Gone are the days when booking your next getaway was limited to a handful of hotels.
These days, the places you can stay get weirder, whackier and wilder each year. Today, you can book a stay at a converted barn, a vintage Airstream, an actual Earthship, an entire island, a straw bale hut and even an enchanted forest farm. Tomorrow—maybe the moon.
Check out the wildest Airbnbs in Australia
Converted Barn
Victoria
Tanglewood plays serious homage to the Guadi designs you find in Barcelona. Once an actual barn, this property has been converted by hand to transform it into one of the most unusual Airbnbs in Australia. The place keeps its traditional beams and each room contains unique carvings, statues and one-of-a-kind furniture.
Campervan Airstream
NSW
Here’s the deal, an airstream campervan is always a good idea. Hosted by One Lazy Sunday (a boutique accommodation offering up RVs and bell tents alike), you can rent this vintage beauty which is based in New South Wales’ Byron Bay and set up shop pretty much anywhere you please. You’ll be blessed with Aesop toiletries, luxury Cultiver bed linen, stylish bath and beach towels, ceramic cookware, cutlery and glassware plus, the airstream comes with your very own bathroom and hot water shower.
Train Carriage
NSW
In the Northern Rivers of NSW, there lives an epic train carriage you can actually stay in. Located on a 65-hectare farm, this vintage-looking spaceship of sorts is one of the older Hitachi Class (also known as ‘Martin & King’ or ‘Stainless Steel’) trains. There’s timber decking around the entire stay, plenty of outdoor seating, fairy lights, a fire pit and a fruit orchard right in front of you in case you thought real heaven could never exist on earth.
Lighthouse
Victoria
The Lightstation Studio should be high on your travel bucket list. This beautifully renovated studio apartment gives you frontline views of the historic Cape Otway Lighthouse and is situated in a section of the original 1859 Lightkeeper’s Quarters. You’ll also be right in the heart of Great Otway National Park and the Great Ocean Road so there’s a whole lot of things to see and do to pack out your days here.
Camp Island Lodge
Queensland
If you thought hiring out an island was only reserved for the most Instafamous of humans, think again. Camp Island Lodge is your very own private island in Queensland’s world heritage listed Great Barrier Marine Park and can hold up to seven of your best mates. There are four en-sited villas on the island, all with large French doors, private verandahs, King beds, silky oak door frames and polished timber floors. You’ll also be able to plunge into the inground pool, try your hand at tennis and the beach cricket set, plus kayaks and snorkelling gear to play with at your leisure.
Straw Bale Hut
Victoria
This fairytale hut, called Alkira, is located on a stunning 40-acre property in the Dandenong Ranges. You’ll be in for a whole lot of outdoor antics here with an outdoor kitchen and a whole lot of outdoor seating areas perfect for kicking up your feet and delving into a classic book. This charming stay is probably one of the most dreamy places you could shack up in Australia, with cows, horses, alpacas and local ducks just a short walk away.
Enchanted Forest Farm
Tasmania
The Cob Barn is an enchanted forest retreat set on the norther slopes of Mount Arthur high above the village of Lilydale. This super special property is nestled a large pond and peony farm and yes, it sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. The house itself has been made from cob, a mixture of clay, sand and straw with the interior sporting lime rendered walls. By day, you can hit the small rowboat out the front and by night, you can soak your stress away in the outdoor bath and then relax around the firepit and listen to forest sounds.
Earthship
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
In case you didn’t know, Australia is fast becoming a goldmine for earth house stays which means more opps for you to go green on your getaway. This “earthship” is an off-grid, self-sufficient, self-contained studio apartment in Adelaide Hills which means your eco-footprint will be close to zero when you stay here.
And these are the most incredible farm stays in Australia.
Image credit: Alkira, Airbnb,