Pack your bags and don’t forget your history book! These two recently restored heritage cottages are right on Sydney Harbour and are taking bookings.

The Gardeners Cottage in Vaucluse and Middle Head Officers Quarters in Mosman are heritage cottages built in the 19th century that’ve been repurposed as accommodation. And you can book right this second!  

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, alongside a couple of handy Sydney heritage architects, have done the hard yards of bringing these cottages to modern life, and now you get to enjoy their beauty, history and am-bi-ance right on Sydney Harbour’s waterfront. 

The Gardeners Cottage was built in the early 1850s and is State Heritage-listed. It’s a sandstone beauty, built in the Victorian Gothic Revival Style (no, it’s not black) and hides away in the pretty and peaceful, Nielsen Park in Vaucluse. 

It’s completely self-contained, can sleep up to four people and costs $380 a night (with a two-night minimum stay) And look at it! It’s just so cute! 

The Middle Head Officers Quarters are two semi-detached cottages, which can be booked either together or individually, depending on how many friends you need to squish in. 

Built around 1880, in the Victorian Regency Style, staying in these cottages will feel like you’ve accidentally stumbled into a time machine. Especially considering their location in the Middle Head fort precinct in Mosman, with 19th century military fortifications just a stroll away. 

These cottages are hidden amongst gorgeous woodland but are still within walking distance of Taronga Zoo, Chowder Bay and all the rest of 21st century civilisation.  

Each cottage sleeps four people and costs $400 a night (per cottage, minimum two-night stay). 

What better way to explore the coastline and history of Sydney’s gorgeous harbour?

Photos courtesy of NSW NPWS