Tiny homes are pretty f***ing cool, I’ve always loved the simplicity and the genius of using every square cm as productively as possible. Unyoked Cabins are more than that. They act as an oasis from the modern world inspiring a life beyond, endless emails & arbitrary deadlines.
Where we stayed - Unyoked Cybele
I think it’s worth mentioning that no matter what cabin you choose, you’re going to get the cozy off-grid vibes that are being promised. All the cabins are mostly identical, with the exception of some having a small wood-burning stove/fireplace (I think those are reserved for the much cooler climates).
Cybele is tucked away in Flinders Lakes, part of the Logan Council area, offering up perfect seclusion and unmatched sunsets falling behind Mount Flinders. As Ipswich locals for many years, both Sunny and I have climbed Mount Flinders. I’ve only managed it the once, but Sunny would regularly reach the summit guided by his dad. He’s done it over 7 times, so it was really unique to see a whole new face of the mountain.
Driving into the site, we came via Undallah Rd, which feeds in from Ipswich, although if you’re travelling in from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, you’ll be much better off travelling from Logan. Undallah Rd was almost an adventure in itself. It’s not long after you pass the Maccas that you’ve escaped the urban sprawl and hit the dirt road, twisting you around Mount Flinders, showing off its sweeping curves and jagged cliff edges. The road in is accessible in any city-slicking 2WD, but with enough turns and dips, you sometimes feel that a rally car would be more appropriate. In all seriousness though, take the road slow. It’s pretty narrow and traffic does flow both ways, with a few surprise potholes and a dodgy exit from a creek crossing that should not be approached at speed (especially if you’re travelling home via Undallah Road). I probably made that sound way scarier than it was, but we followed a Model Y Tesla for a good portion of the road and all was well.
If you do travel in from Logan you might have an easier time locating the right gate on arrival, as all the unyoked signs faced the opposite direction of travel for us. That was no trouble as we still had decent reception even down to the cabin (not the point of unyoked but handy if you need it - and we needed it!).
To get down to the cabin you’ll pass though 2 gates that must be closed as this is a working farm. You’ll follow the car tracks right up to the car pack, honestly the views even from here are pretty impressive - the perfect spot to breathe and wind down into your stay, as the car park is really where your stay begins. Everything that you bring with you gets put in one of the small wagons provided at the carpark, Once packed you beign the small trek up and over the hill to the cabin.
**Something to Note!!** on list listing for this cabin is saying the walk is flat - it’s not. It’s steep and if you’re not careful you definitely could have a run-away wagon. If you have nay mobility constraints that may inhibit you from walking up and down steep terrain, cybele may not be for you.
During our stay
Before you start to pack, you are prompted to download the Brick app so you can get to the cabin, Brick your phone and be completely offline.
For this trip, it could not have come at a better time. Earlier in the month, I really made the conscious effort to be more present, explore more and get off the damn phone. I had already deleted all the social media apps off my phone, so for me bricking my phone wasn’t the answer. I actually just needed to throw it into a fire… anyways. It took some convincing to get Sunny on board. He’s not a reader and always reaches for his phone in the dull moments. After our first night, the both of us were completely off our phones, and it stayed that way for the rest of the stay.
Our first night was bliss. As campers, we unknowingly had packed and prepared to be completely self-sufficient (of course I pack too much food), but it was so nice just to pull up and be set!
The only issue we ran into was having no gas and no hot water. Although Unyoked provides great instructions on switching over gas bottles if you run out, our cabin was only supplied with one. It must have been an issue with the gas line itself because Sunny (somehow with his bare hands) moved the gas bottle to the other line and got it working. It was a shame because only a couple of hours into the stay, I was glued to my phone sifting through digital guides and staying in touch with the customer service team.
I highly recommend sleeping with the blinds fully open. Wake up naturally with the sun and witness the most beautiful, cozy sunrise illuminate Mount Flinders right from your bed.
We kept brekkie small while trying to settle into our day of doing not much. Of course, I ran around with my camera for a bit and Sunny did some dog training with Checo. It wasn’t long before we turned on the radio and pulled out the card games. In the cabin, they actually had a number of board games and card games, Uno & Monopoly Deal, also the two card games we decided to bring along, hahah of course.
The evenings were my favourite part, golden hour light filtering through the trees, the smoke billowing from an infant fire and carrying us on to the chilly nights under a full moon and clear skies. We were absolutely spoilt with good weather.
After our stay - Our thoughts
Should you do an Unyoked stay?
Yes.
I’m already dreaming of the next one (there’s a few in the Blue Mountains, and I think it’s calling me). Compared to any other getaway, it is truly an escape, a holiday you don’t need a holiday from. For us, the best part was connecting, not really to nature but with each other. Without distractions, we could really be invested in conversations, both silly and serious.
If you do use this tiny home stay as an escape, my recommendation is to bring some practices back into your everyday life. Maybe for you that means bricking your phone or deleting social media as a whole (I still have access to my accounts on desktop, but honestly, I don't need the whole world in my pocket), meditating in the morning or simply swapping out your algorithmic Spotify suggestions with a radio from time to time.