Bellbird Rise Off-Grid Cottage

If paradise exists, we found it here. Positive: A place like no other, I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was like being in paradise. Nature everywhere. Woke up to birds singing, wallabies, reptiles. The sound of frogs from the creek. Waking up in the morning along the creek. So much space. Of the fireplace out back, BBQ, swing chairs. Near by kennilworth bakery, water falls and swimming spots. A rare find. Negative: I would have loved a bath. Even an outdoor bath would have taken this property to the next level. But being off grid, it might be hard. In saying that swimming places are very close by.

A peaceful slice of countryside. Positive: The peace and quiet, birdlife, wallabies, a few cows, walk along the creek, lovely hot shower, warmth of morning sun at the kitchen table, plenty of light from the skylight, lovely spot on the verandah, experiencing an 'off-grid' house. Negative: The bed was warm and cosy but the mattress sinks a bit in the middle so we kept rolling together. Also the mattress collapses on the edges, so maybe not a particularly good quality. The slab of foam on top of the mattress created hot spots which became quite uncomfortable at times. Bathroom very dark so needed to turn the light on whenever we entered. As this is an 'off-grid' property and we tried to follow all the energy-saving requests, we suggest putting in a small skylight. All the curtains bunch up on the floor and are a potential trip hazard and are easily soiled. We understand that some interior decorators like this style, but we think it's not very practical. On our arrival, the fireplace still had a pile of ash in it. We ensured we left it cleaner than we found it.

Excellent Positive: Quiet and peaceful! We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely come back. While we stayed in May and were mindful of power usage, we had no issues with the off-grid setup (even with overcast weather). We found the best places to buy firewood were Woolworths Maleny and the local Conondale shop. Kitchen very well equipped. Negative: Be mindful if you do not have a suitable car you may find the floodways an issue. We took a 4WD so found it easy to navigate the streams over the roads. In fine weather the roads would be fine, we had rain on and off. The accommodation management checked in with us the day of arrival to ensure we had appropriate transport. All part of the fun and secluded nature of the spot!

Relaxing Positive: Secluded, quiet, beautiful Negative: Extra comfy seating out on deck/inside would be a bonus

A really great getaway !! Positive: The most amazing stay and perfect getaway. The property incredibly well presented, tidy, clean and had a great feel.