Our Top 5 Gold Coast Bathhouses to Visit This New Year

Embarking on the new year often brings a mix of excitement and residual stress from the hustle and bustle of the festive season. So, to assist with the latter, we've curated a list of our top 5 bathhouses in the Gold Coast area so that you can kickstart 2024 on a more rejuvenating note.

The concept of bathhouses has been present in various cultures throughout history, including Turkish hammams, Russian banyas, Japanese onsens, and Korean jimjilbangs. The oldest known bathhouses are believed to have originated in the lost city of Mohenjo-daro, located in present-day Pakistan, dating back to as early as 2500 BC.

In some cultures, bathhouses serve as places for communal bathing and socialising, whereas for others, it’s an individual self-care practice or religious ritual. However, in modern western bathhouses, it is more associated as part of a holistic approach to wellness, often including amenities, such as baths of multiple temperatures, steam rooms, saunas, cold plunge pools, massages, beauty treatments, and sometimes even fitness classes.

Located adjacent to the vibrant Gold Coast Highway, SOAK bathhouse serves as a bridge between two realms, acting as a central meeting point between the serene shores of Mermaid Beach and the bustling heart of Broadbeach. 

Embracing social connection and community as integral aspects of its ethos, SOAK offers a range of facilities, including a spacious meeting pool, three temperature-controlled spas, a cold plunge pool, a sauna, and a steam room, with ABI Interiors’ tapware and accessories featured throughout for an extra aesthetic touch. 

Beyond these amenities, SOAK also caters to diverse communal needs by providing multiple treatment rooms, infrared saunas, and co-working spaces, ensuring a comprehensive solution for various personal and shared experiences.

Located a little more north of the Gold Coast? SOAK Bathhouse is also found in the heart of Brisbane, perched above the city streets in West End, so you can experience the serenity of SOAK no matter where you’re located.

Situated in the untouched bushland of Tallebudgeera Valley, the Greenhouse Bathhouse breathes new life into a former tea house, offering a space rich in the Valley’s history and charm. Embracing a more rustic ambience, Greenhouse features amenities such as a cold plunge pool, steam room, sauna, and a communal above-ground bubbling hot spa. Additionally, an open fire pit provides a unique setting where guests can enjoy refreshments while having natural facemasks applied.

Greenhouse prioritises a semi-immersive experience by strategically separating dining and massage areas, ensuring that your needs are catered for without disruption.

Located along the scenic Kirra coastline, Native State is a fully indoor, luxurious, European-inspired bathhouse. It is meticulously designed with a minimalist approach, incorporating soothing materials like neutral stones and slate and low ambient lighting to create an immersive atmosphere that allows you to escape the external world.

With amenities such as a meditation lounge, traditional cedar sauna, infrared sauna, heated vitality pool, cold plunge pool, and steam room, Native State offers a comprehensive retreat, ensuring you leave your experience feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Nestled within the lush tropical landscape of Currumbin Valley’s Ecovillage, The Bathhouse at Ground offers a captivating retreat into nature, set amidst the picturesque restoration of a 100-year-old farmhouse.

Featuring mineral-enriched hydrotherapy spas, plunge pools, cedar hot tubs, wood-fired saunas, and infrared saunas, The Bathhouse at Ground stands as an understated sanctuary, embodying Ground's overarching commitment to sustainability and community with all-natural ingredients in an immersive natural environment.

Located just an hour south of the Gold Coast region, The Banya represents a modern reinterpretation of conventional Russian bathhouses, introducing an unexpected but embraced addition to the centre of Mullumbimby.

Immersing itself in the convivial social bathing traditions of Northern Europe, The Banya offers a checkerboard-tiled lap pool, wood-fired sauna, steam room, two hot mineral pools, and a cold plunge, harmonised by plenty of on-site bar and dining amenities for further socialising. It’s the perfect spot for hosting a party or gathering with friends.

Regardless of the bathhouse you select, you are guaranteed to achieve the relaxation you seek; it all boils down to your preferred style and location. So, why not consider giving yourself the ideal start to the year by indulging in some self-pampering?

Want some more restorative inspiration for inside the confines of your own home? Check out 8 Bathroom Relaxation Tips For Your Self-Care Routine.