Tiny homes are my offset to fast-paced life in the city. Nothing thrills me more than packing up the car on a Friday afternoon and hitting the road to a tiny haven hidden away in the NSW countryside. Truly.
Thankfully, the tiny homes NSW offers are abundant and varying. From popular Unyoked tiny houses scattered across the state to a recently opened architectural tiny home complete with a steamy outdoor hot tub, these compact, cosy cabins are the perfect place for rest and rejuvenation.
Whether you’re looking for a luxurious Blue Mountains getaway surrounded by bushland or a pleasant bolthole to retire to after a day of cellar door hopping on a weekend in Orange, these NSW tiny homes are my personal pick. Be sure to pack a bottle of wine, some artisanal snacks and a good book (and put your phone on flight mode).
Here are the best NSW tiny homes to book for a cosy winter escape in 2024.
Best rural tiny home: Gilay Estate
Quirindi, NSW
Arriving at this NSW tiny home at dusk to find the wood-fired hot tub already lit and steaming is how I wish to begin all future weekend escapes. Add the perfectly chilled 2008 cool-climate sparkling, the spectacular outlook over Liverpool Plains and stars emerging in the dusty pink sky, and my stay at the recently opened Gilay Estate is off to an exceptional start.
Run by husband-and-wife team Sandy and Alexandra Rogers, Gilay Estate is a striking tiny home on their family farm in Quirindi, NSW. It has been three years in the making, with every detail accounted for and brilliantly executed — think custom fire-cooking tools and Gozney pizza oven; Hunter Lab bathroom products; custom linen robes; Monopoly and Scrabble board games; and a ready-to-light indoor potbelly fireplace.
Designed by local architect Cameron Anderson, the chic tiny home boasts a geometric exterior frame of blackened wood and corrugated iron surrounded by freshly planted landscaped gardens. Stone steps lead you from the back deck to the circular outdoor tub to the right or the inviting fire pit to the left, decked out with cooking equipment and two chairs.
Inside, the warm timber interior exudes understated luxury. The cleverly placed windows and sliding glass doors take full advantage of the stunning bucolic surrounds while the plush king-sized bed, tucked in a cosy nook, entices with its designer linens.
You’ll want to spend your entire weekend cosied up at Gilay Estate, drinking wine, reading books and soaking up the scenery. But for those wanting to explore the area, Murrurundi offers a couple of good cafés, a gin distillery and local art gallery while Graze at Willow Tree Inn serves up great steaks and gastropub fare.
Best tiny homes across NSW: Unyoked
Multiple NSW locations
Unyoked boasts 70-plus tiny cabins across Australia, each located on private land, purposefully positioned away from the sights and sounds of civilisation. They are all solar-powered and self-sufficient and a salve for our busy, tech-fuelled lives.
Unyoked’s NSW tiny homes fleet includes Roscoe, one of the brand’s “spicy” cabins. It’s a steep, ten-minute walk from the parking spot, adding to the thrill of isolation. Inside, it’s compact but has everything you could need; the kitchen stops at the side of the bed, and the bed substitutes for a lounge room, framed by two large windows; an invisible wall so clear you feel you could reach out and touch the mountaintops. The bathroom features another set of perfectly placed windows, their captivating views artfully balanced by the sleek and spacious shower.
Other notable Unyoked tiny homes in NSW include Illawarra’s Jojo set deep in a lush pine forest; Pana, complete with a wood-fired outdoor bath and situated an hour west of Byron Bay; and the premium, Matthew McConaughey-approved Reserve cabin in the Central Coast hinterland.
Best luxe tiny home: Chalets at Blackheath
Blue Mountains, NSW
Award-winning Blue Mountains tiny home outfit Chalets at Blackheath caters to the wild at heart and their every whim. Champagne on arrival, sunrise yoga sessions, in-room massages and direct access to walking trails — whatever your holiday wish, Chalets exceeds it.
With just four beautifully appointed tiny homes, this luxury accommodation is an intimate affair located at the highest point of the Blue Mountains, perched above one million hectares of wilderness. Tucked away from each other, and seemingly the world, each chalet is surrounded by trees; burnt Eucalupt trunks, stoic reminders of past bushfires, and verdant gum saplings bursting from the soil in celebration thanks to the resort’s robust regeneration program.
Hues of blackened wood, dusty pink rammed earth, honeyed timber, and stone accents make each lodge feel like an extension of the land. Add the large floor-to-ceiling windows that blend the natural sprawl with cosy interior, and you might even spot a wallaby wandering at dusk while curled up by the fire.
The double-headed shower is spacious and curved, while the generous tub comes armed with heavenly-scented Epsom salts and an outlook to the surrounding scrub and stars. The plush king bed, attentive yet easygoing staff, locally baked goods at breakfast, and outdoor fire pit prepped with marshmallows for toasting are appreciated flourishes to the effortless splendour of Chalets at Blackheath.
Bath inside one of Basalt’s luxury studios, Orange. Credit Pip Farqharson
Best wine region tiny home: Basalt
Orange, NSW
Basalt is a cosy haven to escape to when exploring the Orange region. The luxury tiny house accommodation boasts three beautifully appointed lodges situated on a family-run cherry orchard, complete with potbelly indoor fireplaces, large standing stone baths and views overlooking Canobolas.
Each architectural tiny home structure takes advantage of its stunning surroundings thanks to the large floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors and cleverly positioned windows. Inside, you’ll find an open-plan studio featuring a plush king bed covered in luxe linens, a sleek kitchenette, and a deep oval bath with an impressive outlook over the orchard. And after a day of cellar door-hopping around the region, there’s no better place to sip your spoils than by your own roaring outdoor fire at dusk.
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