A Secluded Retreat Hidden in Nimbin’s Lush Hinterlands

When Monique Kawecki and Alexander Lotersztain found what would become Mountain Top Farmhouse Retreat, the couple knew they wanted to share this slice of paradise on 15 acres of Nimbin hinterland with others.

“We love the thought of inspiring other families and guests with everything at Mountain Top: being off-grid and really connected to the natural environment, appreciating the stillness, the pure rainwater, the fresh rainforest air and the diversity of flora and fauna, which amazes during all seasons,” says Kawecki.

Both Kawecki and Lotersztain come from creative backgrounds. Kawecki is a design journalist and co-founder of Ala Champ, an online art and design platform traversing culture and travel, while Lotersztain is the founder of Australian contemporary furniture company Derlot – you’ll find its Twig modular seating at both Adelaide and Auckland airports.

Their thoughtfully design-led ethos can be felt throughout the bright, serene space. “We really believe good design is circular and responsible – it should be intuitive and enjoyable too,” says Kawecki.

Just an hour’s drive from Byron and 10 minutes from Nimbin, the solar-powered property comfortably accommodates six guests across three bedrooms. There’s a loft ideal for yoga or reading – the hammock on the deck is also a prime reading nook – and an organic vegetable garden to enjoy, honey in the pantry from the beehives and an outdoor woodfired cooking area complete with a Gozney oven.

Considered and comforting touches are at every turn: cotton and linen bedding, timber furniture, Pampa woven cushions and rugs, as well as Koala Eco cleaning products. The oversized paper lantern upstairs was handcrafted in Kyoto, a nod to the couple’s enduring love for Japan.

Kawecki and Lotersztain have spent five years regenerating the garden with eucalypts for koalas, and flowering plants for pollinators. These native neighbours may make themselves known – look out for the resident wallaby family when you wake in the morning.

At Mountain Top Farmhouse Retreat, the simple life beckons with bushwalks, birdwatching with supplied binoculars, conversations by the fire or simply taking in the sunrise and sunset. And it’s just a few minutes’ drive to one of Kawecki’s must-visit spots – Hanging Rock Falls, “a spectacular watering hole”, in the nearby Crown Reserve.