Burawa

Description

This comfortable, spacious, brand new strawbale dwelling is an architect-designed house situated atop the foothills of the Myall River Valley. Surrounded by State forest, it is an easy ten minute drive from Bulahdelah village.

The house has minimal impact on the environment as it is not connected to the grid, generating all of its electricity through solar panels on the roof, and hot water from a solar hot water system. We collect all of our water in a large tank and have a modern self-composting toilet. This is a perfect opportunity to experience sustainable living in a peaceful, easeful and beautiful environment.

Large windows on all sides of the house give 360 degree views into the bush and across to the spectacular range of hills to the west. Relax with an evening drink on the wide verandahs as the sun sets, and the birds settle for the evening. In summer, shade-cloth blinds on the verandah keep out the heat of the day.

Inside, the coloured concrete floor and thick, ochre-coloured, rendered strawbale walls keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter. The large open-plan living/dining area is stylishly furnished and includes a large hand-crafted dining table and Gourmet wood-fired cooker with efficient oven and stove-top cooking. A double futon daybed and fold-out couch provide comfortable bedding for extra guests. A CD player with radio, a DVD player and a range of board games take care of indoor entertainment.

Two large bedrooms, one with queen bed and one with double bed are equipped with wardrobes, dressers, mirrors and reading lights. All blankets, doonas and pillows are supplied. Please bring your own bed linen.
Both rooms face east and receive the morning sun. A morning cup of tea in bed takes on a new perspective at Burawa as you gaze out into the bush and listen to the morning chorus of birds.
The kitchen is large and well-equipped with pots and pans, crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils. A gas stove is fuelled from LPG tanks and there is ample bench and cupboard space. A renovated railway workshop bench separating the kitchen and dining areas is a great work space for the kitchen helpers. And if you’re cooking up a storm you can always light the fire and use the cooker top and oven, or fire up the outdoor gas BBQ. The kitchen has a new medium-sized refrigerator.
The clean spacious bathroom has bath with shower and the Rotaloo toilet is in a separate room three steps up from the main floor. Please bring your own towels.
As we make all of our own electricity, we respectfully ask that you do not bring hair dryers with you on holiday. The sudden surge of power to heat the element can be detrimental to the system.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome, but not on the furniture.

The local area

Less than 3 hours drive from Sydney, Burawa is ideally situated to take advantage of the lakes, beaches, rivers, national parks and mountains of the Great Lakes and hinterland areas. Maps and informative brochures are available at the house.
Inland, the Barrington Tops and Gloucester Tops National Parks have subtropical to cool temperate rainforest with epiphytes such as birds nest ferns, elkhorn ferns and orchids high in the trees at the lower levels, and stands of Antarctic Beech with understoreys of soft tree ferns and mosses in the misty heights of the park. There is bush walking to suit every level of fitness. The drive to Barrington via Booral, Stroud and Dungog is varied and very pretty, and Gloucester is an attractive little town to stop for refreshments on the Bucketts Way.
If you want to stay closer to home, ten kilometers north of Bulahdelah at Wootton the Brush Turkey community-run café has lunches, and supper and movie nights. The drive to Wootton winds up through lush palm and eucalypt forest with views across the surrounding ranges. Purportedly the biggest tree in New South Wales, The Grandis, a 76m high flooded gum is a short drive and walk to the north of the Wootton Way. It is well sign-posted.
On the coast, the unspoiled Seal Rocks beach and the Sugarloaf Point lighthouse are a 40 minute drive away, and Blueys Beach, Pacific Palms and Elizabeth Beach are a similar distance. Booti Booti, Myall Lakes, and Wallingat National Parks are all within an easy drive. Take a detour through the Wallingat park to the Whoota Whoota lookout for the most spectacular views across the biggest freshwater lake system in New South Wales with views back to Barrinton Tops.
The village of Bulahdelah has a well-stocked grocery store, bakery, butcher (prize-winning sausages), cafes, garages, chemist, newsagent, Post Office, hospital, churches and a hotel with bottle shop. The best hot chips in New South Wales can be found at the last general store on the way out to the house.

Things to do

•Bushwalking on a wide variety of marked trails (maps provided)
•Kayaking or canoeing on rivers and lakes (bring your own or hire locally)
•Swimming, snorkeling, diving or surfing (beaches, rivers and lakes - or the Bulahdelah swimming pool)
•Bird watching (binoculars provided)
•Whale watching from Tea Gardens or Nelson Bay (May to October, bookings essential)
•Dolphin watching at Port Stephens (nearly 200 resident dolphins)
•Try out the local cafes
•Mountain bike on the State Forest trails behind the house
•Nothing – just relax and enjoy the view

To make a reservation or enquiry, please complete the form below.

• Request a Booking