How you can escape over summer for free

How you can escape over summer for free

Holidaying in some of Australia’s hottest destinations for free sounds like a pretty good way to spend your summer, and now one company is making it a reality.

Savvy travellers can now jetset for less by swapping hotels for housesitting adventures, thanks to new housesitting website Your Home My Home.

This housesitting movement is fuelled by a growing community of pet lovers who are trading expensive kennel stays for live-in housesitters to care for their pets.

The win-win exchange sees home owners inviting housesitters to live in their home rent free – paying little or no bills – in return for the sitters service of minding their home and pet.

“As a Home Owner you register for free and list your house, holiday dates and requirements via Your Home My Home,” founder Rebecca Nankervis said.

“From there, the ad is shared with our network of housesitters, who have paid an annual subscription in exchange for the privilege to get in touch with you.

“After contact is made, home owners work with potential sitters to work out a time to meet and ascertain their suitability to care for their home and your pets – and so your journey begins.”

Your Home My Home was launched in May this year, and has already facilitated over a hundred housesits. Nankervis puts the success down to the cost saving benefit for both parties.

“If you’re a holiday maker, we offer a home away from home, except the accommodation is free! And, if you’re a homeowner, you have the promise of a responsible house or pet sitter for free,” she added.

Holiday periods are incredibly popular – for both housesitters and home owners alike.

And, if you’re looking for a free holiday over Christmas, Nankervis offers her tips on the site’s most attractive housesits available:

Byron Bay Hinterland

housesit

A small village nestled in the hilly country near Byron Bay, Clunes is home to just over 500 people.

A short drive to the foothills of Mt Warning in one direction, and the beaches of Byron Bay in the other, the property sits on 36 acres. Here, accommodation can cost north of $500 a night.

Barwon Heads Farm House

housesit2

This housesit is a short drive to popular BarwonHeads, the coastal township on the Bellaraine Peninsula and home to the popular television series, Seachange.

Coveted by Victorians for its quiet river banks, surfing beaches and  some of the country’s best golf courses, Barwon Heads is the perfect place to unwind over Summer.

Avoca Beach

housesit3

A five minute drive to holiday and resort hot-spot, Avoca Beach, this housesit offers the stunning contrast of wooded hills and white sandy beaches.

Avoca Beach stretches between two spectacular rocky headlines, and offers a peaceful retreat for surfers, fisherman and families alike.

Nankervis says an influx of housesits is expected over the next two months catering for the Christmas holiday period, and would-be housesitters should register on learn as soon as they become available.

For more information visit: www.yourhomemyhome.com.au.

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]