6 One-of-a-kind stays

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Six outstanding one-of-a-kind properties to discover on Booking.com, our sponsor for Australian Traveller’s People’s Choice Awards 2015.

1. Enjoy never-ending views on Kangaroo Island

Life-Time Private Retreat is a collection of luxurious beach houses with spectacular views over Snellings Beach. Set among a variety of hiking trails, guests have all the things they need for an easy beach getaway including a fully-equipped kitchen, patio with barbecue and free wi-fi.

 

For Kangaroo Island views, stay at Life-Time Private Retreat

2. Relax with the locals on Phillip Island

Holmwood Guesthouse is a cosy little B&B just five minutes from Phillip Island’s town centre. It has three guesthouse rooms and two self-contained spa cottages, with kitchens, spa baths and gas log fireplaces. Breakfast is served in the dining room near the open fire or on the sunny verandah with the idyllic gardens surrounding you.

 

For a cosy Phillip Island B&B, stay at Holmwood Guesthouse

3. Sleep in a yurt on the Murray River

Fitted with a hot tub, bathroom, parquet floor, electric fireplace, and canvas walls lined with Australian wool to keep you cosy, these circular tents at Talo Retreat are a far-cry from the simple yurts traditionally used by Mongolian nomads. Located on the edge of the Murray River, surrounded by red gums, this accommodation experience allows you to sleep among nature while only being eight minutes from the town centre of Echuca.

 

For a yurt on the Murray River, stay at Talo Retreat

4. Listen to the waves from your beach hut

Stay in one of these iconic, candy-striped beach huts, located in the township of Middleton between Goolwa and Port Elliot. Inside, they’re fancy huts indeed, with a kitchenette, spa bath and private deck, on which to enjoy your complimentary bottle of bubbly with front-row seats to the crashing waves.

 

To stay in a candy-striped beach huts, stay at Middleton Beach Huts

5. Stay among the treetops of an ancient rainforest

Not the kind you might remember from your childhood, these eco-friendly treehouses come with kitchens, fireplaces, hammocks and hot tubs. Set among 40 hectares of rainforest, it’s the perfect spot to immerse yourself in nature, with cassowaries, tree kangaroos, and rare green possums calling this place home.

 

Want your very own treehouse, stay at The Canopy Rainforest Treehouses

6. Live like a Sydneysider in the Big Smoke

In the heart of Newtown and only a short train trip into the CBD, The Urban Newtown has contemporary industrial-style studios with all the mod-cons, rain showers, coffee machines, free wi-fi, and a discount to the nearby Fitness First… but the best part? A free mini bar with locally brewed craft beer and fine Australian wines.

 

Want to hang out where the bo-ho Sydneysiders do, stay at The Urban Newtown

 

ALL THE RESULTS: Australian Traveller’s People Choice Awards 2015

Once just for holiday rentals, Airbnb now plans your whole trip

    By Emily Murphy
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    From art tours in Melbourne to Bowral beehives, Airbnb has just launched its biggest evolution yet.

    Forget scrolling endless booking sites or relying on travel agents to curate your perfect escape. Airbnb’s latest global release redefines what the platform can offer, moving beyond accommodation to become a full-service travel companion that plans your entire trip.

    Luxury services are now bookable

    Airbnb Experiences flow on phone

    Book experiences and services through Airbnb now. (Image: Airbnb)

    At the centre of the shake-up is Airbnb Services, a brand-new offering that lets users book top-tier professionals across 10 categories, with five of those launching in Sydney and Melbourne.

    Need a private chef for an anniversary dinner? Want a photo shoot with an award-winning photographer? Prefer to skip the supermarket and have your Airbnb fridge pre-stocked before you arrive? It’s all now possible, straight from the app.

    And these aren’t just any service providers – we’re talking Michelin-starred chefs, renowned wellness practitioners with serious credibility and more.

    Experiences that go way beyond the standard city tour

    AirBeenBee honey Airbnb Experience in Bowral

    Travellers can book a honey experience in Bowral. (Image: Airbnb)

    Also making a big comeback: Airbnb Experiences, now completely reimagined and relaunched with a sharper focus on expertise, authenticity and local flavour.

    The new line-up includes thousands of activities hosted by locals who know their cities best – and Aussies are already embracing the idea. You can now book everything from tasting rare honey straight from the hive in Bowral to a deep dive into Melbourne’s street art with an artist.

    Duckboard Place street art

    Airbnb Experiences can be booked in your own city. (Artwork: Middle: Steen Jones/Right: Lukas Kaspar)

    It’s not just for travellers, either. Airbnb reports that over 40 per cent of Australians say they’re keen to use Experiences to explore their own backyard.

    The categories span everything from history and culture to food and drink, art and design, entertainment, fitness, wellness and nature, with new options rolling out globally and across Sydney and Melbourne this season.

    Next-level exclusives hosted by global icons

    Megan Thee Stallion eating ramen for Otaku Hottie Quest

    Airbnb Originals are one-of-a-kind experiences hosted by world-renowned figures. (Image: Adrienne Raquel)

    And for those seeking something truly out of the ordinary, Airbnb has introduced Airbnb Originals: one-of-a-kind experiences hosted by world-renowned figures, exclusively for the platform.

    Think making croissants with a French pastry legend, playing volleyball with an Olympian in Rio, or even cosplaying with Megan Thee Stallion at her Otaku Hottie Quest.

    You can also toss a football with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City or join K-pop royalty SEVENTEEN in Seoul for an exclusive fan celebration.

    For Aussie travellers, it’s all part of a broader shift: from simply booking a place to sleep, to curating unforgettable moments – all in one tap.