Sydney’s short-term rental properties are taking a bizarre turn as homeowners install rare features to stand out from the crowd, with recent listings including a hobbit house, neon pink ‘lover’s den’ and a house converted into a medieval-style castle with a moat.
Property owners are opting for unusual features and offerings to maximize returns, transforming decor and unique structures into destination experiences and the promise of an unforgettable stay.
An example of this is the clifftop cave built on a natural rock platform, ‘The Enchanted Cave’ on Airbnb.
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The Hobbiton-esque door to The Enchanted Cave on Airbnb
Inside the Enchanted Cave Airbnb
Open a small, round wooden door similar to Hobbiton and inside you’ll find a spa, a fire and views over the Blue Mountains, which rents for about $6,000 for five nights.
Operating as a romantic property known as The Lover’s Den, a Sydney apartment that was transformed into a nightly rental for couples in love to “embrace the magic of seduction” is being put up for sale as an “eccentric investment opportunity”.
Complete with mirrored walls, mood lighting and lavish decor, listing agent Ty Demirezen of Ray White Eastern Beaches said the property rents for about $300 a night and “sometimes much more.”
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‘The Lover’s Den’ accommodation for couples
The one-bedroom couples accommodation costs approximately $300 per night
“With a standard apartment and what it would rent for on Airbnb versus what this gets, it’s getting a 20, 30, sometimes 40 percent premium just for what it is,” he said.
At 100 Blaxland Rd, a castle reconstruction into an English Tudor mansion has striking medieval features, from parapet walls, a working moat and drawbridge to a tower entrance that has operated as an Airbnb in recent years.
“One family has consistently taken it every Christmas and spent their Christmas in the castle,” says listing agent John Chapman of John Chapman Superior Sales.
“The castle is an obvious one to command a high price, simply because it is so unique.”
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100 Blaxland Road, Wentworth Falls
The house has been rented out via Airbnb in recent years
Other quirky properties in NSW include a bubble tent about 220km northwest of Sydney, on the western edge of the Blue Mountains.
From a rotating bed that converts into a ping pong table, an eco-friendly flush toilet and a rain shower overlooking the second largest canyon in the world, tents range from $575 to $1,250 per night depending on the tent and the day of the week, with the most popular experiences being two-night weekend stays.
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Bubble tent rental on the edge of the Blue Mountains
The tents range from $575 to $1,250
The ‘Secret Treehouse’ retreat in the Blue Mountains allows guests to sleep among the treetops in the forest, while offering a spa, kitchenette, queen bed and fireplace.
Treehouse by Love Cabins can be rented for approximately $1,100 per night
Inside the treehouse accommodation
In Palm Beach, Lilypad is a full-service floating villa that can be booked for overnight all-inclusive stays from $2,150.
Airbnb prices are determined individually by hosts, who take into account factors such as local demand, property characteristics and seasonal trends
Susan Wheeldon, Country Manager for Airbnb Australia, said many hosts were trying to differentiate themselves from the ‘traditional options’ by offering something unique.
“From eco-friendly earth houses to tiny clifftop cottages, these extraordinary stays invite travelers to discover undiscovered areas and hidden gems,” she said.
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Lilypad rentals offer all-inclusive stays from $2,150
Palm Beach’s iconic “floating house”. Image credit: @lilypadpalmbeach
Ms Wheeldon said unique properties are often in demand because they offer what traditional accommodation simply cannot: an unforgettable experience.
“Whether it’s a secluded cave, a castle-style home or a creatively themed retreat, these offerings provide a level of novelty and personalization that travelers are looking for,” she said.
Ms Wheeldon said many of these homes are located in areas where traditional accommodation is limited or non-existent, making them a primary option for visitors.
“This exclusivity, combined with their unique appeal, naturally drives demand,” she says.
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