4 Legitimate Caves You Can Actually Rent In Australia

Rebecca Russo is a freelance writer, editor, community radio dabbler,…

Staying in a regular hotel room is fine; four ordinary walls, a queen-sized bed, a conveniently placed TV and a bar fridge. But other times you just want to throw conventionality to the wind and spend the night somewhere special. Like, say, a cave.

Here are four of the best caves you can rent around Australia.

Hatter’s Hideout

Hatter’s Hideout and Lodge is located on eight acres of private property in the Blue Mountains. Guests who book the spot can choose between a comfy stay in a three-bedroom mountain lodge decorated with quaint Australiana, or an “environmental retreat” in an enormous cavern a 10-minute walk from the house.

The cave is a huge sandstone cathedral, about 20m tall. It’s wide and deep, sculpted by nature to provide an ideal bushland retreat for modern cave-dwellers. It’s fitted-out with a gas barbecue, tables and chairs, solar-powered lights, a kitchen sink (with rainwater on tap for cooking and washing up), utensils, a composting toilet and enough firewood and kindling for a cosy campfire.

The acoustics in the cave have been described as a “musician’s dream”, so a camp-style singalong is a must. Reservations start from $245 per night.

Desert Cave Hotel

Found smack-bang in the middle of Alice Springs and Adelaide (eight hours in a car each way) and right in the middle of the red centre, Coober Pedy gets hot. Really, really hot. The scorching heat makes living outside pretty unbearable, so this country town took shelter in cool underground caves long ago.

One of these underground dwellings is the Desert Cave Hotel, where visitors can experience dug-out style living, complete with underground shops, bars and opal-display areas. Quiet, cool, dark and airy – go here to experience the best night’s sleep of your life. Then, during the day, drive over to the incredible Lake Eyre for something completely different.

Reservations start from $179 per night for underground rooms.

Wavehouse Amphitheatre and Studio

Located on an impressive 50-acre lot with easy access to Western Australia’s best wineries, the Wavehouse Ampitheatre and Studio is a perfect spot for a seaside rendezvous. Sitting right by the beach in the town of Yallingup, Wavehouse can comfortably sleep 20 people with an additional Seachange Shack available upon request

While you won’t be staying right in a cave at Wavehouse, there is an on-site cave that can be used for entertaining, family feasts or romantic, candlelit dinners. Surround yourself with the native flora and fauna, which is said to include birds, lizards and frogs.

Reservations start from $475 per night.

Love Cave

Hidden deep in the Blue Mountains, the Wollemi Wilderness Retreat offers a collection of private cabins nestled in between the untamed greenery. As charming as the cabins are, the pièce de résistance is the Love Cave – a cosy dwelling built on a natural sandstone outcrop with luxe amenities and stunning views to boot.

The Love Cave seamlessly blends into its surroundings; it’s paved inside and out with concrete and rough-hewn flagstones to match the mountain top. Oh, and did we mention there’s a spa bath and a fireplace?

The venue is currently being offered as part of an exclusive romantic winter package (oooOOoo!) which comes complete with champagne, chocolates and roses. Reservations cost $2200 for two adults for a two-night stay and can be made via the website.

Due to the bushfires and COVID-19, it’s not open right now, so keep an eye out on the website for when it does.