Quaint cottages, boutique motels and luxury resorts have nothing on a tent. Or so we recently learned during an unforgettable night under the stars at Bubbletent Australia.
Hidden kilometres down a dirt road off Castlereagh Highway near Capertee National park, the isolated dome tent accommodation is pure rugged luxury. The bubble tent itself was surprisingly spacious, warm and even came complete with a private bathroom. But it was the unbelievable view that made it. Our tent was perched on a cliff looking east toward the rolling hills of the national park. To the south, another cliff face with unique rock formations. All around us was pure nature, and we couldn’t see any of the other tends; and they couldn’t see us.
While there are a few tents on site, we stayed in Virgo, so the following review will be based on the location and facilities offered at our site.
TL;DR: A stay at Bubbletent Australia
- Where is it? Capertee, NSW (between Lithgow and Mudgee)
- Price: From $595 per night
- What to do and see: Wildlife, walks, hot tubs and incredible scenery
- Food available on-site? No, but there are cooking facilities with tea and hot chocolate provided.
- When to go: Autumn or spring (for the most comfortable weather)
- Would we go back? Definitely!
Bubbletent Australia accommodation
The tent itself actually consists of three “rooms”: the entryway where you can leave your shoes, the main dome with a bed (which is completely transparent) and a private toilet.
A continuous air pump does need to run to support the tent and keep it from collapsing. It does make a slight hum, similar to what you’d hear on a cruising airplane, but it’s not bothersome and didn’t cause us any issues when sleeping. Luckily for us, as we went in winter, the tent did have a heating and cooling function. And when the sun came out, it got hot. (There’s also a cover to protect it from the heat and bleaching the interior from the sun.)
Bedroom
Surprisingly cosy, yet not cramped, the bedroom fit a double bed and had a small seating area on the floor in front of it — perfect for a warm tea or hot chocolate in the morning while taking in the views of the valley.
We were asked to keep the temperature setting at 18 degrees, which can be a bit cool for some. (We recommend packing winter pyjamas!) But plenty of warmth is provided in the form of blankets, slippers and even beanies and warm socks (the latter two at an extra cost.)
Upon arrival, a thermos with hot water was waiting along with a selection of T2 teas and hot chocolate.
With the bed in the centre of the tent, you’ll get incredible views on a clear night as you lay beneath the stars. We stayed for two nights and were treated to quite the show on the first, with multiple shooting stars, too. Unfortunately it was cloudy on our second night.
Bathroom
Opposite the entryway was a private bathroom — and don’t worry, this portion of the tent is not clear! It was surprisingly nice, too. Inside had wooden beams, a compost toilet and a vanity with sink. While the sink did have running water the toilet did not. It was a compost toilet, meaning you needed to scoop wood chips into it after use instead of flushing. However, to our surprise, there was no odour.
Cooking facilities
True to the camping side of this glamping stay, cooking here was very much outdoor rustic. We were provided with a camp stove and gas tank, basic utensils (pots, pans, kettle, plates, cutlery etc.) and a small fridge. Two rainwater tanks were provided for cleaning up, but we couldn’t find any soap — you may need to bring your own!
We opted to avoid cooking and just stuck to cold charcuterie-style meals for dinner and went off-site for a larger lunches. (There isn’t much in the local area, but we did do a side trip to Mudgee on the Saturday for a spot of wine tasting and a lovely meal at Zin House.)
Bathtub
Our favourite feature at our tent’s site was the two-person, fire-powered bathtub. It did take a while to get going, but it was totally worth it.
With a built-in pit that sits in a metal box exposed to the water, the tub heats up as the fire becomes an inferno. It did require quite a bit of wood chopping and regular topping-up, but it perfectly soothed any muscles once it was ready.
The tub is completely exposed, but as there’s no one around, it’s still very private. Exposure does mean incredible views of the night sky above. Unfortunately for us, the clouds blocked any views of the stars while we used the tub.
Where is it? Bubbletent Australia’s location
Bubbletent Australia is on a farm in the Capertee Valley, roughly half-way between Lithgow and Mudgee. If you’re coming from Sydney it’s about a 3-hour drive.
The tents are all up on cliffs (but far enough away from the edge!) and provide unbelievable views of the surrounding landscapes.
There are a few walking tracks on site, and plenty to do nearby. If you’re into bushwalking, there’s also Gardens of Stone National Park nearby — a great stop on your way to or from the site if you’re coming from the east.
Mudgee sits about 40 minutes to the northwest, so we opted for a day trip there as we’re big fans of the area’s food and wine scene.
How to get to Bubbletent Australia
You will need a car to get to Bubbletent Australia; no public transport is available. It’s quite remote, so taking a rideshare or taxi isn’t really feasible.
Some of the sites are 4WD only (Virgo is not one of them!), so it’s best to confirm with the staff before completing your booking as it’s not clearly stated on the website.
If you’re coming from Sydney, you’ll need to head west on the M4 to Great Western Highway. After passing through the Blue Mountains and Lithgow, you’ll continue onto Castlereagh Highway (B55) toward Mudgee. After about 60km, turn right onto Mount Vincent Road. Follow that to Vulcan Road and it will be at the end of the road.
The trip should take about 3-3.5 hours depending on traffic and if you want to stop along the way. We opted to stop for a bushwalk in the Blue Mountains on the way there and for even more relaxing at the Japanese bathhouse on the way back.
How much is it to stay at Bubbletent Australia?
We admit… it’s not cheap. But, it’s an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience and can very much be worth it, especially for a special occassion.
Prices depends on which tent you book.
- Cancer and Leo: $595 per night (no heating or cooling)
- Virgo: $695 per night
- Pisces: $785 per night
- Ophiuchus: $855 per night
If you want to stay on a weekend or during peak periods, you’ll need to stay for more than one night.
Bookings can only be made directly on the Bubbletent Australia website.
What we’d keep in mind for next time
- Bring portable chargers as there was only one USB outlet working. There were a few others under the bed, but not of them seemed to work.
- Leave slippers and robes at home. We packed them to stay extra toasty, but both ended up bring provided.
- Wear a sleep mask (provided!). Once the sun comes up, the tents can get very bright. If you don’t want to wake up with the sun, then it’s best to put on a mask.
FAQs about Bubbletent Australia
Yes, each tent does have a private toilet. Ours (Virgo) was a compost toilet rather than a flush toilet, but there wasn’t any foul odour from it. Some of the other tents do have flushing toilets
Sort of. There was an exposed, outdoor shower but we weren’t sure if it was heated as we didn’t use it. We opted for the fire-heated bath instead.
Some, but not much. After dark you’ll need to rely on head torches (provided) along with the solar-powered lanterns. There was a USB-C outlet in our tent that powered an iPad for music and with stargazing apps. We were able to use that to charge our phones.
It depends on which tent you’re staying in. It doesn’t list on the website, either, so you’ll need to enquire at the time of booking whether or not your tent does. We were able to access Virgo with a 2WD car, but the gravel road was a bit bumpy.
