With many people living in metropolitan areas, chasing the perfect, unique destination to spend your holiday escape has never been more popular or exciting as it is now. Every person has a different idea of what a unique stay is to them.
What’s a unique stay about anyway?
Whether it be a luxury hotel accommodation with all the bells and whistles (like an in-room spa bath) or a private country tiny house that is cosy, completely off the grid and is self-sufficient in the midst of nature, unique stays range in style and type – but the choice is all yours.
These kinds of experiences come from the idea of wanting to switch off from technology, to retreat and relax and forget about pressures that every day life holds. Offering you a perfect holiday – exactly how you like it.
What does Canberra have to offer?
Canberra has a lot to offer for residents and tourists alike. It is not just the capital city where Parliament sits, we have a booming lifestyle with diverse landscapes that you cannot find in some of the bigger cities around Australia. Check out our article on the top 5 things to do in Canberra for more information.
Watch the city transform from day to night as it booms with it’s luxury and unique accommodation options and large foodie scene. Canberra is the home to many cultural institutions and icons as well.
Whether you’re looking to experience Canberra as a tourist or reconnect with the city as a resident, we have a perfect unique kind of stays in Canberra for you to retreat to for a couple, family or friends for a getaway.
Ovolo Nishi
Where is Ovolo Nishi?
Located in the New Acton Precinct, Ovolo Nishi is one of Canberra’s luxury boutique hotels. It is one of Canberra’s most iconic accommodation options with ground breaking architecture and design throughout that keeps you intrigued.
The hotel itself has an industrial, eclectic feel within the rooms and each room contains restored vintage furniture and original artworks that cannot be found anywhere else.
Who can stay here?
Ovolo Nishi is an accommodation option ideal for couples or families with a new-born or toddler. Each room sleeps 2 adults and one small child.
This retreat has the option of a spa-like stone bath inside some of the rooms. It is a retreat that is a special kind of night away in the city of Canberra.
What is there to do at Ovolo Nishi and nearby?
This cosy and compact hotel accommodation also has on offer an award winning restaurant, Monster Bar & Kitchen, a social hour each day, complimentary breakfast, 24 hour gym access, along with super fast Wi-Fi if fast internet is a must for your stay.
If you’re looking for activities to experience outside of your hotel, Ovolo Nishi is above the Palace Electric Cinema and just across the road, you will find delicious food and drink options like Parlour, Ily, Rebel Rebel and High Jinks.
Ovolo Nishi overlooks Lake Burley Griffin, where you can catch the sun setting before day turns into night. You can also take a short drive to the National Museum of Australia or take a stroll along Lake Burley Griffin.
Jamala Wildlife Lodge
Winning the ‘Best Unique Accommodation’ and ‘Best Deluxe Accommodation’ for multiple years, Jamala Wildlife Lodge is an experience like no other in Canberra.
Where’s Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
This accommodation collection is located within the ground of the National Zoo and Aquarium property and is overlooking some animal enclosures within the park. Jamala Wildlife Lodge is a 5 star experience that provides a luxury escape and adventure for their guests.
With 18 rooms situated next to certain animal enclosures which enables guests to experience animal encounters from the comfort of their hotel room.
What is included at Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
Each holiday booking includes dinner, drinks and breakfast included as well as guided and self guided tours of the National Zoo and Aquarium to discover each day.
What kind of accommodation options are available?
Depending on what accommodation type you choose, you can actually feed the animals from your balcony. Rooms such as the Giraffe Treehouses have animals such as their resident giraffe, Skye that can come straight up to your balcony for a snack. You can also view alpacas and deer from this room type. Each room sleeps a minimum of 2 people, with some accommodation options that sleeps up to 8 people.
Jamala also has some rooms also have large relaxing spa baths overlooking some of the enclosures where you can have a soak in the tub and observe the animals from your private space surrounded by animals within this national park.
Jamala Wildlife Lodge is an accommodation option that is located just 10 minutes out of Canberra’s CBD and is perched next to Scrivener Dam, allowing you to wake up with the animals after a restful night of beauty sleep!
It is a 5 minute drive from the National Arboretum and prices start from $1,450 per night, making it one of the more luxurious experiences in Canberra to try.
Cubby and Co
What is Cubby and Co?
Cubby and Co is one of the most popular different accommodation experiences that Canberra has to offer. Cubby and Co have a mantra of being ‘bare’. This comes into play with their offerings, as they only offer the bare necessities that you require for your stay surrounded by the mountains.
This is so you leave your Wi-Fi and technology behind to reconnect with your loved ones, nature and enjoy a starry night. Here, you will be able to enjoy a relaxing night of romance and adventure and wake up to the sun across the acres of vineyard.
Offering all inclusive experiences from local and regional small businesses, Cubby and Co holds local produce and goods very close to their heart and it is their main focus of this experience.
During your stay, you can choose an accommodation and food package where they have delicious meals delivered straight to you from a local restaurant, XO in Narrabundah.
Where is Cubby and Co?
The cubbies as they call them, are located within the Mount Majura Vineyard property, set high upon the hills in the country where you can take in the fresh air and stars amongst the sweeping views of Mount Majura with complete private and quiet areas for you use during your stay.
What kind of accommodation options are available?
This is one of Canberra’s not so hidden gems and offers panoramic views of the countryside of Canberra. They have two large bell tents that they have affectionately called Frank and Edgar as well as a tiny house called Dinny.
Cubbies/ Bell tents: Frank and Edgar
The bell tents are technically luxury glamping with their canvas walls though they don’t like to use that term. They rather call it ‘hassle-free camping’ for one night use only. Frank and Edgar are the perfect private options for those who enjoy a bit of adventure and the outdoors. Frank and Edgar are mainly one Canberra’s unique stays for couples and sleeps 2 people. Each includes an outdoor firepit and firewood to light a fire on those colder nights. These two bell tents are under a seasonal operation and do not operate throughout June to August or January.
Tiny House: Dinny
Their tiny house, Dinny however is a great destination for a multi-night complete private stay if you choose to. Dinny is like a log cabin and has a mini kitchenette, an internal ensuite and most importantly, heating unlike the bell tents, Edgar and Frank. The tiny house sleeps 2 people and is one of the most perfect unique stays for couples. Dinny includes a firepit to light a fire to embrace those colder nights in Canberra. Dinny is operational throughout the year with the exception of January.
Cubby and Co is a short 18 minute distance from the Canberra CBD and rates for staying start from $260 per night.
Luxury Yurt Farm Stay at Pialligo Truffles
Where is Pialligo Truffles?
Perched on a boutique Truffle Farm property in the small, country suburb of Pialligo in Canberra, this luxury yurt accommodation sleeps up to 4 people which is perfect for a family or friends. Within the natural environment of a truffle farm, this accommodation option offers expansive views of the countryside where you can relax, unwind and reconnect with nature.
What is included in the luxury yurt?
The luxury yurt is one of it’s kind in Canberra and is complete with 2 separate bedrooms, a fully renovated kitchen, a fireplace, heating and cooling, the use of 2 bicycles to explore and discover the property, usage of their tennis court with complimentary use of 4 tennis racquets, access to their gym and Apple TV and Wi-Fi.
Pialligo Truffles is the perfect option for those wanting a tranquil retreat in nature and the country while still being close to town.
Guests have mentioned that the hosts provide fresh eggs, Pialligo Estate bacon and wine upon arrival to make the whole experience even sweeter.
It has also been mentioned about the location as it is in close proximity to Pialligo Estate where many weddings and functions take place in Canberra.
Pialligo Truffles is situated a convenient 12 minute drive from the Canberra CBD. This accommodation option is available to stay year round and prices start from $490 per night via AirBnB.
Tiny Freya at Hume
Where is Tiny Freya?
Located in the private and secluded area of Hume in Canberra, Tiny Freya is a tiny home experience for those who are looking for a holiday escape and take a hiatus from their everyday life or for mountain bike enthusiasts who are looking for a new trail to explore out in the country.
The hosts of Tiny Freya have created a guest-only mountain bike flow ride that is custom built and right on your doorstep and into nature. It is 120m long and links up to their trail called “Ruby’s Run”.
What kind of accommodation options are available?
Tiny Freya is a tiny house that is classified as an off the grid experience. Off the grid is an experience with less technological connection. High power required devices are not an option when you’re off the grid as you solely rely on solar power to power your entire accommodation at unique stays like Tiny Freya.
Tiny Freya is super cosy and sleeps up to 3 people with a queen-size bed on one side and a single bed on the other, making it perfect for a small family. Prices start from $196 per night via AirBnB.
Tiny Freya is one of a kind in Canberra and is the only tiny house complete with it’s own mountain bike trail on the hosts property which is many acres of land surrounded by mountains.
All the Canberra unique stays
Well there you have it! Bet you didn’t know about some of those Canberra unique stays right at your doorstep and ready for you to make a booking. We mentioned Canberra had more to offer than you would have originally thought.
Escaping to the country if you’re looking for a staycation within Canberra has never been easier with our list. We hope we have helped you choose a destination without having to leave Canberra.
You will be able to rest up and get your beauty sleep comfortably with these accommodation options overlooking the mountains. Get amongst nature and the serenity without needing to travel more than 30 minutes if you live in Canberra.
Did you like this article? Make sure to check out our article of the top 5 staycations in Canberra for more accommodation ideas.
If you have experienced any of these unique stays or if you have any other suggestions for retreats or luxury glamping getaways in Canberra, leave a comment below.