Cockatoo Express is now mainly offered as part of Tall Timbers Orient Express, only rarely by itself.
Embark on a journey where you are yourself the destination! Styled like a vintage sleeper car, this tiny home takes you back in time and beyond time.
This cosy and warm space with a beautiful garden view is perfect to retire from hustle & bustle of the city. Relax, sleep, read, meditate, stretch, do yoga, hike in Dandenong Ranges to take care of the body and silence that monkey mind.
The space
The tiny house is 2.6x2.6 meters. The space feels cosy like Orient-Express deluxe cabin in a sleeper car (including railway sounds, if you are after an immersive experience!).
It is optimised with sufficient storage: shelves, hooks and hangers. An electric blanket and electric log heater are provided for colder nights, a portable fan for hotter days. 95% of items are consciously sourced second hand objects.
Perfect for slow travellers, this is your space for a solo retreat and reconnecting with yourself and nature. Sleep or read on the vintage brass bed, journal at the beautiful antique desk, make yourself a tea from the lovely fine bone china and a selection of 5 Dilmah teas in tea bags or loose leaves, or make a coffee in a vintage plunger.
This accommodation would perfectly suit someone who spends the day hiking or doing other activities in Dandenong ranges and simply need a space to sleep, or someone looking for an affordable place for a solo retreat.
📢 If the dates you are after are unavailable, please reach out to enquire anyway as we might be able to open them for you.
Guests Toilet and Lavabo are available 24/7 from the back laundry in the main house upstairs. The shared bathroom with shower is inside the main house, available 8am-11pm.
You will in addition have access to a spacious yoga/meditation room in the main house, peaceful living room with a piano you can play on, and an art gallery feeling on a drawback of a stunning forest view, as well as fully equipped kitchen and a meals area.
Other guests might be staying in 1001 Nights Hideaway self contained studio on the same property and the garden will then be shared with them (although they usually keep to themselves). If it's not booked and you prefer a fully self-contained space, check that listing out!
Please be aware there are steps uphill to get to the main house and the bathroom.
Fast wifi available. No TV.
Not suitable for tall guests (over 6ft). There is a timber step provided under the bed for easy access.
💆 Extras to Elevate Your Stay (by request, 48h notice required):
- On-site 1h relaxation massage with elements of sound healing by a qualified massage therapist ($85)
- Lumena Sacred Flow on select weekend mornings: an embodied journey of gentle stretching, mindful movement, vocal chakra toning & relaxation, wrapped in the healing frequencies of light language ($30 per person, 2h duration).
- Your car washed ($20)
- Firewood ($30)
- You can watch the activity of a bee family being taken care of by a beekeeper (donation based, subject to weather conditions)
- French language immersion and private lessons (your host is a qualified and highly experienced teacher)
- Meditation room access upstairs
- Birthday or anniversary packages available
- Honey, honeycombs and hand made bee wax candles on sale
- Commercial photography/filming - contract available on request
See more on Insta at cockatoo_express
Guest access
You will have the lockable tiny house with separate entrance for yourself.
Pleases kindly note this accomodation will not suit someone who needs a bathroom in the same dwelling or has difficulty walking uphill.
You will also have access to the main house shared spaces (once you had a guided tour, no need to knock - just walk in):
- Large living room with stunning views and outdoors deck with furniture and birds visiting daily
- Spacious yoga/meditation room
- Kitchen with all cooking essentials and fridge (top shelf is yours)
- Dining area
- Main bathroom with shower outside of quiet hours
- 24/7 toilets with access in the main house via the garden
- Alfresco - under covered outdoor area - any time
There might be another guest or two in the garden if the self contained 1001 Nights Hideaway studio is booked.
Early check-in and late check-out can be accommodated if there are no other guests checking in on the same day - please message your host.
Other things to note
Please note the cabin doesn't have a bathroom. You will have access to the main house bathrooms 24/7 - it is only 90 steps away across the garden under the beautiful starry sky (including a few steps uphill), and a shared shower.
Drinkable water is provided in the cabin, as well as a kettle and tea and coffee essentials, including a vintage cookie musical jar to delight multiple senses.
You can use the fridge in the main house kitchen to store your food, and the washing machine and dryer for longer stays.
Linen and towels are provided.
There is a CD player in the tiny house, as well as a few classic / jazz / ambient CDs so you don't have to use your phone (hello, digital detox!), but can still enjoy some music. Please kindly note there is no TV on the property.
If you are interested in using these premises for commercial filming or photography, please contact me to get the contract: it is allowed for additional fees.
A full refund will be authorised in the event of extreme/catastrophic fire risks being declared by CFA (Country Fire Authority) in the area.
