Drop Off The Map At These Cabins

Arcana’s extraordinary mirrored cabins in the Canadian woods really are a secret – from before you book until you arrive.

Arcana’s extraordinary mirrored cabins in the Canadian woods really are a secret – from before you book until you arrive.

You’re not told where you are you are staying until after you book (all we know is that they’re within a few hours drive of Toronto) and when you do arrive, the shimmering mirrored walls of the cabins give the impression they are camouflaged.

There’s forest bathing and hiking but if it’s us, we’re hanging out in the cabin…invisible to the rest of the world.

From AU$410 per night

The architects of Jølstraholmen in Western Norway seem to have taken literally the lyrics of Talking Heads’ 1978 classic Take Me to the River.

Jølstraholmen is a compound of several different accommodation types, the most memorable being A-Frame tiny homes that are situated right on the river. And when we say right on the river, we actually mean pretty much in it.

The ‘Cabins’ each have in-ground hot tubs, meaning you can sit in warmth as the icy waters of the river Jølstra rushes by. Inside, it’s classic Scandinavian minimalist design, which we think looks cosy af, especially when there is snow falling on the outside.

Perfectly situated in the fresh air of Norway’s west coast, this place is an outdoor lover’s dream: it’s possible to kayak, canoe and float down the river in a boat. There’s bike tracks, a water slide, a zip-line, a giant trampoline, amazing spots to fish and more.

From AU$459 per night (for the River Suite).

Pronounced: FLOKE-HIT-NAH. Yep, the entire Norwegian language is just an outrageous tangle of consonants and vowels to an outsider.

Hello to these small cabins situated in Sveio, at the edge of Norway’s mighty west coast, just south of Bergen. Flokehyttene translates to ‘The Tangle Huts’, but these are hardly a tangle.

This part of the world is blessed with extraordinary beauty and these incredible installations (built in typical northern minimalism) let the location do all the talking.

Panoramic windows offer glorious views to the outside world—wild winds whipping the sea into a frenzy. And you’re watching it all from the comfort of your little cabin, coffee in hand.

From AU$275 per night.

Remember the freak solar storm that took place earlier this year (May 2024) and every single person on Instagram went out and got an incredible photo of Aurora Borealis or Aurora Australis? Only, a lot of people (especially those in the Southern Hemisphere) couldn’t actually see anything, and were only aware of the beautiful shimmering light because it was all over their social media feeds.

Imagine actually being able to see those beautiful lights, and imagine being right in the eye of the storm, so to speak. That’s exactly where you’ll be at Lake Inari Mobile Cabins in Finland—some of the best northern light activity in the world, happens right here.

You’ll be transported (in your bed, on the back of a snowmobile) to whichever metre-thick ice lake is best for viewing that night—viewing made easy by the glass roof. In the morning, you’ll be ferried back to base for a sauna and coffee.

From AU$582 per night

Picture this: it’s a delightful 25 degrees outside, and you’re hiking through a pleasant forest in France’s east…
Fast forward an hour and you’re cooling off by jumping off your own private pontoon, into what feels like your own private lake.

A little while later you’re enjoying drinks in the minimalist, but full-equipped teardrop-shaped treehouse you’re calling home. As night falls, you can drink a red wine from Burgundy either on your balcony or while soaking in your Nordic bath tub. This is life at Coucoo Cabanes des Grands Lacs, on the banks of Lake Bonnal.

And life is good.

From AU$235 per night.