Trickle Hill - enjoy bush, wine and relaxation on a hidden farm
Trickle Hill is a lovely cottage tucked away at the edge of our bush. You have your own little patio, and can go for adventurous walks straight from your living room !
We are located on the edge of the Dandenong ranges, very close to Kurth Kiln and Bunyip National park. Yarra Valley is a short drive away- vineyards are also close, while bushwalking is literally at your doorstep. It is the ideal location for a relaxing break in the bush- hiking, cycling, horseriding or 4 WDing- it is all possible close to our property- or a short drive away. Avalon castle is very close, so we are ideally situated if you attend a wedding. We are of course LGBTI+ friendly !
The cottage has three bedrooms, a lovely living area and a cosy woodfire. We have a sheltered outdoor area, where you can have a barbeque, or have a small fire in a firedish. (not on code red days) You will be at the edge of the bush, so you hear, or walk out, and try to find our resident breeding pair of Lyrebirds, echidnas, wombats, wallabies and kangaroos or the deer that live in our 'back yard'. Or just roam, which shouldn't be too hard on 67 acres :-)
We are close to massive areas of bush with trails. We love dogs, but cats can't come, as we do love our lizards and birds too, and for allergy reasons. We do our best to keep everything as 'green' as we can- so please don't use harsh chemicals. Living in the bush brings with it that you cannot light a fire in fire danger periods, and, heating on a woodstove, means there is a hot stove in the room. (watch those little fingers...) We are happy for you to pet our horses when we are present, play with our dogs- but be aware- we have dams on the property, so keep an eye on your children. Our animals are very friendly but you always need to keep an eye out when you don't know them!
The cottage is down the hill from our house, so there is plenty of privacy. We both have a workshop near to the cottage but will do our best not to disturb you too much. (we are both artists). Aukje offers workshops in clay- so let us know if you are interested! Our aim is to give you a place of rest and enjoyment. We love to share our space as we love it here so much- and hope you love it too. As life is a project - don't expect 10* linen and luxury, state of the art gardens and clipped lawns, but a friendly welcoming atmosphere where you can be yourself and relax.
You will have access to the cottage and the outdoor area, all the bush around the house and the area around our animals if you like. The area around our own house we would like to keep private.
This a working hobby farm- with machinery, animals (pigs in season, dogs, horses, ducks and chickens). Please keep off the machinery, and the horse paddock is out of bounds, unless we are there to read our horses body language, and invite you in.
DOGS; Our dogs are very friendly, well socialised, love to play with visitors, and will visit you as they run free at all times. If your dog is reactive, we are happy to do a slow introduction, but we prefer not to lock our dogs up for yours. Our property is stock fenced- dogs are able to roam if they are not staying with you. You are expected to be in full control of your dog at all times, to protect our animals. Discuss if you are not sure.. Dogs cannot be left alone in the cottage, unless contained. We are working on a fenced dog yard.
We are a rural property with animals, and there are dams on the property, (not close to the cottage) so please keep an eye on children - we cannot take responsibility for your persons or animals.
Living on a farm means that not everything is safe, flat or person-proof. Coming here is entirely at your own risk, but of course- if there is anything we can do to make your visit more pleasurable, we will do our best to do so!
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights
Remove all cigarette butts, empty ashtray, and place in bin at the road.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 9205713
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses a grey water recycling system and eco-friendly cleaning products
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Melbourne
Located in Cockatoo, a neighbourhood in Melbourne, this cottage is in a rural area. Monbulk Winery and Carlei Estate are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Puffing Billy Steam Train and Gemco Community Theatre. Australian Rainbow Trout Farm and Tesselaar's Bulbs and Flowers are also worth visiting. Fishing offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking, hunting and cycling nearby.
Wright Forest Bushland Reserve - 4 min drive - 3.1 km
Emerald Lake Park - 8 min drive - 6.8 km
Mount Majestic Bushland Reserve - 10 min drive - 7.2 km
Clematis Park Bushland Reserve - 10 min drive - 9.5 km
Dandenong Ranges National Park - 17 min drive - 17.8 km
Getting around
Cockatoo Station - 5 min drive
Melbourne, VIC (MEB-Essendon) - 71 min drive
Restaurants
The Railway Dog - 10 min drive
Bam Bam Italian - 7 min drive
The General Food Store - 9 min drive
Big Al's Pizza - 9 min drive
Yarra Ranges Estate - 19 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Trickle Hill - enjoy bush, wine and relaxation on a hidden farm pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Trickle Hill - enjoy bush, wine and relaxation on a hidden farm ?
As of 15 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Trickle Hill - enjoy bush, wine and relaxation on a hidden farm on 1 July 2026 start from AU$215, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Trickle Hill - enjoy bush, wine and relaxation on a hidden farm ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Trickle Hill - enjoy bush, wine and relaxation on a hidden farm ?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Trickle Hill - enjoy bush, wine and relaxation on a hidden farm ?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Trickle Hill - enjoy bush, wine and relaxation on a hidden farm located?
Located in Cockatoo, this cottage is 1.4 mi (2.3 km) from Wright Forest Bushland Reserve and 2.8 mi (4.5 km) from Gembrook G203 Bushland Reserve. Gembrook G204 Bushland Reserve and Emerald Lake Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Aukje and Arthur are very kind and welcoming. They have 3 beautiful dogs and Horses on the property that will come say Hello. The cabin itself is well furnished. Well stocked kitchen and comfortable beds.You can hear the sound of Kookaburras in the morning. The beautiful towns of Emerald and Gembrook are a short drive with great spots for lunch and dinner. The local IGA is high quality if you need to stock up on groceries.All in an amazing spot, for some peace and quiet.
Comfortable home, surrounded by nature, quiet, lovely visiting pack of dogs. Owners are very easy to reach if needed. Close to Kieth Kiln regional park so worth a visit!
We had a lovely farm house stay at trickle hill with Aukje proving to be a knowledgeable guide about the area. The unit is quaint and has everything you could need to enjoy your stay 😊
Once again thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Trickle Hill. Really appreciated the warm welcome we received from Aukje and Arthur, the comfortable accommodation and friendly furry friends.
Love the property, the surroundings, the forest, friendly hosts and their 4 dogs. Went for walks from Kurth Kiln picnic area both days we stayed. Thoroughly enjoyed it, so did our dogs. There are nice restaurants nearby too.
Thank you Aukje and Arthur for a lovely stay.
A very peaceful getaway. Pretty cabin with everything you need plus a wood burning fire for cold nights. Loved walking around the property meeting the owners 3 dogs, and the horses. Would love to go back soon
Trickle Hill was the perfect property for our little family holiday. Our hosts Aukje and Arthur were delightful, friendly and welcoming. The wood heater, groovy decor, bush setting and friendly farm animals were all highlights. We had a wonderful stay and thank Arthur and Aukje for all their help and local recommendations of places to visit, especially the walking tracks at Kurth Kiln.
Trickle Hill is a great cottage, very well appointed with comfortable beds and a gorgeous wood heater. Very peaceful location with plenty of bird song and no traffic noise whatsoever. Hosts Aukje and Artur are friendly and hospitable, along with their gorgeous doggies Bailey, Morph and Helmut. A wonderful peaceful place with plenty to see and do nearby.
This is a lovely peaceful place. Our dogs and I enjoyed exploring the property. We said hi to the pigs and discovered a pond with water lillies in flower and ducklings. The bush around is lush and green. You forget how much you need this until you are there.
I have a lovely couple of nights at this property. The place is clean and nice, and the surrounding forest is beautiful.
The wood heater was super impressive! So easy to use and kept the whole house warm all night (in winter!) Best indoor wood heater I've ever seen by far!
The hose was lovely as were her dogs, who were very friendly with mine.
A+++ !!! Looking forward to returning one day, I highly recommend this place
Michael G.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Amanda T.
2 Sept 2018
Beautiful Welcoming place to spend the weekend.
Great little place on a big property. Cosy and warm. Owners were very accomodating and helpful with local walks, bringing more fire wood but allowing privacy. My Dogs loved playing with the resident dogs and sleeping by the fire. The bed was comfy and while basic, everything needed was there for a great weekend away at short notice. It is close to workshops but there was minimal noise. Waking up to the sound of birds and rain on the roof was brilliant.
My grandson loved playing with the dogs and so did our dog
Lovely people who own the stayz everything we needed. Weather not very good so perhaps some extra paving to keep the mud down. However with dogs etc this may be hard
Hideaway cottage in the forest.... overwhelmingly beautiful
What a beautiful, peaceful and relaxing holiday my partner and I had. The kookaburras were singing at 8pm and early in the morning. The fresh air was invigorating and the hosts were down to earth, helpful and friendly. This property is full of heart and beauty. Be sure to head here for a retreat away from the busy day to day world that we live in. Escape and enjoy every moment. Be sure to play and pat the gorgeous friendly dogs. Thank you for having us stay : )
Jess P.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021
Verified
6/10 Okay
Maryann S.
1 Nov 2023
Liked: Location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Secluded junk yard,first impression disappointing
Only heating is a wood burner..plenty of wood but uncut.Cosy interior, average amenities. Unnecessary rules and restrictions...Not suitable for everbody!
Maryann S.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Nov 2023
We are sorry your were not happy. Reading the ad before booking will help avoid surprises - we are very clear on what we offer :-)
Verified
6/10 Okay
Glenda B.
14 Mar 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, communication
Disliked: Check-in, location
2 night getaway
The cottage itself was clean & well appointed. The beds were comfortable & the shower water hot.
Some longlife milk on arrival would have been appreciated.
The access was steep & narrow, difficult to navigate at night. The access code for the gate was not received so had to ring the owner to get it. The key pad is not lit at night so difficult to find the right buttons without getting out of the car & using a torch.
Glenda B.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Mar 2023
Hi Glenda,
I am sorry to hear you were not completely satisfied .
Most communication happens through the app, which you didn’t use, so you indeed didn’t see the entry code I sent in the morning, together with a request for your approximate arrival time , which, if we know, we use to welcome you, show you around, tell you some things about the area, and, to ask you if you need anything- which we then can provide.
we couldn’t be there for you, as you didn’t communicate at all. We tried to meet up through the weekend, but you arrived very late, ( probably after the lights at the keypad stopped working- they are solar, but don’t go all night) and left very early.
I can only advise you to use the way of communication VRBO has put in place. It will probably make subsequent visits less disappointing- for you and your host.
Overall good.
I misread the fine print thinking there was central heating. As an urban dweller I was at first disappointed at having to chop wood and light the wood fire but very quickly I found it rewarding. The wood fire did not heat the entire house and we only used one bedroom. That said, the cottage and it’s bush setting had a charm of its own. The property did have a dilapidated bus and caravan, not sure if this was very pleasing! The location was great, very close to other wonderful mountain suburbs and their own attractions and eateries (Bam Bam—-Italian, The Independent—-Argentinian both super).
Daryl D.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct 2023
Thank you for your review Daryl, I am so sorry you didn't get the woodfire properly- it is designed to heat an area 4 times as large as the cottage, so it can certainly heat the whole house and more! As you said, reading the ad is so important, so you know exactly what to expect. This is a working farm, and there are always many projects on the go. Most people this its pretty cool there is so much happening here. I am sorry you didn't find our next accommodations in progress not charming, I hope they will be once they are finished! Imagine sleeping in an old Bedford Bus :-)
Verified
4/10 Poor
Deb C.
12 Mar 2025
Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy
Rooms for improvement and some TLC
One of the hosts did not pay attention to our concerns about the four dogs. It wasn’t stated on the website that guests were expected to wait in their car until the dogs dispersed. We did as instructed, but one guest with a disability needing two sticks for support, had a dog jump up and badly scratch her arm which required medical attention and a tetanus shot and a script for antibiotics. The other large dog liked to lean on you and when politely requested for the dog to be called away, the host ignored the request. Eventually the owner agreed for the dogs to be locked up for 10 minutes so we could get inside if we rang 20 minutes in advance.The toilet smelt when we arrived and became more smelly each day from septic and we followed all instructions using it. No ventilation in the laundry meant the odour didn’t disperse.The cottage wasn’t clean and there was food left in the fridge from previous guests. We swept the porch and wiped sticky surfaces and washed dishes that had not been cleaned properly. Ants came in from a bedroom window from an unsealed area at the window and crawled onto the bed when a guest was in bed. The outdoor furniture was covered in dog hair and was dirty.There is no walk from the cottage door as stated on the website as the path disappears after 5 minutes and has not been cleared and there were numerous thistles spreading.A lack of attention to detail with no hand towels and missing cutlery and abandoned ceramic bowls upturned at the entrance
Deb C.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Mar 2025
Dear Deb,
I’m sorry you feel the need to leave a negative review after we have addressed all your complaints.
That we have dogs that visit and love guests is clearly in the add. if there is a concern about dogs you were aware of ahead of your visit, you could have raised this and we wood have had a conversation.
Your friend, who was jumped on by one of our dogs, had no real problem with it, she was lovely, and we had a great chat, and could easily find a solution for her situation. Your demand that we lock up all dogs for the entire visit was unreasonable.
the ant problem was addressed immediately- by sealing the windows and laying poison with your permission, after you reassured us you were not using that room anyway.
The cottage was clean, the toilet has a window with perforation, the laundry has a window- you are the first person to talk about a sceptic smell and honestly- we could not smell it, nor did the guests that came immediately after you.
Some guests are hard to please. In your case, your friend was happy, but no matter what we did for you- we could not satisfy you. It is a pity it seemed like you didn’t read the ad, which is extensive, nor the guest-book with tips and expectations- as we had to take a long time to put our furniture back, and put the house back in order after your visit.
I would advise you to discuss special needs with your next host, it may clarify expectations on both sides, and improve the experience for the host and yourself .
A peaceful little cottage far from the main road and surrounded by forest. Nearby IGA is new, excellent for groceries.
Sara P.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
About the host
Hosted by Aukje Van Vark
We are a family of 5, who love dogs and horses. We also love travelling, making Art, improving on just about everything, and always have plans. We love to share our piece of paradise with people who are not as fortunate , so everyone can enjoy their own bush here :-)
Why they chose this property
Living here is wonderful- in this nice community full of lovely locals, animals and abundance of nature. We love the sound of the bush, going for walks, eating out in the amazing cafes and restaurants, drinking local wines, and being only an hour away from Melbourne cbd is a definite bonus!
What makes this property unique
this is a working farm- in there middle of the bush There cottage is at the edge of the bush, so you will have privacy. Our workshops are close, so some noise, traffic and materials will be encountered. Our dogs are always loose, and will visit you. We can feed horses together, if you wish, on days we have time.