The Outback is the vast heartland of Australia, covering over two million square miles with exquisite unspoiled beauty, or around 70 percent of the country. That includes most of the inland areas of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. It’s also an area of extremes, alternately lush and bountiful, inhospitable and harsh. It has deeply interconnected threads of landscapes and people, along with some of the most diverse and unusual plants and animals on Earth. If you’d like to explore it, you’ll find plenty of Airbnbs that provide a good base, with these rentals the most impressive.
38 on Frangipani - Cable Beach, Western Australia
A two-bedroom guesthouse for up to four, 38 on Frangipani is just a short walk from Cable Beach, restaurants, and cafes. It overlooks the garden and pool area that includes a large outdoor deck area with a BBQ, lounging space, TV, and a pool. You’ll have a kitchenette while both bedrooms include TVs and air conditioning.
The Pearlers Cottage - Broome, Western Austrailia
This cute cottage for two makes a great base for exploring the Kimberley Region, one of the country’s most unique wilderness destinations, with magnificent gorges, roaring waterfalls, and endless white sands that edge a turquoise sea. The town of Broome is renowned for its pearls, with one of the finest pearl showrooms in the world. After enjoying the many attractions, come back to a peaceful space surrounded by lush tropical gardens. The cottage includes a kitchenette with basic items like a fridge, microwave, kettle, and toaster. You’ll have a private bathroom outdoors.
Sturt Desert Pea House - Alice Springs, Northern Territory
A luxurious rural property on the outskirts of Alice Springs, the Sturt Desert Pea House offers four bedrooms for up to eight guests, with one of the highlights a large saltwater swimming pool. It was built of mud brick and local stone, with recycled timbers and doors from an iconic building in Alice Springs that was demolished. There’s a native garden with a large lawn and a gazebo with swing chairs for relaxing along with an outdoor BBQ area for cookouts. A full kitchen, washer/dryer, TV, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning are all included too.
Blue Vista Cottage - Hopetoun, Western Australia
The Blue Vista Cottage is a bright and spacious cottage for two, set on a 17.5-acre property a little over nine miles from Hopetoun on the south coast of Western Australia. You’ll enjoy views of the Barrens and access to Fitzgerald River National Park, one of the largest parks in Australia. It’s a great place for winter whale watching as well as being popular for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, and fishing. The cottage itself offers a relaxed setting with access to courtyard-style gardens and the host occasionally provides guided walks when available. It includes a full kitchen, Wi-Fi, a washer/dryer, a queen-size bed and a sofabed.
Oasis by the Pool - Cable Beach, Western Australia
Just as the name belies, this rental offers an oasis next to a pool. A studio-size guesthouse, it sits in the back garden of the host’s tropical paradise overlooking a beautiful Balinese-style pool with a swim-up cabana bar. When you aren’t here, you can enjoy the stunning sands on Cable Beach, just a 10-minute stroll away. The space includes a comfy king-size bed, a kitchenette, and a Smart TV with Netflix and Kayo (an Australian sports-streaming service).
Outback o'Katherine Bush Block - Lansdowne, Northern Territory
Just a short drive from Katherine, the third largest town in the Northern Territory, famous for the geological marvel known as the Katherine Gorge, this two-bedroom rental provides a great base for enjoying many activities and attractions. A clean and well-equipped home with lots of outdoor living space, including a fire pit, BBQ grill, and alfresco dining space. Inside you’ll have a great kitchen, central air conditioning, a washer and dryer, and an HDTV with Apple TV.
Haveli, Alice - Alice Springs, Northern Territory
This one-bedroom for three is in one of the most popular places in the Outback, Alice Springs, a small town located some 900 miles from the nearest major city. You’ll be surrounded by endless desert landscapes and cavernous gorges while enjoying easy access to the Kangaroo Sanctuary and the Earth Sanctuary. After exploring, you can come back and take advantage of the saltwater pool and spa. The studio apartment sits on five acres of bushland with abundant wildlife, including lots of birds, emus, horses, lizards, and a cat. It comes with a fully equipped kitchen and you can also cook in the wood-fired oven next to the main house or in the pool house barbecue kitchen. Some essentials are provided, including coffee, tea, milk, bread butter, eggs, tomatoes, and extra-virgin olive oil. You’ll also have a washing machine and a 65″ HDTV with Netflix.
The Breakaway - Sandstone, Western Australia
Located in the heart of Sandstone, a historic gold mining town, the two-bedroom Breakaway offers accommodation for up to four guests in two bedrooms. You’ll be close to it all, including the 1907 National Hotel, a tourist center, a children’s water park, a heritage display, and more. It’s pet-friendly and has a fully fenced backyard along with a fully equipped kitchen, a BBQ grill for cookouts, a TV, and a laundry area with a washer and dryer.
Modern East Side Studio with Pool & Great Location - East Side, Northern Territory
A private studio space for two, a stay here will put you within walking distance of the shops in East Side, a suburb of Alice Springs. Plus, you’ll be just around the corner from trails for hiking and mountain biking. You’ll have a full designer kitchen and rear courtyard access to a shared swimming pool. There’s also a fire pit to unwind under the brilliant starry sky, a 50″ HDTV with Netflix, Wi-Fi, and board games.
On Clarke - Katherine, Northern Territory
Located in a quiet Katherine neighborhood close to attractions, shopping, and dining in town, this three-bedroom home sleeps up to six guests. The highlight is the downstairs poolside entertaining area, a large tropical space entirely fenced with a pool and areas for relaxation. You’ll have air conditioning, a full kitchen, a 42″ HDTV with Chromecast and Netflix, Wi-Fi, and laundry facilities too. All bedrooms have views of the pool area and the tropical gardens.
River Farm Retreat - Kununurra, Western Australia
Located on a 20-acre property, River Farm Retreat is surrounded by a large garden area and a mango orchard near bushland and the Ord River. Your hosts will be happy to show you around and provide insider tips. You’ll stay in a self-contained three-bedroom home that’s ideal for families, couples, solo travelers, and friends traveling together. It includes access to a large garden area where the kids can play or you can simply enjoy a tranquil place to relax. You’ll have a full kitchen, TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a washing machine too.
