This tiny home in the Hunter Valley was the definition of a true escape. The drive in takes you along winding country roads with not much else in sight for a good while—just the steady shift into stillness and space.

I live full-time off-grid in my van, but this was a whole new level of unplugged. No reception. No distractions. Just birdsong, fresh air, and the occasional kangaroo or cow peeking in through the window to say hello.

You’re free to roam the property at your own pace—just know you may be tailed by two very curious donkeys. When I bumped into Chris, one of the owners, we ended up chatting about how the property came to life, the pigs, and a surprise batch of piglets (a happy little accident, apparently). He pointed me toward the river, and I secretly hoped the donkeys would guide me there too.

Each day had its own rhythm: quiet mornings spent hanging out with the highland cows, lazy afternoons wandering through national park trails, and the occasional cheeky stop at a local winery. Evenings were for lighting the fire, sinking into stillness, and soaking up the kind of peace you don’t often get in daily life.

No noise. No signal. No pressure. Just unplugged, unfiltered goodness.