Best Saunas in Christchurch, New Zealand
The Cove Wellness
The Cove Wellness is a training and recovery studio on Moorhouse Avenue that pairs strength classes, reformer Pilates, yoga and breathwork with a contrast-therapy space: a communal sauna and several large Revel ice baths held at 4 to 8°C. Sauna and ice bath sessions can be booked on their own through the Cove app, and guided Cove Contrast classes alternate hot and cold. A casual visit costs $35.
He Puna Taimoana
He Puna Taimoana is the council's seaside hot pool complex on New Brighton beach, 15 minutes from the city centre. Beside five heated pools (28 to 40°C) it has a sauna at 60 to 80°C with beach views, a 40 to 50°C steam room and a 7°C, 2-metre-deep plunge pool. Sessions run two hours from 10am to 7.30pm daily, with adults-only late nights on Thursday and Friday; bookings are essential. Adult entry is $23 off peak and $28 peak.
Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre
Parakiore is the city council's central-city aquatic and indoor recreation centre, which the council calls the largest venue of its kind in New Zealand. Its adults' area (16+) holds a spa pool, two saunas and two steam rooms beside a hydrotherapy pool, alongside a 50-metre competition pool, dive pool, leisure pools and hydroslides. The saunas open 5.30am to 9.30pm on weekdays and 7am to 8pm at weekends. Adult single pool entry is $7.20.
Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre
Pioneer is a council recreation and sport centre in Somerfield with a five-lane 25-metre lane pool, a leisure pool with waves and a lazy river, a gym and a stadium. Its relaxation area has a spa pool plus a sauna and a steam room for ages 16 and over, open 5.30am to 9.30pm on weekdays and 7am to 8pm at weekends. Adult single pool entry costs $7.20.
Taiora QEII
Taiora QEII is the council's rebuilt recreation and sport centre in New Brighton, with a 10-lane 25-metre pool, a 130-metre hydroslide, a leisure pool with lazy river and a gym. For relaxation it has a hydrotherapy pool, spa pool, sauna and steam room (sauna and steam ages 16+). The sauna and steam room open 5.30am to 9.30pm on weekdays and 7am to 8pm at weekends, closing from 1pm to 2pm each day. Adult single pool entry is $7.20.
Heritage Health Club
Heritage Health Club is a members' gym in the Old Government Building on the south-east corner of Cathedral Square. Membership covers the gym, a heated 20-metre two-lane lap pool, a spa pool and a sauna, with a free towel each visit. It opens 6am to 10:30pm every day of the year. The club sells no casual entry or day passes, so the sauna is for members and their guests only.
IHF Health Club
IHF Health Club is a 1,200-square-metre inner-city gym on Level 1 of The Crossing, overlooking Cashel Mall. Its recovery area has cedar saunas in both the men's and women's locker rooms, cold plunge pools and a saltwater plunge in the Premium area, alongside a gym floor, infrared yoga, Ride and PRAMA studios. Members have 24/7 access; non-members can buy a $39 day pass or $59 premium day pass. Reception is staffed 6am to 8pm weekdays and 7am to 6pm at weekends.
The Cove Wellness
The Cove Wellness is a training and recovery studio on Moorhouse Avenue that pairs strength classes, reformer Pilates, yoga and breathwork with a contrast-therapy space: a communal sauna and several large Revel ice baths held at 4 to 8°C. Sauna and ice bath sessions can be booked on their own through the Cove app, and guided Cove Contrast classes alternate hot and cold. A casual visit costs $35.
He Puna Taimoana
He Puna Taimoana is the council's seaside hot pool complex on New Brighton beach, 15 minutes from the city centre. Beside five heated pools (28 to 40°C) it has a sauna at 60 to 80°C with beach views, a 40 to 50°C steam room and a 7°C, 2-metre-deep plunge pool. Sessions run two hours from 10am to 7.30pm daily, with adults-only late nights on Thursday and Friday; bookings are essential. Adult entry is $23 off peak and $28 peak.
Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre
Parakiore is the city council's central-city aquatic and indoor recreation centre, which the council calls the largest venue of its kind in New Zealand. Its adults' area (16+) holds a spa pool, two saunas and two steam rooms beside a hydrotherapy pool, alongside a 50-metre competition pool, dive pool, leisure pools and hydroslides. The saunas open 5.30am to 9.30pm on weekdays and 7am to 8pm at weekends. Adult single pool entry is $7.20.
Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre
Pioneer is a council recreation and sport centre in Somerfield with a five-lane 25-metre lane pool, a leisure pool with waves and a lazy river, a gym and a stadium. Its relaxation area has a spa pool plus a sauna and a steam room for ages 16 and over, open 5.30am to 9.30pm on weekdays and 7am to 8pm at weekends. Adult single pool entry costs $7.20.
Taiora QEII
Taiora QEII is the council's rebuilt recreation and sport centre in New Brighton, with a 10-lane 25-metre pool, a 130-metre hydroslide, a leisure pool with lazy river and a gym. For relaxation it has a hydrotherapy pool, spa pool, sauna and steam room (sauna and steam ages 16+). The sauna and steam room open 5.30am to 9.30pm on weekdays and 7am to 8pm at weekends, closing from 1pm to 2pm each day. Adult single pool entry is $7.20.
Heritage Health Club
Heritage Health Club is a members' gym in the Old Government Building on the south-east corner of Cathedral Square. Membership covers the gym, a heated 20-metre two-lane lap pool, a spa pool and a sauna, with a free towel each visit. It opens 6am to 10:30pm every day of the year. The club sells no casual entry or day passes, so the sauna is for members and their guests only.
IHF Health Club
IHF Health Club is a 1,200-square-metre inner-city gym on Level 1 of The Crossing, overlooking Cashel Mall. Its recovery area has cedar saunas in both the men's and women's locker rooms, cold plunge pools and a saltwater plunge in the Premium area, alongside a gym floor, infrared yoga, Ride and PRAMA studios. Members have 24/7 access; non-members can buy a $39 day pass or $59 premium day pass. Reception is staffed 6am to 8pm weekdays and 7am to 6pm at weekends.