By Jed Lanyon
A tiny Warburton home has been named as one of the most ‘wishlisted’ unique Airbnb listings in Victoria as demand for unusual accommodation surges.
Whether it’s a farmhouse, yurt or tiny home, new research from Airbnb shows guests are craving quirky getaways like never before, with unique home searches nearly doubling (up 94 per cent) since the start of the pandemic.
One third of Australia’s 100 most wishlisted listings on Airbnb are unique stays, with Australian hosts of unique homes earning over $12.5 million since March, 2020 to 30 April, 2021. Globally, hosts of unique stays have earned $395 million in that time period.
Other unique listings include a houseboat, a tree house and an eco-glamping hut in Emerald, named as the most wishlisted listing in Australia.
The Warburton listing is called the ‘Mountain Tiny House’, nestled between the Redwood Forest and La La Falls. Measuring just 7.5m long, 2.5m wide and 4.2m high, the home offers a complete luxury off-grid experience.
The surrounding two-acre bush block promises a secluded stay and potential visits from resident wildlife, kookaburras, lyrebirds, cockatoos, wallabies and wombats. The one bedroom, one bathroom ‘tiny house’ is listed for $180 a night and is currently booked out until 30 September.
Airbnb data shows demand for unique and quirky listings is only gathering pace. In the first three months of 2021, searches by Aussies for yurts increased by 80 per cent compared to the last three months of 2020. Demand for tiny homes increased by 76 per cent, while interest in farm stays is also booming with searches up by 66 per cent.
Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb’s country manager for Australia and New Zealand, said with so much enthusiasm for unique and quirky homes, there’s never been a better time to host on Airbnb.
“More than ever, Aussies are looking at their accommodation itself as the destination – and that means homes that are a fun, quirky adventure in their own right. The sky’s really the limit when it comes to the types of spaces people can list on Airbnb. Whether it’s an earthouse, treehouse or teepee, guests are craving unique experiences that take them away from the everyday and put nature on their doorstep.”
