We packed our land cruiser on a Friday afternoon and ventured out to the valley. A 3-hour scenic drive through the Victorian High Country led us off the beaten track to a 1970’s eco mountain stay called Schuster’s Lodge.

Schuster’s Lodge is a mountain-style family home that is completely off-the-grid. The two large open fireplaces in the main living room keep the entire house warm during the cooler months. With only a small 12v solar power system, we needed to be conscious of our light usage throughout the house to ensure we had enough power to turn essential lights on at night for cooking and meals. The property is home to two original gas fridges which have been at the property for 50 years. It also includes original stained glass doors and unique antiques throughout, which add character to the family home.

Schuster’s Lodge is filled with an abundance of natural beauty. Rich autumn leaves, tame kookaburras and the sound of a healthy flowing river are some of the many perks of this weekend getaway.

Property owners Simon and Jeannine were kind enough to let us take their 1970 Toyota Land Cruiser, ‘Cliff’ for a drive through the High Country to collect some wood from the forest. Schuster’s Lodge aims to be fully sustainable and off the grid, so it only made sense to repurpose old fallen tree debris for our nighttime fires; legally and in accordance with the Parks Vic’s guidelines, of course. We passed by a historical hut and campground called Fry’s Flat, which was home to a 1930’s Historical Hut built by Master Bushman, Fred Fry. As we pulled up in ‘Cliff’ the Land Cruiser, we turned heads with local boomers camping nearby. They were so intrigued by ‘Cliff’ the car as most of them had owned this style of Land Cruiser when they grew up. The first thing they said to us was “... I’m surprised you millennials can drive a manual car!”, little did they know only two out of thirteen of us had a manual licence! Nonetheless, we made each other’s day and the boomers were stoked to see us exploring the High Country.

Once we arrived back at the property, we spent the afternoon fly fishing (well, attempting to) and sharing the highlights of our day by the outdoor fire pit. It was safe to say that being away from our phone and disconnecting from technology was a social detox we desperately needed.

Schuster’s Lodge provides you with the perfect opportunity to reconnect with nature. There are so many activities do in both the warmer and cooler months, it’s the perfect home to spend a weekend away with your close friends and family. It's abundantly clear that hosts Simon and Jeannine take great care of their property, whilst also trying to care for the environment and nature that surrounds them. We are so grateful to have been able to experience life in the High Country through their family history, and can’t wait to come back to visit again.