House in Buchan, VIC

Timbarra Hideaway - the perfect retreat

Timbarra Hideaway - the perfect retreat

Photo gallery for Timbarra Hideaway - the perfect retreat

Autumn colours and a couple of the neighbours.
40 metres to the shady trees beside the Timbarra River.
Exterior
Living room
Private kitchen

Overview of Timbarra Hideaway - the perfect retreat

10 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 663 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space
  • Barbecue grill
  • Mountain view
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Buchan, VIC
  • Popular LocationTimbarra River South Nature Conservation Reserve15 min drive
  • Popular LocationBuchan Caves Reserve49 min drive
  • Popular LocationBuchan Caves51 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

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!

Property manager

Jeff Wagstaff

Amenities

Kitchen
Outdoor space
Barbecue grill
Mountain view
Fireplace

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Check out before 12:00 PM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking is not allowed in the house.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Buchan

Located in Buchan, this vacation home is in a rural area and on a river. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Timbarra River South Nature Conservation Reserve and Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Timbarra River South Nature Conservation Reserve - 15 min drive
  • Buchan Caves Reserve - 49 min drive
  • Buchan Caves - 51 min drive
  • Potholes Cave Reserve - 57 min drive
  • Buchan Cave Reserve - 58 min drive

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 10 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 10 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 10 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 10 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 10 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Goran G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely place to relax
We enjoyed our stay,had everything you need. Great location for a relaxing couple of days. For those who really want to get away from hustle and bustle of city life this is the spot. Joy is a great host, great communication. Highly recommend to anyone thinking of booking.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome house
The house is amazing. It has to be seen to appreciate the talent of the builders who are also the owners. It has some quaint qualities, like the woodfire stove and oven. It was very cold when we were there but because the house is so well insulated the fire kept the house cozy. We visited the Buchan Caves, which are beautiful, and saw the waterfall, which is pristine, and hiked to the top of the Lookout, a great cardio workout. It is definitely worth visiting.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aggie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Country stay with amazing views
Amazing country stay with fully contained old school cottage with exceptional views of surrounds and river. The cottage is extremely comfortable and clean, having everything we needed for our stay. The Woodfre stove was easy and fun to cook on. The nature loo surprisingly was very pleasant to our surprise. The views through each window was sensational. With an extra treat seeing the cows come right up to the fence line. The hosts were very welcoming and thoughtful. We were very appreciative of the acceptance of our additional special guests. The only downside is that the pictures online did not give this place a true representation of how amazing everything is. Well done to the hosts for presenting such a fabulous cottage. All the little details to find made this place even more special.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tanya N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A cosy well appointed property nestled within beautiful surrounds
This is a truely unique property. It is simple and yet well appointed. Practical and cosy. It allows a break from the hectic pace of life. The surrounding countryside is stunning and there is so much to do in the area - exploring local caves, hiking, 4 wheel driving as well as gentle strolls, sitting by the river and reading.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Raymond W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing bale house
Property is just perfect for those who wish to destress from life's busy schedule & all those electronic devises. What more could you ask for a beautiful cabin by the creek with no neighbours in sight. Even though there are people in the area.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2021

About the host

Hosted by Jeff Wagstaff

Host profile image
Joy grew up at Timbarra so her connection to this gorgeous property, the river and the mountains that surround it has been for her lifetime. As young girl she spent many hours on her horse exploring bush tracks and helping to muster cattle on the family farm. The river played an important part in her life as a child - swimming, fishing and playing. Her primary school years were a combination of home schooling until there were enough children living in the valley to open a school. The young teachers were billeted with the various families. Schooling was challenge in such a remote location so when it was time to start secondary school Joy's mother, a nurse, started to live and work away from home during the week so her children could continue school.

Jeff was a city boy, growing up in inner Melbourne where he became an electrician. When he finally moved to he country he fell in love with country life and says he will never live in a city again. With many practical skills and a willingness to learn new things he loves to keep busy 'Doing stuff'. Building a house was a completely new experience but he tackled the challenge with enthusiasm.
Jeff and Joy started building the house in 2013 and opened it up to guests in 2017. The aim was to create something that was sustainable and environmentally friendly without costing a fortune. They both enjoyed the experience and love showing it off to guests and hearing their positive feedback.

Why they chose this property

Joy was so lucky to inherit this unique property which was part of the larger farm which had been in her family for 80 years. Surrounded by mountains and forest and yet part of the small farming community of Timbarra it is truly an escape from the outside world. A very special place.

What makes this property unique

It is hard to find holiday accommodation to match Timbarra Hideaway. The owner built house is unique on its own without adding in the beautiful and remote location. Having access to a mountain river at your door step is special. Watching it's various moods with each season is a highlight:- cold with frost on the edges in winter, rushing along with snow melt water and spring rains in spring, slow and warm, perfect for a dip, in summer and cooling down from high country frosts during autumn.

The antics of many birds entertain guests and often wake them with a 'bush chorus' in the mornings. The record number spotted by guests so far is 27 varieties.

Although tucked into a valley Timbarra is not far from high country plains of Nunniong and Nunnet. A nice drive in the warmer months. 4x4 drivers will enjoy having so many bush tracks to explore.
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