10 Coolest and Quirkiest Accommodation Spots You Can Only Find in Australia
There’s a lot to love about a traditional hotel experience – room service, a supersized bed and fluffy white robes – but sometimes we prefer accommodation that thinks outside the box.
Cue this list of cool and quirky stays, compiled by our friends at chic new travel platform Lonely Continent.
Find everything from boats to planes, trains and tents – served with a generous side of luxury.
Top 10 Most Unique Accommodation Spots Around Australia
1. Bubbletent Australia
Glamp with a view in this stunning, spherical tent overlooking Capertee Valley (about 200 kilometers from Sydney, near Lithgow). Extra points for the dreamy outdoor bath.
Book accommodation here.
2. Notel
Spend a night in a shiny 1970s Airstream, without even leaving the city. Notel boasts seven designer trailers, kitted out with luxurious mod-cons and housed in the heart of the Melbourne CBD in Flinders Lane.
Book accommodation here.
3. Maggie A-Frame
With room for five, this sweet triangular house was recently built on tropical paradise Magnetic Island, just off the coast of Townsville. Soak up the stylish interiors, or unwind amongst the palm and mango trees while swinging in a hammock.
Book accommodation here.
4. The Keep
Ever wanted to sleep in a castle above the clouds? Now’s your chance, thanks to this grand stone holiday home looking out over Tasmania’s Bay of Fires. And yes, you can bathe alfresco, sheltered by magnificent boulders; for more breathtaking outdoor bath tubs, check out this list at Lonely Continent.
Book accommodation here.
5. The Pole House
Built in the 1970s, this architectural holiday home is suspended 40 kilometers above Fairhaven Beach on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. Vertiginous thrills guaranteed.
Book accommodation here.
6. The Old Mount Gambier Gaol
At first glance, this 150-year-old heritage property located in South Australia might not look like much, but inside it’s filled with history and (haunting) stories. An Old English prison from 1866 to 1994, it now functions as a four-star hotel. In the owner’s words: “This is the only gaol you’ll ever be sad to leave.”
Book accommodation here.
7. Ruwenzori Retreat
Hark back to the golden age of train travel with a stay on this converted railway. The opulent interiors are inspired by the Orient Express, but it’s set much closer to home: in lush bushland just outside NSW’s Mudgee.
Book accommodation here.
8. Reef Sleep
Awaken to the sound of softly lapping waves and the sight of clear, blue seas: Reef Sleep invites holiday-makers to relax over-night on a moored pontoon, sandwiched between two days of snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.
Book accommodation here.
9. The Lily
Calling all aviation buffs: board and stay in a converted war-time aircraft, which overlooks both WA’s sublime Stirling Range and the famous Lily windmill.
Book accommodation here.
10. The Ultimo
See if the stars align in this inner-Sydney haven, dubbed the world’s first astrology hotel. Find Zodiac-themed paraphernalia, travel guides based on your horoscope, plus the option to meet with an astrologer for a personal chart reading.
Book accommodation here.
Lead image from Instagram @thegreatoceanroadaustralia by Matt Lord.
Kathryn Madden is the editor of Lonely Continent, which spotlights stylish, conscious travel in the Australian bubble. Follow Lonely Continent on Instagram to explore more hidden gems and holiday havens.
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