For those who fancy an escape from the daily grind but don’t want to battle holiday traffic or airport queues in the process, a stay at the Salty Dog is just the ticket. This charming floating home belonging to Judi Morrison is moored at the southern end of picturesque Pittwater in NSW, and is a leisurely three-minute boat ride from shore.
“The goal was to create a place to share, where people can escape the world and be somewhere calm, on the water,” says Judi. “I’ve always loved boating, but not everyone is a sailor, so the Salty Dog gives others a chance to experience being ‘out there’ without having to know anything about boats. And for sailors, it’s a chance to be on the water and relax – there are no sails to trim or ropes to pull.”
With its exterior painted Dulux Monument and idyllic bayside position, the Salty Dog is a place to go when you want to leave the world behind.
A kitchen servery window opens to the deck. The lighthouse artwork was purchased in Maine, USA.
With the help of her family, Judi spent a year building the home from scratch, starting with floats and a wooden frame, then adding a traditional timber boathouse on top. “The process was sometimes exhausting,” she admits. “Everything took twice as long as we thought it would, but I had a picture in my mind of how it would feel to be on board, and I knew it would be worth it once it was finished.”
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She was right. Since opening in December 2022, the Salty Dog – which is a traditional term for sailors and also references Judi’s two beach-loving dogs, Maggie the German shorthaired pointer and Erroll the dalmatian – has welcomed a stream of visitors looking to switch off and be at one with the sea. Guests arrive by boat and disembark on a sunlit deck, where they can sit with a gin and tonic and watch the sunset. From there, they enter the beautifully styled interior where a cosy kitchen is stocked with “all the cooking things” needed for a short stay, plus breakfast provisions (and Tim Tams). A dearly departed friend’s old fishing table serves as the dining table, while a green velvet lounge and Cubic Mini fireplace invite guests to sit awhile.
A green velvet sofa from Lounge Lovers dials up the comfort in the living space. Artist Little Noisy Miner was commissioned to draw Judi’s dog, Maggie.
Two classic deck chairs are the perfect place to sit and soak up the surrounds.
“Even though it’s a new build, we used many recycled things,” Judi says. “Old wooden joists came from a local home being dismantled and the Bentwood dining chairs were from a jazz club. We think they still have some music in them.”
Upstairs, there’s a spacious bedroom with cathedral ceilings, pull-string lights, bean bags and a skylight that opens. “It’s big enough to stand in and watch the world go by with a cup of tea,” Judi says.
Judi sourced a Cubic Mini fireplace from Canada, the smallest one she could find. Shelves alongside hold nautical trinkets and dog figures.
Boats moored at Pittwater.
With its earthy textures, inviting rooms and gentle sway of the sea, the Salty Dog is the respite we all need. “When you return, you feel like you’ve been away longer than you have, and like you’ve been much further away from the world than a little houseboat on Pittwater,” Judi says.
BOOK YOUR STAY
Visit Airbnb to book a stay at the Salty Dog. The floating tiny home can accommodate two guests and has one bedroom and one bathroom.
Bentwood chairs sit at an old fishing table that once belonged to a friend.
A Full Body Hug mattress from Sherman feels like just that. The dog print is by Ken Done of his own dog, Spot.
Follow @the_salty_dog_airbnb on Instagram.
