The most innovative (& downright cool) accommodation in regional NSW

For a hobbit-like house: Earth House – Wollumbin Palms Rainforest Retreat, Tweed 

Earth House on the North Coast is like something out of the Lord of the Rings’ shire. The mystical lodge, carved from rock and stone and topped with an earth-covered roof, blends seamlessly into its leafy surrounds. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows welcome in an abundance of natural light, as well as views of Wollumbin Mount Warning. Inside, furniture is curved and hand-crafted. There’s a fireplace and large bathroom, and outside there’s a spa and hot shower. The bonus? It’s pet friendly. 

Earth House at Wollumbin Palms Rainforest Retreat - Credit: Vibrant Imaging | Wollumbin Palms Rainforest Retreat

For a couple’s retreat: Ground House 107R, Byron Bay 

Bunker on down at Tintenbar’s Ground House 107R, a concrete semi-underground-style stay, blending seamlessly into its surrounds, like a spaceship crashed in a meadow. The simple, rectangular space is designed to envelope and provide refuge: there's a stone wall courtyard, a spacious bedroom – complete with what appears to be a floating bed – a wood-burning fireplace, a curved shower and lush views. The gardened rooftop further hides the building among the lush landscape, and the magnesium soak tank – that’s heated in cool months – is perfect for restorative bathing.   

Ground House, Byron Bay - Credit: Rebecca Willox

For a socially conscious stay: Hotel Etico, Blue Mountains 

This grand hotel set in a charming Mount Victoria manor is the first of its kind in Australia. Housing 15 rooms, a restaurant and easy access to the best of the Blue Mountains, Hotel Etico stands apart via its training program providing employment and independent living for young people with disability. Enjoy your cosy stay with time split between the library, in front of one of three fireplaces, in the conservatory, or exploring the nearby bush walks of Mount Piddington and Mount York. 

Hotel Etico, Blue Mountains

For an island getaway: Montague Island Head Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, Narooma 

This secluded island getaway, built in 1881, is the only accommodation on Montague Island, a tiny island off Narooma on the South Coast. A stay at this lovingly restored five-bedroom cottage, sitting pretty alongside the lighthouse, provides insight into life as a keeper, a unique opportunity to imagine a life of solitude, guiding boats. The property is equipped with a kitchen, bathroom and expansive verandahs, perfect for whale watching or spotting the island’s local colony of seals. Snorkellers and divers will love staying here – it's a prime position for jetting off on a chartered expedition (Underwater Safaris and Narooma Charters and Barunguba Montague Island Tours are two options). 

Montague Island Head Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, Montague Island

For design lovers: Sona, Orange 

Step into Sona and you’ll wish it was your forever home. A thoughtfully restored bank and manager’s quarters in Central West town, Molong, this bespoke and creatively styled accommodation by the founder of Orange’s boutique store Jumbled sleeps 10 people across five artfully designed bedrooms. There’s an indoor fireplace and outdoor fire pit, plenty of living spaces, a no-expense-spared kitchen and three bathrooms. Sona’s interior design is an Instagram fiend’s dream – the entire space is curated with modern Mediterranean touches and Art Deco influences. 

Sona, Orange - Credit: Clancy Paine

For an eco-friendly stay: Tanja Lagoon Camp, Sapphire Coast 

For earth-friendly glamping on the mesmerising Sapphire Coast, book in a stay at Tanja. The light-filled eco-cabins sleep two and include a kitchen, ensuite and are in close proximity to the calm serenity of the surrounding spotted gum forest. During your stay, kayak the camp’s lagoons and beaches, spot wildlife and rest easy knowing your holiday has left minimal impact – the camp uses solar power, has worm waste management, catches water and employs efficient pellet heating. 

Tanja Lagoon Camp, Sapphire Coast - Credit: Tanja Lagoon Camp

For art enthusiasts: The Bridge at Bundanon, Shoalhaven 

The beautifully remote art museum may be the heart of the award-winning Bundanon, but The Bridge is its innovative accommodation counterpart. Operating not at all like a hotel, overnighters at The Bridge are dictated by a weekend-stay schedule where accommodation, communal dining and experiences such as art workshops, architecture tours, yoga and bush walks, are all-inclusive. Here, rooms are cabin-like and minimally furnished. Find a king-sized bed or two singles, an ensuite, small desk – colour palette drawn from Arthur Boyd’s (prolific Australian artist and benefactor of Bundanon (the property) to the Australian government) paintings, and the surrounding landscape. The 160m-long roof is lined with solar panels and rainwater is harvested from the roof – small gestures, among others, to be eco-friendly.  

The Bridge at Bundanon - Credit: Zan Wimberley | Bundanon

For an LGBTQIA+ pioneer: The Palace Hotel, Broken Hill 

With its historic ceilings and walls adorned with grandiose murals of Australian landscapes, this iconic hotel in outback NSW is a flamboyant, fun, one-of-a-kind hotel known for its starring role in the classic Australian movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (you can even stay in the ‘Priscilla’ suite, the very same one the characters in the movie stayed in). Synonymous with the LGBTQIA+ community, each year in September, The Palace becomes the focal point for the annual Broken Heel Festival, a multi-day extravaganza paying homage to the film, drag queen culture and Australia’s queer community.   

The Palace Hotel, Broken Hill

For 360-degree views: The Reservoir, Bathurst 

With views presiding over Bathurst and Mount Panorama, combined with its circular formation, The Reservoir presents a unique, creative stay for those heading to country NSW. Originally built in the 1880s, the building was Bathurst’s main water supply until it was decommissioned in the ‘50s. Its round shape lent itself nicely to an indoor atrium, where rooms and hallways surround it. There are seven bedrooms to accommodate 14 guests, endless views to keep you and the crew occupied throughout your stay, and a games room.  

The Reservoir, Bathurst - Credit: The Reservoir

For the architect nerds: The Seidler House, Southern Highlands 

Fans of iconic Australian architect Harry Seidler will instantly recognise Seidler House, the award-winning and imposing four-bedroom masterpiece that hangs over Joadja Gorge in the Southern Highlands. Open-plan living is the game at Seidler House – there are floor-to-ceiling glass walls beckoning the outdoors, in; open fireplaces; expansive decks; entertaining areas; and an outdoor pool. Alongside seven of your nearest and dearest, enjoy a weekend, or a while, here simply staring at the great outdoors (and wildlife) or the building itself.  

The Seidler House, Southern Highlands - Credit: David Taylor | Contemporary Hotels

For an underground adventure: White Cliffs Underground Motel, White Cliffs 

There’s a fair chance you’ll have never stayed anywhere quite like this other-worldly underground motel in White Cliffs – it’s undoubtedly one of the most unique places to stay in regional NSW. The often-unbearable heat of the outback is what causes many to seek underground refuge, and this motel is no different. Housing 44 dugout-style cave rooms, temperatures inside sit at a constant 22 degrees Celsius. Rooms are comfortably appointed though you’ll likely spend all your time marvelling at the underground concept itself, or the hundreds of disused opal diggings in the area.  

View from above the White Cliffs Underground Motel - Credit: White Cliffs Underground Motel

For animal lovers: Zoofari Lodge – Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo 

Fancy yourself a zookeeper for a while with a stay at this immersive accommodation at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, near Dubbo. Zoofari Lodge offers unique safari-style canvas lodges near the zoo’s African savannah, with front-row seats to the giraffe, rhino and zebra residents of the zoos. Tents are luxuriously comfortable with ensuites, spacious bedding and air conditioning. Stays at the Zoofari Lodge include accommodation, tours, meals, zoo entry and bike hire. Larger groups can also opt to stay in the two-bedroom Savannah Cabins. 

Zoofari Lodge at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo - Credit: John Patrick Photography