El Sauna is a mobile, wood-fired sauna in the Marlborough Sounds, listed at 26 London Quay in Picton. The owners, Alejandra and Rob, built it themselves from sustainable, natural and non-toxic materials, and the sauna has a window looking out to the natural environment. Public sessions last one hour and can be booked online. Private sessions are arranged by contacting the owners directly. Paying for a booking means agreeing to the waiver and conditions of use, which the website links to.
The website suggests spending 10 to 15 minutes in the sauna, then cooling off in the cold sea, a cold shower or the open air, and repeating this through the hour. Visitors should bring two clean towels, one to sit on and one to dry off, along with swimwear or light natural-fibre clothing, a sauna hat and water. Reviewers say they went between the sauna and swimming in the sea to cool off, and felt very refreshed. Another praises the view and says the sauna brings the community together. The sea is part of the session here, with the cold water used between heats.