Here’s one holiday your kids will never forget: Airbnb is offering a one-off, two-night stay at Bluey Heeler’s family home, complete with a puppet-making craft session, a Chinese takeaway feast in the backyard and an afternoon decorating the Heeler family’s famous duck cake.
If you’re not familiar with Bluey, the cartoon follows the adventures of a six-year-old Blue Heeler dog who lives with her mum (Chilli), dad (Bandit) and little sister (Bingo) in a suburban family home. Though Australian-made, the show’s become a global phenomenon, now screened in over 60 countries.
And now Airbnb has teamed up with BBC Studios, co-commissioner and global distributor of Bluey, to bring the cartoon to life with a two-night experience centred around a house on a quiet, tree-lined street in Brisbane. Entirely customised, the house will have you feeling like you’re in Bluey’s world from the moment you set foot on its lawn where you’ll spot the Heeler home’s red letterbox, bone-shaped chimney and charming bay window.
Inside, kids will have a ball playing in Bluey and Bingo’s playroom, with its rainbow canopy, kiwi rug and many toys, including Bluey’s Chattermax toy and magic xylophone, or in the backyard, home to a trampoline, BBQ and Grannies’ car.
And when they’re all tuckered out, they can hit the hay in the girls’ bedroom, equipped with two single beds, fitting with custom stained-glass windows, colourful hanging lanterns and a hand-crafted watermelon rug.
Meanwhile, after some vinos in the yard, coupled with Brisbane’s balmy evening weather, parents can retreat to Chilli and Bandit’s airy, plant-filled master bedroom, kitted out with a queen-sized bed, rattan furnishings and calming, neutral hues.
Also included in the weekend getaway is a behind-the-scenes tour of Ludo Studio, where Bluey is created, a Chinese takeaway feast in the backyard, an afternoon decorating the family’s well-known duck cake and a puppet-making craft session, featuring show character Bob Bilby.
So, how can you book? Well, you’ll need to be a resident of Australia, have a verified Airbnb profile, a history of positive reviews and be aged 18+. You’ll also, of course, need to be available to stay on the dates: Friday, February 18, 2022 to Sunday, February 20, 2022. If you’ve ticked both those boxes, you can request to stay, from Tuesday, February 15 at 8am. Bookings, which you can do here, are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and only one lucky family will get to experience the weekend.
If you’re unfortunately not part of that lucky crew or you live outside Australia, catch an online experience hosted by one of the Blue composers, Jazz D’Arcy, along with Brisbane-based children’s choreographer, Cherie Lange, live from Bluey’s house.
The interactive online workshop, which you can book here, will have the whole family singing, dancing and laughing as D’Arcy and Lange recreate some of the show’s best songs and dance moves. Only 10 spots will be available to book in three time zones — the US, UK and Australia.