4 | REGIONAL Aluume: Frankton Floating Sauna Every project starts with an idea. Then comes the design. Then the delivery. Kinetic Electrical – Design. Build. Deliver. sales.qt@kinetic-electric.co.nz (03) 441 4150 www.kinetic-electric.co.nz Kinetic Electrical is proud to be delivering the electrical installation for The Aluume Thermae floating sauna at Frankton Marina. From concept through to completion, we work alongside clients, designers, and contractors to bring innovative projects to life. Our capabilities include in-house switchboard design and manufacturing, electrical design, installation, commissioning, and ongoing support—allowing us to deliver seamless, end-to-end solutions. Whether it's a commercial development, industrial facility, rural operation, or specialist project, our experienced team combines technical expertise with practical problem-solving to deliver quality outcomes, on time and on budget. Rance Winter rance@kinetic-electric.co.nz Jandre van Niekerk jandre@kinetic-electric.co.nz M A N U F A C T U R E R S G U A R A N T E E 15 YEAR Ph: 027 840 0022 www.tkplastering.co.nz · Industrial & Commercial Electricians · Instrumentation · Automation & Control · Irrigation Specialists RURAL INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL E-mail: matt@oprltd.co.nz Matt Taylor - Director Cell: 027 626 4978 T TKim Bowden A ‘cool experience’ coming to QTown Located on a custom pontoon about 120m from shore, Thermae complex will let guests move between steam, sauna and icy lake plunges. Less than a year after opening Bathe in central Queenstown, Aluume is preparing to launch its next venture, Thermae, a floating sauna on Lake Wakatipu. Located on a custom pontoon about 120 metres from shore, the complex will let guests move between steam, sauna and icy lake plunges, with mountains all around, and they will have the choice of two communal saunas or a private sauna for exclusive hire, alongside a steam room. Forget the pale timber look often associated with Scandinavian saunas – these interiors will be dark, moody and contemporary. Back on land, two marina sheds will serve as reception and changing facilities. Aluume general manager, Jay Errington, says the idea taps into a global surge of interest in sauna and cold immersion, but with a distinctly Queenstown twist. Jay describes it as “an age-old tradition”, with solid scientific backing for its health benefits alongside a “cool experience”. “We’re going to frame it in a really cool contemporary way, and we’re going to give it the best backdrop you could probably put it in, in New Zealand,” he says. “The Remarkables are going to be the backdrop to everyone’s sauna.” Cold plunge options will vary by booking type. Private sauna guests will have access to a hole cut through the pontoon floor, giving them exclusive, direct entry into the lake. Those using the communal saunas will use a retrofitted boat berth within the marina – a dedicated cold-plunge zone fitted with stairs, handrails, lighting and safety equipment. Jay describes it as less like open-water swimming and more like a controlled immersion: guests can hold onto bars if they don’t want to float off, or “just jump straight in – get that real sort of shock therapy when you hit that cold water”. Construction is underway, with the pontoon already in place and the build tracking towards a spring opening. “We’ve had quite a lot of international attention around it,” Jay says. “Once it’s actually built, it sits on the flight path into Queenstown and in quite an iconic spot on the lake.” The floating sauna is the next step in Aluume’s growing wellness offering. It follows the opening in November last year of Bathe by Aluume on Brecon Street, tucked beneath Bob’s Peak and the Queenstown gondola. Jay says Bathe brings an outdoor hot pool experience into central Queenstown. “You don’t need to jump on a shuttle to go out of town,” he says. “You’ve still got a corridor of views down to Coronet Peak and through to The Remarkables.” Mature pine trees were retained where possible, and materials chosen to complement the landscape. “We were working with the site as opposed to being against it,” says Jay. The magnesium-enriched pools have found a niche market among trampers, mountain bikers and skiers looking to recover after an active day outdoors. Jay says Bathe offers visitors somewhere to slow down amid the bustle of Queenstown. “Whether it’s winter or summer, Queenstown is a busy place to be. We’re a central location where you can just stop, press reset, and take it in while the town buzzes below you.”
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