This past weekend, I visited Wave Nordic Spa at The Oxford Hills. I was eager to try their public sauna, steam rooms, and other amenities. This location is a hidden gem in Mount Elgin, Ontario, just between Ingersoll and Tillsonburg. This beautiful new location boasts an 18-hole golf course, a brand new clubhouse with the Kalos restaurant, and facilities for weddings and all kinds of events. While it was a cold spring day, I came for Wave Nordic Spa and was able to enjoy the hot tub with a gentle mist of rain.
What is Special about Wave Nordic Spa?
Wave Nordic Spa features several amenities for the bathers to enjoy. The environment is very casual. You have a set check-in time, but there is no time limit on your stay. The spa features three pools, of which one is a hot tub, one is a cold plunge, and one is a more moderate temperature. The spa features a large public sauna that can hold over 15 people at one time. There is another relaxation room, and a hot stone bed room off to the side. There were two large fire pits on-site, and these became natural conversation areas for the bathers. While the weather was poor the day of my visit. There are also two large scented steam rooms. The change rooms were clean and well stocked. The facility looked brand new and recently renovated. It was a pleasure to relax at their spa!
What does the Guru think about the Sauna Room?
The traditional sauna at Wave Nordic Spa is a giant room that could fit nearly two dozen people at once. The room itself is around 16’ x 16’, with a 9’ or 10’ sloped ceiling. The massive room required three 18kw Saunacore floor heaters running all day long to heat. The lighting was gentle, and a cloud of löyly permeated the room. I was impressed with their three tier benching, wrapping around two walls. The varying levels allowed bathers to enjoy the level of heat that was suitable for them. The staff advised us the sauna is a quiet room, and the door was marked accordingly. Regardless, there was some socializing with other bathers, and they were polite enough to ask if they could throw water on the rocks. A couple of minor repairs were needed. A back rest slat was loose, and the duckboard had broken in two places. Staff advised me that it would be fixed ASAP.
Their two identical Steam Rooms were both spacious and had plenty of seating available. I was really impressed with the volume of steam present in the room. I’ve been in other steam rooms where it feels hot, but you can’t see any steam. One room was eucalyptus scented, and the other was citrus. I spent the majority of my time in the first. I was pleased with the two-tier benches, which let you sit up in the steam. You could occasionally hear the steam generator whirring in the background, but it did not disturb my peace. You could not see the door from the back of the room, which was at least 10 to 12 feet in length.
Overall, I was impressed with several factors about the traditional sauna room. First, I appreciated the height of the benches, as well as a comfortable 24” depth for all benches. Second was the social experience. While it was busy, it was a good community that were more respectful than you would see at a gym. Finally, the heat and the steam especially made this an enjoyable afternoon, despite the cold rain.
What other amenities are available?
There are several professional services available, including a licensed RMT massage. I would recommend booking these in advance. I did not book ahead but was able to still get an appointment on short notice. I came to the spa with a limp in my right leg, but thanks to a session with Val, I walked away with a smile on my face.
There is also a hot stone bed room in the back. There were several places to lie back and enjoy the heated rock surface. It was warm to the touch, but not hot enough to burn the skin. This was a unique experience that I have not seen in other spas.
Kalos restaurant is upstairs from the spa and has some enticing fine dining options, without all the frills. I ordered the pork bao buns, and was impressed with my dish. I can honestly say I’ve never been to a fine dining restaurant in a bath robe before. They also offered an afternoon special with a charcuterie board and bottomless mimosas (with a 2 hour time limit). Tempting, but I still had to drive home.
The property is a large country estate, with a full 18 holes for golf. While I am not a golfer, I can appreciate the beautiful green. If the weather was nicer, I would have enjoyed a walk around the property. Next time, I will be sure to see everything the property has to offer!
What is the bottom line?
I feel like I got my money’s worth from my spa day. The admission price was reasonable, and there were a lot of amenities to enjoy. Although it was fairly busy during my visit, I still feel like there was enough space to enjoy my sauna without a crowd of people disturbing me. There were a couple of large parties, including more than one bridal shower. While the weather may not have been the best, it left a unique impression, seeing the steam rise from the pool and hot tub, and feeling the cold rain on my skin after walking out of the sauna room. I will be returning here again!
