Northern Beaches, Sydney

Wood-fired communal sauna at Q Station on North Head in Manly, open Wednesday to Sunday. Sessions run 50 minutes for up to 12 people, with peak and off-peak prices and ten-session packs. The cold plunge is an ocean dip at Quarantine Beach, with an outdoor shower on site. Bring your own towel.

Nimbus Co in Rialto Lane, Manly, with private infrared sauna rooms, from 30-minute express sessions to extra large rooms that fit three or four, plus private contrast suites pairing an infrared sauna with a cold plunge bath. Most rooms have their own shower, and filtered water and towels are provided. Off-peak discounts apply at some times.

Recovery studio on Pittwater Road in North Manly with infrared saunas, ice baths, a warm plunge and a compression recovery lounge, open 6am to 8pm every day. Single sessions run 45 to 60 minutes, and weekly memberships range from one session a week to unlimited access across every area.

XtraClubs on The Corso in Manly, open 6am to 11pm every day, with a 90°C Finnish sauna, 70°C infrared saunas, a 45°C steam room and ice baths from 3 to 14°C. A single session is 90 minutes. Memberships on a 28-day rolling term cover unlimited off-peak visits, and packs work at any XtraClubs.

“private 2-person infrared sauna” : Positive Energy Health + Fitness

Private infrared sauna suites on Howard Avenue in Dee Why, each with towels and a shower, booked for an hour by one to three people. Contrast suites add an ice bath, and red light runs during sauna sessions. First visits are discounted. The studio is accessible and has parking. Check opening hours when you book.

“including a traditional Finnish sauna, a filtered, temperature-controlled UV-filtered cold plunge, a spacious shower” : Sauna Amalfi

Float studio on Level 2 of the Warringah Mall Medical Centre building on Cross Street, Brookvale. Each private float room has its own shower, and floats run 60 minutes. A three-float intro pack suits first-timers, and larger packs of three to twenty floats last a year and can be shared with family and friends.

Massage and lymphatic studio on Pittwater Road in Dee Why, built around the Power Touch lymphatic method. Body sessions run 40 to 90 minutes, alongside a Power Touch facial, LED light options and combined body-and-face bookings. A three-session body pack is available. Bookings need a $75 deposit, sessions with the founder cost more, and Sundays and public holidays carry a surcharge.

Massage studio on Pittwater Road in North Narrabeen, recently moved from Wheeler Heights. Lymphatic massage runs from 50-minute targeted sessions to 90 minutes of full body, face and dry brushing, alongside NeoLifting facial massage and a two-hour signature session. A 30% deposit secures a booking, and there is a council car park nearby.

RCVRI on Belgrave Street in Manly, with traditional and infrared saunas, hot and cold contrast pools and Normatec compression boots, and on-street parking. Casual sessions, five and ten packs, and weekly memberships from two to eight sessions a week are priced the same across RCVRI studios. First-timers can take a two-week intro pass of six sessions.

Traditional Finnish sauna, infrared heat, a 38-degree mineral pool, cold plunge, showers and a recovery lounge.