Timber Top Lodge - unwind in a forest retreat

Cabin in Tanjil Bren, Gippsland, VIC, AU

100% Recommended•

6 people

Pet-friendly

Timber Top Lodge is a cosy, rustic, off-grid forest retreat, located in the sleepy village of Tanjil Bren. It's two and a half hours east of Melbourne and 20 minutes from Mt Baw Baw Ski Village. The cabin offers the perfect place to kick back and relax, or a comfy base if you want to get out and explore.

The lodge is a two-story A-frame cabin which sleeps up to 6 people. There are two bedrooms with queen-sized beds and a spacious loft area with two single beds and plenty of space for children to play or for adults to relax. There's an outdoor deck area with a barbecue and chiminea, for alfresco dining overlooking the native ferns and eucalyptus trees in our expansive backyard. Downstairs is a modern bathroom with a walk-in shower and a Japanese soaking tub, where you can soak in essential oil scented bath salts, light some candles and gaze out of the large skylight. In warmer months, spend the day out on the deck with the native birds or relax on hammocks in our beautiful native garden. When it is chilly, cozy up inside with the log fire burning, playing boardgames, reading books or watching classic movies.

We are dog friendly, but unfortunately, due to small mammals in the area, we do not host cats.

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Features and Amenities

3 bedrooms

4 beds

1 bathroom

Bath

BBQ

Hammock

Details

Check in after 2:00pm
Check out before 11:00am
Weekday minimum booking: 2 nights
Weekend minimum booking: 2 nights

Cancellation Policy:

Receive a 50% refund of the total booking amount (minus service fee) up until 1 week prior to check-in.

Additional Information

Off-grid
⤑ Timber Top Lodge is off-grid, solar powered and has good battery capacity.
⤑ You can charge a mobile phones and laptops (preferably during the day in winter) but you cannot bring your own electric appliances e.g. hairdryers, heaters, electric-cookers.
⤑ LPG gas is provided for the stove, oven and hot water
⤑ There is limited phone reception available depending on your network
⤑ You can switch off and disconnect if you choose, or the cabin has internet if you wish to stay connected.

Things to bring
⤑ Food supplies (we supply the basics and some extras and provide items such as tea, coffee, milo, oil, spices, sauces).
⤑ If you are going skiing at Baw Baw, you must carry snow chains. - they can be hired from Tanjil Bren Snow Chain Hire. You do not need them to get to Tanjil Bren.

Dogs
⤑ Please contact us if you wish to bring your dog. There are specific wildlife considerations that need to be discussed.
⤑ Sorry, but we do not permit cats.

The local area
Tanjil Bren is a very small off -grid community, with no shops or cafes.
⤑ The recreation reserve has a barbecue area
⤑ Tanjil Bren is nestled in State Forest and home to a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.
⤑ Take a walk around the Tanjil Bren loop (Scottys track and Tramline road) which passes by Tramway Falls

Wood fire:
Timber Top Lodge is heated by a wood heater. We provide firewood and kindling to warm the cabin. If you would like to use the outdoor chiminea, we ask that you bring some wood for this. There is a fire screen for your safety and heat proof gloves.

Essentials
Our kitchen is well stocked with a variety of kitchen essentials and more. Our bathroom contains luxury ENA soap, hand-cream, shampoo and conditioner, scented room sprays, as well as essential oil infused epsom salts for the Japanese bath. We also provide bird seed to feed the local parrots.

BBQ/ Deck
⤑ We have an expansive deck with an outdoor setting and a huge umbrella. There is a gas heater and a chiminea as well as a bbq. We ask that guests leave the bbq as clean as they found it. We supply lots of bbq cleaning products. If the bbq is left dirty by guests, a cleaning fee of $25 will be charged to cover additional cleaning costs.

Things to consider
⤑ The stairs are fairly steep and may not be accessible for people with mobility issues. Guests with very young children will also need to take care. There is a gate at the top of the stairs, but not at the bottom.
⤑ Please note that the property has a CCTV camera at the front door, which helps us monitor our firewood supply and confirm that guests checking in match the booking, as well as ensure everyone arrives safely. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

⤑ Unfortunately, we cannot offer Saturday checkouts.

Prices

Base Price $290 / night
Weekend Price $325 / night
Security Deposit $250
Extra People $20 (adult) and $12 (child) / night after 2 people
Maximum Pets 2 pets
Discounts
15% discount for bookings of 5 nights or longer
20% discount for bookings of 7 nights or longer

Finding fulfillment

Based on traveller reviews, these are the top fulfilling moments experienced while staying here. Learn more

Peacefulness

Slowness

Unplugged

Reviews (52)

100% Recommended

Dan

23 Oct 2026

There's a deep part of me that doesn't want to leave this review...for fear of anyone/EVERYONE else discovering: a) where Tanjil Bren is, and b) Timber Top Lodge. But I can't NOT leave this review!
Fu...ll transparency, I'd been to Tanjil Bren before. I KNEW how absolutely stunning it was in the middle of some of Victoria's best cold climate rainforest. But I'd forgotten the impact Tanjil Bren has on your mind, body and soul.
This somewhat considered, we booked a two-night stay at Timber Top Lodge and the weather took a fortuitous turn for cold and rain. And here we were, thinking we'd missed the opportunity for a cosy weekend escape with wood fire accompaniment as Victorian Winter turned to Spring.
The drive up is a windy one at any time of year, but made all the better with windows down and fresh, lush forest air filling your lungs. Especially after a good rain.
Instructions provided and communication in general with Giselle and Michael were immediately easy and friendly. And everything at Timber Top Lodge absolutely matched this friendly ease.
It's SUCH a gorgeous lodge, generously provisioned with all of the things that you probably brought with you for the getaway - but are plentiful in the kitchen: spices, herbs, sauces, oils, cooking utensils, pots and pans, fantastic crockery. Puzzles and board games. books to make you fantasise about your own escape to a compact but well appointed near off-grid haven.
Lush bath, shower and bathroom supplies and a tub with a window above so you can see the night sky. No light pollution = STARS.
The sleeping quarters (x2 bedrooms upstairs with QS beds and two single beds in the upstairs/loft space) were super cosy, simple and clean. Comfy mattresses. Oh, and hang on - HOW'S THE VIEW OUT BOTH BEDROOM WINDOWS?!?
Stunning views out to misty, foggy forest.
The deck - even in rainy, cold weather - is an absolutely convenient, well-sized and perfect extension to the dining/living downstairs.
If you leave Timber Top Lodge and your central nervous system hasn't completely reset to a state of near Zen, I would suggest that you have this place confused with somewhere else you once stayed, or perhaps need to come back again. Thanks again to the hosts for making their gorgeous retreat available for others to enjoy. x

Rejuvenation

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Eden

12 Oct 2026

We had the best weekend at the timber lodge, such beautiful home. We didn’t want to leave

Ankit

5 Oct 2026

Giselle & Michael have created this amazing escape which is simply beautiful and intimate. We were there for about 5 nights and was exactly what our little family needed. The communication and instructions provided made our stay very comfortable and hassle free. We will be back again.

Joy

Freedom

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Rejuvenation

Self-discovery

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Host

Giselle & Michael

Phone Verified

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

1Listings

Giselle & Michael live in Pascoe Vale South with their two beautiful daughters Myla and Freya, and their Aussie Shepherd Chilli and cat Nacho. They love to travel and experience different cultures, places, and people. As lovers of nature, they are proud and grateful to be able to host guests at Timber Top Lodge.

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Adventures on the Property

These are the exclusive natural wonders and outdoor activities within the property boundaries.

Take An Ofuro Japanese Bath

A real feature of the property, the Japanese bath with huge window above and timber surrounds is such a rejuvenating soak. Add your choice of bath salts to up the relax factor even more.

Befriend The Wild Birds

An expansive decking outside the lounge room looks out into the forest where you can meet the local wild birds and feed them straight from your hands.

Location

The map shows the listing location and awesome adventures nearby.

Listing location

Adventures nearby

Adventures Nearby

Here are some details about the adventures nearby. Refer to the map for their location.

Tramway Walk Track

Walk to the top of the hill, past the water tanks and down onto Tramway Walk. This is a beautiful, easy walk which takes you to the Tramway Falls (4kms away). For the full adventure, you can continue walking the 12 km loop back into town.

Walk The Timber Tramline

Continue along Scotty's track from the sleepy village of Tanjil Bren, and you'll find an easy walkway that follows the old timber tramline from yesteryear. Wander through beautiful forest and take in the sounds and smells of nature surrounding you.

Photo 1 for Explore where Tanjil rivers run

Photo 2 for Explore where Tanjil rivers run

Explore Where Tanjil Rivers Run

Explore the surrounding flowing rivers and wild-as-they-come tree fern forests. Get lost in the lush greeness of it.

Tramway Falls

Tramway Falls are located near Tanjil Bren and are sourced from the Tanjil River. They are accessed by a 1.2km walk from the road and it is a flat walking track. There are three lovely waterfalls within a short distance of each other.

Swim Or Explore At Tanjil River West Branch

Check out Tanjil River West Branch for swim. It's a 2 minute drive from the cabin (Less than 2kms). Look for the Tanjil River West Branch sign and it's a short drive up the track. Make sure you bring the insect repellant with you!

Mt Baw Baw

A 20 minute drive through the beautiful alpine region. Visit the mountain dingos, take one of the walks amongst the curly snow gums, hang out at the cafe or if it's winter get out for a ski or toboggan but be sure to hire some snow chains in Tanjil Bren