Top five Tiny House weekend escapes

Better still, if they’re off the communications grid you’re assured a de-stressing and definitely intimate escape. So jump in the car and give these a go.

Here’s a chance to unwind with a loved one in total seclusion somewhere in the Adelaide Hills. Exact location? Not revealed until after booking. But just look at this cabin called Jude: timber panelled inside and out with large windows bringing the bushland (all 180 acres of it) closer. There’s a king bed, a king single if another couple want to get squishy, all cookware, board games, walking in the conservation park next door and all those lovely wineries nearby. No wifi or telly, of course because at Cabn the digital detox is complete.

This tiny Shacky house is nestled among olive trees somewhere in north-eastern Victoria. It’s small but perfectly formed: with charming architecture (think rustic timber and corrugated iron), a queen-size bed, solar power and a proper shower. You can laze indoors but outside beckons. Check out a real olive farm in action or tour the Victorian high country sights. The Shacky concept means other landowners can establish similar ventures, so there’s one in the Yarra Valley, while Gippsland and the Grampians are on the to-do list.

The house might be teeny, but the view is enormous and all-encompassing. This petit maison is perched above a tree-lined gully looking towards mountains, and its blend of recycled and new building materials fits the landscape like a glove. Inside, there’s eclectic (the owners even say “eccentric”) décor of early 1900s country-cute, including the cooker. Mod-cons? How about aircon, a fridge, and king size bed. Then there’s 45 hectares of countryside to explore, or just soak in the bath and commune with the trees. And only 45 minutes from Hobart, not far from New Norfolk. Bliss.

Umm, an igloo near Cairns in tropical Far North Queensland? Really? Actually there is no Inuit lifestyle or even ice here, but rather a fantastical 1970s concrete dome, fitted out more recently with vibrant colours and a surprising amount of space in a diminutive package. Located at beautiful Trinity Beach, it comes with aircon, wifi and pool access meaning this modern igloo is a great accommodation alternative to the more usual FNQ suspects.

The teensy cabins run by Unyoked in four locations outside Sydney (plus a couple in Victoria) are so popular there’s a wait list to book some of them. It’s easy to see why. The locations are guaranteed free of traffic, other people and definitely stress, whether they be in the Hunter region, Southern Highlands or elsewhere (shh, it’s a secret!). The shacks are all the same: minimalist, solar powered, supremely cosy and off-the-grid though complete with hot showers and kitchen facilities. If you want to get back-to-basics in comfort, this is it.

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