Eight Unusual Places to Spend the Night
Accommodation can be much more than just a place to rest your head, it can be the highlight of your trip. NSW has a range of quirky accommodation that will make lasting memories, whether it’s bedding down in a former double decker London bus, stretching o
According to Destination NSW CEO, Sandra Chipchase, “Experiencing a new type of accommodation can be the reason to book a journey. This is often the case for luxury resorts, farm stays and quirky one-of-a-kind options in NSW where the accommodation can be the main star of your holiday.”
NSW has some truly unique accommodation available to couples, families and groups wanting a memorable holiday experience:
1.Sleep in an underground ‘dug out’: In Outback NSW, White Cliffs is home to the rare black opal. It’s situated in the desert environment where mining hillocks create a moon-like landscape. Extraordinarily, the town lives underground in dwellings called dugouts to escape the heat. The White Cliffs Underground Motel gives visitors the chance to experience underground-living first hand. The rooms are a perfect 22 degrees all year round. You’ll have a great sleep in absolute darkness, so dark you can’t see your hand in front of your face as soon as the light is switched off. www.undergroundmotel.com.au
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Adults-only treehouse: High up in the canopy in the Blue Mountains is the Wollemi Wilderness Treehouse. With wall-to-wall windows, exposed native timber and perched on timber stilts, the Treehouse offers stunning views of Bowen’s Creek Gorge. This back-to-basics romantic escape includes a spa and wood fire. www.wollemiwilderness.com.au
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African safari in Dubbo: Dubbo might seem like an unlikely place to enjoy an African safari escape, but at Taronga Western Plains you can sleep in luxury safari tents on the edge of an ‘African savannah’. From your private deck you will see giraffe, zebra and eland as they roam. www.taronga.org.au
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Caveman accommodation: In the Blue Mountains there are two amazing caves to sleep in – the Enchanted Cave and Hat Cave. Behind a small wooden door at the top of a cliff is the Enchanted Cave, a luxurious cave offering spectacular views, spa and wood fire. Set amidst towering escarpments, the Hat Cave is a huge sandstone cathedral, sculpted by nature. This bush retreat is set deep within a mountain gorge surrounded by lush cool temperate rainforest. The cave is perfect for large group camping with its campfire, solar powered lights, rainwater tap and composting toilet. www.lovecabins.com.au
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A lighthouse on an island: You’ll get a glimpse into what life would have once been like for a lighthouse keeper with a night or two in Montague Island Head Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage. Built in 1881, there are two heritage cottages on choose from.
Montague Island is off the coast of Narooma on the NSW South Coast, accessible by tour boat only and is home to Australia’s largest colony of Australian and New Zealand fur seals. www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
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Yurt on the Murray River: Inspired by the traditional Mongolian Yurt, Talo Retreat has transformed yurt accommodation into a luxurious couples-only experience on the Murray River. From the canvas walls lined with Australian wood, to the domed skylight to allow stargazing from your bed and the private outdoor spa, this is a unique luxurious yurt experience. www.moamaonmurray.com.au