'My 'tiny house' holiday would make Marie Kondo proud'. Image: Body+SoulSource:BodyAndSoul

Body+Soul writer Cassandra Green shares her experience in a tiny house, from yoga with the kangaroos to crying laughing over a composting toilet.

When it comes to planning a holiday it often screams excess. More places, more events, and of course, more investment.

But what if you decided to take a discard all of that noise, the ‘more’, and pair your holiday back to the very basics that give you joy? Essentially, ‘Marie Kondo’ your holiday?

Well, that’s exactly what I did this weekend when I decided to take a mini break from the stressors of everyday life and take myself on a vacation that very much fits the bill of ‘less is more’.

Like what you see? Sign up to our bodyandsoul.com.au newsletter for more stories like this.

What sparked this idea, you may be asking? It was a website called ‘Tiny Away’, which is essentially a marketplace for accommodation, but all of the abodes for hire are so-called tiny houses.

If you hadn’t already heard of the movement, tiny houses are essentially exquisitely designed cabin-esque buildings, often on trailers, with all the functionality you could ask for from a house, but in a small footprint.

The layout often uses interesting and functional design to create kitchen, living, bathroom and sleeping zones in one space, usually ranging from between 120 and 500 square feet.

They’re often portable, and can be placed on vacant land to turn it into a new living zone (and an income for the person who owns the land).

While some people purchase tiny houses to live in them full time, the concept of Tiny Away is to rent one for a short holiday. They’re reasonably priced considering you get the entire place (including a kitchen) to yourself, and they’re often located amongst beautiful natural landscapes so you can get a breath of fresh air and decompress from a busy week.

Sound like something that’s up your street? Well, let me tell you about my stay.

I decided to book the picturesque ‘Odyssean Tiny House B’, which is located in Cessnock, Hunter Valley (NSW) and situated on a horse agistment. The tiny house rents for around $179 a night, a little more on weekends and for additional guests.

Coming in at 155 square feet, it features a galley kitchen, bathroom (complete with composting toilet and heated shower), living area and storage in the stairs that lead up to a loft-style bedroom up the top.

It was clean and modern on the inside, well decked out with linens, body wash, salt, pepper, and all those little things you always forget to pack when you hire out a holiday home. The space definitely had a home-style energy that made you feel immediately at ease in the space and helped to shake off the week and instantly unwind. It was also overlooking a gorgeous piece of land, which was made all the cuter by the horses we shared it with.

While this was my specific choice, Tiny Away hosts a full range of locations and styles to suit your needs. Whether you're looking for something super remote, something a little more cottage-y, or a high speck finish, it's got it all.

I decided to go up with my best friend, to get some RnR and make the most of some quality time.

The size of this tiny house was more than enough for two people, but if you’re thinking of fitting in a third I would definitely recommend opting for a slightly larger one. I would suggest choosing a house that sits on some land like this one did, because it was so beautiful to sit out on the patio and have a glass of wine under the stars. It was equally beautiful to do morning yoga on the deck while kangaroos hopped around us. Idyllic.

One of the major benefits of staying in a tiny house is that it is relatively cost effective and you get your own private space. Unlike staying in a hotel amongst a throng of other guests, you have the space to yourself to breathe and get away from the hustle and bustle.

It’s also great for couples or friends who may not necessarily want to rent a three or four bedroom family house, but would like a kitchen and the other amenities that come with having your own space.

My friend and I were super economical and took a trip to Aldi before we went, stocking up on all the eggs, bacon and snacks we could. Having a fridge was also a huge perk given we were in the Hunter Valley and wanted to collect some of the delicious local cheese, chocolate and wine on offer there.

I also can’t underestimate the cool factor of these spaces. Tucking up with a book in this little cabin was the cosiest vibe and fulfilled my Pinterest-y weekend away hopes.

Finally, while tiny houses offer an opportunity to get entirely off the grid, many are also located close to fun regions where you can still plan a few (and I stress, this is about NOT overdoing it) activities. For instance, my friend and I went on a Tastes of the Hunter wine tour, sampling from different local vineyards and distilleries one of the days we were there.

Endless giggles with the composting loo. Image: Body+SoulSource:BodyAndSoul

Tiny house living certainly offers many perks but it can also take some getting used to. Both my friend and I backpacked around Europe in our youth and got very used to being organised when on holidays. Small spaces can get messy very quickly so it’s important to have intention in where you put your stuff when you unpack.

We also had some interesting experiences with the composting toilet which took some acclimatisation. We will forever remember being absolutely desperate to go, crying laughing while we hurriedly flipped through the guest book to figure out how on earth to use it (hint: it’s very simple!). It really wasn’t as scary as it sounded at first and it felt nice to know that it was much more of an eco-friendly option than disrupting the landscape with sewerage pipes.

I'd recommend to do your research and read all of the info about your tiny house before you go - including whether or not you're able to get reception at the location. We were able to, which we loved for watching movies on Netflix and downloading new Audible books.

Finally, there’s no denying that being in a tiny house can be touch chilly in the winter. Ours had a mini-split air conditioning/heating system, but hot air rises and the downstairs area could get a little chilly. I’d recommend a trusty pair of cosy slippers and you wouldn’t even notice it!

I’ve been on many an expensive holiday absolutely packed to the brim with activities. While it can be nice to feel like you’re getting the most out of the place you’re going to, so often you come back more drained than when you left.

Travelling is one thing, but going on a week or weekend away is mostly an opportunity to live the slow life. To breathe in, breathe out, surround yourself with people you love, nature that soothes the soul and giving yourself the space to process and be grateful for everything you have in life.

One of the most beautiful gifts this tiny house holiday gave me was the opportunity to actually rest. To live the simple life and enjoy the simple pleasures.

Face masks with my best friend, a bottle of the Hunter’s most delicious chardonnay paired with a terribly-amazing romantic comedy and hopping out of the hot shower to get cosy with my book in the comfortable loft space.

For the first time in a long time I was able to give myself the mental space and time out to relax. And gosh, isn’t that actually what will spark joy for us on holiday?

So, while I totally understand trying to pack in a million things on a holiday, let this be your sign to dial it down a notch, and realise just how much joy it could spark for you.

Any products featured in this article are selected by our editors, who don’t play favourites. If you buy something, we may get a cut of the sale. Learn more.

A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. Find out about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out.

bodyandsoul.com.au may receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. Learn more

Nationwide News Pty Ltd Copyright © 2022. All times on this site are AEDT ().

Powered by WordPress.com VIP