The Float Experience | Ultrafloat

The Float Experience

Your First
Float

Everything you need to know before you arrive — what to expect, how it works, and why people keep coming back.

Inside the Ultrafloat pod

How a session works

1

Arrive

You'll receive an access code 2 hours before your session. Let yourself in and follow the orientation guide.

2

Pre-Float Shower

A thorough shower before entering the pod. Everything you need is provided — towels, ear plugs, Ecostore products.

3

Float

60 minutes in the pod. Light, sound and gravity fade away. You're completely in control the entire time.

4

Post-Float Shower

Rinse off the salt water. Take your time — this is part of the experience. The glow lasts.

5

Recover

Most people leave feeling deeply calm and unhurried. Drink water, take it slow. The float stays with you.

How it works

Fully automated,
always available

Ultrafloat is a fully automated float centre, giving you the freedom to book and float when it suits you best — even early mornings or late nights.

  • 🔑
    Access code You'll receive a unique access code 2 hours before your float — no need to wait for staff.
  • 🎥
    Orientation video A short video and printable PDF guide walk you through the entire process step by step.
  • 🕐
    Open 5am – 11pm, 7 days Book any time that suits you — including weekends and public holidays.
  • 👋
    Prefer a staff-led intro? Book during staffed hours (Monday–Thursday, 10am–5pm) and send us a message — we'll be ready to greet you.
Ultrafloat studio atmosphere

Why people float

Physical Recovery

Weightless from head to toe

The 400kg of Epsom salt in the water creates a buoyancy that removes all pressure from your joints and muscles. Many members incorporate floating into their regular recovery routine as a way to feel physically lighter and more at ease.

Stress & Mental Load

Silence the noise

With no light, sound or external input, your nervous system gets a rare opportunity to fully switch off. Members often describe leaving feeling mentally lighter — as if a weight has been set down. Most report the effect lasting well beyond the session itself.

Sleep Support

Float your way to rest

A growing number of our members float as part of their wind-down routine. The deep physical and mental stillness of the float often carries through into the night — many report sleeping more deeply after a session.

Magnesium

Absorbed through the skin

Our tanks contain pharmaceutical-grade magnesium sulphate. Floating allows for natural topical absorption — and most of us are deficient. Magnesium plays a role in over 325 enzyme processes in the body, from muscle function to energy production.

Tips for your first float

01

Eat light beforehand

Float on a semi-empty stomach — a light meal 2 hours before is ideal. Not hungry, not full.

02

Skip the caffeine

Avoid caffeine for 5 hours before your float. It's a stimulant and will work against the stillness you're after.

03

Don't shave or wax

Avoid shaving or waxing for 3 days prior — freshly opened pores and the salt water don't mix comfortably.

04

Remove contacts

Bring your contact lens case and solution. You'll want to remove them before entering the pod.

05

Bring a hair comb

We provide everything else — towels, ear plugs, shampoo, conditioner, body wash. Just bring what you use for your hair.

06

Float at least 3 times

The first float is often about getting comfortable. Most people find the experience deepens significantly by their third session.

About our pod

Pod model FloatStar Floatation Pod
Max height Up to 7.5 feet (2.30m)
Water depth Approximately 25cm
Water temperature ~35–36°C (skin temperature)
Salt content 400kg pharmaceutical-grade Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate)
Filtration 1-micron filter, 3–5 full passes between every session
Sanitisation 35% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) + UV light treatment
Lid control Fully feather-light — open, ajar, or closed. Your choice.
Interior light Salt lamp ambient lighting. Can be on or off at any time.
Pods available One private pod — your session is always exclusive to you.

Frequently asked questions

You are in a completely private suite, so no clothing or swimwear is required — in fact it's not recommended. Nothing between you and the water gives you the best experience.
This is one of the most common concerns and completely understandable. Our FloatStar pod is very large and roomy — comfortable for people up to 7.5 feet tall. You are in complete control the entire time. You can leave the lid fully open, slightly ajar with the salt lamp visible, or fully closed. The interior light can stay on or be turned off at any point. However you choose to float is entirely up to you.
Yes — you are always in control and can exit the pod at any time. That said, most people find they want to stay in longer rather than leave early. The recommended float time gives you the full benefit of the session.
Yes. The pod is tested and balanced daily. The 400kg of magnesium sulphate is a natural antimicrobial — at these concentrations it is essentially impossible for bacteria or pathogens to survive. Between every session, the entire volume of water passes through a 1-micron filter 3–5 times. We also use 35% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and UV light treatment. All touch surfaces and pod interiors are disinfected between every client.
It doesn't matter what age, shape or size you are — you will float effortlessly. There is no height limit, and as long as you are mobile enough to enter and exit the pod unassisted, you can float.
We ask that you do not float if you:
  • Are experiencing symptoms of respiratory disease
  • Are currently menstruating
  • Have infectious diseases or open wounds
  • Have a perforated ear drum
  • Are incontinent or have had diarrhoea in the last 3 days
  • Have uncontrolled epilepsy
  • Have recently coloured your hair (dye can stain the tank)
  • Are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
  • Have artificial tanning products on your skin
  • Have shaved or waxed within 3 days
Please check with your health practitioner first if you have heart conditions, asthma, kidney disease, or sensitivity to magnesium.
Many pregnant women enjoy floating and find it a wonderful way to take the weight off the body. The water is maintained at approximately 35–36°C. We welcome mums-to-be up to the end of their second trimester (24 weeks). We recommend checking with your LMC or GP first, particularly if you have any pregnancy complications.
Bring whatever you use to comb or brush your hair, and a drink bottle — you'll likely be thirsty afterwards. We provide fluffy white towels, ear plugs, and a full range of Ecostore and Essano products. If you wear contact lenses, bring your case and solution.
As with anything, not everyone connects with floating straight away. You need to be open to a different kind of experience. We recommend at least 3 sessions before making a final judgment — each float tends to go deeper than the last as your mind and body learn to let go. No two floats are ever the same.

Ready to experience it for yourself?

Book a Standard Float and see what the stillness is about. First-timers are welcome — your orientation guide does the rest.

Location

807 Heretaunga Street East
Hastings, Hawke's Bay
Next to Structural Chiropractic

Customer Care

06 881 9035

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