About Wellspace
A riverside wellness sanctuary, designed to bring people together & slowdown in nature.
Experience Authentic Connection and Wellness in Nature at Wellspace
At Wellspace, we believe in the power of nature to foster genuine connections. Our riverside sauna and cold plunge experience promotes mindfulness, holistic health and fun in a warm and welcoming environment.
Our Values
Meet the team at Wellspace
Our team of wellness experts are here to guide and support you on your restorative journey.
Rick Gutzewitz
Owner operator Rick Gutzewitz is a 5th generation Queenstown local, with his family having been established in the area since 1911. Rick is the co-founder of Wellspace - a grassroots project born after the Covid Lockdowns in 2020 to help improve the health and wellbeing of the Queenstown community. After council recognition for its voluntary service, Wellspace has grown to be an immersive well-being experience built around sauna and cold plunge culture.
With a background in personal training, mindset development and a passion for holistic health and wellbeing, Rick helps others find a deeper sense of presence, purpose and enjoyment in life.
Rick is an easy going, authentic and enthusiastic human that loves connecting with great humans together.
Owner operator Rick Gutzewitz is a 5th generation Queenstown local, with his family having been established in the area since 1911. Rick is the co-founder of Wellspace - a grassroots project born after the Covid Lockdowns in 2020 to help improve the health and wellbeing of the Queenstown community. After council recognition for its voluntary service, Wellspace has grown to be an immersive well-being experience built around sauna and cold plunge culture.
With a background in personal training, mindset development and a passion for holistic health and wellbeing, Rick helps others find a deeper sense of presence, purpose and enjoyment in life.
Rick is an easy going, authentic and enthusiastic human that loves connecting with great humans together.
Kirsten Millard
Kirsten has been a sauna facilitator at Wellspace for over four years, and still deeply loves being part of the community. Her guiding philosophy is simple: be kind to yourself, to others, and to the Earth. Through her work at Wellspace, she feels grateful to embody and share this purpose by holding space for connection, reflection, and meaningful conversation through sauna in nature.
In her guided sessions, Kirsten creates a flow that supports both inward awareness and shared experience.
Round 1 – A guided meditation to ground guests in their breath and the present moment, helping them shift out of the mind and into the body.
Round 2 – Deeper conversations. Kirsten offers thought-provoking questions and holds a non-judgmental space where all perspectives are welcome and authenticity can unfold.
Round 3 – Social sweat. A chance to integrate, connect, and make some new friends.
She’s looking forward to getting sweaty together and welcoming you into the space soon!
Kirsten has been a sauna facilitator at Wellspace for over four years, and still deeply loves being part of the community. Her guiding philosophy is simple: be kind to yourself, to others, and to the Earth. Through her work at Wellspace, she feels grateful to embody and share this purpose by holding space for connection, reflection, and meaningful conversation through sauna in nature.
In her guided sessions, Kirsten creates a flow that supports both inward awareness and shared experience.
Round 1 – A guided meditation to ground guests in their breath and the present moment, helping them shift out of the mind and into the body.
Round 2 – Deeper conversations. Kirsten offers thought-provoking questions and holds a non-judgmental space where all perspectives are welcome and authenticity can unfold.
Round 3 – Social sweat. A chance to integrate, connect, and make some new friends.
She’s looking forward to getting sweaty together and welcoming you into the space soon!
.jpg)
Paul Strasser
Paul is absolutely sauna obsessed. Currently Paul works behind the scenes to help Wellspace grow e.g. building partnerships, curating guest experiences, planning for the future. When hosting at Wellspace, he brings a warm, welcoming, & calming presence, helping people slow down & connect with their bodies & surroundings through a short guided meditation & wholesome conversation.
When not at the sauna, you can usually find Paul spending time outside (camping, travelling, looking at a tree), doing something active (running, swimming, hiking, climbing), or tapping into his creative side (music, salsa).
He lives by the idea that "the doing always gets done, it's the living you should keep an eye on."
Paul is absolutely sauna obsessed. Currently Paul works behind the scenes to help Wellspace grow e.g. building partnerships, curating guest experiences, planning for the future. When hosting at Wellspace, he brings a warm, welcoming, & calming presence, helping people slow down & connect with their bodies & surroundings through a short guided meditation & wholesome conversation.
When not at the sauna, you can usually find Paul spending time outside (camping, travelling, looking at a tree), doing something active (running, swimming, hiking, climbing), or tapping into his creative side (music, salsa).
He lives by the idea that "the doing always gets done, it's the living you should keep an eye on."
.jpg)
Georgia Burr
Georgia feels lucky to call Queenstown home, and brings a gentle, grounded, and heart-led approach to her offerings at Wellspace. Her sessions are designed to feel spacious, soothing, and deeply connected, weaving together breath awareness, intentional silence, and practices that help people drop back into themselves. Her facilitation style is light-hearted, intuitive, and centred around presence.
When she’s not sweating at Wellspace, Georgia loves moving her body through dance, riding bikes, soaking up sunshine, exploring the beautiful planet, sharing her passion for wellbeing through yoga and PEMF technology, and connecting with herself, family, friends, and God.
She’s looking forward to connecting with you soon!
Georgia feels lucky to call Queenstown home, and brings a gentle, grounded, and heart-led approach to her offerings at Wellspace. Her sessions are designed to feel spacious, soothing, and deeply connected, weaving together breath awareness, intentional silence, and practices that help people drop back into themselves. Her facilitation style is light-hearted, intuitive, and centred around presence.
When she’s not sweating at Wellspace, Georgia loves moving her body through dance, riding bikes, soaking up sunshine, exploring the beautiful planet, sharing her passion for wellbeing through yoga and PEMF technology, and connecting with herself, family, friends, and God.
She’s looking forward to connecting with you soon!
Wilene De Wet
Wilene has been part of the Wellspace community for about 3.5 years, making so many special connections, sharing many meaningful conversations and stories, and meeting people she calls close friends, enjoying the most fun dances and events, plunging under the full moon, and gathering around the fire.
Wilene's favourite part about facilitating at Wellspace is seeing the transformation that happens during a session. Sometimes people arrive with the busyness of what a day could bring on their shoulders, and then leave in a state of groundedness - inner stability.
With the sessions that Wilene hosts, her intention is to be authentic, keep things real, have fun, and be present with each guest. Wilene wants everyone to feel at home, at ease, and taken care of.
What you can expect from Wilene's sessions:
Silent and social sessions - Wilene will always be close by for questions or chats. Wilene will support with different essential oils between rounds and music to curate the atmosphere.
Guided sessions - Wilene likes to join in and offer a meditation to support everyone in settling into the space through focusing on the breath and easing into a few minutes of stillness, followed by pouring different oils and flowy conversations.
Feel free to always ask Wilene to pull an oracle card with you or put on a song for a boogie!
Wilene has been part of the Wellspace community for about 3.5 years, making so many special connections, sharing many meaningful conversations and stories, and meeting people she calls close friends, enjoying the most fun dances and events, plunging under the full moon, and gathering around the fire.
Wilene's favourite part about facilitating at Wellspace is seeing the transformation that happens during a session. Sometimes people arrive with the busyness of what a day could bring on their shoulders, and then leave in a state of groundedness - inner stability.
With the sessions that Wilene hosts, her intention is to be authentic, keep things real, have fun, and be present with each guest. Wilene wants everyone to feel at home, at ease, and taken care of.
What you can expect from Wilene's sessions:
Silent and social sessions - Wilene will always be close by for questions or chats. Wilene will support with different essential oils between rounds and music to curate the atmosphere.
Guided sessions - Wilene likes to join in and offer a meditation to support everyone in settling into the space through focusing on the breath and easing into a few minutes of stillness, followed by pouring different oils and flowy conversations.
Feel free to always ask Wilene to pull an oracle card with you or put on a song for a boogie!
Naomi Richards
Originally from Australia and now Queenstown based for over 15 years, Naomi brings a grounded, heart-led approach to her role as a Sauna Facilitator at Wellspace, weaving together warmth, presence, and genuine connection.
Her facilitation style is calming, intuitive, and community-focused, creating a space where people can slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with themselves through heat, stillness, and conversation.
Guided by the quote “Wholeness Within,” Naomi hopes to continue growing spaces that support wellness, human connection, and conscious living while expanding her future in holistic health, yoga, and transformational wellbeing experiences.
Originally from Australia and now Queenstown based for over 15 years, Naomi brings a grounded, heart-led approach to her role as a Sauna Facilitator at Wellspace, weaving together warmth, presence, and genuine connection.
Her facilitation style is calming, intuitive, and community-focused, creating a space where people can slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with themselves through heat, stillness, and conversation.
Guided by the quote “Wholeness Within,” Naomi hopes to continue growing spaces that support wellness, human connection, and conscious living while expanding her future in holistic health, yoga, and transformational wellbeing experiences.
Reconnect with Nature at Wellspace
Book your experience today and immerse yourself in the serenity of our riverside sauna.
