Using the wood-fired Finnish dry Sauna

Experience the ultimate relaxation with our handcrafted sauna. A simple pleasure on an off-grid working farm. Built by Euan with care and creativity, it features beautifully repurposed cedar, blending sustainability with elegance. At its core is an authentic wood-fired stove imported from Finland, offering an unparalleled sauna experience.

Dani making the most of the sauna in winter

Sauna Rules

  • Do not use the sauna alone or without a person knowingly monitoring your time in the sauna

  • Pregnant women, elderly people suffering from heart disease, diabetes and high or low blood pressure should not use the sauna. 

  • Do not use the sauna under the influence of alcohol, hypnotics and/or tranquillisers.

  • Not to be used by children under 16 years of age

  • Long exposure to sauna temperature may result in nausea, dizziness and/or fainting. Observe reasonable time limits. 10-15 minutes is recommended in one session. Cool down with a cold shower or stand outside between sessions

  • Remove all jewellery.

  • Swim attire or towel must be worn while sitting on benches for hygiene reasons.

  • Do not sit on the benches wet. You must be fully dry each time you enter.

  • Do not pour excessive water over the hot stones.

  • Do not leave the Sauna door open. Get in and out quickly to retain heat

  • Do not jump on or overload cedar benches. A maximum of 1 person on each tier is recommended. Incorrect use may lead to bench failure.

  • Always shower before entering the sauna. Wash and fully towel dry before entering the Sauna.

  • All persons using the sauna do so at their own risk and sole responsibility.

  • Never (ever) leave the wood-fired sauna stove door open - not even to establish the fire. Red Cedar can be highly flammable.

  • Only burn what we have given you. (Do not burn any tissue or paper whatsoever).

What is a Finnish Dry Sauna?

A Finnish sauna is a sauna that harnesses the power of relatively dry heat. Unlike steam rooms, also known as wet saunas, moisture and steam play are not a major feature of a Finnish sauna. Humidity is typically kept around 5-20%, and the temperature is set around 60-80ºC.

This relatively low humidity sets the Finnish sauna apart from other baths and saunas which includes:

  • Tropical bath: temperatures average 50-75ºC with an ambient humidity of roughly 20-40%.

  • Biosauna: it has an average temperature of about 50-60 ºC and a humidity level of about 45-65%.

  • Russian sauna: temperatures range between 60-90ºC, with humidity levels around 60-70%.

  • Steam bath: temperatures reach 40-45ºC, with humidity at 100%.

How to have an awesome Finnish Sauna at LVF

As an off-grid farm our Sauna is powered by a traditional wood fired sauna stove. People pre-book the use of the sauna and the first fire is preset with timber. Simply light the newspaper and it should burn well for about 15 minutes or so. Do not overload the firebox too early with large timbers, you may smother the flames, let the fire get established. Alternatively don’t leave it too long before adding more timber, it will just burn out and you’ll have to start again. Start with the smaller timber and work up to larger, heavier, logs which have been left for you. It will take about 1 to 1 ½ hours to get the sauna upto about 60°.

Never leave the sauna wood fired stove door open! Air is sucked up through the grates into the firebox, this always enables plenty of air to establish the flames (this is different to the other wood fire stoves). The red cedar panelling can be highly flammable, please be careful.

Make sure the Sauna is at least 55° or 60° degrees. Once in the sauna you can apply One or Two ladles of clean water to the hot stones to help raise the temperature a little. The upper air vent, above the top bench, should be open. Ensure the door is always fully closed.

Before entering the sauna to start your first session, rinse off in our adjoining rain shower. Wash with soap and fully rinse off with water. These Finnish dry saunas are used for therapeutic, not hygienic, purposes. The inside of the sauna must be kept clean at all times. Towel dry before entering the sauna, this promotes sweating and the elimination of toxins.

Always use a towel that you can fold or wrap around you before sitting down. This serves a dual purpose. The benches are hot, and sitting directly on them can be uncomfortable and even burn the user without the towel. This also keeps the sauna clean for other users, since no one sits directly on the same surface if everyone uses a towel.

Users stay in the sauna for an average of 15 minutes. However, the time varies from person to person: some can only handle 5 to 10 minutes of the dry heat, others a little more. If you have excessive perspiration, feel uncomfortable or dizzy step outside and cool down for a while. The lower bench is cooler than the higher bench, so start there or move there if you are too hot.

Cool down after leaving the sauna. You can either stand outside for a while or our favourite option is to have a cold-cold, shower. It may be best to go slowly, starting with the feet and gradually moving upwards but in the end you can go full Wim Hof and shower directly under the very cold water from our rainwater tanks. This simulates the traditional Finnish habit of jumping in cold lakes between sauna sessions. 

Towel dry and then go back inside the sauna and repeat the entire process again for another two times. Your total session would be between 40-60mins including the sauna and the showers. 

We guarantee you will feel relaxed after your session. 

You can have Wine & Cheese like many do in the Hunter Valley or grab Sausage and Beer which is the traditional Finnish post-sauna relaxation. 

Rain shower with full bush views

Benefits of a Finnish sauna

Using the Finnish sauna in conjunction with the other elements of your stay should help you deeply relax. The sauna itself is a great tool that has these important benefits for your physical and mental health.

  • Detoxification: A key benefit is the ability for a Finnish to help eliminate toxins, something the body does naturally when it sweats. The high temperatures of the Finnish sauna trigger a deep sweat, which eliminates a large amount of toxins to help purify the body

  • Skin care: High temps and sweating do more than just detoxify: they also help remove dead skin cells. This also helps with cellular renewal and skin care.

  • Improved immune function: By accelerating the body’s detoxification processes, a dry sauna helps boost several of the body’s systems, including the immune system.

  • Improved breathing: The high temperatures inside a Finnish sauna help to reduce congestion. The dry air opens the airways for easier clearing of any congestion in the respiratory tract. The use of cold showers helps intensify this benefit.

  • Muscle relaxation: The high temperatures inside the sauna combined with the cold-water baths afterwards help to relax muscles. This is true for anyone who uses a sauna, but it is particularly useful after a workout or training session.

  • Prevent fluid retention: Sweating does more than just eliminate toxins: it also helps the body get rid of excess liquid. This helps the body run more efficiently and can aid in weight loss.

  • Reduces stress: Last but not least, another benefit of Finnish saunas that shouldn’t be overlooked is that they help to significantly reduce stress. The combined effects of both the detoxification and muscle relaxation as well as the dry sauna ritual itself help users de-stress.

Our Sauna featured Australian Traveller magazine.

Please ensure you note our check-in times so we can meet you and cover the health and safety of all wood-fired facilities. You will not be able to light them until we cover our H&S upon check-in with you. If you are late for check-in then you will have to wait until the next day to meet up and show you. Your safety and ours is a priority.

8 Amazing stays with Saunas across Australia

We built our own Sauna into the Shearers Studio to add that extra winter comfort. It’s a little extravagant given the beautiful wood stove at the end of the King Bed - but we build because we love the process and the challenge.

Our Sauna is an authentic Wood-fire Finnish Dry Sauna, with an imported wood stove and beautiful Red Cedar paneling. The Red Cedar windows and benches were milled by us from a discarded pergola in Hunters Hill. They were large & exceptional pieces (after quite a few hours work!).

We wanted the Studio to be an amazing, yet humble, sleeping and stay experience, and the relaxation you get from a Sauna elevates this to another level. We are so glad Saunas are having a revival at the moment, they certainly deserve to.

More about our sauna below by travel journalist CELESTE MITCHELL in the Australian Traveller magazine April 2024:-

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Shearers Studio at Little Valley Farm, NSW

Hovering above a machinery shed on a working farm in the Wollombi Valley, the sauna experience at Little Valley Farm is as down-to-earth and authentic as it is secluded.

Crafted by hand by co-owner Euan Wilcox, using mostly reclaimed timber, the Finnish wood-fired sauna and adjacent rainwater-fed shower is beloved by guests who report the deepest sleep they’ve had in years – especially snuggled in the king size bed beneath a handmade doona filled with alpaca wool from their farm.

The Shearers Studio is set 100 metres from their other quirky accommodation offering – a 1950s Sydney Train carriage.


Full article at here…

The best Duvets are filled with Alpaca Fleece - the Warmest and Softest bedding for any Climate

Blog Introduction: Are you looking for a new duvet? Do you want something that is soft, warm, and perfect for pretty much any climate? If so, you should consider investing in a duvet filled with alpaca fleece, the ultimate natural fibre for comfortable bedding.

Alpacas are domesticated animal that is part of the camelid family. Alpacas are native to South America and were first domesticated by the Inca civilization over 6,000 years ago. There are two types of alpacas - the Huacaya and the Suri. The vast majority of alpacas in the world are Huacaya, and these beautiful animals have amazing fleece perfect for duvets and bedding.

Alpacas are bred for their fibre which is extremely soft, warm, and durable. In fact, alpaca fibre is often compared to cashmere. Alpaca fiber comes in over 20 different natural colours including white, fawn, brown, black, and grey.

Alpaca fleece is the perfect filling for duvets because it is soft, warm, and lightweight. It is also hypoallergenic which makes it a great option for people who suffer from allergies or asthma.

Alpaca fleece is a sustainable resource since it can be shorn from the animals, right here on the farm, without harming them. Alpacas are very gentle on the land due to their soft feet. Their fleece does not contain lanolin so it does not need to be treated with harsh chemicals like other types of wool.

If you are looking for a new duvet, I highly recommend considering one filled with alpaca fleece. It is the warmest, softest, and most sustainable option available. You will love snuggling up under your new duvet on cold winter nights!

If you are in the market for a new duvet, be sure to look into alpaca fleece as an option. Alpaca fleece is soft, warm, and perfect for any climate. It is also hypoallergenic and sustainable - making it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a new duvet!

Suki says - Alpaca Duvets are clearly the best

Every guest enjoys these amazing and valuable Duvets when they stay in our Cabins.

See our Shop for more details on these beautifully made ‘Alpaca Pure’ Duvets.

10 Of The Most Charming Farm Stays In NSW by Urban List

By Jessica Best and Sammy Preston
29th Aug 2022

https://www.theurbanlist.com/sydney/a-list/best-farm-stays-nsw

Bedroom in T4615, our 1950’s Red Rattler

Located about 90-minutes north of Sydney in Laguna, this charming farm brings together two great concepts: getting off the grid and alpacas. Little Valley Farm is all about getting in touch with your surroundings and minimising your environmental footprint. The owners are also registered alpaca breeders (so yes, you could potentially go home with one of these fluffy beings).

There are two rustic accommodation options to choose from and each gives you the freedom to be completely surrounded by bushland, paddocks (filled with the aforementioned fluffy ‘pacas), and fresh produce depending on the time of year. The T4615 Red Rattler is a converted 1950s train carriage. This guy packs a spacious bedroom with a queen bed, a camp-style kitchen, an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven, an outdoor bath with hot water, hammocks, and two yoga mats that you can roll out on the deck.

Photo Shoot Location - 'Alpaca parkland'

If you are looking for a great location or backdrop for photo shoots consider our picturesque working Alpaca farm with a great diversity of spaces and buildings. Each season has its charm from colourful Autumn, lush Summer, crisp Winters and our brief welcome Springs. We have hosted major fashion brands, music video clips and some incredibly talented overseas photographers who have stopped in here on their tours in Australia.

Typical Autumn colour, misty mornings with blue clear skies and first frosts. 3rd week of May is peak colour.

Winter with Felix. 50 acre farm with Red Rattler train is a well loved feature.

Summer with Local Land Services, small farm educational video and shoot.

Spring Wedding photo shoot.

Summer Music video using paddocks, creekline & train.

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Why Miniature Donkeys?

Miniature Donkeys are a recent addition to the farm. They are cute, fun, highly inquisitive and just a bit silly. So why not have them! However, the main role of these little beauties is to help us in the application of a ‘regenerative system’ to manage the farm.

Alpacas are excellent small farm or acreage animals. But as the herd grows potential issues with animal health and pasture management becomes more problematic. When we started our journey on the farm we always had multi animals on the paddocks; free-range chickens, low line Angus and Belted Galloway Miniature cattle and even some Dorper sheep. Each had their issues and advantages.

Free Range Chickens; there is nothing better than real free range eggs and when chickens roam you really get to know their wonderful personalities. They were great at breaking down manure on the paddocks, especially older manure the dung beetles didn’t get to. But Chickens are excavating machines, we lost gardens, grassy areas and spent large amounts of time keeping them out of vegetable patches.

Sheep; we never really bonded with the sheep. If you eat meat they have an advantage, but our lush summer rainfall meant constant problems for their feet. They also leave manure everywhere which was ignored by chickens and dung beetles and an additional worm-risk when running alpaca. They also require different fencing, usually 6 plain wires with a low electric strand, which we did not have. It took a year but they figured that out and soon ate every edible tree they could find. They did not lost long.

Miniature Cattle; we loved having the cows, and even loved our temperamental and destructive lowline bull. We produced some wonderful calves and even experimented with on-farm butchering (with some purchased steers). Once you get to know cows well, you soon turn off meat-eating and just love being around them. Cattle manure is easily spread and the dung beetles did a beautiful job putting nutrients into the ground. In 2019 feed costs skyrocketed, and a small farm like ours with a heavy winter frost and very little winter rain does not stock cattle so easily. In good years we were fine, but bad years made it unsustainable.

We sold all our cattle in 2019 and have had a much larger Alpaca herd even since. But a single breed of animal has its own issues.

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Alpacas have some incredible advantages, they are gentle on the land with soft feet, they eat comparatively little for their size, they have a couple of limited manure piles, they don’t break fences, are easy to handle with lower infrastructure costs and they are selective grazers who are gentle on the pasture. But from a regenerative process pov many of these advantages are disadvantages. Eventually the pasture has highly productive areas around the manure piles and very little nutrients is put back into the other areas. They also prefer shorter grass and when our summer grass gets to knee high they will often avoid it and over graze other areas. In a short time we noticed they were forced to eat closer manure piles and in March 2021 we had our first ever problems with intestinal worms.

The system we ran with the cattle and alpaca was perfect to help control worms and manage feed and pasture fertilisation with limited mechanical intervention. Bovines and Equines actually help break the worm cycle for the Alpaca. They also ate grass and hay the Alaca would not eat, and we ‘harrowed’ their manure, or it was spread out by dung beetles and chickens, returning nutrients more evenly to. the pasture. We did not strip graze, but we were able to use 22 acres split into 13 small paddocks very effectively for rotational grazing.

So why Miniature Donkeys? in short they will help us for the same reasons as the cattle, but with a few other advantages: they are wonderful with people, they are small (150kg vs a 300kg cow), and they have great personalities. In the end they are the next evolution of finding and perfecting a sustainable system on the farm. They are not the only part, our planting system is also key - but that’s for another post!

Small Group Experiences

We are exciting to announce we are partnering with a new Hunter Valley startup Dulili Adventures (or Dulili.co) in bringing together small groups of people for off-grid glamping and local experiences or ‘adventures’. These experiences are not your every day tour they are usually highly unique and otherwise unavailable.

Each experience is highly personalised based on a discussion with the group initiator.

Little Valley Farm is excited to host the people in our accommodation including tents for small groups which you can’t otherwise book in other channels. The train and Hut are also available as you will have the run of the farm. We help feed people including BBQ’s and the always enjoyable wood-fired pizza.

Dulili.co recently took a corporate group to a local animal farm charity to help build them a new animal shelter! That was hard work but really fun, but it can be anything from 4WD touring to walking the Great North Walk or going for a Gravel ride to the Watagans.

Get in touch with them, or talk to us about ideas: 0409 988 457

Moving the 'Red Rattler'; T4615

We are often asked just how our little Red Rattler made it to the farm. At about 30 tonnes and 20 meters long it was not an everyday event. 

Fortunately for us it was stored out near Dunedoo for almost 20 years in dry arid conditions that did not weather it too badly.  

So here we now located at Little Valley Farm in the Wollombi Valley.   Its now a perfect farmstay place and also used a couple of times as year as our garlic planting, sorting and curing deck. 

You can now enjoy this rustic and unique farmstay experience online click here