10 Things You Never Knew You Could Rent in Australia
With the subscription economy in Australia booming, renting is now an option for more than just homes
Fancy a day on a super yacht, a holiday on a private island or perhaps a furry friend you can spoil for a weekend? All of these options – and more – are just a click of the mouse away thanks to our ever-expanding rental economy. Here are 10 surprising things you can now call your own for a day, a week or a year or two in Australia.
You can borrow cats and dogs, guinea pigs, birds and even pet rats through the service. Membership costs $49.99 a year and you need to be over 18 years old to join.
Once borrowers have been screened, they are sent potential pet matches in their area. Meanwhile, lenders receive notice of any members who are interested in borrowing their pet. Borrowers and lenders can then either accept or decline.
Participants exchange text updates during the loan period so the lender can be sure their pet is happy and well. “We also encourage lenders to meet with the potential match beforehand to ensure they are comfortable with the arrangement, including inspecting the borrower’s home and garden for overnight stays,” says Turalic.
Looking to renovate? Find an architect to help you make it happen on Houzz
Once borrowers have been screened, they are sent potential pet matches in their area. Meanwhile, lenders receive notice of any members who are interested in borrowing their pet. Borrowers and lenders can then either accept or decline.
Participants exchange text updates during the loan period so the lender can be sure their pet is happy and well. “We also encourage lenders to meet with the potential match beforehand to ensure they are comfortable with the arrangement, including inspecting the borrower’s home and garden for overnight stays,” says Turalic.
Looking to renovate? Find an architect to help you make it happen on Houzz
Vladi Private Islands, www.vladi-private-islands.de
2. Your own private island
If you thought the idea of escaping to a private tropical paradise was beyond your reach, think again. You can rent a holiday on a private island in Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia when restrictions allow and more glamorous places around the world through Vladi Private Islands, allowing you to have that white sandy beach all to yourself (or, at the very least, shared with a only a handful of other guests).
As you can imagine, it’s a luxurious, end-to-end service. “The team at Vladi Private Islands takes care of the entire booking procedure, including booking commercial flights, private charters, catering if required, and a tailor-made itinerary including activities such as scuba lessons,” says Christian Brockhoff, branch manager of travel agency Dr Goetze Flug & Reise for Vladi Private Islands.
2. Your own private island
If you thought the idea of escaping to a private tropical paradise was beyond your reach, think again. You can rent a holiday on a private island in Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia when restrictions allow and more glamorous places around the world through Vladi Private Islands, allowing you to have that white sandy beach all to yourself (or, at the very least, shared with a only a handful of other guests).
As you can imagine, it’s a luxurious, end-to-end service. “The team at Vladi Private Islands takes care of the entire booking procedure, including booking commercial flights, private charters, catering if required, and a tailor-made itinerary including activities such as scuba lessons,” says Christian Brockhoff, branch manager of travel agency Dr Goetze Flug & Reise for Vladi Private Islands.
Vladi Private Islands, www.vladi-private-islands.de
Depending on the season, the minimum length of stay is two nights. A villa on The Brando, an island in French Polynesia, starts from EUR 2,900 plus taxes per night. Forsyth Island in the South Pacific (which is a helicopter ride from Wellington in New Zealand) starts from NZ$1,500 plus taxes per night. Special rates apply for guests with a minimum stay of five or seven nights.
Closer to home, you can book Lizard Island in Queensland, which is located near the Great Barrier Reef. It’s an idyllic location for divers and sun seekers, with 24 powder-white beaches and lagoon reefs. Prices for luxury rooms start from AU $1,444 per night based on two people sharing.
Depending on the season, the minimum length of stay is two nights. A villa on The Brando, an island in French Polynesia, starts from EUR 2,900 plus taxes per night. Forsyth Island in the South Pacific (which is a helicopter ride from Wellington in New Zealand) starts from NZ$1,500 plus taxes per night. Special rates apply for guests with a minimum stay of five or seven nights.
Closer to home, you can book Lizard Island in Queensland, which is located near the Great Barrier Reef. It’s an idyllic location for divers and sun seekers, with 24 powder-white beaches and lagoon reefs. Prices for luxury rooms start from AU $1,444 per night based on two people sharing.
3. Furniture for your home
Just moved into a new home and it’s feeling a little bare? With Snaffle, you can hire everything from sofa suites and beds to mattresses for a year or longer. They also loan out appliances such as portable air conditioners, built-in air conditioners, televisions and lawnmowers… so basically everything you need to get your house up and running and make it feel like home.
Just moved into a new home and it’s feeling a little bare? With Snaffle, you can hire everything from sofa suites and beds to mattresses for a year or longer. They also loan out appliances such as portable air conditioners, built-in air conditioners, televisions and lawnmowers… so basically everything you need to get your house up and running and make it feel like home.
Beds start from $21 per week, mattresses from $3 per week, and portable air conditioners from $9 per week. The minimum rental period is one year up to a maximum of three years. At the end of the rental period, you have the option to buy the loan item.
Browse stunning images of Australian bedrooms on Houzz
Browse stunning images of Australian bedrooms on Houzz
4. A wedding dress
Why spend a fortune buying a wedding dress you’ll only wear for a day when you can hire one and potentially save thousands? Bridal Dream is a wedding-attire loan service where you can rent everything from a wedding dress and shoes to the groom’s tuxedo or suit.
Search the platform by dress type or desired designer for the dress of your dreams and reserve it for your special day (a minimum seven-day hire).
Prefer to see it on before you commit? There is also a special three-day ‘try on’ service.
Wedding dress hire prices start from about $100 for a seven-day hire (you will also need to pay for dry cleaning, which starts from about $100, plus shipping).
Why spend a fortune buying a wedding dress you’ll only wear for a day when you can hire one and potentially save thousands? Bridal Dream is a wedding-attire loan service where you can rent everything from a wedding dress and shoes to the groom’s tuxedo or suit.
Search the platform by dress type or desired designer for the dress of your dreams and reserve it for your special day (a minimum seven-day hire).
Prefer to see it on before you commit? There is also a special three-day ‘try on’ service.
Wedding dress hire prices start from about $100 for a seven-day hire (you will also need to pay for dry cleaning, which starts from about $100, plus shipping).
5. Designer handbags
You can enjoy a few days (or weeks) swanning around with a big-name designer handbag under your arm with Bag Vault’s clever hire service. It’s also a great way to finish off an outfit for a special occasion without a huge outlay.
Loan periods for the company’s designer accessories are three, seven or 30 days, with prices starting from around $140 for a three-day hire.
You can enjoy a few days (or weeks) swanning around with a big-name designer handbag under your arm with Bag Vault’s clever hire service. It’s also a great way to finish off an outfit for a special occasion without a huge outlay.
Loan periods for the company’s designer accessories are three, seven or 30 days, with prices starting from around $140 for a three-day hire.
6. Designer clothes
Borrow some designer swag through Rent a Dress and look the part without the huge price tag.
There’s something for practically every occasion on the shared rental dress-hire platform – think dresses, suits, playsuits and more from top-notch designer names in various sizes and styles.
You can also become a renter yourself and list your own designer garments for hire on the platform.
Loan prices start from about $50 for a designer dress.
Borrow some designer swag through Rent a Dress and look the part without the huge price tag.
There’s something for practically every occasion on the shared rental dress-hire platform – think dresses, suits, playsuits and more from top-notch designer names in various sizes and styles.
You can also become a renter yourself and list your own designer garments for hire on the platform.
Loan prices start from about $50 for a designer dress.
7. A mansion
Lord or lady of the manor for a few days? Sounds good to us.
You’ll find waterfronts, mansions, exclusive estates and more to rent in Sydney, Byron Bay, Queensland and Victoria at Luxe Houses by Contemporary Hotels. Many of the homes come with state-of-the art and luxury inclusions, such as cinemas, gyms, pools or your own private jetty.
See prices upon application.
Lord or lady of the manor for a few days? Sounds good to us.
You’ll find waterfronts, mansions, exclusive estates and more to rent in Sydney, Byron Bay, Queensland and Victoria at Luxe Houses by Contemporary Hotels. Many of the homes come with state-of-the art and luxury inclusions, such as cinemas, gyms, pools or your own private jetty.
See prices upon application.
8. A super yacht
Luxe Houses by Contemporary Hotels also allows you to make like a superstar for a day (or a week) with super-yacht hire for you and your mates.
And that’s not all – the company offers private jets too. If you’ve got your sights set on a weekend in Monaco once the Covid-19 travel restrictions lift, this one’s for you!
See prices upon application.
Luxe Houses by Contemporary Hotels also allows you to make like a superstar for a day (or a week) with super-yacht hire for you and your mates.
And that’s not all – the company offers private jets too. If you’ve got your sights set on a weekend in Monaco once the Covid-19 travel restrictions lift, this one’s for you!
See prices upon application.
9. Toys to keep the kids entertained
If your children get bored of their playthings pretty quickly and you’d prefer not to have to constantly fork out at the toy store, why not hire toys instead? It’s also a smart idea if you’d like to try your kids out with a toy before you buy or need extra playthings for a party.
Tiny Tots Toy Hire hires toys for newborns and kids aged to six years, including infant toys, ride-ons, slides and party toys. They also deliver to your home and assemble on-site. Toys are thoroughly cleaned before and after each loan.
Weekend hire starts from about $10 and weekly hire from about $15, depending on the toy you choose.
If your children get bored of their playthings pretty quickly and you’d prefer not to have to constantly fork out at the toy store, why not hire toys instead? It’s also a smart idea if you’d like to try your kids out with a toy before you buy or need extra playthings for a party.
Tiny Tots Toy Hire hires toys for newborns and kids aged to six years, including infant toys, ride-ons, slides and party toys. They also deliver to your home and assemble on-site. Toys are thoroughly cleaned before and after each loan.
Weekend hire starts from about $10 and weekly hire from about $15, depending on the toy you choose.
10. A parking space
Need a convenient city parking spot for a day or a month but don’t want to pay exorbitant parking fees? Parkhound rents out car parking spaces by the week and month in cities across Australia (over 50,000 spaces in total), and claims to give you discounts of up to 50 percent off regular parking fees.
Parking prices are from about $12 per day in Ultimo, NSW and $432 per month in Pitt Street, NSW.
Your turn
Which of these services would you try? Tell us in the comments below, and don’t forget to like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more practical tips? Don’t miss this story: 6 Ideas For Those Dead & Under-Used Spots in Your Home
Need a convenient city parking spot for a day or a month but don’t want to pay exorbitant parking fees? Parkhound rents out car parking spaces by the week and month in cities across Australia (over 50,000 spaces in total), and claims to give you discounts of up to 50 percent off regular parking fees.
Parking prices are from about $12 per day in Ultimo, NSW and $432 per month in Pitt Street, NSW.
Your turn
Which of these services would you try? Tell us in the comments below, and don’t forget to like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more practical tips? Don’t miss this story: 6 Ideas For Those Dead & Under-Used Spots in Your Home
1. Rent a pet
Dream of having a pet but don’t have the space or time for a full-time commitment? Enter Lend a Pet – a pet-lending and borrowing service that matches animal lovers and nearby pets for a walk, a weekend of exercise or an in-home stay while their owner is away on holiday.
“This service is ideal for pet owners looking to spoil their pet with extra exercise or who want to find a cheaper alternative to pet sitters,” says Vesna Turalic, owner of Lend a Pet. “Borrowers are people who love animals, but cannot own their own due to time, space or rental restrictions. Borrowers may also want to test whether a pet is right for their family before making a big commitment.”