Unique Accommodation: Australia & New Zealand

A collection of luxuriously unique accommodation in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Ever thought it might be time to see things differently? .. without having to leave the comfort zone of course! Treetop houses and floating villas, underwater suites and overwater bungalows, these unique accommodation options are the kinds of places where you can sleep under a canopy of stars or wake up with the sunrise.

 

Unique places to stay in New Zealand

Hapuku Treetop Lodge

Kaikoura, South Island New Zealand

Go out on a limb and branch out of the every-day to sleep among the treetop canopy of a native Manuka grove, some 10m from the ground. It has to have featured in every young child’s dreams - but this is treetop hideaway for grown ups (although there are 2 two-bedroom family suites here too). Soak up the treetop views from the balcony, the bath tub or from beside the cosy fireplace looking out to the dramatic Kaikoura Mountains, over the property’s deer-dotted farmlands or to the sparkling Pacific Ocean beyond. The eco-friendly treetop suites, constructed largely from recycled and reclaimed timbers, are the base for adventures from the bushlands to the beach: mountain biking and hiking, swimming and surfing, wildlife watching and fishing. Guests can also help pick olives (May/June), have a massage, take a hot tub or simply sit back and relax.

 

Lindis Pods

Ahurirri Valley, New Zealand South Island’s Southern Alps

Designed to indulge, sure to delight, the Lindis Pods provide incredibly instagrammable unique accommodation in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Cosy and compact, stylish and sustainable, the ultra-sleek and super-chic Lindis Pods are the definition of modern luxury. These double-glazed mirrored pods, just a stone’s throw from the main lodge, simultaneously invite the outside in and provide complete privacy from the outside world beyond. Floor to ceiling glass walls on three sides showcase, and reflect, the dramatic scenery that surrounds, Landscapes that lend themselves to a spectacularly diverse collection of adventures: horseriding and mountain biking, fly-fishing and hiking .. but it is the star-studded night skies that really steal the show (and which are best enjoyed from the gas heated hot tub on your deck!).

 

Unique accommodation in Australia 

Reef Suites Underwater Accommodation

Whitsundays, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

‘Sea’ Australia’s Great Barrier Reef from a new perspective! 40 nautical miles from the Australian coast, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Whitsundays and the brightly coloured corals of the Great Barrier Reef, watch Trevally dart and coral trout dive, snapper swim and clown fish smile through the floor-to-ceiling underwater windows (and through the glass-bottom floor) of your underwater Reef Suite.

 

Australia’s first underwater, and arguably most unique accommodation, offers just two unique Reef Suites (both with en-suite and which also can be booked jointly to accommodate the family) and an all-inclusive Great Barrier Reef experience. After the day-trippers have departed, watch the sun set, and drink in the uninterrupted sea views, before sitting down to a star-lit dinner on the Hardy Reef pontoon’s upper deck. Enjoy access to the pontoon’s underwater observatory and a private guided snorkelling tour. Take the opportunity to learn to dive or appreciate the breathtaking scale of Great Barrier Reef’s natural beauty with a scenic heli flight.

 

Lilypad Floating Private Villa

Palm Beach, Unique accommodation on Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Landing by seaplane on Sydney’s sparkling waterways, leap into luxury to stay at a stylish and sophisticated floating private villa for two anchored off Palm Beach. A picture-perfect private ‘island’, this unique accommodation comes with chef-prepared meal hampers and hand-picked wines, a private self-drive tender (to explore local hidden bays and beautiful beachside restaurants) and an on-call concierge.

 

Listen to the waves lapping at your doorstep and watch the sun set from the picturesque private decking that envelops the modern loft accommodation. Sip champagne and SUP the tranquil waters, soak up some sun with a good book or dive in for a swim from the deck. The ultimate unique accommodation for a quick weekend getaway.

 

Heli-swag Private Camp

Flinders Ranges, South Australia’s outback

The sky really is the limit at this unique accommodation! A scenic sunset heli-flight lands in the rugged Elder Ranges in time for sundowners – watching the spectacular display of outback colours fade into the night’s inky darkness. After a hearty dinner and fine wines around the campfire, far from any city lights, the twinkling Southern skies captivate and mesmerise. Snuggle into a cosy luxury swag for the night and sleep under the canopy of outback stars. Wake with the sun-rise to a symphony of birdsong and enjoy an early morning wildlife safari-drive that will deliver you back to your luxurious outback homestead in time for brunch.

 

Somewhere special to stay in the South Pacific

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa Overwater Bungalows

Moto Piti Aau, French Polynesia

It’s hard to imagine a dreamier destination than an overwater bungalow in the Pacific. But at the eco-friendly InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa you can sleep even easier in the knowledge that your air-conditioning is powered by ice-cold seawater pumped from inky depths of 3,000 feet below the sea’s surface.

 

There’s little here to interrupt you from the spectacular nature that surrounds; watch the turquoise world at play through the floor to ceiling windows in the bedroom and from the bath – even the glass coffee table and the massage tables provides a window to the technicolour underwater world below!

 

Beyond the natural beauty and the endless vistas framed by luxury, this unique accommodation blends ancient Polynesian influences with contemporary modern comforts.

 

Discover unique accommodation options right across our region

Above the trees, or below the sea’s surface, this collection of unique accommodation only scratches the surface of what’s available in Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific. Your Southern Crossings Travel Designer will weave together the unique and the unusual, the unparalleled and the unexpected to tailor an itinerary that goes beyond the touristed trails and travel norms to deliver experiences that are entirely yours.

 

Continue reading to discover Australia's unique glamping options.