The outdoor bath: how to do it with style
Here's what we've learnt from 18 months of guests doing both.
The outdoor bath at Butterfly Lane is the thing guests mention most. In 70+ reviews, more than half reference it directly. People photograph it before they've even unpacked. We spent a lot of time and care getting it right, so we get it — it's a very good outdoor bath.
But there's a right way and a less-right way to do it.
The timing question
Late afternoon to dusk is the answer almost everyone lands on. Fill it around 4pm to 5pm, get in whilst the water is still warm, as the light starts to drop behind the western ridge.
You get the last of the golden hour while the water heats up, and then by the time you're fully in, the sky is doing the full transition — orange to pink to the first proper dark. Mount Chincogan frames the whole thing from the north. Enjoyed best with a glass of wine or a cold beer, of course.
Morning baths are also divine. The air is still cool, the water is a shock (in a good way), and the mist is usually still on the mountain. More invigorating than restorative. Make sure you’ve got a fresh cup of coffee.
What to bring
We highly recommend grabbing a red wine, or cold beer from the honesty system. The bath has a small shelf for phones (though we'd suggest leaving yours inside). The stars on a clear autumn evening are genuinely worth the sacrifice.
Don’t forget your towel — grab one before you head out, especially in cooler months, and hang it on the outdoor hooks. It’s only a short hope back from the bath to the front door, but you'll be glad of the warm fluffy towel.
The part no one expects
It's quiet in a specific way. The property sits at the base of Mount Chincogan, which means the surrounding hills absorb road noise that you'd otherwise catch. At dusk in the bath, what you mostly hear is the creek (in wetter months), the frogs, and occasional wallaby movement in the long grass.
Several guests have told us it was the first time in months they'd sat somewhere for more than 20 minutes without reaching for their phone. We're not claiming credit for that. The bath, the mountain, and the general absence of Wi-Fi deserve it.
Booking
The outdoor bath is included with every stay — it's not an add-on or an extra. Availability at butterflylanebyron.com, also on Airbnb and Riparide.