City Cave Newstead — Local services in Brisbane City

I purchased the 'Complete Wellness Package' which included time in the sauna, a float, and a massage. I was really excited for the experience, but the overall experience was disappointing. It was my first time in a sauna and I absolutely loved it. A staff member tried to give me a robe in the middle of the session, and ended up just hanging it on the outside of the door. I'm a curvy size 14 and the robe didn't fit around my hips. A staff member did ask why I wasn't wearing it and when I said it was too small she kinda looked me up and down and just said 'oh'. I felt embarrassed, but whatever, no biggie. On to the massage...most awkward massage I have ever had in my life. They spent so long talking about what I wanted from the massage, where I was sore, etc. then ignored all that and gave me what I think was supposed to feel relaxing. Lots of light stroking while music played too loudly for the poor quality speaker (the Bluetooth also kept dropping out so there was long stretches of weird silence). Side note, there is no option of extra cushioning for women with large breasts, so, ouch. The man giving me a massage didn't seem to understand when I tried explaining that I was in pain. Whatever, a dud massage, onto the float! I LOVE baths and currently do not live in an apartment with a bath so I was really excited about the float. It was exactly as advertised, I just didn't enjoy it. It is truly a float, you cannot immerse yourself in the extremely salty water. So if you are trying to decide whether you will enjoy a float, picture yourself naked, floating on your back with your stomach and breasts in the cooler air above the water. There is honestly nothing wrong with it, I just personally didn't enjoy it. So, overall, a very disappointing spa treatment that left me over $200 out...

My partner purchased a couples session in the float room as a thank you for taking care of her after she had surgery some time ago. She knew that the idea of a float tank had always interested me because I like the idea of experiencing something like zero gravity with minimal sensory input. Admittedly my mind had, hitherto this experience, always reverted to Homer Simpson’s float tank when contemplating what it would be like but subsequently, I think the experience could be better imagined as a scene from 2001 A space odyssey or Interstellar.

Personally, I found the experience fascinating and I’m looking forward to returning for more so that I can become better acquainted with that space between the material and the ethereal. I hesitate to promote this experience as ‘psychedelic’ but if you were so inclined to experience the affects of what that word implies, then with some gentle discipline, I think you could comfortably journey within whilst tangibly guiding yourself through it. I certainly intend to try and recommend it to anyone looking for a physically tangible meditative experience also. The staff were very professional, helpful and we both had the sense that they understood the value of the experience. The facilities were clean and serenely lit providing the impression of being in a ‘safe cave space’. Being able to sit and reflect in a chill space whilst having a beautiful cup of herbal tea afterwards served as a perfect transition before returning to the world.

I couldn’t recommend enough, very much worth it!

Thank you guys - see...

This was my first visit to CityCave Newstead. I booked for an infrared sauna and a float (I’ve previously had a float elsewhere). I was warmly welcomed and waited in the relaxation area whilst I watched the video for first time floaters. When taken to the sauna I was given a run down of how it works and told that as a first timer I may want to lower the temperature. I did in fact lower the temperature by 8C (from 58 to 50) but still found it too hot. I eventually came out of the sauna before the end of my session as I was feeling overheated. After cooling off in the relaxation area I went through for my float. Again everything was explained and I chose to have the music on for the full hour, however once I put the ear plugs in I couldn’t really hear it anyway. I had no problems floating and fell asleep, waking up just at the right time. After showering, I found that I was sweating loads which made getting dressed difficult, it was just too hot in the room. I was advised afterwards that I could request to have the heating off. I left the room and went to the beauty station to dry my hair but the hairdryer cut out after about 30 seconds. When I queried this with the staff I was told that it overheats and to give it a few minutes. After a few minutes it still wasn’t working and I wasn’t offered any alternative, so left with wet hair which wasn’t ideal. All in all, I’m not sure I got what I wanted from the experience. I ended up hot and bothered and unsure if the float had...