Escape city living & stay in a your own private paradise, 90 minutes from Sydney.
Wake up in the middle of a secluded paddock on a 300-acre working farm. Pat & feed baby goats, chickens, cows & horses. Unwind in your private outdoor stone bath. Watch the sun set through the towering trees around a crackling fire pit.
Live big in this off-grid tiny home
Walking distance to shops & café’s
Explore the farm & walking trails
Fresh eggs & crusty sourdough
Book now! 20% discount 7 night stay.
The space
The Old Dairy Farm
The farm is a historic dairy farm established over 100 years ago. The dairy cattle have long gone but the farmland has remained untouched by development, quite rare given its close proximity to Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle.
Now it is an operating farm with rolling paddocks, grazing livestock and wide open spaces. Leased for the last 5 years by three siblings, Melissa, Jim & David, who grew up on a farm west of Dubbo in Central NSW.
Our dream was to make The Old Dairy Farm into a space that replicates our own memories from childhood, growing up in vast rural surrounds, farm animals and uninterrupted tranquillity, and then to share this experience with others.
It is now loved by the local community, who are frequent visitors that come to connect with animals, nature and the great outdoors.
TINY HOME
The tiny house is located in the middle of a paddock, fenced to keep the livestock out and tucked away to enjoy privacy and a birds eye view of the surrounds.
It was designed and built by us right here on the farm. Using an innovative design and high quality finishes, the light filled spaces incorporate a clever use of space and contain everything you need for a relaxing holiday or short break. Stay and relax, cook for yourself or use it as a base to explore the local area and beyond.
COSY QUEEN SIZED LOFT BED
Go up the stairs to the spacious loft bedroom. No need to crawl around in a small space, there is a walkway around the bed and huge windows allowing plenty of light and cross breeze.
The loft contains a super comfortable queen sized bed with quality linen, mirror wardrobe, hanging space and extra pillows, blankets and shelf space to store your things.
Gaze at the stars from your bed through the skylight above, with a blind to block out the sun in the morning for a relaxing sleep in. You will want to curl up here and read a book, listen to a podcast and just unwind and relax.
KITCHEN
Enjoy a fully equipped kitchen featuring fridge/freezer with lots of space, an oven, two burner gas stove, single draw dishwasher, microwave, kettle, toaster and nespresso coffee machine.
We have tried to think of everything you will need…
• Our own free range eggs, crusty sourdough bread, real butter, fresh milk, coffee pods, herbal & traditional tea, sugar, hot chocolate & marshmallows
• Honey from our bees, peanut butter, vegemite & nutella, tomato & BBQ sauces.
• Essential cooking supplies like olive & vegetable oil, balsamic vinegar, aoli, salt & pepper, a selection of herbs & spices, glad wrap, kitchen paper & foil
• Full set of cutlery, plates, cups, wine glasses, kitchen utensils, pots & pans, oven trays, bread board & cheese platter
Enjoy eating inside or out, with indoor or outdoor dining settings.
The gas BBQ outside can be used to cook up an easy meal, BBQ utensils and supplies are in the tiny house. Also the tap water is safe to drink.
LOUNGE ROOM
A large chaise lounge allows you to look out to the deck and beyond. There is an overhead fan as well as a split system air conditioner to keep you comfortable regardless of the temperature outside.
There are interesting books to read, card and board games and puzzles to keep you busy. There is good mobile coverage from the tiny house. You might want to download your favourite shows prior, to enjoy during your stay.
OUTDOOR STONE BATH
The deck features a private stone outdoor bath. Unlimited gas hot water allows you to soak in leisure under the stars or witness a sunset.
Luxuriate with a glass of your favourite, with plenty of privacy except for the odd cow in the paddocks surrounding you!
DECK
Enjoy spending time outdoors for morning coffee or afternoon drinks at the outdoor table and chairs that overlook the tall trees and paddocks surrounding you.
Covered with a shade sail, the expansive deck is bordered by festoon lighting that creates a magical feel lighting up the outdoor area at night.
FIRE PIT
Lighting the fire and sitting in comfortable chairs around the fire pit has turned out to be a favourite pastime of our guests.
We supply firewood, kindling, paper, starters and matches.
Sneak inside and get the marshmallows to toast over the flames.
Relax around the crackling fire, play your favourite music and watch the sun set through the towering trees that line your paddock.
WILDLIFE
Apart from the farm animals there is an abundance of wildlife all around you. There is a wombat colony nearby, wallabies and abundant birdlife.
From the tiny house you have a birds eye view of local wildlife as well as grazing cows, goats and horses, moving from paddock to paddock.
BATHROOM
Comes with a full-sized shower with a rainmaker shower head. Storage cupboards allow you to put your bathroom items out of view. We supply plenty of towels so you have dry towels for the shower and the outdoor bath.
The toilet is an environmentally friendly composting toilet. It looks like a normal toilet. Just sprinkle with wood shavings and enzyme spray for optimal composting. There is an exhaust fan that ensure that there is no smell.
LOCATION
Cooranbong is a small village nestled in the foot hills of the Watagan Mountains and only a short distance from Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest lake. Close proximity to the beaches, Hunter Valley wineries, Newcastle and award winning restaurants and café’s.
EXPLORE the farm & beyond
1. Farm
The farm buildings across the road from the tiny house is where the friendly animals are. Go over here to feed chickens, stroll through the huge rose garden and find some friendly goats & horses. You will receive a message on the day you arrive with instructions on where to find them all.
2. Endless Walking Trails
The whole area has numerous walking trails that go around the outside of most of the paddocks and along the creek. You can also walk along the creek to Cooranbong village.
3. Swinging Bridge
Follow the cement path leading down the hill and alongside Dora Creek and you will come to a historic swinging bridge.
4. Avondale University
Walk down to the university and explore their grounds containing beautiful gardens, historic buildings and a cafe. Its backdrop is the original Sanitarium factory, the place where Weetbix was first made in Australia.
5. Cooranbong Village
Is only a short walk, visit Peggy Bee a lovely homeware gift shop and florist. Local café’s, bottle – o and a small IGA supermarket for basic supplies.
6. Coffee & brunch
Is a must at Mosey Coffee Roasters in Morisset
7. Experience Lake Macquarie & fine dining
Book a table at the award winning, stunning 8@ Trinity on beautiful Lake Macquarie. Also paddle boarding & kayaking available at the marina.
8. Visit Newcastle
Exlore the harbour city with beautiful beaches, café’s & restaurants
9. Hunter Valley Wineries
Just a 40 minute drive. Explore world-class wineries, enjoy gourmet dining, or sample local cheese and chocolates
10. Shopping Centres & Cinemas
Tuggerah Westfield is just off the M1 & Charlestown Square in the opposite direction
Check out my Guidebook for details on everything local.
GROCERIES & SUPPLIES
Basic pantry items are in the tiny house to get you started. You can get basic items from the IGA at Cooranbong village nearby or a 10 minute drive to Coles & Woolworths supermarkets at Morisset.
There are bottle shops nearby at Cooranbong, Dora Creek & Morisset. There is also a laundrette at Morisset if you need to do washing during your stay.
GETTING AROUND
Most guests find having a car is the most convenient way to get to the tiny house and explore the local area. Cooranbong is just off the M1 at the Morisset exit.
Trains from Sydney & Newcastle stop at Morisset station and there are buses from the station to Cooranbong. The train trip through the Hawksbury is quite spectacular if you choose this mode of transport.
Guest access
You have complete privacy at the tiny house which is quite a distance from the road and other tiny houses on the property.
It is fully fenced to keep the farm animals out. Park your car inside the fenced area and keep the gate closed at all times so they don’t come visiting.
Occasionally the cows will gather on the road when you are wanting to drive in. They are very quiet and will just stand and look at you. Don’t be put off. Proceed slowly and toot your horn. They will get out of the way eventually!
Other things to note
WORKING FARM
You will be staying on a working farm, not a petting zoo with a few animals. Although most of the time you won’t see a soul, there will be times when there will be movements in and around the farm.
You may see us out and about checking stock, repairing fences, shifting cows to different pastures. Please say hello and ask any questions.
FARM ANIMALS
The farm is home to around 120 cows, 250 goats, horses, a few sheep, chickens and ducks.
The horses are agisted and belong to other people. Please do not enter a paddock where there is a horse or feed them anything. They are friendly and will come over and say hello to you and if you are lucky get a pat.
You are welcome to feed bread to the goats, chickens and cows. If you have bread make sure you keep on the other side of the fence to the animals as they will trample you in the rush to get to the food.
COMPOSTING TOILET
The toilet in the tiny house looks just like any other toilet from the outside and is similar to toilets in RV’s and caravans.
When you lift the lid you will see a long white tube and at the very bottom you can see wood shavings and toilet paper but it is quite a way down.
There is special spray that has an enzyme mix and more shavings to add after you have been to the toilet to keep the waste decomposing and reducing odours.
Make sure you keep the seat down and the windows nearby open. There should not be any smell coming from the toilet. If there is then you need to message us and we will come down straight away to fix it for you.
Registration details
Exempt
