The garden hot tub is heated by a recycled low-pressure boiler, used in its past life to supply hot water to a camping ground. The hot tub is recycled kauri - a popular New Zealand native tree which was logged and exported almost to extinction in the past 150 years. Just out of the picture is a hot/cold outside shower. Terracotta paving from a local garage sale makes a warm, attractive, non-slip surface for the surrounds.

Lynne planted the permaculture garden with herbs - rosemary, anise, lavender and eau-de-cologne mint - which can be soaked in the hot tub for perfume and therapeutic effects. Some, like the lemon grass, can be used for herbal teas for post-sauna refreshment. And for the first season bananas are growing for post-sauna nibbles! She's also working on filling up the earth roof with succulents by dividing the original stock up each year.

The sauna was built in 1999 by Reinhold Huber and Terry Wood, with especial thanks to Mark Dagleish, an enthusiastic visitor from Goldsmith College in London.