The best way to get offline? Escape to the country. No Wi-Fi and no phone service; these secluded rural retreats take you off the grid and into a more relaxing, rejuvenating holiday.
Jun 2024 -
4
min readSleep in one of Unyoked’s tiny cabins in the wilderness
When you have to fill out a questionnaire to find the ‘right’ kind of nature to suit you, you know this is going to be a one-of-a-kind getaway. Unyoked’s tiny solar-powered cabins built for two are dotted in secret spots across the state and have been designed with the scientific benefits of escaping to nature in mind. With a small hike to get to some of the cabins, it’s an expedition before you even arrive. But it will be worth the journey, with a luxurious bed, premium bedding, cooking equipment, bush walks and, depending on the cabin, yoga mats and a mini book library to keep you occupied.
Switch off: Make the most out of your off-grid trip and choose a cabin without reception – Sufjan or Roscoe in Gloucester Tops or Heike in the Lower Hunter.
Group of friends enjoying the outdoors, Unyoked - Credit: @emily_marie
Have a glamping adventure at Myall River Camp
Just an hour’s drive from Newcastle, and sitting between a river and beach near the Myall Lakes National Park, Myall River Camp is a secluded nature retreat where you can do as much – fishing, cycling, bushwalking and boating – or as little as you want. Choose a spacious canvas and timber-clad safari-style glamping tent with its own verandah and four-poster bed, or book into one of their sustainably built tiny houses, complete with en suite bathrooms, outdoor firepits and stylish interiors with vintage furniture.
Switch off: The surrounding waters give you the ultimate digital detox. Swim, kayak or paddleboard in the Myall River (the tea tree oil in the water from nearby trees is said to rejuvenate skin and hair), look out for the river’s resident dolphins or go birdwatching in the mangroves.
Myall River Camp, Hawks Nest - Credit: Sue Stubbs
Go offline at regenerative farm Kestrel Nest EcoHut in the Snowy Valleys
Nestled in rolling farmland just a short drive from Tumut, Kestrel Nest EcoHut is the perfect escape for families wanting a screen-free stay. Created with recycled tin and timber by husband-and-wife team David and Louise, the hut features a deluxe queen bed, a bunk bed for the kids, and either lamb-dotted farmland or rugged wilderness in every direction. Relax in the outdoor bath on the wraparound verandah, stargaze in the hammock, toast marshmallows in the fire pit, go birdwatching on the protected bush trails, and take a dip in the picturesque creek.
Switch off: David and Louise can organise a tour to connect you deeper with the land that surrounds you. Book into the Farming With Habitat Tour to understand life on a sustainable farm, or try the Bird Watching Tour and try to spot the 141 species that have been sighted in the area.
The outdoor bath at
Cosy up in your own private igloo at Hideaway Domes
While you won’t be surrounded by snow in this igloo, the stunning solar-powered Hideaway Domes surround guests in a different but equally breathtaking scene: 1000 acres of native bushland tucked away on a working beef and sheep farm in Mudgee. Your dome has all the comforts of a deluxe cabin – queen bed, linen, indoor fireplace, kitchenette and en suite – and the transparent bay window and roof windows allow you to stargaze right from your bed. Go for hikes in the day and at dusk, settle by the firepit and spot the wedge-tailed eagles, kangaroos and echidnas coming out to play.
Switch off: Arrange a visit to the nearby Mudgee Observatory to learn more about the celestial sea above you.
Hideaway Domes, Mudgee
Step back in time at the Seal Rocks Lighthouse Cottages
Built in 1875, under the beams of Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse, Seal Rocks Lighthouse Cottages are a trio of sweet heritage bungalows that offer uninterrupted ocean views. Walk down to the ironically sandy beaches, or venture further afield exploring the walking tracks and secluded beaches of Myall Lakes National Park. Besides whales, keep an eye out for pods of dolphins, eagles and if you’re lucky, maybe a seal. Each cottage has room for between six and eight guests, plus plenty of living space and gardens, so a whole family or group of friends can relax and unwind while still having their own space.
Switch off: Connect to the spiritual side of the land and visit the Dark Point Aboriginal Place also in Myall Lakes National Park, where nuras, or clan groups, within the Worimi People would gather for ceremonies and feasts.
Seal Rocks Lighthouse Cottages, Seal Rocks - Credit: Seal Rocks Lighthouse Cottages
Go wild at Tanja Lagoon Camp
Tanja Lagoon Camp's eco-luxe accommodation is on the edge of a wild coastal lagoon just a short drive from Tathra on the sparkly Sapphire Coast. The safari-style tents sleep two and feature fully equipped kitchens, en suites and minimal separation from the sights and sounds of the natural environment. Or bring the family and nestle into one of the spacious, light-filled eco-cabins. Use of the camp’s kayaks and canoes is included so you can spend your days paddling around the lagoon’s island and beaches or just peacefully float around like the local pelicans and swans.
Switch off: Forget your phone and pack your binoculars. Not only will you spot an array of native mammals, reptiles and birds, if the season is right you’ll spy humpback whales as they migrate along the coast.
Tanja Lagoon Camp, Tanja
Find a galaxy far, far away at Dark Sky Eco Resort
Located right on the doorstep of the Warrumbungles, renowned for its clear night skies and epic stargazing, Dark Sky Eco Resort is a fully off-grid lodge on a private emu farm near Coonabarabran. Inside the generously sized yurt-shaped lodge you’ll find everything you need to unwind, including a fireplace, hot tub, and catering options from a simple three-course meal package to Tibuc Gardens Café curating a private menu plus drinks. And while Wi-Fi and Telstra phone boosters are available you won’t need to turn them on as the 184-acre property is yours to explore by foot or golf cart, and you even have your own private observatory to use at night.
Switch off: Join the guided emu safari to meet 90 of these big birds or take a tour to the Siding Spring Observatory to see the planets through an 11-inch telescope.
Dark Sky Eco Park, Coonabarabran - Credit: Dark Sky Eco Park
Kick back in the Riverina
The striking A-frame eco huts on the hilltops at Kimo Estate are visually striking, luxurious and private. Just the spot for a liberating break from your everyday world. If you’re feeling energetic, you can explore this working Riverina farm, a four-hour drive southwest of Sydney, on horseback, learn a new skill such as basket weaving or wool felting, or even jump in a helicopter and drop in on a couple of Tumbarumba wineries. Just make sure you leave plenty of time for relaxing.
Switch off: Take in the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside in the wood-fired hot tub.
Kimo Estate, Gundagai - Credit: Matt Beaver
A stylish escape among an alpine landscape at Mill Cabin
Just a 15-minute drive from Jindabyne, cosy Mill Cabin in the Snowy Mountains looks like a quaint old stockman’s hut from the outside, but inside it has all the little luxuries of a lovingly curated modern home – toiletries by Hunter Lab, Cultivar robes and bed linen, a well-appointed kitchen and a bookshelf stuffed to the brim with books and board games so you won’t notice the absence of TV or Wi-Fi. A stay here is as much about getting cosy and slowing down as it is about exploring the undisturbed remote area. With views out to snow-capped Mount Perisher, you’re close to ski fields, hiking trails and natural swim spots on the Thredbo river and Lake Jindabyne.
Switch off: Explore the mountain landscape by foot and embark on the Snowies Alpine Walk, which follows the breathtaking Snowy River Valley from Guthega to Charlotte Pass.
Mill Cabin, Jindabyne
Try something new with your family at Mirumiru Bubble Tent
Make new memories with your brood on a stay at Mirumiru Bubble Tent on a private farm just outside of Tenterfield in the New England high country, where a family-friendly bubble tent campsite includes a tent suspended between two trees that kids will adore. Enjoy mesmerising Milky Way views from your bed in the site’s main bubble tent for two, Captain Thunderbolt. Also named for a bushranger and sleeping two, the Captain Moonlite bubble room is similarly positioned to maximise privacy and the relaxing rural panorama. Ease into a restorative soak in your tent’s vintage outdoor tub after an invigorating day out exploring Bald Rock National Park.
Switch off: Enjoy sundowners on your deck and toasting marshmallows over the campfire, before enjoying a dazzling night’s sleep under a blanket of stars – each tent is completely transparent.
Mirumiru Bubbletent, Tenterfield - Credit: Life Unhurried
Bliss out under sparkling skies at Faraway Domes
Revel in the luxury and solitude of a stay at Faraway Domes, a pair of light-filled geodesic dome rooms on raised decks overlooking the rugged Country NSW landscape, around two hours west of Glen Innes. Venture out by day to explore the region, or simply seize the opportunity to laze on your four-poster king bed, enjoy a luxuriously long soak in the outdoor bath and linger over romantic dinners on your deck under a sparkling canopy of stars, with each tent privately situated on the 3,642-hectare property.
Switch off: Order a cheese and wine hamper (and bring a good book) to accompany your outdoor bath.
