outdoor sauna needs a flat, level and stable surface such as a concrete slab, tiled area or reinforced deck. The heater can't be plugged into a power point. A licensed electrician hardwires it to your switchboard with a dedicated circuit. Nova Saunas arrive flat packed with pre-cut interlocking panels for DIY assembly. Read our guide to outdoor sauna electrical and installation requirements before you order.

10. Understand the running costs

Running costs are lower than most people expect. A typical two-hour session costs around $2.15 to $2.80 in the 2 person Sauna Lite and $3.20 to $4.20 in the 4, 6 and 8 person models at average Australian electricity rates. Our guide to sauna running costs shows how to work out your own figure.

11. Check delivery and support

A sauna is a long-term purchase, so the company behind it matters. Ask how the sauna is delivered and who you can call during assembly or years later. Nova delivers to your property in a timber crate on a tail-lift truck. Every Nova Sauna comes with lifetime after sales support from our team.

Your outdoor sauna buying checklist

• A traditional heater with hot rocks for real steam
• 100% Canadian timber
• Full-length boards with no finger joints
• Thermally modified timber
• Wall thickness of 38mm
• Weatherproof roof shingles
• A heater sized for the room with the controls you want
• A level base and a licensed electrician booked
• A company that supports you after delivery