Story by Ellie
Tiny House Surrounded by Snow Gums
Adventure in Moonbah, Snowy Mountains, NSW, AU
Sometimes life chews you up and spits you out again… and then it stomps you into the dust for added effect. The city traffic, the work politics and the global heartache weigh you down until you begin to question your life decisions.
Well my friends, I’ve found the ultimate antidote to the worn down, stressed-out folks amongst us.
Big Yard Escapes has two exquisite tiny houses nestled amongst a farmland property filled with snow gums, kangaroos and gentle birdsong.
We stayed in the larger of the two houses, aptly named “Wilderness”. With a large glass window looking out into the bushland, you almost feel like you’re actually sitting outside - just minus the creepy crawlies with a comfy, snuggly bed.
I was sick the whole weekend, but the ultimate antidote of a steaming hot cuppa tea, snuggling up with a woolly blanket and being able to be still and watch the kangaroos hop through the snow gum grove and listen to the birdlife sing their days away, fixed me right up.
This completely off-grid Tiny House uses solar power, bottled gas and river water stored in tanks. There’s even a self-composting toilet from Scandinavia - fancy!
In case the solar runs low, there’s also a generator which will kick into action to make sure you’re not caught out. The accommodation has absolutely everything you need; fully furnished for relaxation and snuggling, including a range of kitchen supplies as well.
With a little table and chairs, and a campfire pit out front, we cracked ourselves a whiskey and sipped away while watching the clear alpine skies dance above us.
As a busy Sydney couple, this was perfect for us to get out of our day-to-day. And, a big bonus was the lack of phone reception - complete disconnection!
A bonus, however, is the property’s proximity to Jindabyne (only tens minutes drive away!), where cafes, pubs, and cute little shops are everywhere.
If you go in winter, you’re no more than 45 minutes drive away from the ski fields, and if you choose summer as we did… no crowds!!
Well my friends, I’ve found the ultimate antidote to the worn down, stressed-out folks amongst us.
Big Yard Escapes has two exquisite tiny houses nestled amongst a farmland property filled with snow gums, kangaroos and gentle birdsong.
We stayed in the larger of the two houses, aptly named “Wilderness”. With a large glass window looking out into the bushland, you almost feel like you’re actually sitting outside - just minus the creepy crawlies with a comfy, snuggly bed.
I was sick the whole weekend, but the ultimate antidote of a steaming hot cuppa tea, snuggling up with a woolly blanket and being able to be still and watch the kangaroos hop through the snow gum grove and listen to the birdlife sing their days away, fixed me right up.
This completely off-grid Tiny House uses solar power, bottled gas and river water stored in tanks. There’s even a self-composting toilet from Scandinavia - fancy!
In case the solar runs low, there’s also a generator which will kick into action to make sure you’re not caught out. The accommodation has absolutely everything you need; fully furnished for relaxation and snuggling, including a range of kitchen supplies as well.
With a little table and chairs, and a campfire pit out front, we cracked ourselves a whiskey and sipped away while watching the clear alpine skies dance above us.
As a busy Sydney couple, this was perfect for us to get out of our day-to-day. And, a big bonus was the lack of phone reception - complete disconnection!
A bonus, however, is the property’s proximity to Jindabyne (only tens minutes drive away!), where cafes, pubs, and cute little shops are everywhere.
If you go in winter, you’re no more than 45 minutes drive away from the ski fields, and if you choose summer as we did… no crowds!!
Where We Stayed
Tiny house in Moonbah, Snowy Mountains, NSW, AU
100% Recommended•
2 people
No pets
Features and Amenities
1 bedroom
1 bed
1 bathroom
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchen
Details
- Check in after 3:00pmCheck out before 10:00am
- Weekday minimum booking: 1 nightWeekend minimum booking: 2 nights
Cancellation Policy:
Receive a full refund (minus service fee) up until 1 week prior to check-in.
Learn More
For more information about Big Yard Escapes – Off-grid Tiny House, Wilderness, check out the listing or ask the host a question.
Things We Did
- Hike
- Scenic Drive
- Café
- River
- Farm
- Pub
- Distillery
Part of the iconic Main Range track, this hike up to Blue Lake is a great way to check out some alpine terrain without getting too gnarly. A comfortable 3-4 hour return hike, along a track that's paved 80% of the way, this is the perfect weekend hike to stretch your legs!
Around May to October, this track will likely be snow-covered, so make sure you only attempt the walk if you're experienced walking in the snow, or have someone with you who is.
Make sure you use the toilet before you go as there's not much tree coverage to pop a squat, and also ensure you take a couple of litres of water each as it can get quite hot in summer - even though you might still be hiking through the snow!
Around May to October, this track will likely be snow-covered, so make sure you only attempt the walk if you're experienced walking in the snow, or have someone with you who is.
Make sure you use the toilet before you go as there's not much tree coverage to pop a squat, and also ensure you take a couple of litres of water each as it can get quite hot in summer - even though you might still be hiking through the snow!
A great walk will a calf-burning climb at the beginning, passing through spooky snow gums and at the right times of the year, a stunning array of Australian native wildflowers.
Weaving through Thredbo's high alpine country, this hike can be hiked as a one-way from Dead Horse Gap to Thredbo's Kosciuszko Express chairlift, or you can walk a full loop back to Dead Horse Gap via the Thredbo River Track which hugs the glorious, bubbling river.
It takes a couple of hours to get to Thredbo chairlift, but to speed up the loop, you can always catch the chairlift down to the valley floor and hike back from there. Or you could do what we did and use that saved time to stop off for a beer at Eagles Nest who proudly tell you that they're "Australia's Highest Restaurant".
Weaving through Thredbo's high alpine country, this hike can be hiked as a one-way from Dead Horse Gap to Thredbo's Kosciuszko Express chairlift, or you can walk a full loop back to Dead Horse Gap via the Thredbo River Track which hugs the glorious, bubbling river.
It takes a couple of hours to get to Thredbo chairlift, but to speed up the loop, you can always catch the chairlift down to the valley floor and hike back from there. Or you could do what we did and use that saved time to stop off for a beer at Eagles Nest who proudly tell you that they're "Australia's Highest Restaurant".
If you're in the mood to do some drive-by sightseeing, check out Alpine Way. It'll take you through some absolutely stunning scenery.
Right at the end, you'll find a sweet little campground called "Tom Groggin campground" which is a popular but spacious place to set up your tent, with a clean little river running through it.
Right at the end, you'll find a sweet little campground called "Tom Groggin campground" which is a popular but spacious place to set up your tent, with a clean little river running through it.
A cafe to rival any fancy city cafes! Birchwood is an excellent cafe off the main drag in Jindy that offers AMAZING coffee, and second-to-none breakfasts with great veggie options.
Highly recommend the avo on sourdough which has this exquisite coconut sambal that POPS!
Highly recommend the avo on sourdough which has this exquisite coconut sambal that POPS!
On Big Yard Escapes property itself, there's a beautiful river only ten minutes walk down the hill.
The owner of the property, Craig, told us that upstream there's a deep waterhole. The contours of the land and some cattle tracks will try to take you downstream too far, so veer left and go and find that waterhole that he told us about!
The owner of the property, Craig, told us that upstream there's a deep waterhole. The contours of the land and some cattle tracks will try to take you downstream too far, so veer left and go and find that waterhole that he told us about!
The property at Big Yard Escapes is vast and isolated, and a neighbour even runs cattle on the property so you might see a few if you go exploring!
There are also heaps of kangaroos much away at the lush green grass. Despite the fact that the whole country is in drought, this property managed to maintain a lush and fertile feel to it, which was pretty refreshing!
There are also heaps of kangaroos much away at the lush green grass. Despite the fact that the whole country is in drought, this property managed to maintain a lush and fertile feel to it, which was pretty refreshing!
This is the go-to pub in town, with great beers on tap and all the usual pub fare. The front deck outlook is excellent too - looking right over Lake Jindabyne. Make sure you get there for a cold one at sunset after exploring the region!
Stop off at Wildbrumby on your Alpine Way explorations. It's on a big, open site and they serve a vast range of homemade schnapps, vodka and gin. Perfect pick-me-up on your way past! They also serve food here.
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Where we stayed
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