The explosion of tiny, stylish houses in rustic off-grid locations is a well-timed opportunity for escape from the wild scenes of the past couple of years. With limited phone reception, no wi-fi and an abundance of stunning natural vistas in bushland or wine country, they’re a perfect reprieve from the daily grind. Add to that amenities such as picturesque outdoor baths, saunas with enviable views, cosy indoor fireplaces – even your own private beach – and you’ve got a recipe for serenity (and some excellent Instagram content). Here are five new cabins in regional SA for when you need to hit pause.
Yambara on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is the first offering from startup company Eyre Way. “It’s a magical spot, surrounded by national parks and pristine coastline. The views are absolutely world-class,” co-founder Amanda Hogg tells Broadsheet. “The wildlife is incredible too, with sea eagles and ospreys sweeping down and kangaroos hopping past.” And during whale season, there are humpbacks galore, she says.
Hogg started Eyre Way with her partner Tim. “Yambara” means “away” or “out of sight” in Banggarla, the local Aboriginal language, and the property is located on remote farmland, about 30 minutes’ drive from Port Lincoln and 100 metres from its own private beach. The couple created the eight-by-three-metre dwelling in collaboration with local designer and builder Duncan Moore. Its spectacular position is optimised with expansive windows, which afford views in every direction – of Sleaford Bay, Whalers Way and Lincoln National Park – plus a roomy deck. There’s a fireplace overlooking the private beach, and an outdoor shower.
It’s spacious inside, too. Yambara sleeps up to four people: there’s a king-sized bed on the lower floor and a double bed on the mezzanine level. Each one is dressed in 100 per cent flax linen by Bed Threads and I Love Linen. Other luxe touches include a double shower, a gold-splashed designer kitchen, a breakfast bar, and Moroccan tiles handmade by Victorian company Tiles of Ezra. The house is also 100 per cent solar-powered and self-sufficient.
Off-grid stays company Cabn has introduced a supercharged version of its fleet of tiny homes: Cabn X. You'll find two premium cabins – William and Giles – in McLaren Vale (a 40-minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD) on the property of organic and biodynamic winery Gemtree. A little more luxe and a little roomier than the original Cabn homes, William and Giles, which sit side by side, stand 11 feet high with floor-to-ceiling glass walls looking over towering gums and vast rows of grapevines towards Port Willunga. It’s a slice of stillness – deliberately wi-fi free – with no sounds but the cacophony of birdsong from the resident boobook owls, magpies and honeyeaters that call the neighbouring gum trees home.
Giles is fitted with light timber while William has darker textures, but both cabins have the same amenities: a king-sized bed, a bathroom with bath and sauna, a lounge with a log fire and a kitchen. Outside, there’s a sunken bath on the deck, a firepit and barbeque. A bottle of Gemtree wine is provided, as is local produce including Paris Creek Farms milk and butter, and bacon from the McLaren Flat butcher.
As with Cabn’s tinier houses, these cabins are entirely self-sufficient, running on solar power and with a water tank shared between the two. When you book, a portion of the fee goes towards Cabn’s conservation fund, and the company will plant a native tree on your behalf.
Long-time friends Steve Brooks and sustainable-architecture specialist Damien Chwalisz have created intimate and sustainable off-the-grid accommodation. The team launched Lost Retreats with a debut cabin at the picturesque Mount Jagged, an hour’s drive south of Adelaide. It’s also near the idyllic beaches of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
The home is on 160 acres of vineyards and olive groves, and has been designed to help you clock off and unwind from the daily grind. This means no wi-fi, but the cabin is surrounded by bushland and walking trails to keep you busy, and there are books, board games and a selection of vinyl records if you want to relax inside. The cabin is spacious (at least compared to most tiny-house accommodation around the country) and is decked out with sustainable recycled timber, which contrasts nicely with the kitchen’s jet-black features.
Solar panels power the site, and an indoor fireplace keeps the whole living area toasty. Outside, a clawfoot bathtub can be used any day of the year. The site’s seclusion means your peace won’t be disturbed while you take in the scenic views and nature sounds from the warmth of the tub. Luxury linen (for the queen bed), handmade soaps, glassware and ceramics come from boutiques and local artisans on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Lost Retreats has also partnered with local producers to provide food, wine and coffee for guests upon request.
In2thewild has made a business out of plonking tiny, off-grid, stylishly appointed houses in beautiful parts of Australia. Its first South Australian outpost, in prime wine country, is no different. The cabin, Rosie, is an hour’s drive from Adelaide, on the edge of the Barossa Valley with views of Mount Crawford Forest. With wineries dotted all around, there’s plenty to do – though guests could just as easily just cosy up in the house and enjoy complete solitude.
The house can sleep up to four adults, with a queen bed in a windowed nook offering landscape views and a double bed in the loft. And it’s covered in warm-toned French linens from Sydney label Carlotta & Gee. There’s also a full bathroom with a toilet, hot shower and basin, as well as a fully equipped kitchen. Outside there’s a campfire, barbeque, picnic table and hammock, and guests can lay out a Wandering Folk rug for picnics or stargazing.
Esca is a premium new accommodation option offering a more spacious, luxurious alternative. Its first location, in Inman Valley on the Fleurieu Peninsula, launches in April, and bookings have just opened. When it arrives, there’ll be two near-identical suites spaced 100 metres apart on a sprawling 80-hectare property. Each comes with an al fresco dining area and stone outdoor terrace (plus a sunken bath and firepit) overlooking hills and countryside all the way to the Southern Ocean.
And while some tiny cabins are cramped to fit their amenities, these suites are large and roomy, with plenty of space for the king-sized bed, custom Jam Factory furniture, wood-burning fireplace, smart TV, kitchen, dining area and lounge. There’s even a large stone bath – positioned by the double-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Fleurieu – and separate shower.
The buildings run on off-grid power, water and sewerage. Because they’re built off-site and transported to the property, there’s less environmental impact and wastage, according to Esca’s founders. “These aren’t pods in paddocks – you can’t just press these off an assembly line,” says CEO Steve Kernaghan. “This is high-quality design and architecture in a place you’d never expect to find it.”
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Additional reporting by Chynna Santos, Astrid Watt and Jasmine Crittenden.
