Go off-grid in style at the Barrington Eco Hut, NSW

Alice Nivison and Richie Northcott, the designers behind Barrington Eco Hut, describe it as “a humble 14-square metre, off-grid cabin perched on the banks of a highland river, nestled beside a dense casuarina woodland and enveloped by the sound of rushing water. We describe it as “heaven”. If you do too, here’s the lowdown…

Getting there

Driving is where it’s at. Unlike some off-grid cabins, the Barrington Eco Hut invites you to park close to the door – which is especially handy as you’ll need to BYO all food and bevies to this remote site.

The story

The cabin’s owner had a very specific brief for Alice and Richie – “to build an off-grid cabin that was simple, sustainable and moveable”. Yep, you read that right, this bad boy has moves. The unique wilderness escape was designed to ‘go with the flow’ alongside the river below… the ‘flow’ being its ability to move up the hill and avoid rising waters. Smart.

The stay

This is not your average cabin. The architecturally designed, luxury retreat boasts a queen bed, hot shower, composting toilet, pull-out barbecue and outdoor, riverside fire pit. What’s more? There’s zero WiFi, nada mobile reception and is surrounded by nothing more than the sounds of nature. That right there’s the trifecta friends. Use it as your go-to place to switch off, unwind, drink tea and read books or – for the hikers among us – as a base for the nearby world heritage listed Barrington Tops National Park. Either way, soak up the serenity, sit under the stars at the foot of the fire, on the banks of the river and remember how exquisite this world can be.

The interesting bits

It’s built sustainably – birch plywood has been used for both the interior plane and kitchen cabinetry, while baltic pine washes over the floors. The result? A serene, authentic space that seems to wrap its arms around you the second you step inside. The earthy, raw aesthetic continues in the bathroom thanks to the fibre cement fitout complemented by copper and brass fixtures. As for the exterior cladding? Yep, that’s sustainable too – a very clever product called matt black Weathertex (made from hardwood sawdust) envelops the cabin.

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