Each 75-minute session gives you access to our floating saunas, cool rooms and outdoor deck on Lake Whakatipu. Move between the heat and cold at your own pace. For cold exposure, you can plunge directly into the lake, use our lake-fed cold showers or tip a glacial waterfall bucket. Cold plunging is completely optional. Our team will welcome you, explain how everything works and give you a safety briefing before you begin.

Bring swimwear and a water bottle. We recommend bringing warm, comfortable clothing to change into afterwards, particularly during the colder months.

Towels are available to hire, and drinks, swimwear and other essentials are available to purchase on site.

We’re located at 110 Beach Street, Queenstown, on the Lake Whakatipu waterfront at St Omer Wharf. The entrance is on the lakefront side of the building.

If you're coming from town, it's just a 3-minute walk from the town centre.

Queenstown can get busy, so we recommend allowing extra time to park before your session. Here are the best options:
Street parking on Lake Esplanade or surrounding streets (free)
Man Street Car Park (5 min walk, paid parking)
Queenstown Gardens (10-15 min walk, free for 4 hours)
You can alternatively use bus number 1 and get off at the Steamer wharf/Crowne Plaza stop.

We recommend booking in advance, particularly during weekends and peak periods, as sessions can sell out. Walk-ins are welcome when space is available.

Sessions are 75 minutes, including time to sauna, cool down, cold plunge and relax at your own pace. Please arrive around 15 minutes before your session so you have time to check in, change and receive your safety briefing.

Check in with our team at the wharf building, where you can change and store your belongings. Before heading onto the pontoon, we’ll give you a quick introduction and safety briefing. From there, your 75 minutes are yours to move between the sauna, cold water and cool-down spaces at your own pace.

We have changing rooms, lockers for your belongings, toilets, a hair-drying station and water refill facilities in our wharf building. On the floating pontoon, you’ll find two saunas, adjoining cool rooms, outdoor relaxation areas, lake plunge access, cold showers and glacial waterfall buckets.

Yes. We have cold-water showers on the floating pontoon, but no hot showers on site. Our showers use fresh water drawn directly from Lake Whakatipu, so soaps, shampoos and other bathing products cannot be used. Changing rooms and a hair-drying station are available in our wharf building.

Our saunas are set to operate at around 85°C, and vary depending on where you sit. If you’re new to sauna, start on a lower bench and take breaks whenever you need to. There’s no need to stay in for a set amount of time.

Not at all! Cold plunging is completely optional. You can cool down naturally in the cool room or out on the deck, or opt for the cold showers or glacial waterfall buckets. The experience is yours to take at your own pace.

We’re located at 110 Beach Street, Queenstown, on the Lake Whakatipu waterfront at St Omer Wharf. The entrance is on the lakefront side of the building.

If you're coming from town, it's just a 3-minute walk from the town centre.

Contrast therapy involves moving between heat and cold. For example, warming up in the sauna before cooling down in the lake. There’s no set formula at Watershed. You can move between hot and cold at your own pace and choose the level of cold exposure that feels right for you.

If you have a heart or cardiovascular condition, uncontrolled high or low blood pressure, a condition affecting circulation or temperature regulation, or another medical condition that could be affected by extreme heat or cold, please speak with your doctor before participating. You should also seek medical advice if you are unsure whether sauna or cold water immersion is appropriate for you.

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, please speak with your doctor or midwife before using the sauna or cold plunge. Heat and cold exposure is not recommended during pregnancy, so we recommend getting advice specific to you before booking. If your doctor or midwife has advised that you may use the sauna please ensure you hydrate well and stay in for shorter periods of time to avoid overheating.

Yes. Children aged 12 and over are welcome in our shared sessions when accompanied by a responsible adult. For children under 12, a private sauna booking is required, allowing families to enjoy the experience together without other guests.

Our team will give you a full safety briefing before your session. Please move carefully around the pontoon, use the ladders to enter and exit the lake, and never dive or jump into the water. Listen to your body, take breaks when needed and follow any instructions from our team.

Yes. We operate in most weather conditions, including rain. Sessions will only be cancelled or rescheduled if conditions make it unsafe for us to operate.

Watershed is permanently moored at St Omer Wharf, but because we’re floating on Lake Whakatipu, some natural movement can be felt when conditions are windy or choppy. We operate in most conditions and will contact you if the weather makes it unsafe to do so.

Most guests don’t experience motion sickness, but some movement can be felt on the pontoon, particularly when the lake is windy or choppy. If you’re particularly susceptible to motion sickness, please keep this in mind when booking and let our team know if you feel unwell during your session.

If weather conditions make it unsafe to operate, our team will contact you as soon as possible. You’ll be able to reschedule your session or receive a full refund.

Yes. Both of our saunas can be booked privately, giving your group exclusive use of the sauna and its adjoining cool room for the session. Private bookings are ideal for families, friends and small groups who want to experience Watershed together.

Absolutely. We host private groups, celebrations, corporate events, retreats and other special occasions. Depending on your group size, you can privately book a sauna or arrange a larger Watershed experience. Get in touch with our team and we can help create the right format for your group.

Bookings cancelled more than 24 hours before your session can be cancelled or rescheduled. Changes within 24 hours are subject to our cancellation policy, and same day changes require at least 12 hours’ notice.

Yes, you’re welcome to take photos and videos during your session. Please be considerate of other guests and avoid photographing or filming anyone without their permission.

You’re welcome to bring water or a non-alcoholic drink in a suitable bottle. For safety and cleanliness, please don’t bring food, glass or other outside drinks onto the pontoon.

No. Alcohol and sauna or cold-water immersion aren’t a safe combination. Please arrive sober. Alcohol cannot be consumed on the pontoon, and our team may refuse entry if they believe it would be unsafe for you to participate.

Pets aren’t permitted on the floating pontoon or inside the sauna facilities. Service animals are welcome in appropriate areas. Please contact our team ahead of your visit so we can make arrangements.