1 site · Lodging16 acres · Castlemaine, VICWelcome to Electric Turtle. An award winning Tiny House retreat nestled in the forest situated on Djaara Country in Castlemaine, Victoria. Tune out in nature on your own private and secluded 16 acres of undulating and ancient box ironbark forest landscapes. Relax and unwind in a completely private and serene natural environment or soak up what Victoria’s most progressive regional centre has to offer. Whether it's bush immersion, re-wilding or those seeking world-class wine, music and art — Electric Turtle has you covered.
The experience
Secluded, private and serene just 2 minutes drive to the centre of Castlemaine. Surrounded by National Park on three sides and adjoining the famous Goldfields track, the natural environment is front and centre of your experience. Steeped in a long and rich ancient Indigenous cultural history as well as a more recent 19th-century Australian Gold Rush history, intriguing stories abound in this ancient landscape.
Unwinding in the outdoors is made easy in this beautifully crafted building. Inspiring bushwalking and bike riding abound. The natural beauty of the landscape is truly captivating with a diverse and ever changing array of native flora and fauna including diverse bird life, kangaroos, wallabies, gliders, frogs, reptiles, marsupials, native orchids, wildflowers, funghi and eucalypts. Filtered 270º views towards Leanganook (Mt Alexander), Chewton bushlands and beyond across Castlemaine town centre provide the ideal position to escape from the hustle and bustle.
An award-winning design
The architect designed Tiny Home created by reknowned local builders House Workshop in Castlemaine is beautifully crafted from reclaimed materials and sits gently in it’s bush home. Winning the 2023 Tiny House Industry Association Craftsman Build award, it’s an incredible and unique space to bask in the beauty of it’s surrounds.
The 20 square metre design achieves a spacious feeling within a compact form through minimal separations and interconnected spaces that open up to the outside through plentiful windows and doors. The volume is a single space informally separated into three areas, living, sleeping and cooking / dining and further extended by the adjoining 16 square metre alfresco deck.
Highly insulated, low-zero VOC finishes with large glazing and cross-ventilation is designed to bring the outdoors in. Paired with a solar passive design and a northerly orientation it ensures a restorative and inspiring space to rejuvenate in your tranquil bush escape. The raised bed platform includes an ultra comfy king sized bed for maximum comfort and relaxation, quality organic linen and uninterrupted bush views to watch a myriad of local birds scurry and flit for the latest nectar on offer.
The details
At Electric Turtle we’re entirely off-grid to ensure a small carbon footprint and a sustainable ethos that treads lightly on the environment. A small-scale solar battery system takes care of lights and charging for phones, lights, laptops and essentials.
We collect filtered rainwater and spring water for drinking, showering and cooking. Your cooking needs are covered by a well appointed kitchen with hot and cold water throughout, sink, full stainless oven, four burner gas hob cooktop and fridge with freezer. We also have fast wi-fi available free of charge, let us know if you’d prefer to have it turned off for a full digital detox experience. Full kitchenware and cooking essentials are provided including local complimentary local sour dough, free range eggs, coffee, tea, milk and your choice of a bottle of local wine or locally brewed beer.
A large alfresco deck and verandah adjoins the tiny house offering additional space to sprawl out and unwind outdoors or cook outside on the BBQ. Step down into a light touch landscaped bush courtyard to dine under the stars.
Continuing the eco-focused ethos we have a custom built hot and cold outdoor shower experience to immerse yourself in the natural bush landscape and a full composting toilet setup to ensure all your amenities are well covered.
How to get there
An all weather accessible two wheel drive road provides access right to the door of Electric Turtle. A 2 minute drive to the centre of Castlemaine and just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD. Local taxi’s and food delivery also service Electric Turtle. Castlemaine Railway Station is a 5 minute drive and services Melbourne Southern Cross Station in a 1.5hr trip.
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