2) The HP Treehouse (Australia)

The Australian company mmp Architects designed this luxury residence that ‘floats’ on steel supports amongst the trees that flank Mt Whitfield, just outside Cairns.

An elevator shuttles the owners to three separate pavilions in the treetops. Electricity is provided by solar panels which ensure that the swimming pool (yes there’s a swimming pool!) is kept at the perfect temperature.

It looks especially cool lit up at night – Peter Eising and Lucy Gauntlett of Pacific Environments Architects have created something properly special here.

4) The Minister’s Tree House (USA)

This 30-metre-high treehouse has no fewer than five floors and is reckoned to be the largest in the world, with over 80 rooms.

It was built in Crossville, Tennessee and is made entirely of recycled wood by the former local politician Horace Burgess.

5) The Free Spirit Sphere (Canada)

These residential wooden balls were hung on a web of ropes between trees on Vancouver Island.

There’s something about the structure that reminds us a little bit of an eyeball. And it’s definitely worth a closer look.

The interiors are pretty incredible, with round windows and concave doors. In fact, the only thing bad about this treehouse is the name.

“Free Spirit Sphere” sounds a bit too much like something you’d find on the herbal highs stand at a festival for our liking.

6) The Hapuku Treehouse (New Zealand)

The Hapuku Lodge Treehouses in New Zealand’s South Island are five neighbouring houses set in a row of manuka trees just outside the town of Kaikoura.

The settlement, which was once famous as a whaling station, is now better known as the starting point for whale watching tourists.

On a clear day you can spot sperm whales in the bay from these houses in one direction and see the majestic Southern Alps in the other – a pretty unbeatable combination.

7) Manuel Antonio National Park (Costa Rica)

Stewardesses no longer push their drinks trolleys through the cabin, and there are no life-jackets beneath the seats. But then we doubt the passengers on this plane would want them anyway.

This Boeing 727, originally from San José, has long since been turned into a luxury hotel.

8) Loch Goil Treehouse (Scotland)

If you want to get inside this incredible looking treehouse on Loch Goil, you’ll have to book yourself a room in the 5-star Lodge which it’s a part of.

Either that, or book it out for a special occasion like a wedding. Guests can’t sleep in the house itself, but they can “savour a gourmet evening meal with a glass of champagne” or, presumably, whisky, and enjoy the incredible views.

Provided the weather’s good. This is Scotland we’re talking about here…

9) The Mirror Cube Hotel (Sweden)

This futuristic “Mirror Cube” was specially created as part of The Tree Hotel in Sweden.

It remains almost invisible because all the exterior walls of the floating cubes are covered with 8 mm thick mirror glass. Only the windows betray the existence of the hotel suite inside.

The Mirror Cube is just one of the six unique rooms at the Tree Hotel, designed by Inredingsgruppen architects. The others include the Bird’s Nest…

And the UFO

10) The Koroway Treehouses (Indonesia)

The Korowai Tribe from the Indonesian side of the isle of Papua dominate the jungle canopy with their incredible treetop constructions.

The 3,000-strong clan build their houses high up in the canopy of the Brazza River Basin to keep out of reach of wild animals.

Until the 1970s the tribe had absolutely no contact with the outside world and it’s thought they were totally unaware that they shared the planet with other people, which is mental.

Meanwhile in the western world, Cliff Richard was the favourite to win Eurovision…

On second thoughts, maybe we’re the crazy ones? Perhaps we’d all be better off returning to the trees.

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