Our Story
Panorama Saunas is a family-owned business born out of a deep love for nature, wellness and the quiet power of heat and stillness. A small, passionate team based on the West Coast of New Zealand, led by Jody Direen and Barny Young.
Jody is a Tui Award-winning recording artist with a love for beautiful spaces and soulful connection.
Barny is an extreme whitewater kayaker, deeply at home in wild places.
When the two met in 2019, their shared love for adventure, wellness, and the outdoors sparked a natural synergy—and a life together rooted in rhythm, nature and home.
After years of chasing careers and thrills across the world, they found themselves drawn to home life and settled on a 30-acre wilderness block just outside Franz Josef Glacier—complete with a private lake, vast rainforest and views to the Southern Alps and glaciers. It was there, nestled in the quiet, that the idea for Panorama Saunas took shape.
They discovered panoramic barrel saunas on Instagram - common in Canada and Europe, but hard to find in New Zealand. They wanted one for themselves, to perch beside the lake. So they designed one, sourced a trusted manufacturer and set it up on their land.
That first sauna changed everything.
What started as a personal wellness ritual quickly became a way of life - one that brought more energy, better sleep, deeper presence, and a grounding sense of calm. The full panoramic window connected them to the wild and back to themselves. The heat brought clarity and helped achieve goals. And soon, their friends and family wanted one too. They realised there was a gap in the New Zealand market—a space for a sauna company that offered the full panoramic experience and affordability without compromising on quality. The feedback was overwhelming: people were loving the experience as much as they did.
Panorama Saunas grew from there, but it’s never lost its roots. What started as a passion project has evolved into a thriving, purpose-led business—still run by the same small team, still grounded in the same values: connection, simplicity, wellness and nature. Today, Panorama Saunas can be found in backyards, baches, bush blocks and boutique stays across Aotearoa—from Great Barrier Island to the deep south and beyond. Jody leads sales and marketing with care and creativity. Barny supports customers with installation, aftercare and ongoing research and development as they continue to refine their offering.
"At our core, we’re about helping more Kiwis reconnect to themselves, to each other and to the land around them. We believe in creating a home you don't feel you need to take a vacation from. Through the ritual of sauna, heat and the pause in a busy life, we believe there’s something powerful waiting to be rediscovered.
We hope our saunas bring you the same joy, stillness and sense of joy that they’ve brought us".
