Want to go bush for a while? Love off-grid and simple living?

We are looking for someone or a couple to look after our 2 lovely kelpie puppies, both 1 year old, and our 25 chickens, while we are away in July. The chickens are partly self-sufficient as their water and feed can last up to 2-3 days. The eggs need to be picked up every day, although a day can be skipped if needed. You can keep a dozen per week for yourselves, and the rest goes to a local cafe. It is a permaculture designed property, although it is in the early stages of design implementation. There are fresh organic vegetables to eat onsite, and lots of herbs. You may need to water the garden beds every now and then if it doesn't rain.

The dates are a little flexible (a day or two on either side). We would like you to arrive before we leave so you get be acquainted with the off-grid lifestyle and all that it entails (e.g., we will teach you the basics of the solar system monitoring, water tank and pipeworks, how to get broadband internet working). You can move in earlier (this week if you want!) or stay longer after we come back.

The accommodation is a cute small self-contained and completely off-grid bush cottage in the beautiful Wollombi Valley. It has basic electricity from a solar system which supports lights and power points and water from a rainwater tank. There is a gas esky style fridge. The shower and composting toilet are bush style in a small outdoor shed, but there is gas hot water for the shower. There is also a gas heater in the cottage. Please no smoking indoors, no parties or drugs: it is intended for bush lovers and quiet-loving type people. The off-grid and simple bush lifestyle is extremely enjoyable for those in the right mindset!

The cottage is very private a secluded. You may have the visit of wombats, wallabies, lyrebirds, king parrots, black cockatoos, gang gangs, and plenty other wildlife. Plenty of bush walking, gullies and caves to explore on the property!

In the area there is an abundance of wineries (around Wollombi and Hunter Valley), beautiful lookouts, painted caves and rock carvings, a family style zoo in Pokolbin, wine tours, and many other things to do (search "Hunter Valley" on Google for more). The property is located about 30 minutes from Cessnock, 25 minutes from Wollombi, and 15 minutes from Millfield (there's a general store with fuel, post office and other essentials). The famous Wollombi Tavern (our local pub) is a great place to socialize.

There's an 8km dirt road drive up the mountain and along a ridge road - 450m altitude at the top. The road is generally well maintained but it's a dirt road nonetheless and 4WD or a car with good clearance is recommended, otherwise you must go very slow. It is not suitable for a motorhome or large caravan towing (some have brought one here, it's possible, but not recommended).

There is generally good mobile reception up here because of the altitude, better with Optus than Telstra, but none for Vodafone. There is no landline. We can leave our internet dongle and a mobile broadband booster while we're away if useful to you.

Please, give us a call today if this sounds appealing!

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