Leisurecraft Expands Into Australia as Canadian Barrel Sauna Maker Goes Global
By Arlene Scott
Senior Wellness Correspondent & Hospitality Consultant
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The Ontario-based manufacturer, which grew from two employees making cedar furniture, is seeking dealers across Australia after a recent launch in Brazil.
In this story3 sections
Dundalk Leisurecraft, the Ontario-based maker of premium cedar saunas, is taking its dealer model to Australia. Mark Boulding, the company’s vice president of marketing and growth, told SPLASH!, the Australian pool and spa trade publication, in January 2025 that Leisurecraft is actively seeking dealers there, a move that follows a recent launch in Brazil. Its website now lists Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Israel among the markets it serves, alongside Canada, the United States and Europe.
From furniture shop to global sauna brand
Founded in 2004 in Melancthon Township, Ontario (formerly Dundalk), northwest of Toronto, Leisurecraft began as a modest operation: two employees making outdoor cedar furniture. As demand grew, the company added cedar saunas, building its first barrel sauna in 2006. Spa Retailer reported in March 2025 that it operated out of three buildings with a team of about 15. Its website now lists six manufacturing buildings and more than 30 employees, producing barrel saunas, cabin saunas, cold plunge tubs, and outdoor showers from Western Red Cedar and Eastern White Cedar.
Saunas are not a trend chasing attention. They are a return to something deeply human.
Mark Boulding, vice president of marketing and growth at Leisurecraft, speaking to Spa Retailer in February 2026
Three sauna collections and a plunge line
The company offers three sauna collections spanning different price points and aesthetics. The flagship Dundalk Collection features clear or knotty Western Red Cedar in barrel, Panoramic barrel, cabin, Luna, and POD configurations. The Canadian Timber Collection uses Eastern White Cedar for a more accessible price point with easy-to-assemble kits. The Pure Cube Collection targets the modern architectural market with clean lines and large glass front panels. And the company’s cedar cold plunge tubs, added in 2023 and including the Arctic and Glacier models, position Leisurecraft in the rapidly growing contrast therapy category.
Why Australia
Australia’s established hot tub and spa trade is a natural adjacency for barrel saunas, particularly in southern regions with cooler winters. Leisurecraft’s trade-only model (the company says it works exclusively with retail partners and dealers) means the Australian expansion will depend on building the right dealer network from scratch.
Leisurecraft’s expansion trajectory illustrates a broader pattern in the sauna industry: North American manufacturers that grew through the post-COVID wellness boom are now using that momentum to go global. The company’s dealer-only distribution model and premium cedar positioning set it apart from sauna brands that sell direct to consumers.
The company recruits dealers through the Become a Dealer page on its website and info@leisurecraft.com. Industry observers will be watching whether Leisurecraft’s premium positioning and trade-only model translate to Australia.
