Weird & Wonderful
PLACES TO STAY
Weird & Wonderful
PLACES TO STAY
SKY HIGH CABINS
The Bolder
Lysefjord, Norway
These architectural lodges are stunning, but it’s the Lysefjord fjord that steals the show.
Weird & Wonderful
Well, maybe they both share the spotlight.
The Bolder’s collection of mini masterpieces tells a story of nature embraced. Each one’s been specifically designed to appear weightless, rising above the landscape to complement its surroundings, not intrude on them. The way the pine tree-laden mountains compete with the mirrored surface of the fjord makes for some pretty epic viewing. And you’ve got a front-row seat.
Especially if you’re staying in the StarLodge with its tall ceilings, large panoramic windows and cosy furnishings - think Scandi décor at its minimalistic best. But then again, you can’t go wrong with the Grand Lodge either, thanks to its spacious lounge area and top-of-the-line kitchen. Better to eenie, meenie, miny, mo it.
From AU$674 per night
CITY SLICK
The Manner
New York City, USA
Is it a buzzy new hotel in SoHo? Or your stylish friend’s apartment?
Weird & Wonderful
It’s definitely the former, but The Manner has been carefully designed to make you feel instantly comfortable as soon as you walk through its glossy doors. Or at least, as comfortable as you can be when you’re lookin’ at marbled floors, massive art sculptures and a golden fireplace that probably costs more than your yearly rent.
But while this hotel is bold in décor, it’s also incredibly homey. Yes, there’s a retro water feature by the check-in desk, and yes, each suite sports glitzy surfaces and a colour palette straight out of the 70’s (think mustard yellow walls and hot red cabinets), but it’s also warm and inviting - the kind of place you’d never want to leave.
And with a lush rooftop garden, a seafood-filled restaurant and a speakeasy-style cocktail bar, why would you want to?
From AU$1,129 per night
LUXE VILLAS
Onduli Enclave
Damaraland, Namibia
A resident giraffe named these luxury villas.
Weird & Wonderful
You’d think that’s enough ‘cool’ for a set of villas to have, but this place has it on tap (preferably from its water-saving rain showers).
These villas have been built 12 metres off the ground to give you magnificent, uninterrupted views of the Brandberg (Namibia’s highest mountain) and Doros Crater. Which you can see from everywhere: the bedroom, desk, bathroom, you name it.
If that’s not enough nature for you, you can even roll your king-size bed onto your private deck for a night under Namibia’s stars. Y’know, just in case you couldn’t see them out of the frameless, floor-to-ceiling stacked glass doors.
There’s also a private lounge, dining room and interactive open plan kitchen if you’re feeling communal, but when you’ve got access to a open-air hot tub, shaded outside seating areas, a private pool and art installations back at your room, we wouldn’t blame you if you never left it.
From AU$6,503 per night
TREEHOUSE
Free Spirit Spheres
British Columbia, Canada
Imagine staying in a giant orb suspended mid-air in the misty rainforests of British Columbia.
Weird & Wonderful
No, it’s not the beginning of a Twilight/Star Wars fan fic film. It’s a place called Free Spirit Spheres, where cosy meets crazy and gravity takes a back seat.
These handcrafted treehouses (spheres named Eryn, Melody and Luna) are made of wood and fibreglass, dangling from sturdy trees with a kind of, “don’t look down,” confidence. They’re only 5 metres up, but it feels a lot higher when you’re gazing out of the curved windows wondering why you ever bothered sleeping in boring old, rectangular rooms.
The interior is snug, but it’s also whimsical and surprisingly luxe; we're talking soft bedding and wooden details. If you’re lucky, the wind might rock you to sleep at night. Pro tip, embrace the creaking noise, it’s just a little reminder that you’re hanging in a freaking tree.
From AU$560 per night
DESERT DREAM
Desert Rock Resort
The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Luxury doesn’t just sit on top of the earth at this place, it’s carved into it.
Weird & Wonderful
Tucked into the majestic sandstone cliffs of Saudi Arabia, Desert Rock isn’t so much a hotel as it is nature’s penthouse. You’re not staying near the desert; you’re inside it.
Each villa is jaw-droppingly integrated into the rugged, mountains-meet-desert landscape (kinda like the Flintstones but five star). Expect panoramic views of Mars-like terrain, private plunge pools for cooling off after a day spent underneath the blazing Saudi sun, and breathtaking sunsets that put Instagram filters to shame.
Honestly, this place screams, “treat yo’self.” There’s a spa packed full of transportive therapies, treatments inspired by the desert, a private hammam and a rhassoul chamber. And several dining options from restaurants specialising in wood-fire cooking to bars serving up innovative cocktails.
From AU$2,939 per night
SPACE DOMES
Clear Sky Resort
Bryce Canyon, USA
Forget cookie-cutter hotels and embrace the extraordinary at Clear Sky Resorts.
Weird & Wonderful
Nestled just 15 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park, this isn't your average stay, it's a celestial adventure. Picture yourself snoozing in a glass dome, with the Milky Way as your nightlight. You’ll drift into a deep sleep in a transparent bubble where counting stars replaces counting sheep.
The domes are like luxury spaceships that have landed in the Utah wilderness, offering panoramic views of the cosmos without skimping on earthly comforts. Wake up to sunrises that slap you awake with their beauty, and spend your days exploring the hoodoos and trails of Bryce Canyon.
After a day of adventuring, return to your dome for some serious stargazing. For those really interested in the cosmos there’s a nightly dark sky class with a high powered telescope to gaze at the rings of Saturn.
The on-site restaurant and bar is like something out of Star Trek. It wouldn’t be odd if Spock and Han Solo were seen sharing intergalactic stories as you down a martini.
So, if you're tired of the mundane and ready to sleep under a blanket of stars without sacrificing comfort, Clear Sky Resorts is your ticket to an unforgettable stay. Just remember to close the blinds if you're shy, the universe is watching.
From AU$464 per night
get in the know In 2008, Norway knighted a king Penguin. His name is General Sir Nils Olav III and he lives in the Edinburgh Zoo. He also became a Brigadier in 2016.
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