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Travel
Local holiday stays that feel straight out of a book
Visiting Australia soon? Step inside the world of your favourite books with these 10 dreamy holiday rentals. Each one captures the spirit of a beloved best-selling novel – is your favourite on our list?
By Bron Maxabella
Imagine opening the pages of a novel and walking right into its world. Ah, such bliss! There are so many treasured novels I would love to step into. Especially the ones whose authors seem to love interiors as much as I do (I’m looking at you, Liane Moriarty).
Matching your stay to a beloved book or character adds an extra dimension to a holiday. Sightseeing becomes more vivid when you feel like you’re following in a favourite character’s footsteps. And staying in accommodation inspired by the story brings both the locations and the fictional people who inhabit them to life.
Choose your own adventure: dusty chambers with cosy nooks; sea-salt breezes on the edge of a cliff; winding vineyards where a picnic awaits; whispered secrets in a grand corridor; sleek, modern architectural interiors to pop a cork in.
Here are 10 of our favourite holiday places you can rent via Stayz that feel straight out of your favourite pages.
Nine Perfect Strangers at Villa Sands, Byron Bay, New South Wales
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It’s impossible not to think of Tranquillum House, the fictional wellness retreat in Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty, when you arrive at Villa Sands. The soft hush of the ocean, the scent of salt and the soothing neutral tones of the interiors all hint at the promise of transformation. Plus this place is luxe. A serene coastal sanctuary that’s made for early morning yoga on the deck or a long soak in the tub with a beach view, herbal tea in hand.
But unlike the sinister undertones that hum beneath Tranquillum’s calm surface, everything here is truly tranquil. There is no Moriarty plot twist here. Long lunches that stretch into sundowners and Byron’s signature balance of wellness and indulgence will leave you feeling renewed, not unravelled.
Fourth Wing at Castle Keep, Stirling, South Australia
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From the moment you cross the threshold of Castle Keep, with its turreted stone walls and candlelit charm, you’ll feel as if you’ve entered the fantasy world of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. There’s an intoxicating mix of romance and gothic here, the kind that makes you half expect to hear the flap of dragon wings over the vineyards of the Adelaide Hills. The sweeping views and medieval-style chambers invite you to live like a character from the series – like you’re brave, bold and a little battle-scarred.
Light the fire, pour a glass of local shiraz, and you’ll see why this stay feels like a portal to Basgiath War College. It’s atmospheric, isolated in the best way and brimming with moody elegance.
Pride and Prejudice at Palace, Ballarat, Victoria
Stepping into this grand property on the edge of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens feels like arriving at the Bennet family’s country estate (so it’s very hard to believe there’s a Bunnings just up the road). There’s an air of old-world elegance here, from the manicured gardens to the grand rooms where you half expect a Regency-era ball to break out. The refined decor and serene setting capture that timeless sense of civility and charm that made Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen one of literature’s most beloved love stories.
Outside, you can stroll the leafy grounds and imagine Darcy himself striding toward you through the mist. Inside, pour tea in fine china or dress up for dinner in true Austen fashion. It’s the perfect place to indulge in a modern retelling of manners, missteps and second chances.
Big Little Lies at Lotus, Palm Beach, New South Wales
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Perched above the surf with its sleek architecture and cinematic views, Lotus feels straight out of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies. The glossy perfection of Palm Beach provides the same backdrop of privilege and power that Moriarty’s novel so deliciously unpacks. Behind the stylish façade, though, you’ll find a home that invites friends (it sleeps 10) to gather. Perhaps by the pool with a glass of rosé as the sun dips behind the headland?
Unlike the tensions simmering in Monterey, this luxurious home encourages openness, laughter and late-night swims under the stars.
A Good Year at Harry's Red Hill, Red Hill, Victoria
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Nestled among rolling vineyards and dappled gum trees, Harry’s Red Hill feels like the kind of hideaway Peter Mayle would have adored. It’s a home built for slow mornings, long lunches and that “good year” feeling of contentment. It’s elegant and sophisticated, but still holds a rustic beauty – timber beams, stone fireplaces and endless green views — that mirrors the sun-soaked charm of Mayle’s Provence, where time slows down and every meal is an event.
This stay captures the spirit of reinvention and simple pleasure at the heart of A Good Year. Wander through nearby cellar doors, pick up produce from local farms, and return home to sip wine by the fire as the valley turns golden.
The Secret River at Scribbly Gum Cottage, Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales
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Hidden beside a winding river and framed by towering gums, Scribbly Gum Cottage feels steeped in Australian history. Its weathered charm and quiet beauty make it the perfect companion to The Secret River by Kate Grenville, a novel that explores the complexity of belonging and the echoes of the land’s colonial past. Sitting on the verandah as the sun filters through the trees, you can almost sense generations of stories embedded in its walls.
Paddle along the creek, wander through the valley, or simply sit and absorb the stillness that Grenville evokes so powerfully in her writing. This is a place for reflection, a gentle escape that invites you to listen to the landscape.
The Survivors at The Pole House, Fairhaven, Victoria
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It’s not hard to see why The Pole House is one of the most photographed homes along the Great Ocean Road. Suspended 40 metres above the wild blue of the Southern Ocean, it’s easy to imagine yourself in Jane Harper’s The Survivors, where past secrets wash up on stormy shores. The minimalist design and wide glass windows showcase the drama of the seascape, giving you the feeling of being perched on the edge of the cliffs yourself.
Watch the changing moods of the ocean, walk the stunning windswept beach and breathe in the soul-calming salt-thick air. A stay in this wild, beautiful place invites introspection as much as adventure.
Breath at Ocean Beach House, Denmark, Western Australia
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This beachside shack could have been lifted straight from the pages of Tim Winton’s Breath. It has that same raw, salt-streaked beauty that defines his writing, where life is lived in rhythm with the ocean. From the deck, you can check the surf break while sipping your morning coffee, feeling that familiar pull between fear and exhilaration that Winton captures so vividly.
Spend the day swimming, surfing or walking barefoot through the dunes before returning to watch the sun bleed into the sea. There’s a sense of freedom and fragility here that will stir something in every lover of the coast.
The Hobbit at Whitestone Retreat, Southland, New Zealand
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Set deep in Southland’s rolling green hills, Whitestone Retreat offers the kind of cosy enchantment you expect from Middle-earth. The sort of tiny home Bilbo Baggins himself would proudly call his own if he happened to live in New Zealand in the 21st century. Surrounded by Fiordland’s otherworldly scenery, this retreat gives you a front-row seat to the landscapes that became the settings for the movies based on Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Take a walk through the misty valleys, breathe the cool mountain air, and you’ll understand why New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park makes Tolkien’s world feel so real. Staying here isn’t just a getaway; it’s a chance to live out a little piece of fantasy (without any orcs to spoil the peace).
Looking for Alibrandi at Glebe Gem, Glebe, New South Wales
Glebe Gem sits in the heart of one of Sydney’s most character-filled suburbs. While it’s an upmarket, stylish kind of place now, it still hums with the working-class spirit of Melina Marchetta’s beloved Aussie classic Looking for Alibrandi. Walking its tree-lined streets, you’ll find echoes of Josie’s coming-of-age journey: the tension between old and new, tradition and creativity.
From your stay, you can stroll to the weekend markets, sip coffee in hidden courtyards, and wander down to the harbour. While Glebe may have swapped working-class grit for chic cafes and bookshops, its heart and sense of community remains.
Feature image: iStock/Miljan Živković
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