There's a Beatles-themed submarine in a New Zealand paddock, and it has 939 five-star reviews
A purpose-built Beatles-themed fake submarine in a New Zealand sheep paddock — no coast in sight, four roleplay scenarios built into the listing, 939 reviews averaging 4.93 stars, and a bathroom with a Beatles theme. Keith and Jen have been running this for ten years.
Editor's Note
This particular Airbnb listing comes with four different ways to feel like you're about to die underwater — and 939 guests have given it 4.93 stars. 1
The Yellow Submarine sits in a paddock near Marton on New Zealand's North Island, roughly 100 miles north of Wellington and at least 30 minutes from any coast. 1 It is not near water. It is not a real decommissioned vessel. It is a purpose-built yellow submarine, shaped and themed to look exactly like one, suspended in a sea of green among redwood trees on a working New Zealand farm — and the hosts, Keith and Jen, have apparently decided this is completely normal.
What you're actually walking into
The entry is via a ramp and a front bulkhead door, which immediately commits you to the bit. From there, the listing describes a Victorian steam-punk lounge and galley kitchen, then up to the conning tower and bridge (with replica control dials and levers), midships to two double-bunk torpedo-room sleeping quarters, and finally to the Beatles-themed bathroom at the rear. 1
Yes: the bathroom has a Beatles theme. There is also a submarine sound system.
The sub sleeps four guests across six beds — one queen, one double, and two sets of bunk beds — which means you can absolutely drag your three closest friends into a fake torpedo room and explain to them that this is a legitimate travel decision. 1
The four scenarios built into the listing
This is where Keith and Jen's hosting philosophy gets genuinely inspired. The listing description doesn't just say "Beatles-themed submarine stay." It offers guests four distinct psychological modes for their overnight:
- 1960s Beatles mode: the "magical mystery tour," singing the song in a place that is, as Outside Online writer Tasha Zemke put it, "nearly perfect for the lyrics" 2
- Cold War mode: you are a nuclear standoff-era crew in a tense cat-and-mouse hunt
- 1943 U-boat mode: you are a North Atlantic commander hunting convoys, praying a depth charge doesn't find you first
- Captain Nemo mode: it's 1850, you're fighting deep-sea monsters in Verne's steam-powered Nautilus
The listing hosts' note to guests: 1
"thankyou for stepping out....you may just revert to your childhood...and if you have children on board, remember they will need 100% supervision............but you will be rewarded with an overnight experience you won't stop talking about"
One note of practical warning, delivered memorably by a past guest: 1
"stairs lead to the conning tower/bridge so bring your sea legs and watch carefully people with little legs"
Why 939 reviews average 4.93 stars
The numbers are slightly absurd if you stop to think about them. 1 The accuracy score is a perfect 5.0 — meaning guests consistently report that the place is exactly what Keith and Jen say it is. (It is, in fact, a yellow submarine.) Check-in: 5.0. Communication: 5.0. Cleanliness: 4.9. Value: 4.8 — the only sub-five score in the bunch, which suggests people occasionally wish they'd paid less for the privilege of sleeping in a fake torpedo room, but not enough to tank the review.
Airbnb has classified it as both a Guest Favorite (top 5% of eligible listings) and an OMG! category stay — its own classification for properties it couldn't fit into any normal bucket. 1
Keith and Jen have been at this for ten years. They respond to messages within an hour, with a 100% response rate. 1 Whatever you think about the logistics of running a submarine-shaped farmhouse Airbnb for a decade, they have clearly mastered the operational side.
Practical details
The sub has air conditioning, WiFi, a full kitchen (microwave, mini fridge, French press, wine glasses), washer and dryer, outdoor dining area, and free on-premises parking. 1 The listing explicitly flags no cleaning fee — unusual for a property of this kind. There's a private patio, garden views, and what the listing describes simply as a "submarine sound system."
Check-in runs from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM. No smoking, no pets, no parties. Must be able to climb stairs (the conning tower ones are notably steep, per that guest review above). Not suitable for infants under two. Commercial photography is allowed, which suggests Keith and Jen have watched enough creators roll through that they decided to make it policy.
Pricing varies by season — Airbnb requires date selection to show the current rate. Based on Airbnb's value rating of 4.8/5 across 939 reviews, most guests appear to feel the price is fair — if not cheap. 1
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Is it worth it
The honest answer is that the Yellow Submarine is not trying to be anything other than exactly what it is: a Beatles-themed fake submarine on a New Zealand sheep farm, run with a level of theatrical commitment that has earned near-perfect scores from nearly a thousand strangers. 1 You will not come here for the proximity to a beach. You will not come here because it was the practical option. You will come here specifically because you want to spend a night inside a yellow submarine in a paddock and explain to no one in particular which Cold War scenario you're roleplay-adopting before bed.
That's a very niche thing to want. Apparently, 939 people have wanted it.
Cover image: AI-generated illustration
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