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00:03Imagine staying the night, deep in the desert,
00:07sleeping underneath the stars,
00:11lodging in a futuristic bubble hidden in a forest,
00:17or holidaying in a resort perched over a fjord.
00:23In this series, we venture across the globe
00:27to reveal some of the world's most unusual hotels.
00:31You feel like you're alone in the landscape.
00:34Hidden in the most surprising of places.
00:37Most people haven't heard of it
00:38because they had no idea that this is here.
00:42From island getaways and retreats hidden in plain sight.
00:47The calmness about being here makes it a unique experience.
00:52To reimagine structures and vehicles.
00:57It's not the obvious use for this building.
00:59The transformation was incredible.
01:01We meet the teams who keep them running.
01:04The first thing they normally say when they get here is,
01:06what a beautiful spot.
01:07Every little room is a hidden gem.
01:09And the guests living their dreams.
01:12It really does feel like you are in your own little bubble.
01:15As we explore the world's most secret hotels.
01:24This time, we visit a mirrored wonder high in the cliffs of Norway.
01:29It's not easy for someone to find it.
01:32An unusual shipment of containers stacked in the outback.
01:36You really have to know where you're going
01:37because we're a little bit of a hidden secret.
01:39And a network of striking tree houses concealed in an English forest.
01:44It's not the sort of design you'd expect to find in the middle of a woodland.
01:55First, we venture to the United Arab Emirates.
02:02This is the Rubal Kali, a desert known in English as the Empty Quarter.
02:09Most of this 250,000 square miles of desert is uninhabited.
02:15But one resilient group made this formidable terrain home.
02:20The Bedouin.
02:22For millennia, their welcoming generosity was essential to the survival of traders crossing this desert.
02:29Today, there is a place that aims to continue their legendary hospitality.
02:35This is Qasa al-Sarab, the palace of the desert.
02:44A huge resort concealed by the vast wilderness.
02:50It sprawls one mile from end to end and is home to 450 staff.
03:01The hotel strives to bring the historic Bedouin culture of this region
03:06to modern travellers from around the globe.
03:10It's hidden. It's secret.
03:12Away from civilisation.
03:20Guests arrive into a central courtyard.
03:25Which is surrounded by a lobby and leisure facilities, including a ballroom and a kids' club.
03:34Stretching north and south from here are 154 rooms.
03:40Further south, there's a fitness centre.
03:43Spa.
03:45And tennis courts.
03:48And 53 luxury villas, each with a private pool.
03:53There are two other swimming pools for guests.
03:57Along with five restaurants across the site.
04:04Jean-Paul Dantille is the general manager of this hotel.
04:09There was a vision to really be able to showcase the desert.
04:14We try and incorporate that Bedouin hospitality.
04:17There's so much here to incorporate and to learn about this.
04:21The hotel is designed in a modern Middle Eastern style.
04:26The exterior mimics the traditional earth brick and clay materials that were used here for centuries.
04:34Its imposing profile is part fort and part palace.
04:38A combination that promises protection and luxury.
04:45Inside, Bedouin motifs sit alongside mosaic floors, water features and traditional lamps.
04:58The rooms are decorated with ornaments that resemble those carried by ancient traders.
05:08It's Manish Kumar's job to make sure the rooms live up to the expectations of a demanding clientele.
05:16The sense of design is more towards the Arabic essence.
05:23But at the same time, we establish a beautiful, high-end luxury experience for the guests as well.
05:32For Manish, the truest sign of luxury is making the most of the location.
05:38We always feel proud and privileged being located within this particular desert.
05:45We are in between of these beautiful dunes, which is uninterrupted.
05:50And that's a beautiful aspect.
05:55Making this remarkable natural beauty accessible to guests requires a dedicated workforce.
06:02It's Neil Turner's job to make sure this remote outpost is always fully staffed.
06:08It's sort of an oasis that reveals itself to you in the middle of nowhere.
06:15You are certainly surprised at how little you have around you in terms of an infrastructure.
06:23We are not able to rely on the resources you would have in the city.
06:30The staff live in dedicated quarters on site, with their own restaurant, tennis courts and leisure facilities.
06:39We have about 42 nationalities that work here because we have different clientele from across the world.
06:49The first challenge the team has to overcome, how to provide three meals a day to almost 1,000 people
06:57here.
06:57This is the responsibility of Driss Petit.
07:00We are remote locations, so we have to provide a minimum for 2,000 meals per day.
07:05The logistics have to be planned well in advance.
07:08The hotel is 135 miles from Abu Dhabi, so daily deliveries aren't an option.
07:15The Bedouin greeted people with meat hunted from the desert, camel milk and dates.
07:21But today, global travellers to this desert outpost expect standards that match any hotel in the city.
07:28Our clientele is really, really cosmopolitan.
07:32So international cuisine is a must for us.
07:35Driss's restaurants serve Arabic, American and Italian cuisine,
07:41and an international breakfast buffet complete with French pastries.
07:47As well as carefully planned deliveries, they grow their own leafy greens and salad vegetables in greenhouses on site.
07:54They also harness one of the hotel's natural resources.
07:58We have over 1,000 palm trees and every year we have a huge harvest of dates.
08:07Dates are one of the few fruits that can grow in the desert.
08:11They were an essential source of sustenance to the Bedouin who once lived here.
08:23We make jams, we make juices, we make a lot of drinks, food, salads.
08:29So we use all these days, we give some gifts to our guests as well.
08:34So this is a way of acknowledging the Bedouin culture.
08:40Using the resources of the desert is a theme across the hotel.
08:46The intense sunshine is turned into electricity at an on-site solar farm.
08:54The power from here charges a fleet of golf buggies that help guests get around the site.
09:02If they go several hundred feet into the dunes, they'll find the Ezba.
09:06A traditional building where today hotel workers look after animals native to this landscape.
09:15Ashton Balakistan is the conservation expert in charge of this unusual hotel amenity.
09:21We have a variety of animals here.
09:23There are camels, gazelles and two animals that are particularly prestigious here
09:31because of their links to the people who used to call this desert home.
09:37Falcons and saluki dogs.
09:40The Bedouins use the falcons for hunting purposes.
09:43To help them survive in the desert in this harsh and arid environment.
09:47And the falcons would catch prey for them, all their protein.
09:51Salukis, in the past they were used for hunting purposes.
09:54They actually have wet feet, if you have a look there.
09:57This allows them to have that grip on the sand where they actually can run super fast
10:01and leap into a jump when they are running.
10:04Today this landscape is a nature reserve.
10:09And hunting is not permitted.
10:12The salukis and falcons instead display their incredible speed and power to hotel guests.
10:21It's very important to maintain the culture and the history through our experiences.
10:29This hotel makes the most of what the natural world has to offer.
10:34Including a spectacle that's all down to the orientation of the site.
10:39We have the sunset directly in front of the hotel.
10:42It's absolutely stunning.
10:44It's one of the most beautiful sunsets I think I've ever seen.
10:47After sundown, as the temperatures drop, the hotel's exterior spaces are transformed by fire and candlelight.
10:57Creating an atmosphere that conjures what life must have been like here centuries ago.
11:03You'll feel the touches of that Bedouin hospitality at night.
11:07You'll feel it all over in the hotel in a subtle manner.
11:11This is very important that our guests feel that.
11:21Still to come, we journey to a secret retreat in the fjords of Norway.
11:27And discover a remarkable treetop hideaway.
11:39There are over 17 million hotel rooms in the world.
11:43We're exploring some of the most extraordinary.
11:47Found in the most unusual places.
11:56Next, we travel to north-western Norway.
12:03This is fjord country.
12:08Where the mountains are hewn by rivers and the sea.
12:12To create a spectacular landscape.
12:17It's one of the greatest spectacles the natural world has to offer.
12:24But only if you can get here.
12:28The terrain is a formidable barrier in the summer.
12:32In the winter, snow and ice makes much of this region inaccessible.
12:39For those who do make it,
12:41on the banks of the Valdolla River,
12:44they'll find nature mirrored back at them by an extreme retreat.
12:52This is the Juve Landscape Hotel.
12:58A series of crisp modern pods set into the valley.
13:09Camouflaged by reflections.
13:14And poised to give visitors a unique view on the world.
13:23The hotel is run by Canute Slinny and his daughter Christina.
13:30It's not easy for someone to find it.
13:33It's a very quiet and, in a way, hidden place.
13:44After holidaying here for 40 years,
13:47Canute decided to use this region as the base to create a remarkable resort.
13:52There are a lot of wow factors.
13:55It's very important that the people have the feeling
13:58that they have never been to a place like this before.
14:03Each pod is a separate dwelling for guests.
14:08Inside, the stripped back interior design and low lighting
14:12focuses attention on the main attraction.
14:16The floor-to-ceiling windows that display the natural beauty of the valley.
14:22You have the feeling that you are staying in the biggest room in the world
14:27because everything on the outside seems to belong to your room.
14:32There are no pictures, no televisions, very few ornaments or distractions of any kind.
14:43Because Canute had a unique concept for these pods.
14:48Everything is concentrated on what's on the outside.
14:54It's built to give you the feeling that you are in a camera house.
15:02And the big window screen is the lens.
15:16Today, this masterclass in minimalism is managed by Canute's daughter, Christina.
15:23It's her responsibility to make sure the pods always live up to Canute's vision.
15:28So much of her time is dedicated to looking after the windows.
15:34This is a big part of the hotel, so we need to keep it as clean and clear as possible.
15:41It's a lot of cleaning of glass inside and outside.
15:45The outside window cleaning on some of these pods is pretty high octane.
15:50This is the extreme window cleaning room.
15:54When we're going further out on the edge, we have to use a harness.
15:59This work reveals that there are some downsides to being this close to nature.
16:06The summer is the toughest time.
16:09The more birds that are there, the more bird poop is on the windows.
16:15Going the extra mile to keep the glazing spick and span is just one of the ways Christina immerses guests
16:22in the natural world.
16:24All the materials used on the interior reflect the landscape.
16:30We have the wooden structure, we have the wall carpet.
16:36We kind of try to make everything kind of smell natural.
16:50Guests to these pods cannot block the view at any time because these buildings have no curtains.
16:59A lot of people say they had the best sleep they ever had because of the sound of the river
17:04and everything.
17:05But it's challenging for some people.
17:12The vision for this retreat began when Canute started construction in 2007.
17:18It wasn't easy creating this sanctuary here in the mountains.
17:23Not only is it very remote, this landscape is also protected by law.
17:28And we were not allowed to go in with excavators, use dynamite or concrete when it comes to the foundation.
17:39Canute's solution was a design that treads delicately on the terrain.
17:45The pods stand on slender steel stilts that connect to foundations that leave the vegetation and rock beneath almost untouched.
17:55And the materials were chosen to blend into the landscape.
18:01Everything is made out of wood and it's not painted.
18:08When we were finished building, it looked like it has been there for many, many years because we have done
18:14it so carefully.
18:20Only the glass was brought in from outside the valley. Everything else was locally sourced.
18:29Even the paths that link the hotel's pods are conceived to create a sense of seclusion and surprise.
18:37A straight road is boring.
18:41You are not supposed to see where you end up almost until you are there.
18:47Visitors who follow the twisting paths will find the hotel's amenities spread across the site.
18:54Including a spectacular spa buried into the turf.
19:00And a restored barn that houses the kitchen and dining area.
19:06The menu here is organized by head chef Chris.
19:11My goal here as a chef is actually to make the experience reflect the hotel.
19:16A trip to the bare minimum, but the flavors are really on the spot.
19:21Also the nature here, it's raw nature, so you want to keep raw elements on the plate as well.
19:33Chefs, they like to go out in the forest, pick mushrooms, wild herbs, flowers that are edible.
19:41We focus very on the flavors that are around the area.
19:44These foraged ingredients, combined with produce from local farms, create a perfect base for Chris's favorite foods.
19:53I go out fishing as much as I can.
19:55We have a fish called a fjallurett, which is basically lovely trout, mountain trout.
20:04So mountain trout is something that we try to put on the menu as much as possible.
20:08A single 22-seater table hosts all the guests each evening.
20:15The three-course dinner is a communal experience.
20:25Delivering oak cuisine using only local produce, this high in the mountains, requires careful planning.
20:33Chris uses a traditional process to keep the fruit and vegetables good for months at a time.
20:40Pickling.
20:42Our cellar is not only full of wine, but it's also full of glasses that we preserve the vegetables and
20:47the fruits in.
20:52This careful planning allows Chris and his team to craft beautiful dishes year round.
21:01Delivering service like this, in such a remote location, brings Canute a great level of satisfaction.
21:09I was 54 years old when I bought the farm and started it.
21:15And I look back all the hours and all the thinking of how to do this the best possible way.
21:26I almost cannot imagine that I did all that work.
21:31I'm happy that I did it.
21:48Coming up, we visit a woodland sanctuary hidden deep in the English countryside.
21:56And we reveal the workings of a waterside mystery in Ireland.
22:11Resting in a cliff-top retreat is a completely different experience to holidaying in the desert.
22:18Or taking a room in a repurposed railway carriage.
22:22But most remote hideaways do have one thing in common.
22:26The promise of an unforgettable adventure.
22:29Our next stop is Dorset in southwest England.
22:35This county is home to the world-famous Jurassic Coast.
22:4093 miles of rugged cliffs brimming with prehistoric fossils.
22:46Inland, Dorset's dramatic coastline gives way to miles of rolling farmland.
22:53Where herds of sheep and cattle roam in fields surrounded by ancient woodlands.
23:02In autumn, the trees inside one wood shed their leaves to reveal a mysterious raised walkway.
23:11In the middle of the woods.
23:12Following the path through the branches leads to a truly special place.
23:20This is Mallinson's Woodland Retreat.
23:26A series of luxury tree houses so carefully concealed that for most of the year they lie hidden from the
23:33world outside.
23:40They are the work of master craftsman Guy Mallinson.
23:46You could very easily drive past this woodland and not know it's here.
23:51It's very, very secret and tucked away.
24:01Guy's connection with this secret site stretches back nearly two decades to when he used to teach outdoor woodworking classes
24:09here.
24:10It inspired him to pursue a dream he'd held since childhood.
24:16I'd always dreamt of building a tree house.
24:19That's always been my sort of boyhood dream.
24:22Today Guy's vision is now a reality.
24:27Three unique tree house dwellings.
24:31Woodsman.
24:33Pinwheel.
24:36And Dazzle.
24:40Dazzle is named after the distinctive black and white exterior patterns
24:44that mimic the camouflage painted on ships during World War One.
24:50The pattern creates an illusion of depth as visitors approach the building.
24:57It's not the sort of design you'd expect to find in the middle of a woodland.
25:02Inside, each tree house has an ensuite bedroom,
25:06a kitchen and a ceramic wood burner to keep the space cosy.
25:13The design is intended to inspire a sense of childlike joy in guests.
25:20You might find a swing on the deck,
25:23a slide to the woodland floor,
25:27or a tree piercing through the deck which you can admire from the bath.
25:32There's something really, really special about being up in the branches.
25:36Spending time right next to the branches with their ferns and mosses.
25:41It's a perspective you'll never really get.
25:47Guy and his team crafted each tree house with meticulous precision.
25:54The birch panels on the walls are all exactly the same width.
26:00And align perfectly with the kitchen table and floorboards.
26:05It's a sort of three-dimensional jigsaw that was incredibly complex to work out.
26:10If you mess it up, you've got to start again.
26:15Guy's exacting standards weren't the only challenge he set himself.
26:20So it's very important to us that we tread very carefully on the forest floor.
26:24We don't want to use any plant and machinery, so we have no cranes.
26:28It's all carried in by hand.
26:30So, me and my son put the scaffold up and hoaked everything up the scaffold by hand.
26:39A network of stilts holds up each tree house.
26:44For this job, Guy sourced an unusual type of sustainable timber.
26:50These stilts are repurposed telegraph poles.
26:55They take the load of the building because they're on an undulating surface.
26:59Although there's a very uniform pattern, they're all different lengths.
27:06The same philosophy that underpinned the hotel's construction lives on in its day-to-day running.
27:13Today, groundskeeper Neil maintains the pathways in the woods.
27:19We try and do everything as natural as we possibly can.
27:22We knock in all our posts by hand.
27:24We use just general hand tools.
27:29We use a sweet chestnut post, which contain a tannin, which is like a natural preservative.
27:35So, these posts will last for years before they rot.
27:38And in that way, we're not bringing any posts that have been treated with any chemicals.
27:44Running a hotel at one with nature is not without its challenges.
27:49For housekeeper Sarah, there are more than a few uninvited guests, especially at this time of year.
27:57We have an ongoing battle with spiders.
28:00Obviously, being in the woods, we're in their environment.
28:03Keeping the squirrels away from the rubbish.
28:06And during the autumn, the leaves.
28:10It's snowing leaves for most of the autumn.
28:14This dedication to living and working in harmony with the woods creates a unique atmosphere.
28:24One that guests experience from the moment they arrive.
28:30It's a short walk down to the tree houses, perhaps five minutes.
28:35But that's critically important.
28:37It's that separation from when they leave their car and leave the real world behind.
28:42It's an adventure.
28:45There are risks for a business cultivating such an atmosphere.
28:49It could feel a little too isolated to be comfortable.
28:53Especially for those arriving after sunset.
28:58Fortunately, Guy has crafted an ingenious solution to help guide visitors through the dark forest.
29:06When the guests first arrive at Dazzle, they trigger a motion sensor
29:10that brings on this particular set of lights that we call the Toda lights.
29:16So they get this sort of element of surprise and joy.
29:25It was actually very magical.
29:27All the twinkly lights were on.
29:30And a very special time to arrive, actually.
29:33It was like a magic spot in the woods.
29:37I actually feel like it's really liberating.
29:39This is truly special.
29:42It's a real secret little world that we've created here.
29:46It's a unique place to find yourself.
29:49Up in a tree for a long period of time.
29:52And it has some magical effect on people.
30:00We're travelling the world to discover what it takes to run the most extraordinary hotels.
30:06From lighthouses on tiny islands.
30:09To guest houses on salt flats.
30:12And lodges enveloped by the jungle.
30:21Next, we're heading to County Monaghan, in the Republic of Ireland.
30:28Over six million tourists visit the country each year.
30:32But few of them make it to this remote, inland county.
30:37This is Ireland's hidden heartland.
30:41A sparsely populated, agricultural landscape of low-lying hills and valleys.
30:48Forty miles from the sea, there's an unexpected sight.
30:52Something that appears to have washed up from the ocean.
30:57A submersible, stranded on the banks of a river.
31:02This is the yellow submarine.
31:05It may look like a shipwreck, but this is actually a unique holiday destination.
31:13Designed to immerse guests in the natural beauty of this county.
31:17This unexpected sight is the result of the hard work of Ollie Gibson.
31:24For people who love the outdoors, this is the best kept secret in Ireland.
31:29The idea of putting a holiday home on this land was a long-held family dream.
31:35My dad purchased this land in 2012, with the plan to maybe put some cabins on it.
31:44But unfortunately, my dad passed away.
31:47I said, well, why don't we carry on his vision?
31:52Ollie didn't just carry on his father's vision.
31:54He put his own personal spin on it when he saw this decommissioned lifeboat for sale.
32:02I spotted it on the internet and headed off to West Cork and struck a deal.
32:08When I got home then, my kids started calling it a submarine.
32:11So we said, well, why don't we roll with that?
32:21Ollie overhauled the vessel to squeeze in four bunk beds.
32:26A full-sized double bed, desk and kitchen.
32:35It wasn't easy creating this much space inside a decommissioned lifeboat.
32:42We had to rip out the floor and lower it right down about 50 centimetres.
32:49It was pumped with polystyrene about three feet deep.
32:54So we took 60 bags of polystyrene out of the floor.
32:59The engine and controls were right there.
33:02So that all had to come out.
33:05Ollie had to do more than just strip the lifeboat back to create his submarine-style hotel.
33:10He added a whole new section to the craft to make it liveable.
33:16First, he built a cone-shaped section out of steel rings and fibreglass.
33:22And attached it to the rear of the craft.
33:25This now houses the guest entrance, kitchen area and propeller that completes the new ship-shaped style of the yellow
33:33submarine.
33:34This was the most challenging part of constructing the submarine.
33:40In all, this whole tail section was 90% of the work in the submarine.
33:48The hard work paid off, creating a comfortable living area out of a tiny amount of internal space.
33:58Ollie's incredible ingenuity is on display all over the yellow submarine.
34:05The bunk beds are from the cab of a truck.
34:08The propeller is the radiator fan from an articulated lorry.
34:13And the portholes, well, they have the most unexpected origin.
34:18We tied with the idea of getting brass, proper porthole windows, but they were very expensive.
34:25So I had a brainwave, why don't we use washing machine doors?
34:29Guests look out of the submarine through the toughened glass of eight home appliances.
34:35And the holidaymakers who stay here like it.
34:39This is absolutely the best what I've ever seen.
34:43It's very cozy.
34:45It's really, really amazing.
34:53Oli established the yellow submarine as a base for people to explore the natural beauty of this often overlooked area
35:00of Ireland.
35:02Our guests will have the opportunity to come out with myself for a guided canoeing trip, relax, enjoy nature.
35:10We have six lakes here that are accessible from this river.
35:15It's a landscape that you won't find anywhere else in Ireland.
35:19It's an environment that is kept pristine by the hard work of local volunteers.
35:24People like Ross MacDonald.
35:26It's a nice, gentle flow, so it is.
35:29We've got a wide range of biodiversity on the river system.
35:34It's all about protecting the river.
35:36Ross monitors the quality of the water in the river to check the health of the environment.
35:42The more biodiversity that you have, the better the water, the quality is in the river system.
35:53While visitors can enjoy time on the unspoilt water, the sub itself is no longer seaworthy.
36:00But it does still travel.
36:02Each year, for winter, Oli stows the submarine away at his home.
36:10That's a nerve-wracking time for me when we're trying to move it.
36:14The submarine doesn't fit underneath the railway bridge.
36:17We tow it with the tractor.
36:18We have to reverse it up through two fields to get up through the top of the railway line
36:24and get it out onto the main road.
36:26And we drive around about five miles to get it back to the house, which is only two miles away.
36:32Luckily for Oli, today the sub is staying put and he can enjoy the sanctuary he's created by following his
36:40father's dream.
36:41My dad bought this land with the plan to turn it into a little place where people could come and
36:48enjoy the river.
36:49And one thing led to another.
36:52Before you know it, we have a submarine on site.
36:56I think he'd be looking down and he'd be laughing.
37:00I think he'd be laughing.
37:06I think he'd be laughing.
37:10I think he'd be laughing.
37:10Coming up, we experience some of the finest luxury the Outback has to offer.
37:23We're uncovering the most unusual and exciting places to stay around the world.
37:29Some of these retreats are hidden inside unexpected buildings.
37:34Others are concealed by forbidding landscapes.
37:44Our final stop is the Australian Outback.
37:53435 miles northwest of Sydney lies the remote outback of New South Wales.
38:03It's a land defined by red deserts, endless blue skies and wide open spaces.
38:10Sheep are abundant while people are few.
38:14The landscape is dotted with working farms that have modest homesteads and agricultural buildings.
38:24Here, half an hour's drive from the tiny town of Budabadar, is a sprawling sheep station.
38:32Hidden amongst its bushland, far from sight, is an unexpected, one-of-a-kind hotel.
38:39Known as Kalubri Station.
38:45Kalubri Station was bought by my family back in 1878.
38:48So we've been here nearly 150 years.
38:52My forebears brought a mob of 30,000 sheep to start trading.
38:56And we've been doing it ever since.
38:59The farm and hotel is run by fourth-generation farmer Mike and his wife Angie.
39:05Some people would say we're in the middle of nowhere.
39:07Our nearest pub's about 55 kilometres away, so you have to be thirsty.
39:11But it's doable.
39:14You really have to know where you're going, because we're a little bit of a hidden secret.
39:19The farm spans 28,500 acres.
39:23We're 20 kilometres from corner to corner, and about 10 kilometres wide.
39:29It takes us probably three quarters of an hour to get from one end to the other.
39:33Driving along dirt tracks to reach this working farm offers no hint of the hotel's presence.
39:40I think as guests arrive, they really get a bit of a surprise,
39:43because it's not what you would expect to be in this kind of landscape.
39:47It's the harsh, semi-arid climate, where summer temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius,
39:54that prompted Mike and Angie to expand their farm into hospitality.
39:59Drought in the central west of New South Wales is fairly common,
40:03and back in 2017 through to 19, we experienced an extended drought.
40:09And one of our ideas for diversification was to look at tourism,
40:14and Angie came up with the idea of doing a very high-end farm stay.
40:17Hence the container dream was born.
40:22The recycled industrial accommodation is constructed from five shipping containers,
40:28stacked over three floors.
40:32We use the shipping containers partly because they're dustproof,
40:35which is quite attractive out this way.
40:38They can also be furnished or built off-site and then brought in.
40:46These conjoined steel boxes are arranged to create four bedrooms,
40:51accommodating up to eight guests.
40:53We've created what we think is a really special and unique experience for guests.
40:58It's a very authentic station stay experience and very much a secret.
41:06While the exterior has a rugged appearance, the interior sports a sleek and modern design.
41:16When you open the door to your suite, it's a bit of a surprise because it's quite different to the
41:20rest of the environment here.
41:22So you're greeted with lovely air conditioning, a looking bed which is surrounded by double glazed windows,
41:27providing an incredible view across the property.
41:30It's got a little kitchenette and a beautiful rain shower and walk-in bathroom.
41:38The retreat features a 40-foot heated mineral container pool, complete with a swim jet and sun lounges,
41:45offering a refreshing escape from the rugged surroundings and soaring temperatures.
41:51We're completely dry land here.
41:53We really rely on what falls from the sky, both for the farming and the tourism.
41:57So managing water is, you know, a really big priority for us.
42:04To bring this modular hotel to life, Angie worked with a company that specialises in transforming shipping containers into unique
42:12living spaces.
42:14We make sure we know the history of them, so they haven't contained any dangerous goods.
42:18They've done a single trip from overseas to Australia.
42:21Australia brings in more containers than it sends out, so it's a nice way of recycling the materials.
42:28Installing these enormous containers on site was no simple task.
42:35They came in on big trucks and we then had cranes on site to lift them in.
42:41At the time we're in the middle of the drought, so lots of red dirt and windstorms, so it was,
42:46yeah, quite a spectacular site.
42:51The building was assembled in just two days.
42:57New South Wales has around 25 million head of sheep, which is about three animals for every person living in
43:05the state.
43:06Outback stations play an integral part of the country's livestock industry.
43:12Now guests come from all over the world to experience a glimpse into life on the working station.
43:22I look after the day-to-day running of the farm, so all the sheep work and cropping work.
43:27I take the farm tours around, so it gives you a really immersive experience in what's actually happening on the
43:34property.
43:34So growing wool, growing the grain.
43:36A lot of farm experiences are really like petting zoos, whereas here we are a commercial farm.
43:42We don't put on activities just for guests.
43:50We see the ultimate of wildlife in Australia.
43:53Kangaroos, emus, plenty of bird life.
43:56It's just everywhere.
44:02I have a few different roles.
44:03The primary one I'm really passionate about is a self-taught chef, so I'm in charge of doing all the
44:08food at the station.
44:11Dining experiences at the station embrace a paddock-to-plate philosophy, featuring the homestead's own seasonal organic produce.
44:21We're remote, so we have quite an extensive pantry.
44:24I keep a lot of dried goods in bulk.
44:26We preserve a lot of our own fruit and veg.
44:29We actually serve our own lamb.
44:32And we also grow wheat, which we use for our bread.
44:36We do a lot of indigenous herbs and spices to give it a really Australian flavour.
44:41Farm-to-table style menu.
44:43We serve everything from really rustic dishes right through to fine dining level dishes.
44:57To manage the year-round operations of both the hotel and the farm, Mike and Angie rely on a dedicated
45:05team of staff to support everything from guest services to daily farming tasks.
45:11The station is home to around 10,000 sheep.
45:16I've been working for Kludawai Station for about a year and a half now.
45:20I love working with the livestock, with the farming, being outside.
45:23We are isolated out here.
45:26When we have guests come out, I just love having a chat with them, seeing where they're from, explaining what
45:30we're doing.
45:31Most of them come from the city and don't really get to see this sort of thing, where the food
45:35or fibre comes from.
45:42Mike and Angie have expanded the hotel with the River Suite, positioned by the Bogan River.
45:48It's a cosy escape for two guests.
45:51As the sun sets and the rusty soil deepens to a rich ochre, the landscape reveals its final magical moment.
46:01A poignant reminder of the thousands of years of history shaping this dramatic outback terrain.
46:08At sunset, we actually take guests up to our lookout and we have a beautiful spread of canapes and bubbles
46:13and music playing.
46:14And everyone can sit and look at the sun go down, which is, you know, one of the most beautiful
46:18aspects of living in the bush.
46:33And we're off on a brand new spectacular journey aboard four cruise ships as they travel around the world as
46:38some of the most amazing destinations.
46:41Cruising to the ends of the earth starts tomorrow night at eight.
46:44And tonight, making the most of life before it's all too late, Bill Nighy stars in the network premiere, Living.
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