Featured image: Max from Unyoked
They are the teeny, tiny houses and cute-as-can-be cabins we’re all lusting after online. With ticks for sustainability, scenic locations, and a couple-perfect footprint, these back-to-nature beauties can be found down some very discreet (read: dirt) driveways around the country. So, what to expect? Most tinies are solar-powered with just one cosy bedroom framing supersized views as well as kitchen essentials, books and boardgames, and even a few luxuries (we’re talking hot showers and butter-soft linens) for a memorable eco adventure.
With time and space to just hang out together, these tiny wonders offer the kind of romantic Australian short break that will feel like so much more. Ready to try? The local landscape is now sprinkled with these little treasures … if you know where to look. So, bid your mobile signal adieu and say hello to rural roaming, intimate fireside toasts, and starlit bathtubs.
We’ve rounded up 10 tiny holiday houses around Australia.
1. PALMER & GUNN, Gold Coast Hinterland QLD
This ‘wee tiny’ is a real charmer, built with reclaimed materials and antique doors and windows, and adorned with a trove of vintage treasures inside. Positioned on a farm in the Austinville Valley, close to World Heritage-listed Springbrook National Park, Palmer & Gunn’s pitched ceilings, luxe French linens, and clawfoot tub lend a touch of luxe to the rustic, creekfront locale. Stock up on supplies at nearby Mudgeeraba and cook up a feast at the outdoor kitchen before taking your wine to the glorious cedar tub/plunge pool for a star-spangled soak. You’ll hardly believe the glitter of the Gold Coast is less than half an hour from this petite romantic hideaway.
2. TINY WILD HOUSES, Binna Burra, Queensland
Located in the Gold Coast Hinterland, Binna Burra offers a unique and enchanting experience with its newly built Tiny Wild Houses. These houses, nestled in the lush subtropical rainforest of Lamington National Park, provide adults with a magical getaway and access to Binna Burra’s amenities. With modern amenities and stylish furnishings, the Tiny Wild Houses are perched on the Bellbird clifftop, offering breathtaking views of the sunrise and panoramic sights of the Ships Stern Range and the ocean beyond. Guests can fully immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the beauty of the starry sky from the comfort of their bed, thanks to the glass walls that frame the stunning surroundings.
3. ASHI, Northern Rivers, NSW
Byron Hinterland. Enough said, right? But the lovely Ashi also comes with comfy bed, fire pit, picnic table, wood-fired outdoor bathtub, and a few old-school treasures (hint: dig out that cassette collection). Part of Unyoked’s wanderlust-inducing portfolio (each property is ‘spiced’ according to Adventure Level), spicy Ashi has everything you need for a peaceful, free-spirited escape around an hour from the Byron buzz.
4. MAGGIE A-FRAME, Magnetic Island, QLD
Island time on your agenda? See the new Maggie A-frame: a sweet timber retreat in Horseshoe Bay which you’ll find on one of Queensland’s most underrated tropical escapes, Magnetic Island. Just a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville, Maggie A-frame is one of the bigger tinies on our list, with room for five inside and a deck for sundowners and morning yoga, but we couldn’t resist its palm-fringed charms. Climb the ladder to the ‘triangle’ loft bedroom for a snooze, hit the beach for a dip, or chill in a hammock and enjoy the garden filled with birds, mango trees, tropical plants, and even a local koala, Frank.
5. FIVE HILLS, Terip Terip, VIC
A direct view to Mt. Buller but no neighbours in sight. Welcome to Five Hills, sitting pretty on 82 acres of rural loveliness (including a springwater creek and swimming hole) as part of the Tiny Away stable of properties. Around 100 kilometres from Melbourne (feels about a million), this is the place for memorable sunrise cuppas and nights of crystal-clear stargazing.
6. THE RESERVE, Central Coast Hinterland NSW
Now here’s a plot twist: a cabin designed by the freedom-lovers at Unyoked and Matthew McConaughey! In his capacity as Wild Turkey’s Creative Director, the actor and bourbon enthusiast helped create The Reserve, the first premium cabin for the team at Unyoked who explains: “Over some banter, and just a bit of bourbon, we found out we’re sharing the same vibes, and we’re all on a mission to help people disconnect and get back in touch with the benefits of the wild.”
7. JOEY THE TINY CABIN, Chittering, WA
Stellar views, check. Bushwalks and board games galore, check. Comfy queen bed to crash after a day of exploration. Yep! Joey the Tiny Cabin ticks all the boxes for a far-but-not-too-far escape, inspired by the resident kangaroos and overlooking a serene valley in the Shire of Chittering, less than an hour north of Perth. Stock up or fuel up at the local orchards, and wineries, and cafes (although you’ll also have an Italian press coffee maker within reach) or snooze the day away on the cabin’s two hammocks. Tiny Cabins are also expanding their footprint with bookings now open for two new coming-soon retreats.
8. THE WINE REGION SHACKY, Yarra Valley, VIC
With the beautiful bushland, creeks, and trails of a 1500-acre cattle farm at your disposal, you’ll have no shortage of choose-your-own adventures at The Wine Region property from Shacky. Although if you want to venture further, the Yarra Valley cellar doors await your pleasure nearby. Kitted out with everything you’ll need for a simple but comfy stay, this striking pet-friendly tiny joins Shacky’s equally appealing sister properties — The Olive Grove in Victoria’s High Country and The Forest in the Grampians.
9. CHARLIE, SE Queensland Country
The second Queensland offering from In2thewild (Norah is also lovely), Charlie offers sweet seclusion on 160 acres with sweeping views of the Blackall Ranges and surrounding farmland. Powered by “the sun and gas bottles” Charlie comes with a comfy queen bed and views out to the misty mornings and spectacular sunsets, two hours west of Brisbane or 45 minutes north of Toowoomba. Perfect for the wild at heart.
10. PETIT ECO CABIN, Margaret River WA
Swap that back-to-work grind for an off-grid winery escape. A beautifully crafted, solar powered timber cabin overlooking the vineyards, the Petit Eco Cabin is part of the Windows Estate vineyard in Yallingup, Margaret River. Enjoy the cosy fireplace with baker’s oven and seek out the vintage outdoor bath tucked away in the surrounding landscape (complete with running hot water). In a very personal touch, the timber inside the cabin comes from a family farm, milled by the owner’s father from trees that had fallen over the last two decades.
Love the idea of a Tiny House stay? Check out our review of Binna Burra’s gorgeous Tiny Wild Houses!