Tasmania’s best Airbnb stays: Unique and tiny homes top list

From tiny homes to a converted barn, hidden garden cabin and even a revamped school bus with a private meditation cave — we’ve uncovered the best unique Airbnb stays across Tasmania >>

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FROM tiny homes to a converted barn, hidden garden cabin and even a revamped school bus — demand for unique and quirky stays when booking a night away is gaining serious momentum.

And now, the most wishlisted unique homes across Tasmania have been revealed by Airbnb — with one taking out top spot across Australia.

Airbnb said searches for unique listings had gone up 94 per cent since the start of the pandemic, with the number one wishlisted property across the nation a unique ‘pod’ in Lewisham that once featured on Grand Designs Australia.

The Pod, Lewisham | Most wishlisted unique Airbnb listings in Tasmania #1

Just 40 minutes from Hobart, ‘The Pod’ is a small and beautiful house that was created with a focus on using locally sourced materials.

The 40-square metre home featured on series eight of Grand Designs Australia and features floor to ceiling glass, a suspended fire place that hangs from the ceiling, and a bespoke Huon pine outdoor tub for admiring the view.

Tasmanian travel writer Alice Hansen is the owner of the The Pod and said she loved sharing her tiny cabin with others.

“Hosting on Airnbnb has been a beautiful balance. By opening up my home to guests I’m able to have the freedom to do more travel writing, but then when I want to return home I simply block out the calendar,” Ms Hansen said.

The Pod, Lewisham

The writer said the feedback she received from guests was overwhelmingly positive and said she enjoyed showcasing locally sourced elements of her home to her guests.

“They particularly love bathing under the stars in the Huon pine bath, the one-off fireplace and floor to ceiling views that let Tasmania do the talking.”

“Hosting also allows me to really showcase the best of the local community … all the key features such as the handmade basin and bespoke Hydrowood timber couch are the work of local craftspeople, so I like to think of my home as a love letter to this part of Tassie,” Ms Hansen said.

Another spectacular Tasmanian property that made the Australian top 10 most wishlisted was a simple one bedroom home hidden on Bruny Island.

‘Bruny Island Hideaway’ is a one-bedroom minimalistic getaway that is surrounded by 99 acres of conservation forest.

The 28m2 cabin is located off the grid and aims to show guests how to be happy with very little.

The Pod is one of many ‘Tiny Homes’ listed on Airbnb fast becoming popular with savvy travellers.

Tassie’s best ‘tiny homes’ listings

A shipping container to sleep under the stars in or a converted school bus with a private cave to meditate in — there are some tiny homes with big perks across Tassie to spend the night.

Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand Susan Wheeldon said Aussies continued to show “a huge amount of enthusiasm” for tiny homes when choosing accommodation.

“(People are) drawn to their innovative design and unique interiors that utilise even the cosiest of spaces,” she said.

Hideaway – Sleep Under The Stars in Sandy Bay | Tassie's tiny homes

“Often located in picturesque surrounds, tiny homes offer the ideal getaway for those looking to escape the everyday and immerse themselves in nature, alongside compact creature comforts and amenities.”

Ms Wheeldon said tiny homes were an example of how unique stays and the smallest of properties were not only soaring in demand but offered great earning opportunities for hosts thinking of converting their granny flats, spare caravan or shipping containers into short-stay accommodation.

Hobart Hideaway Pods – The Pea Pod | Tassie's tiny homes

“Hosting a tiny home is not just a fantastic way to earn additional income, but also a way to help bring valuable tourism dollars to your local community and help more destinations across Tasmania share in the benefits of tourism,” she said.

Tassie’s best ‘tiny homes’

• Hobart Hideaway Pods – The Pea Pod – Kingston
• Off-Grid Tiny House – Forthside
• Tiny Home in the Fernery – Launceston
• s h e l t e r – Swansea
• Francis Lane Tiny Studio – Adventure Bay
• Hideaway – Sleep Under The Stars – Sandy Bay

Perhaps Tassie’s newest and most unique tiny home that’s popped up on Airbnb is Huntingdon Tier Forest Retreat’s ‘Treetop Bus’.

The mountain-top, off-grid converted schoolbus apartment is described by owner Jess as “a place to escape, relax, disconnect and reconnect”.

“Borne out of love of the natural Tasmanian environment, Huntingdon Tier Forest Retreat is a place to simply be – to breathe fresh air, to listen to the sounds of the breeze rustling the leaves or to lounge by a warm woodfire and quietly observe the surrounding wildlife.”

Perched atop a cliff overlooking the valley below, the treetop apartment is aptly named.

“From your comfortable bed, gaze out the window at the trees below and – past the treetops – the mountains across the valley,” Jess says.

“The lounge area, outside deck and fire pit the same outlook. Huntingdon Tier is also home to a pair of wedge tailed eagles whose nest is located only 200 metres away and they be seen drifting through the valley most days.”

For those who are a little adventurous, a private natural cave can be found just 30 metres below the apartment.

“Intended to be used as a meditation space, you will find a rug and cushions for your comfort,” Jess says.