We acknowledge that Nook On The Hill sits on Djab Wurrung country and pay our respects to
elders past, present and emerging.
Phone / WhatsApp: 0402 240 939
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.nookonthehill.com.au
Download a printable version (PDF).
View our Quality Tourism Australia Accessibility Report.
Let's talk about your stay
- Completed the Quality Tourism Australia accessible tourism program.
- Completed the Welcome with Pride accessibility and inclusion training, which we chose specifically to test our knowledge and find further improvements.
- Completed our Accessibility Assessment and Welcome with Pride accreditation.
- Produced and now maintain this guide as an honest, practical tool for guests.
The clearest lesson from all of this is simple. Research and experience in accessible tourism consistently show that warm, accurate communication matters as much as physical features, and often more. For a small property whose structure cannot change, that is where we can make the biggest difference: by being honest, communicating clearly, and making it easy for every guest to tell us what they need. That is exactly what we are committed to doing.
How we keep learning
The Nook is a self check-in property, with no host on site at arrival. We make up for this with thorough information beforehand and a host who is only ever a phone call away. If you would find it helpful, we are glad to send photos of the entrance and path in advance, or to talk you through arrival step by step over the phone, so there are no surprises when you reach the door.
Whatever your needs, we would rather offer you the options and let you choose what works than assume anything on your behalf. Tell us what would make your stay easier, and we will do what we can and follow your lead.
A note on arrival
Assistance animals are welcome at the Nook, in keeping with our obligations under Victorian law. As we are not otherwise a pet-friendly property, we simply ask that you let us know before booking, so we can make sure everything is set for you and your animal. As with all our guests, we ask that the garden gate stays closed during your stay, which keeps the local deer and rabbits from the native garden.
Assistance animals
Because of its tiny-house design and natural bush setting, the Nook has real physical limitations. We share these openly so you can decide what will work for you. If any of them raise a question, please get in touch and we will gladly talk it through.
Steps at every entrance
Both the front and side entrances involve steps. There is no step-free or level entry into the house, and no ramp.
Spiral staircase to the bedroom
The only bed is in the mezzanine, reached by a spiral staircase. There is no ground-level sleeping option. The spiral form makes this steeper and tighter than a standard stair.
Compact interior
The Nook is cosy by design, with tighter turning spaces throughout. It is not suited to wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or larger assistance devices, and may be challenging for anyone needing significant space to move.
Standard compact bathroom
The bathroom is a standard small size. It does not have grab bars or other specialised accessibility fixtures.
Natural, uneven terrain
From the rear parking area, a gravel path runs down a gentle slope to the house, about 25 metres in total. The garden sits on natural, uneven ground, and paths are gravel or unpaved.
Vision and hearing features
The Nook is well lit, but has no tactile paving, braille signage, or auditory cues, and no visual alerts for alarms or the phone. The setting is quiet, which can help, but please consider these gaps when deciding.
In short
The Nook is not a universally accessible property, and it is not suitable for guests with significant mobility needs. We are completely committed to transparency, so please consider these points carefully and contact us before booking so we can make sure the Nook is the right fit for your stay.
What to know before you booK
Some access needs are met not by ramps and rails, but by the kind of place a property is and the way its hosts communicate. These are real strengths of the Nook.
A calm, low-stimulus retreat
The Nook sits at the end of a quiet, dead-end road with very little passing traffic and one peaceful neighbouring property. For guests who find busy, noisy accommodation overwhelming, including neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive guests, it offers a genuinely restful, low-sensory environment.
Attentive, personal communication
From booking to arrival, you will hear from Benj several times by email, text and WhatsApp. You always have a direct line to a real person who knows the house intimately and can answer any question, before or during your stay.
Tailored dietary care
We ask every guest about dietary needs and allergies when they book, and tailor the welcome hamper accordingly, including dairy-free and gluten-free options, so you can enjoy the local produce without concern.
Information ahead of time
We send detailed pre-arrival information so you know what to expect before you travel, and a large-print, high-contrast version of our house notes is available on request.
Where the Nook genuinely shines
At the Nook, we want every guest to feel they can make a confident, fully informed decision about staying with us. This guide is an honest overview of what the Nook offers and where it has limits, so you can decide whether our little house on the hill suits your needs.
The Nook is a handcrafted, sustainable tiny house, designed as an intimate retreat for two, deeply connected to the natural landscape of Gariwerd. That design gives it a special character, and it also means some features of universal accessibility were not part of how it was built. We would always rather tell you plainly what to expect than have anything come as a surprise on arrival.
A warm invitation to talk
However you experience the world, we would love to help make your stay as effortless as possible. If you have any access needs or questions, the best thing you can do is get in touch before you book. Benj, our owner and host, is always happy to talk things through, send extra photos, or walk you through anything at all.
