Warm up at The Salty Finn Sauna, South Australia’s Finnish-inspired mobile sauna popping up at the Onkaparinga seaside this season…

You may have seen a black timber box parked at your favourite beachside destination. It’s called The Salty Finn Sauna, South Australia’s first wood-fired sauna on wheels that combines hot and cold therapy with direct ocean access.

We’ve been without a Salty Finn session since December last year, but as the cooler weather rolls through, the pop-up is back for the ultimate almost-winter wellbeing experience from May 9.

“The Salty Finn is a mobile wood-fired sauna, which brings together traditional Finnish sauna culture and the Australian love for the great outdoors,” explains founder Kate Firmager, who launched the concept in 2023 after taking inspiration from the sauna culture of her Finnish heritage.

Cooler weather is when The Salty Finn is at its best. Parking at Christies Beach, just north of the Surf Life Saving Club, the hot, wood-fired steam of the sauna is used in tandem with the icy waters of the Great Southern Ocean – a drip and dip combination designed to refresh your lymphatic system.

Sweat it out inside the custom-built trailer before plunging into the waves. Heat is controlled by pouring water over the hot stones in the sauna stove, and for the full hot/cold therapy benefits, Kate recommends patrons spend 10 to 15 minutes inside The Salty Finn before cooling off and repeating.

Science shows sauna use improves cardiovascular health, detoxification and muscular recovery, as well as individual wellbeing thanks to its tranquil environment. Cold water therapy is also said to reap the same benefits. “Together, the combination makes you feel like a new person,” says Kate.

“In Finland, sauna bathing is an ancient ritual, which continues to be woven into the seams of daily life. The Salty Finn is a momentary getaway and the perfect antidote to the stressors of life. It lifts your spirits and rejuvenates your mind, body and soul.”

As for the communal aspect of The Salty Finn, Kate says this cuts to the heart of sauna culture in Scandinavia. Up to six people can book a 30-minute or 60-minute session that’s designed to encourage a “fresh flow of renewed energy.”

“Whether with friends or sauna-loving strangers, a shared experience is the true Finnish way,” explains Kate. “It always brings like-minded people together, which just adds to the experience – you may sit in silence or have the deepest conversations.

“I wanted to create a traditional experience – a space for solitude and peace, human bonds and a deep connection with nature. There’s a reason why Finland continues to be the happiest place in the world!”

Embrace the magic of the cooler weather and traditional Nordic saunas this season at The Salty Finn Sauna, which will be located at Christies Beach foreshore for a limited four-week season beginning May 9. The Salty Finn Sauna is open from Thursday afternoons to Monday Mornings.

For more information, follow The Salty Finn Sauna on Instagram or book via their website here.