9 tips to create an outdoor wellness retreat at home with spa & plunge pools

ArchiPro caught up with Murdoch Horan of PoolPac for his top tips for turning a backyard into an oasis.

As sure as summer follows spring, Murdoch says demand for swimming, spa and plunge pools typically follows the seasons.  

“When it starts to get hot, everyone starts thinking about pools, and it’s the opposite with spa pools coming into winter,” Murdoch says. “Be ahead of the pack, start thinking about your perfect summer when the cold starts rolling through and your winter when it starts getting warm. The experience can take longer than you imagine - being early means you have that established wellness space for when it’s really needed.”

Murdoch says the notion that spa and plunge pools are expensive to run is often based on either outdated technology or poor installation. Correctly set up, running costs can be less than $2 per day.

“Passion Spas’ Balboa running systems allow you to set up cycle time periods for filtering and heating,” says Murdoch. “That paired with their insulative cover and structure allow for massive power saving capabilities when set up correctly.”

He advises careful reading of manuals and watching YouTube videos to help maximise savings.

The benefits of spa pools are well-known. When used for 15 minutes daily, they can help stimulate blood flow, aid muscle recovery, alleviate joint pain, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote better sleep. 

“The hydrotherapy potential is endless, and guiding purchasers to help find the spa with the right configuration for their injury is what our sales team is there for,” says Murdoch. “Our Signature and Exclusive ranges, both part of the Passion Spas’ collection, provide 32 amperage spas designed for the restorative potential of hydrotherapy, with specially designed seating and jet configurations to mimic massage techniques, and dual jet pumps for maximum power potential.”

Murdoch says avoiding falling vegetation, shelter and “matching the environment with the expected experience” are all key considerations for proper pool placement. 

“It doesn’t have to be simple, make it part of the design architecture,” says Murdoch. “Plunge pools, in particular, can add an architectural aspect to any space that is not only visually appealing, but meets a purpose.”

He recommends squaring a pool with the house rather than the boundary, and focusing heavily on finishing work to achieve the intended effect.  

“Our iGUI fibreglass plunge pools can come with a smooth finish, tile-lined rim or fully-tiled, enhancing any outdoor wellness retreat with a unique presence.”

Poolpac specialises in swimming pools, spa pools, swim spas and all associated products, such as chemicals and accessories.

“We also have an awesome team consisting of pool installers, spa delivery men, spa technicians and pool valet service technicians,” says Murdoch. “We can take care of permits, engineer reports, site checks, delivery and installation so you don’t have to. Our aim is to ensure everything runs smoothly for the life of the spa.”

Murdoch says swimming and plunge pools provide unmatched opportunities for family time, allowing “even the most immobile members of the family to exercise with little to no restriction”.

“Our customers often tell us about the underlying benefit of quality family time, whether it’s in a pool or a spa,” he says. “The time spent device-free, talking or splashing or soaking with our families, is time we often miss out on these days. The memories created are held onto for years to come, so designing a space that works for your family couldn’t be more important.”

Selecting sanitation options, from standard chlorine-based chemicals to salt water chlorination and mineral salt water chlorination, can seem overly technical and daunting.  

Murdoch says Poolpac offers free in-house water testing to provide a breakdown of everything needed to get water quality within specification.

“We also highly recommend using our pool valet servicemen and industry knowledge to ensure your pool or spa experience is as relaxing and enjoyable as you expect it to be.”

Installing your own pool can be a “massive cost saver”, though in some cases this may void certain warranties surrounding the installation of components.

“We offer a package to have everything fitted to the fibreglass shell prior to delivery to avoid this discrepancy,” says Murdoch.

He advises building an extra 10-20% more than expected into your DIY budget for any hurdles that might emerge.

“A fully-installed fibreglass pool, excluding finishing work and landscaping, starts from $32,995, so that’s a good starting point to keep in mind if you’re looking at doing it yourself,” he says.

“As a family-owned and operated business, we value building a long-term trust with our clientele,” says Murdoch. “Pop into our new showroom at our massive facility at 20b Owens Place, Mount Maunganui, to check out all the options. We are always available to chat - even if you’re just looking to get some information to start your journey. We have something for everyone’s vision of a backyard oasis.”

Learn more about PoolPac and their products or fill in the form below to ask any questions, make an enquiry or get a free quote!