If you’re looking for some temporary escape from the 9-to-5 and a change from staring at the brick walls of your house in the ’burbs, then a getaway to the wilderness might literally be the breath of fresh air you need!
Here are several ways you can go about finding the freedom, in an eco-friendly way …
Nestled within the hills of Tasmania’s Bruny Island, this beautiful cabin is completely off-grid. Surrounded by 99 acres of conservation forest and the ocean nearby, there’s an abundance of wildlife and some brilliant stargazing to be had at night.
The cabin itself is just 28m2 and was designed by Maguire and Devine Architects with a deliberately minimalist interior – there’s no loose furniture to detract from its simplicity and the soft, honeyed timbers mean it’s designed for bare feet or socks only.
There’s a modern bathroom and a king sized bed accessed via a wooden stepladder up to the loft. There’s also a sunken bathtub on one of the decks, and a ‘morning deck’ to enjoy breakfast in the sunshine.
As the cabin is away from mains services, water and power are limited, but there’s sufficient for normal daily use during guests’ stay, and wood is provided for use in the wood-fired baker oven.
The remote setting amongst the eucalyptus trees is so wild that you’ll feel a million miles away from civilisation. Enjoy the tranquillity that’s enforced by having no television, just the view of nature from the large windows.
If sustainability is at the top of your priority list, then this website will provide you with a huge range of options, located all around the country. It’s Australia’s first eco accommodation directory, and it’s not-for-profit, so you can feel confident that they’re the real deal and don’t have a specific agenda to push.
The simple but pure aim of Green Getaways is to promote and encourage ecotourism and sustainable environmental practices in Australian accommodation.
The properties they’ve listed are taking steps towards making tourism accommodation more sustainable, whether that be water or energy conservation, recycling, or reducing the consumption of natural resources through bulk amenities and eco friendly cleaning.
Green Getaways has done all the hard yards for you, so you can rest easy knowing that any accommodation you select is making a genuine effort to minimise its environmental impact.
The unique places they’ve found all have high standards, passionate owners and of course, respect for the environment and ecotourism as the key criteria.
You can even search for accommodation by your ‘travel style’ – choose from Glamping, Romantic Escapes, Treehouses, Walking Holidays, Eco Resorts, Luxury Cottages, Backpacker Hostels, Green Hotels, Wellness, Green Conferences, Farm Stays and Beach Stay.
Unyoked is a company that provide private cabins in the wilderness, but they’re not ‘glamping’. Think camp vibes rather than a chocolate on your pillow. Mud on your shoes and maybe seeing a spider or a snake around somewhere. It’s like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but without the hassle.
They currently have six cabins in New South Wales and six cabins in Victoria, all of which are a two-hour drive or less from the capital city.
The tagline for Unyoked is ‘minimum footprint, maximum chill’ so all their hideouts are handcrafted with local, sustainable materials and built to be 100% off the grid. They even capture and filter rainwater (totally safe to drink, but it might just taste different to what you’re used to) and have a composting toilet (similar to your one at home except there’s no flush but they’re odourless).
Unyoked cabins are designed to help guests disconnect in the wilderness and get some adventure in their day-to-day, and come with their own supply of board games, yoga mats, books and firewood!
Now go and wander for a while …
