Unique Hotels in Australia
Sometimes you just want to get away on an adventure, and, let’s face it, the average, cookie-cutter chain hotels don’t always cut it. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, check out these unique hotels in Australia- from bustling cities to remote outback spots, you can find incredibly unique places to visit and stay all around the country.
With the creation of platforms like Airbnb, it’s easier than ever to find a homestay, jungle treehouse, or beachfront bungalow that give you more space or amenities than a typical hotel. However, that’s not to say there aren’t some creative and unusual hotels out there to be found, as I know Airbnb isn’t for everyone.
Personally, I love quirky hotels with something out of the ordinary to offer, whether it’s a fascinating history, architectural innovation, or just that certain je ne sais quoi.
If you’re like me and tend to look for the wild and wonderful when you travel, here are some of the most unique hotels in Australia.
Manly’s Q Station
Manly, a picturesque beachside suburb in Sydney’s north, is the perfect place to spend a few days. If you visit in the daytime, chock full of tourists, surfers, dripping ice cream cones, and sunburned kids, it’s hard to think of this place as anything other than a summer paradise.
However, Manly has a dark past. It was home to Sydney’s Quarantine Station (now known as Q Station), where ships arriving in Australia docked. Any sick passengers, or those suspected of being sick, were forced into quarantine to avoid infecting the rest of the healthy people of Sydney.
Quarantine Station was in operation from the 1830s until 1984, and saw some truly deadly diseases over its time, including smallpox, scarlet fever, and even the black death- bubonic plague. As was common of the times, wealthier, first-class passengers received much better accommodation and treatment than poorer passengers, or people of color. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people died at Q Station, a sad circumstance with many living in deplorable conditions.
As you may imagine, it is one of Australia’s most haunted places. And yes, you can spend the night there.
The former quarters for both passengers and staff are now overnight accommodation and are a great place to spend the night for anyone with an interest in Sydney’s history. To make a real weekend out of it, book into one of Q Station’s ghost tours (read my review here, they are truly frightening, no trickery involved), and have dinner at the acclaimed Boilerhouse. There’s also a private beach and lots of historic buildings to explore.
Do visit at your own risk- there are a lot of unexplained paranormal happenings here…
Fremantle Prison YHA
It’s not Folsom Prison, but I am sure Johnny Cash would’ve also lamented a stay in Fremantle Prison. If you haven’t shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die (or committed any other crime, for that matter), consider staying at the Fremantle Prison YHA if you want to get your fix of life in jail. (Don’t worry, the prison has been decommissioned since 1991, so you’re free to leave at any time.)
Fremantle is an incredibly quirky and beautiful town, just south of Perth. It’s a great jumping-off point for Rottnest Island, and the art deco architecture in Fremantle is also pretty spectacular. Fremantle Prison was in operation from 1855, a massive sandstone jail built by the convicts who would inhabit it. Life was notoriously harsh at Fremantle, and many executions took place here over the prison’s life. Make sure to take in one of their tours to learn more about the hardships of life at the prison, now a World Heritage site.
If you’re game for something different, book to spend the night in one of the former cells, now operating as a hostel by the YHA. The prison also sits in a prime position on a hill on top of the town, making it a great base for exploring the city (if you can handle spending the night in the big house, that is).
Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse
Ever spent the night in a historic lighthouse? I haven’t yet, but it’s certainly high on my list. Well, technically the accommodation is within the Keeper’s Quarters, the former home of those who lived at and managed the lighthouse. It’s located at Myall Lakes National Park Seal Rocks, near the coastal town of Forster (about four hours’ north of Sydney). I’ve visited here and can say it is truly an unbelievable place- sweeping coastal views, untouched beaches, and lots of whale watching in the winter months.
The lighthouse and accommodation are managed by NSW National Parks. It makes for a really popular weekend away, so book well in advance if you plan on visiting. Tours of the lighthouse itself are also held by NSW National Parks.
The Ghan
If there’s one way to travel that’s a cut above anything else, it’s by train. If you want to see Australia by train, look no further than the Ghan, the country’s most prestigious rail adventure. In fact, it’s so epic that Aussie broadcast channel SBS aired a 17(!) hour documentary of footage of the Ghan, should you wish to watch the journey in real-time.
The Ghan runs as a scenic train service between Adelaide and Darwin, taking in the rugged beauty of the Outback along the way. Spending the night on the Ghan would be a unique and quintessentially Australian adventure- the accommodation cabins are luxurious and well-appointed, and I can’t think of anything better than waking up to see the red centre of Australia passing before your eyes, gazing out at the countryside over a morning cup of tea.
The Underground Motel
There’s a lot of eccentric and bizarre places in Australia’s vast Outback, but there’s nowhere like Coober Pedy. This mining town, in remote South Australia, gets hot. Really hot. So hot, in fact, that early miners had the smarts to move most of the town underground, where the climate is mild and temperate throughout the year, safely removed from the sweltering sun. Trust me, visit in the summer and you’ll understand.
Enter The Underground Hotel. The entire hotel, is, well, underground. Underground rooms, even with Wi-Fi, make this one of the most unique hotels in the country. But don’t stop there- there are also underground mines you can visit, an underground church, and even an underground post office!
If you’re road-tripping between Adelaide and Alice Springs or Darwin, Coober Pedy is one of the best places to stop for the night.
Love Cabins
Spending the night in a treehouse? Yes please- if you’ve ever daydreamed of adventures, Robinson Crusoe style, (only inland), consider the Love Cabins. The Wollemi Wilderness Treehouse is a lux, adults-only treehouse in the sky, with incredible views of the Blue Mountains. Or, check out the ‘Enchanted Cave’, a luxury suite which completely blends in with the natural surroundings, a hideaway in the rock.
Set in the Blue Mountains of NSW, these unusual suites would be the perfect place for a romantic weekend away, or an Insta photo shoot, and are completely unlike anywhere else.
The Pole House
You might not have heard of the Pole House, but if you’ve ever traveled the Great Ocean Road, chances are that you’ve seen it. Located in Fairhaven, Victoria, part of the popular scenic drive known as the Great Ocean Road, a rather unusual place awaits. As it says on the tin, the Pole House is a house. On top of a 43-foot pole.
It’s an impressive architectural marvel- stay the night here for guaranteed privacy (except for gawkers driving past; do cover up on the balcony), and amazing ocean views. It’s been recently remodeled and is a bit of an Aussie icon- it’s hard to miss as you’re driving past. If you are traveling the Great Ocean Road, consider a splurge and spend the night in one of the country’s most unique houses.
El Questro
El Questro has to make the list, if for no other reason than their outdoor bathtubs. Set in the unbelievably perfect natural marvel that is the Kimberley. El Questro is the perfect splurge resort for some time off the grid in remote Western Australia.
The property offers everything from tented camping to luxury villas, all designed to complement, not overshadow, the real star of the show- the Kimberley. From waterfalls, hikes, swimming holes, and wildlife, I can’t think of a more special way to see the Kimberley than El Questro- it’s definitely high on my list of hotels to try.
Mona Pavilions
You can’t mention unique Aussie places without mentioning MONA. MONA, or the Museum of Old and New Art, is set just outside of Hobart, Tasmania and is the brainchild of eccentric Aussie professional gambler David Walsh. The museum itself is an amazing oddity and architectural marvel. It used to have a gallery of ‘sex and death’, and you’ll find all sorts of incredibly amazing things to explore, such as a wall of vaginas and a free-flowing waterfall which spells out politically charged messages.
If you haven’t had enough MONA, fear not- you can spend the night here! The MONA Pavilions are bespoke architectural creations, super contemporary and chic. They don’t come cheap, but if I was looking for something to wow for a special occasion, I would definitely want it to be here.
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Note: all properties included here are those I’ve stayed at or hope to stay at, and are included completely of my own opinions.
Have you stayed at any of the above? Would love to hear what you think!