Australia

Score a Night on a Floating Room on the Great Barrier Reef

Step One: Practice speaking in whale. | By NGT Staff

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Feel the salty sea breeze at Airbnb’s dreamy deckhouse above the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Photo courtesy Airbnb

BY NGT Staff

Posted ON June 15, 2016

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Airbnb has earned a reputation for its whimsical rentals. The company—which helps travellers book unique accommodations around the world—has listings for castles, rooms designed like Van Gogh paintings, even an underwater suite submerged in a tank of sharks. This time, they’re offering a more relaxing ocean experience.

Airbnb will allow one lucky family of four to spend a night on a floating deckhouse on Australia’s magnificent Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest coral system on the planet. The contest is being hosted in partnership with Pixar to celebrate the release of Finding Dory, which is set in the Barrier Reef.

The alfresco room affords sweeping sea views, no matter which side of the bed you wake up on. Photo courtesy Airbnb

The ocean-themed house has alfresco beds and a lounge area that’s perfect for a nap after an afternoon of snorkelling. But the best part will be falling asleep to the sound of the ocean, and waking up knowing that the waters beneath are home to a wealth of marine life: mesmerising coral, 100 species of jellyfish, and over 30 types of whales and dolphins. All you have to do to start exploring is dive in.

In addition to accommodation, the winner also gets Economy-class return tickets to the Australian city of Cairns, a meal prepared by famed Australian chef Neil Perry, and dives with Pascal, the local host who is also called the Mowgli of the sea.

Strap on a snorkelling mask and dive in to start exploring (top left); Round off the evening with a movie screening on the beach, under a canopy of stars (top right); The waters beneath the room are home to turtles, whales, and coral reefs that are hotbeds of marine biodiversity (bottom right); One of the perks the winner gets is a beach lunch from Aussie chef Neil Perry, made with local produce from the region of North Queensland (bottom left). Photo courtesy Airbnb.

Strap on a snorkelling mask and dive in to start exploring (top left); The waters of the Great Barrier Reef are home to turtles, whales, and dolphins (bottom right); Winners also get a beach lunch (bottom left), cooked up by Aussie celebrity chef Neil Perry, and private movie screenings on the beach, under a canopy of stars (top right). Photo courtesy Airbnb

How do I sign up? Register on the Airbnb site, find the Great Barrier Reef listing, and send them a note (between 50 and 500 characters) explaining why you and your three guests should score this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

How long do I have? The contest is open until 30 June 2016, and the winner will be announced on 4 July 2016. The stay will take place on 13-14 July 2016. More details here.

Anything else? Airbnb requests all guests to steer clear of clownfish jokes (a point mentioned in the House Rules on the listing site) but to practice their whale-tongue.