14 unique stays in Australia to blow you away

From the remote reaches of the outback to the heart of UNESCO World-Heritage listed sites, these are Australia’s most unique stays.

Australia is practically overflowing with amazing accommodation options. But digging through countless accommodations can not only be time-consuming, it can sometimes be a little disappointing. To avoid those booking regrets, we’ve hit the ground to uncover some of the most unique stays across Australia that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Trust us, they’re so cool you won’t want to leave.

1. The Secret Treehouse, NSW

Live among the canopy of majestic gum trees at The Secret Treehouse in NSW’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. With all wooden accents and floor-to-ceiling windows, this special stay makes you feel truly at one with nature.

Snuggle up by the fireplace as you look out over undulating valleys. Wander along walkways constructed high above the ground. Enjoy a spa bath or in-cabin full-body massage.

The surrounding area is also full of things to do if you’re keen on an adventure. Go on a guided glow worm tour, check out the nearby organic farms or go fruit picking in Bilpin. All before coming home to your very own hideaway in the trees.

2. Longitude 131, NT

Experience the quintessence of the Australian outback at Longitude 131 in the Northern Territory’s Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Here, you’ll have front-row seats across the desert to Uluru, one of Australia’s most celebrated icons.

Live out your outback dreams at Longitude 131. (Image: Tourism NT/George Apostolidis)

There are a range of accommodation options at Longitude 131. Luxury tents consist of gorgeous glamping domes with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large balcony that looks out over red desert plains.

Enjoy your private plunge pool with views of Uluṟu. (Image: Tourism NT/George Apostolidis)

Step up the grandeur by booking the Dune Pavilion, designed for peak outback luxury. The only accommodation in Australia to offer views of both Uluru and Kata Tjuta, the lodge features a rain shower, fireplace, outdoor lounges and a stunning private plunge pool with spectacular views. Add the proverbial cherry on top by visiting the onsite spa.

Enjoy views over Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. (Image: Tourism NT/George Apostolidis)

3. Desert Cave Hotel, SA

Book a stay under the earth at Desert Cave Hotel in Coober Pedy, South Australia. One of a select few international underground hotels around the world, this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime stay.

Hang out in your cave-style room, all dug-out walls and earthy tones and featuring all the usual amenities required of a hotel stay, despite being underground. You can also grab dinner and a drink in the hotel’s subterranean restaurant.

Coober Pedy is also full of incredible outback experiences. Go on a tour of nearby caves and mines. Fossick for rare opals. Hike the famous Oodnadatta Track. Or catch the sunset at Big Winch Lookout.

4. ReefSuites, Qld

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system. And now you can sleep amongst it at ReefSuites, Australia’s first underwater accommodation. A common motif among unique Australian stays, ReefSuites feature floor-to-ceiling windows that look out at crystal-clear waters and the marine life that live there.

Get up close and personal with marine life. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Arrive via a scenic flight over the Whitsundays, where you’ll see the reef from above in all its glory. Each room (there are only two available) is tinged in turquoise shimmers and features a large comfy bed and an en suite.

While staying at ReefSuites, take advantage of its prime location and go on a private guided snorkelling tour or semi-submarine tour of the reef. Check out the onsite underwater observatory or dine under the stars come nighttime.

ReefSuites is on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

5. Lilypad, NSW

Drift along Pittwater in Sydney’s Northern Beaches at Lilypad, one of Australia’s most luxurious houseboats. Floating in the middle of the bay, this dreamy, sustainable stay is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Accessible only by a tender, the full-service villa is secluded and private with 360-degree water views. Laze on the large deck on a sun-lounger or take one of the stand-up paddleboards for a cruise on the water. Come evening, the deck is the perfect place for a sunset cocktail.

Inside, resort-style furnishings bring the vacay vibes. From the luxurious king bed and fireplace to an open kitchen-living space and on-board wine cellar, you won’t want to leave.

6. Mile End Glamping, WA

Take glamping to the next level at Mile End Glamping in the stunning Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. This off-grid stay consists of distinctive geodesic domes with stilts that look out onto the 58-hectare natural estate.

Stay in a funky geodesic dome. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Each dome features a private bathroom, kitchen, king bed and private deck with an outdoor bath so you can soak in the views. Mile End Glamping is only a 20-minute drive from a variety of Margaret River wineries and the beachside suburb of Busselton, so there’s plenty to do when you’re not hanging in your unique retreat.

Bask in the sun on your private deck. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

7. Thorngrove Manor Hotel, SA

Fairytales are real – at least they are at Thorngrove Manor Hotel in Stirling, a 25-minute drive out of South Australia’s capital, Adelaide. This Small Luxury Hotels of the World stay transports its guests into the pages of a picture book with its cobblestone facade, towering turrets and manicured gardens.

Live out your fairytale dreams at Thorngrove Manor. (Image: Thorngrove Manor Hotel)

There are six unique accommodation options at Thorngrove. The Tower Room is a sophisticated option with a porcelain spa bath, hand-carved bed and private balcony. Or opt for the peak of prestige with The Kings Chambers, a two-room suite on the ground floor with a private driveway, rose-covered portico and baronial-style fireplace.

Thorngrove is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection. (Image: Thorngrove Manor Hotel)

Whether you’re wandering the stunning grounds, indulging in a private afternoon tea or exploring the wine region surrounding the property, you’ll feel like royalty at Thorngrove Manor.

Interiors are fit for royalty. (Image: Thorngrove Manor Hotel)

8. Mount Ophir Estate, Vic

Stay on 50 hectares of farmland in the Rutherglen region of Victoria at Mount Ophir Estate, a collection of accommodation options that feel straight out of a movie. Mount Ophir is split into six different stays – The Gatehouse, The Tower, The Lodge, The Residence, The Winemakers Cottage and The Pickers Cottage.

Mount Ophir Estate resides in the Rutherglen region of Victoria. (Image: Kate Shanasy)

Each refurbished offering is unique in its own way. French-provincial The Tower stretches three floors and sleeps two. The Winemakers Cottage is part of the original facilities and features a cosy loft bedroom. Whichever you choose, you’ll be spoilt.

Light-filled and homely interiors make for a cosy stay. (Image: Kate Shanasy)

In the heart of the estate, a heritage winemaking building doubles as one of Victoria’s most unique events spaces – four main halls, all exposed brick and high ceilings, across two levels – perfect for small groups and special events.

9. Picnic Island, Tas

Have a whole slice of Tasmania to yourself by booking a stay on the picturesque and private Picnic Island. Nestled between Freycinet National Park and The Hazards mountain range, it’s the perfect place for nature lovers.

Retreat to your private island near Freycinet National Park. (Image: Luke Tscharke)

The copper-clad luxury retreat can be booked for up to 10 people across two lodges. Gather in the communal Birdhouse for dinner, then relax on the deck by an open fire with views across Wineglass Bay. If you’re lucky, you’ll even spot the resident penguins!

Wake up to Wineglass Bay on Picnic Island. (Image: Aaron Jones)

10. Hideaway Litchfield, NT

Stay in a glamourous shipping container in the heart of Litchfield National Park with Hideaway Litchfield in the NT. Designed to fit into the landscape, these shacks are artful, minimalistic and oh-so cosy.

The cabins are nestled in the heart of Litchfield National Park. (Image: Tourism NT/Jason Charles Hill)

Choose from three cabins – Cascade, Wangi and Tolmer. Cascade is perfect for families, situated at ground level with easy access. Wangi is for the intrepid traveller, featuring an outdoor staircase and stunning views of native bushland.

The cabins are made from shipping containers. (Image: Tourism NT/Hideaway Litchfield)

Tolmer is the epitome of bush-style luxury. The two-storey masterpiece includes a spacious deck and balcony, floor-to-ceiling windows and world-class views. If you’re keen to camp, check out the private camp with huts and bunk beds.

Enjoy a barbecue on the back deck. (Image: Tourism NT/Hideaway Litchfield)

11. Shandonvale Station, Qld

Go full outback at Shandonvale Station, one of a few incredible bucket-list station stays across Australia. Here, you’ll be calling a recently refurbished 100-year-old guesthouse home in the middle of the Queensland outback.

The station is situated on more than 6000 hectares of farmland.

Think an outdoor treetop artesian bath, filled with mineral-rich waters, a chopper ride over the bush, paddock-to-plate dining experiences, shooting lessons at the gun range, and the list goes on!

Soak in river views from the outdoor treetop artesian bath.

Just under a two-hour drive from Longreach, Shandonvale is located on a working outback station that sprawls across more than 6000 hectares. Sheep, kangaroos, camels, donkeys, horses, emus, pigs and deer all call it home.

12. The Lily, WA

Bunker down in a real-life Dutch windmill at The Lily in WA’s Stirling Range National Park. The self-contained accommodation offers views across the Stirling Range, with cattle surrounding the property adding to its charm.

Stay in a 16th-century ground-sail flour mill at The Lily.

Originally a 16th-century ground-sail flour mill, the five-storey windmill is one of the largest of its kind in Australia. The Scandinavian wood heater, air-conditioning, full-equipped kitchen and wi-fi with have you feeling right at home.

13. Barnhaus, Tas

Barnhaus is a unique, self-contained tiny home built in the agricultural region of Forth in Tassie. The Scandinavian barn-style cabin welcomes guests to disconnect, enrich their souls and enjoy nature – all while leaving a limited ecological footprint.

Barnhaus offers the perfect hideaway in Tassie.

At Barnhaus, you’ll find a cosy sleeping area, a country-style kitchen, a sleek bathroom and a private garden. Spend the day tending to the veggie patch, enjoying the sun, reading by the large window or bingeing Netflix. It truly is cosy, countryside living.

You’ll have everything you need during your stay at Barnhaus.

14. Qii House, Vic

A meditation and relaxation hub in Victoria’s Otways, Qii House is tranquillity at its best. The architecturally designed retreat was built in the 70s by Melbourne architect Edgard Pirrota.

Qii House was designed by architect Edgard Pirrota.

The bespoke house sits among lush greenery, hidden in plain sight by its wooden exterior. It’s filled with natural light by day and glows softly in the night. The space features fishbowl windows, al fresco living areas, funky interiors and an outdoor deck.

Wander the Great Otway National Park surrounding Qii House and you’ll stumble upon flowing waterfalls and a flurry of wildlife. You’ll (reluctantly) return home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

The interiors are funky and vibrant.