Australia's first floating bathhouse has opened in the Gold Coast hinterland – and it's pure luxury

Time Out

3 hours ago

Australia is well and truly in its wellness era, with luxe saunas and spas popping up all across the country. Now, the Gold Coast hinterland is turning up the heat with the country's first 'floating' elemental bathhouse. Submerged in subtropical rainforest, it's complete with hot thermal pools, ice baths, a cedar wood sauna, botanical steam room, scrub suite, salt cave and an open-air fire pit that descends below a lake. And it's phone-free – because total relaxation is the only thing on the schedule.
Sol Elements has been a four-year labour of love for husband-and-wife duo, Russell and Shae Raven, who enlisted the creative minds at Design Artisan Co to bring their unique vision to life: a bathhouse inspired by the four elements, earth, air, fire and water.
Perched on the lake's edge in the heart of Tamborine Mountain, this sanctuary is just a relaxed 50-minute drive from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Sol was designed to harmonise with its subtropical surroundings, featuring a striking circular structure that floats on a tranquil lake home to turtles, ducks and native birds. Inside, the wabi-sabi-inspired interiors are just as consciously curated – think yakisugi (traditional Japanese burnt wood) personally hand-burnt by Russell, paired with earthy bronze and slate finishes. But as beautiful as it looks, the real magic happens when you step inside and let yourself unwind.
Begin your wellness journey in the Elemental Playground – a tranquil oasis designed to awaken every sense. You can drift between three outdoor magnesium thermal pools heated to 38 degrees, invigorate your body with a plunge in one of two 12-degree cold pools, then sweat it out in the cedar wood sauna offering a glass-faced lookout perched over the lake. There's also a 'silent' botanical steam room for ultimate peace and quiet, a Himalayan salt cave and two bookable magnesium float caves infused with 39 per cent salt.
For something a little extra special, Sol Elements has created an Earth Lab where you can craft your own personalised exfoliation scrub using a salt or sugar base blended with organic botanicals. Think chamomile flower, hibiscus flower, spirulina, calendula and rose petals. Afterwards, cool off and connect at the communal outdoor fire pit, submerged below water level.
If you're after a more exclusive bathing experience, Sol offers two private suites – one of which is dog-friendly. Each suite boasts a thermal mineral bath on its own secluded balcony, an infrared sauna, ice bath, botanical scrubs, wellness mini bar stocked with 'spatinis' and ceremonial tea, and panoramic views of the glistening lake.
Once you're feeling all zen, you can indulge in one of Sol Elements' six signature spa rituals, ranging from a hot stone and sound journey to a full-body massage enhanced with essential oils distilled from the Australian bush. This is definitely a bathhouse worth crossing the country for – and a great excuse for a holiday in the Gold Coast hinterland. You can find out more here.