TOP FIVE
Australian architectural stays
Some of the most impeccably designed stays around Australia, where the architecture and surroundings are so beautiful, they truly provide a much-needed balm for the soul.
By Liz Elton
The impact your environmental surroundings can have on your body and mind is not something that should ever be underestimated. In the quest for rest, tranquility and calm, we, as supremely busy and oft-harried beings, will undertake many a thing in the quest for true relaxation and the delightful mental cotton-woolling of the brain that it can provide.
The humble getaway may be one of the more simpler forms of escape, as a change of scenery is indeed as good as the holiday that comes with it. To this end we have rounded up some of the most beautifully designed stays around Australia, where the architecture and surroundings are so beautiful, they truly provide a much-needed balm for the soul.
Camel Beach House, Venus Bay, South Australia
Up to four guests; from $330 a night
Nestled into the wild landscape of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, the design of Camel Beach House was inspired by the humble fisherman’s shack, its form sharing an aesthetic vernacular with these more humble structures. It's a spot committed to conservation, sustainability and a greener way of life, utlising both solar panels and its own on-site rainwater tanks. The interiors are swathed in warm natural light and the eclectic mix of finishings give the house an inviting bohemian feeling. One of our favourite things about Camel Beach House is the fact that there's no television set - instead, the shelving is stacked with an array of books and games so you can truly switch off and enjoy time with your fellow (now hopefully slightly less harried) houseguests.
Heartwood Cabin Farmstay (top) and Gawthorne's Hut, New South Wales. Images via Airbnb.
Heartwood Cabin Farmstay, Burringbar, New South Wales
Up to two guests, from $299.29 a night
This small getaway is part cabin, part treehouse, offering views of the beautiful Burringbar Ranges. The interiors are cloaked with timber and dark, painted patinas that make you feel snug and enclosed in this eco-friendly space. The elevated deck houses a sunken bath, so you can relax surrounded by the gorgeous timber facade and dense blanket of trees.
Gawthorne's Hut, Buckaroo, New South Wales
Up to two guests, from $422.86 a night
The tiny (only 40sqm) Gawthorne's Hut is an open plan eco-cabin designed for couples. Sitting on the property of a working farm just on the outskirts of Mudgee, the hut offers exapnsive views of the surrounding farmland and an external firepit to cosy up to in the evening, glass of wine in hand.
Tasmania's The Barn (top) and Casa Warrandyte near the Yarra Valley in Victoria. Images via Airbnb.
Up to two guests, from $275 per night
Belonging to the two young architects who restored and renovated it, Alex Nielsen and Liz Walsh, Hobart's #TheBarn is a multi award winning barn conversion just moments from Salamanca Place and Battery Point. With as much of the original building and materials restored and reused as possible, the small yet open space features beautiful original sandstone walls and exposed timber beams. The getaway is a truly unique piece of architecture in a wonderful location that makes the decision to stay in or go out a genuine conundrum.
Casa Warrandyte, North Warrandyte, Victoria
Up to seven guests, from $520.43 per night
Deep in the bushlands of Warrandyte State Park, this modernist home is a private escape that has direct access to the Yarra River for swimming. Here, you're deep in the bush, so you can expect uninvited guests of the natural fauna variety, however being woken in the mornings by the sound of native birdsong - without a hint of manmade cacophony - makes the isolation more than worth it. Filled with dark timbers, unique artworks and vintage furniture, this space is a testament to owner's Stace Burt and Kenny Pomare's unique talent for creating an inviting and mindful space.
Words by Liz Elton. All images via Airbnb.
