A Review Of Unyoked Cabin: One Of The Most Off-Grid Huts In Australia

We nabbed a night in one of the most in-demand off-grid huts in Australia & here’s what did (and didn’t) go down

Imagine the consumerist rebellion of the Tiny House Movement meeting the comfort level of a quality Airbnb and you’ll get close to what it feels like to stay in an Unyoked cabin, the new cool kid on the off-grid-escape block.

But there’s a bigger mission behind this brand new cluster of cabins beyond just getting outdoors. It’s about connecting through the power of disconnecting. And if that sounds contradictory, I promise it’s all by design.

If you’ve ever felt a sense of dread when your phone rings or a bit of blah after scrolling through everyone’s highlight reel on Instagram then you’ll understand why this kind of rustic tech-adverse holiday is so à la mode in 2019. A break from modernity has become a bit of a novelty but the barrier for entry (*cough* completely roughing it) tends to put most people off.

So welcome to luxury in 2019. It’s all French linen sheets and composting toilets because according to Unyoked founders Chris and Cam Grant, a good life is all about balance.

And it’s a surefire recipe for success because trying to score a night in one of their sustainable hideaways is like trying to find a carpark at a Westfield during Christmas (all about timing and patience). And when a spot comes available you snatch it up whether it’s convenient for you or not.

That’s how I found myself (family in tow) deep in rural New South Wales on a Monday afternoon with only latitude and longitude tapped into my GPS and some obscure instructions to ‘turn left at the shed but after the vineyard’.

You see, getting to your Unyoked cabin is half the journey and is a necessary step to acclimating to your new off-grid surrounds. It’s about tapping into a childlike sense of adventure that’s lacking from so many weekend escapes. And nothing makes you feel a bit adventurous like leaving your car and dragging a trolley of provisions a few hundred metres into the wild unknown.

Arrival

We arrived to a modern box seemingly straight out of one of those coffee table books about Scandinavian architecture.

There was enough room inside for a small kitchenette, a fairly generous bathroom and shower and a very Instagram-friendly plush queen-size bed by a giant picture window overlooking the forest beyond. I know a digital detox is the name of the game with Unyoked but when life hands you a scene straight out of a Gestalten book it’s only right to take as many happy-snaps as possible for post-holiday uploading.

For the record, there actually is a Gestalten book on the bookshelf for handy perusal (among a collection of Penguin classics).

If the sense of luxe hadn’t quite hit by then it was more than cemented upon opening the mini bar fridge. Inside we found a treasure trove of pre-mixed Archie Rose Negroni cocktails just waiting for fireside consumption.

This is something Unyoked excels in above any other cabin stays. You’re well and truly out of the city but still in proximity to some of the coolest creatives in the business. For example, wilderness cook and Instagram superstar Sarah Glover has designed the s’mores kits (the peanut butter, chocolate and marshmallow fireside treat favoured by North Americans), Sydney distillery Archie Rose has contributed the cocktails and local multi-awarded organic vineyards are selected for the bottles of wine on offer.

Thanks to all this you can’t help but walk with a little more swagger as you collect twigs for the fire (a Negroni or two will do that).

Sleeping

As the sun descends the cosiness factor ramps up and before long it was time to tuck our toddler into the large bed and read him stories by a small lamp. Halfway through Green Eggs and Ham we realised how long it’s been since we all read a book as a family (as opposed to playing rock-paper-scissors on which parent would be on the bedtime routine). We did all the voices, we took turns reading pages, our boy fell asleep easier than he had in ages. Clearly this cabin thing was already working its magic on us.

Around this point you’re probably thinking ‘well, that’s what happens when you don’t have any other distractions’. Which is exactly the point.

Anyone who has ever tried to give themselves a digital detox will know how difficult it can be to switch off while still surrounded by all the frantic flotsam of reality. The temptation to zone out and scroll is ever-present and the feeling is almost akin to an alcoholic fresh out of rehab. But when you have fires to prep, s’mores to build, music to listen to and stories to read? This is the kind of relaxed busywork that restores the soul.

There’s no urge to scroll and mentally escape because your mind is engaged. It’s already having fun, fuelled by raw authentic good times. Sure, it’s not as hyper-stimulating as an oversaturated Instagram landscape shot but that’s why it’s so brilliant, you could think of it as a rest for your brain.

Take a stroll through the magestic surrounds

Waking

Because there aren’t any blinds (well, who needs them? There’s nobody else around) we woke up as the sun rose. Our boy still zonked out between us and the sound of birdsong in the background.

Force of habit has me normally immediately reaching out for my phone. The standard routine being: eyes open, find phone, scroll, wake up to a combination of bad news, good news, no news.

This morning I didn’t know where my phone was. It didn’t matter. I pulled the covers up, sniffed by boy’s head and went back to sleep.

Luckily Unyoked generously offer an 11am check-out time, for exactly these kind of moments.

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .

A night in one of the most off-grid huts in Australia