8 eco-friendly Australian Airbnbs ideal for a greener holiday
Sustainability is front of mind for so many of us right now. From what we eat and drink, to what we wear and how we plan our holidays, being kind to the earth is a bigger priority than ever before.
Thankfully, there are over 300,000 eco-friendly homes listed on Airbnb, many of them in Australia. In fact, we’re in the top ten if you number-crunch eco-listings per country, and to celebrate this, we’ve rounded up eight of the most character-filled and easy-to-get-to holiday houses in New South Wales and Victoria. From the Byron Bay hinterland to Victoria’s central highlands, these quirky homes won’t cost the earth (though the Palm Beach one will set you back $1,350 per night).
Lilypad Palm Beach, Palm Beach, NSW (from $1,350 per night, sleeps two)
Featured on Vogue Living when it first opened, this beautiful and unique floating villa is completely solar powered. Previously only accessible via a private members’ club, it has recently been opened up to everyone on Airbnb for overnight stays and hosting private events. The property’s designer, Chuck Anderson, describes it as, “penthouse villa living with the movements of the ocean.” But not too much movement – its construction beneath the waterline makes it much more stable than a boat. Details: Lilypad Palm Beach
Ecocrackenback, Jindabyne, NSW (from $308 per night, sleeps four)
Make your next ski holiday easy on the earth by staying in one of the 18 self-contained lodges at Ecocrackenback, only 20 minutes’ drive from the ski hills of Thredbo. An official Nature Tourism destination certified by Eco Tourism Australia, Ecocrackenback has clean-heat ethanol fireplaces, grey water management and a worm-farm system for food waste – along with great skiing, mountain biking, hikes, trout fishing and horse riding. Details: Ecocrackenback
Contemporary Eco Home, Byron Bay Hinterland, NSW (from $350 per night, sleeps three)
This property in the rainforest behind Byron Bay is a nature-lover’s delight. With an 80-acre wildlife sanctuary next door, your only neighbours are the wallabies and native birds (who do occasionally call in). The house treads lightly on the earth, using solar power, a greywater reedbed and 50,000 litres of roof-catchment drinking water to minimise environmental impact. Details: Contemporary Eco Home
Earth-covered House, Rock Forest, NSW (from $295 per night, sleeps five)
Created by a German master builder, this unusual property is covered by 2.1 metres of earth – except for the walls with windows, which are double-glazed for insulation. Fresh air and a constant temperature are maintained by a unique tube ventilation system. Details: Earth-covered House
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The Recyclable House, Beaufort, Victoria (from $200 per night, sleeps 10)
Built using closed-loop, passive solar construction principles (like cross-flow ventilation), this eco-friendly house is ideal for a country getaway with family and friends. Decorated with natural paint and cleaned with all-natural products, it’s a low-tox weekender. Details: The Recyclable House
Chendana, Byron Bay Hinterland, NSW (from $100 per night, sleeps two)
A not-for-profit Airbnb, all proceeds from this house are reinvested into the property to reforest and improve it for the koalas, platypus and wallabies that call the property home. Visit: Chendana
Sustainable Large Apartment, Falls Creek, VIC (from $490 per night, sleeps seven)
Made from eco-friendly rammed earth, this property manages to be environmentally sensitive while still offering a hot tub with views of the snowy mountains. Details: Sustainable Large Apartment
Welcome Swallow Hideaway, near Cape Otway National Park, VIC (from $140 per night, sleeps four)
Made from a shipping container and other recycled materials, this tiny home is a wonderful base from which to explore the Cape Otway National Park and Great Ocean Road. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, echidnas and many native birds are regular visitors. Details: Welcome Swallow Hideaway