Timbarra Hideaway - the perfect retreat

Timbarra Hideaway is a perfect escape for small friend groups and families, or couples looking for a romantic holiday. Built with the environment in mind the straw bale house is warm and welcoming with beautiful hand rendered walls. The thick walls and tactile render make you want to hug them. Comfortable beds and furnishings plus a large deck facing the river make it a home away from home.

Situated in the East Gippsland Mountains on the bank of the Timbarra River this comfortable, self contained little house is perfect for your escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

A little about the house:-
Jeff and Joy have lived in East Gippsland for many years, in fact Joy grew up at Timbarra on the family farm. They love East Gippsland and cannot imagine living anywhere else. Jeff and Joy are a practical couple who love to have a project to work on. For four years they juggled their paid jobs with building. The result is this unique building with thick straw bale walls that they built themselves utilising local materials combined with recycled treasures such as the lovely old Wellstood cooker, rusty corrugated iron feature walls and re-purposed fence paling cladding. Earth dug from the neighbouring farm has been used to create a durable and attractive floor, enhancing the round log posts which help to form the frame of the building. They have enjoyed adding lots of special arty touches that you will find as you explore the house.

The main room is open plan living with a wood heater, comfy divan, recliner arm-chairs, dining table for six and full kitchen. A large main bedroom with queen bed is a quiet space while the upstairs mezzanine room is family sized with queen bed, two singles and lots of room for playing.

The bathroom is roomy with a large shower. Guests will be surprised by the modern composting toilet. Continually vented by a solar powered fan there are no unpleasant odours. The bathroom and toilet are outside the main house with a few steps up to the deck.

Guests say that they love living an alternative lifestyle for a few days with the:-
Wood heater to toast their toes in winter,
Composting toilet,
Wood fired cooking and hot water,
Solar power,
NO phone or television coverage.

Cooking on a slow combustion stove is definitely different to gas or electric and you will need to allow extra time for cooking so plan your menu. Jeff and Joy love slow cooked roasts and casseroles best. A small gas hot plate and a microwave oven are there for when the stove is not going.

Guests have access to all facilities including the fully enclosed garden with a range of herbs when in season and the surrounding six acre property. There is a wood barbecue and pizza oven or a gas barbecue for convenience as well. The Timbarra River is a mountain stream fed by springs from the Nunniong High Plains. The water is cool and sweet with a slight tannin tinge from all the leaves that fall in as it winds it's way down from the high country. A mere 40 metres from the house the Timbarra is great for trout fishing, swimming or just sitting beside and watching the amazing birds.

Things to do:
Go for a walk. Explore the forest in a four-wheel drive or by horse-back, fish for trout, push bike riding (BYO bikes), painting, photography, bird watching, write a song, read a book and most of all RELAX. Jeff and Joy love disappearing into a hammock with a good book!

Every season brings it's own delights from sitting in the river on a hot summer day, watching golden leaves fall in the autumn, being snug by the fire with a crisp white frost outside on a winter morning and the start of trout fishing season in spring.

Please note that this property is surrounded by a working farm so curious cows and sheep will wander past. Occasionally you might see grey kangaroos, wallabies, emus or goannas. For this reason we ask that you please leave your dogs at home. Shooting is not permitted and motor bikes are not to be used on the property for the same reason. Timbarra is a peaceful place and the owners want to preserve that.
There is plenty of space for horses but you will need to bring your own fence.

Jeff and Joy will endeavour to meet you and have the fire burning when you arrive but if this is not possible alternative arrangements will be advised regarding keys.

Buchan is the nearest town, 35 minutes drive away, so you need to plan well. We provide a small supply of coffee, tea and milk in case you forget these essentials. Come and enjoy!