15 of NSW’s loveliest tiny houses for your next holiday

Gilay Estate

Location: Quirindi 

Distance from Sydney: 4hr 30min (361km) 

Amenities: Woodfired hot tub, pizza oven, fire pit, wood stove, high speed Wi-Fi 

Why book here: With its angular roofline and minimalist design, Gilay Estate is a lovely contrast with the stunning natural landscape of Quirindi in the Tamworth region. Every detail of the cabin was designed with luxury in mind: the outdoor sunken hot tub, the pair of Togo armchairs in front of the wood stove and the welcoming bed in front of enormous windows that frame seemingly endless views of the countryside. There are two options here: immerse yourself in relaxation at the estate, or explore the nearby area. Tuck into breakfast at the charming Goonoo Goonoo Restaurant, sample Hunter Belle’s local cheese offering and visit Hollydene Estate's cellar door all before picking up beautifully marbled Colly Creek Pastoral Company steaks at Hanna Pastoral Butcher to cook back at the cabin.

Gilay Estate, Quirindi - Credit: Morning Swim Studio | Gilay Estate

Tiny Nancy

Location: Bellingen 

Distance from Sydney: 5hr 50min (527km) 

Amenities: Barbecue, kitchenette, air-conditioning, firepit

Why book here: Levendale Farm is an idyllic farm stay. Expansive skies are the backdrop for cattle grazing the pretty green hills, the dam is dotted with flowering lilypads and Never Never Creek flows across the property. The certified organic farm has a handful of different accommodation types from off-grid huts and glamping tents to the luxe Tiny Nancy. High on a hill away from the action, the tiny house is hugged by rainforest on one side and beautiful views on the other. Spend your day reading in bed next to a picture window offering forest views, open a bottle of wine by the firepit in the evening or go exploring in Bellingen. Join the locals at the Federal Hotel Bellingen or tuck into woodfired pizza, lager or organic wine at Bellingen Brewery. 

Into The Wild Escapes - Tiny Nancy, Bellingen - Credit: Into The Wild Escapes

Wildernest T2 Tiny House

Location: Southern Highlands 

Distance from Sydney: 2hr 16min (163km) 

Amenities: Kitchen, firepit, barbecue, firewood, heating 

Why book here: With a compact design and clever use of space, Wildernest T2 is the embodiment of small but mighty. Sink into the lush linen sheets on the queen-sized bed and take in the view from the bay window: your own personal grassy expanse with a firepit at the centre, all bordered by gumtrees between which you’ll catch glimpses of the rolling farmland beyond. Kangaroos, wombats and lyrebirds all frequent the property; the best place for wildlife spotting is the tiny home’s shady timber verandah.

Wildernest T2 Tiny House, Wingello - Credit: Abbie Melle

Tilba Lake House

Location: Tilba 

Distance from Sydney: 5hr 10min (368km) 

Amenities: Kitchenette, woodfired sauna, firepit

Why book here: The property that’s home to Tilba Lake House’s twin tiny homes is bucolic perfection. There are trellises supporting riots of wisteria, rolling hills of soft green grass and the azure waters of Lake Tilba Tilba in the distance. The tiny homes are cosy, each with a bed sitting on a high platform surrounded by windows framing a view of the lake, and a skylight for stargazing. Everything you need is on offer in both lovely spaces: a breakfast bar on the deck for morning coffee, Mystery Bay Beach and Tilba Tilba Lake just a few minutes’ drive away, a firepit for cosy evenings and the kind of never-ending skies that invite you to watch the clouds roll by for hours.

Tilba Lake House, Central Tilba - Credit: Tilba Lake House

The Hideaway at barranca Jervis Bay

Location: Jervis Bay 

Distance from Sydney: 2hr 40min (199km) 

Amenities: Full kitchen, smart TV, Wi-Fi 

Why book here: Tucked away in bushland that separates Currambene Creek and the crystal blue waters of Jervis Bay, The Hideaway at barranca Jervis Bay is a tranquil escape with adventure on the doorstep. Spend the morning in the oversized king bed, then head down the sandy path to Myola Beach to go paddleboarding, swimming, fishing or just to loll on the sand. Keen to explore farther afield? Drive five minutes to Callala Bay for dolphin spotting in the bay or to take a ferry ride to the quaint town of Huskisson.

The Hideaway at barranca Jervis Bay, Myola - Credit: Somethings Wild Creative

Butterfly Lane

Location: Mullumbimby 

Distance from Sydney: 8hr 5min (774km) 

Amenities: Kitchenette, air-conditioning, firepit, outdoor bath, Wi-Fi 

Why book here: Deep in Byron Bay’s verdant hinterland at the base of Mount Chincogan is Butterfly Lane, a luxurious tiny home stay. The off-grid experience is completely secluded but still offers all the luxuries of modern life, including super-fast Wi-Fi. With a bed, day bed and lounge each overlooking a view of lush trees and expanses of soft grass covering gently rolling hills, the mission at Butterfly Lane is clear: total relaxation.

Butterfly Lane, Mullumbimby - Credit: Luxury Nature Escape - Butterfly Lane

Myall River Camp

Location: Hawks Nest 

Distance from Sydney: 2hr 45min (231km) 

Amenities: Kitchenette 

Why book here: Set on the tranquil banks of the Myall River, the tiny eco-certified homes of Myall River Camp are comfortable and quirky, built by not-for-profit enterprise The Bower in Sydney. The facades are charmingly mismatched, made from found objects, and each room features cleverly repurposed items: a vintage State Theatre Co carry case becomes a kitchen cabinet, a colourful woven basket becomes a light fixture. While it’s nice to sit at the water’s edge and trail your toes in the stream, there’s also plenty to do at Myall Lakes National Park: four-wheel driving, sandboarding, surfing, kayaking and bushwalking.

Myall River Camp, Hawks Nest - Credit: Sue Stubbs

Bellingen Hideaway 

Location: Bellingen 

Distance from Sydney: 6hr 8min (543km) 

Amenities: Kitchenette, outdoor bath, air-conditioning and heat 

Why book here: Tucked deep in lush trees, Bellingen Hideaway feels like it’s a million kilometres from anywhere. The accommodation is rustic, built from a combination of modern and vintage materials. Outside on the deck there's a sunken soaker tub for two, and the bedroom is a true retreat, with large, reclaimed timber-framed windows on two walls offering views of the treetops from the bed. Black cockatoos, wallabies and echidnas will be your only visitors, or to get a feel for the local community, head to the Three Blue Ducks’ Bellingen outpost for cocktails and dinner with sweeping views of Dorrigo National Park.

Bellingen Hideaway, Bellingen - Credit: Michaela Taylor

Kimo Estate 

Location: Gundagai 

Distance from Sydney: 4hr 30min (386km) 

Amenities: Wood stove, private woodfired hot tub, external camp kitchenette, barbecue 

Why book here: Kimo Estate’s three off-the-grid cabins cut a striking figure against the rolling hills of Gundagai. Each A-frame structure is pared-back, with timber floors, floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the view, plus a woodfired hot tub on the deck. Set high on a hill overlooking the Murrumbidgee River flats and the mountains beyond, this 7,000-acre working farm is the ideal retreat for two. Explore the estate’s walking tracks during the day and at night, settle in on the deck for the kind of stargazing only the countryside can offer. Travelling with a bigger group? The property also has renovated 100-year-old workers cottages that sleep six to eight people.

Kimo Estate, Gundagai - Credi: Matt Beaver

Tiny Wombat 

Location: Dural 

Distance from Sydney: 1hr (38km) 

Amenities: Air-conditioning, outdoor hot tub 

Why book here: Dural's charming Tiny Wombat is a peaceful retreat surrounded by native flora and fauna. There are multiple sleeping options at the cosy cottage – bunk beds, a loft bed and a queen-sized bed – and the deck outside features a hot tub perfect for nighttime soaking and stargazing. Tiny Wombat is located in the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, so you can spend your time relaxing at the petite accommodation or book a wildlife tour to spot dingoes, native birds, reptiles and wombats. For groups of more than six, nearby Tiny Wallaby is also available for bookings.

Tiny Wombat, Dural - Credit: Danielle Nieuwendyk | Into The Wild Escapes

Stella

Location: Kangaroo Valley 

Distance from Sydney: 2hr 20min (153km) 

Amenities: Wood stove, firepit, kitchen, barbecue, air-conditioning 

Why book here: Built for a guest list of just two, the diminutive Stella in Kangaroo Valley sits on a gentle slope that overlooks green hills, gum trees and Cambewarra Mountain in the distance. The space is kitted out with all life’s simple pleasures: a wood stove to warm up cool nights, a firepit and a sunny deck to sit and have your morning coffee. The galley kitchen with valley views is a lovely place to prepare a meal, or head to nearby Hampden Deli for reuben sandwiches on rye, generously layered with corned beef and housemade sauerkraut; or rustic meat pies with puffed, golden crust.

Stella, Kangaroo Valley

Oakhill Glass House Cabins 

Location: Bathurst 

Distance from Sydney: 2hr 45min (203km) 

Amenities: Kitchenette, fire pit,woodfired hot tub 

Why book here: There aren’t many places in the world where you can sit up in bed bathed in a glorious sunrise. Oakhill Glass House Cabins in Bathurst offer just this experience, allowing guests to take in the morning sun as it peeks over the hills in the distance. There are two cabins available, with beds tucked in a glass-ceilinged sunroom that extends onto the tiny home’s deck, a platform fitted out with a woodfired hot tub. Although the serene escape will make you feel miles from civilisation, just 20 minutes down the road is Bathurst where you can have coffee at Crema on George, freshly churned scoops at Annie’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour or drive another 30 minutes to Rockley to visit celebrated chef Matt Moran’s The Rockley Pub for a meal. 

Oakhill Estate Glasshouse Cabins, Clear Creek - Credit: Oakhill Estate

The Silos Accommodation 

Location: Junee 

Distance from Sydney: 4hr 20min (420km) 

Amenities: Kitchenette; air-conditioning; wood stove; firepit; breakfast, dinner, drinks, snacks included; EV charger 

Why book here: Tall and narrow, The Silos at Junee are structured as multi-level studios where rest is the order of the day. Lounge in bed and take in the views through the enormous window, sink into the oversized armchair by the wood stove or settle in with a cheese platter and a good book on the deck. Bathing options are many: stay in and soak in the deep tub-for-two with its picture window views of the landscape, or head down the brick path to the woodfired hot tub for an al fresco dip.

The Silos Accommodation, Wantabadgery - Credit: Matt Beaver Photography

Robyne's River Retreat

Location: Tumut 

Distance from Sydney: 4hr 50min (421km) 

Amenities: Outdoor tub, barbecue, full kitchen, firepit 

Why book here: From the outdoor bathtub at Robyne's River Retreat you can watch the gently flowing Goobarragandra River just beyond the deck railing. With two bedrooms and a full kitchen, the retreat is a touch larger than the average tiny home. Use the picturesque, working cattle and sheep farm as your base for easy daytime exploration. Visit Tumut to have lunch at Riverside Cafe Tumut, The Coffee Pedaler, or the pretty Tumut River Walk is practically at your doorstep. Strike out to see the lush wetlands, try your hand at fishing and catch a local trout for dinner.

Robyne's River Retreat, Goobarragandra - Credit: Robyne's River Retreat