Capturing the Freedom of a Tiny Home Stay in Rural Victoria

There’s something special about leaving behind the noise of the city and escaping to the quiet wilderness of Victoria. But what’s even better? Being able to capture that feeling of escape and sweet isolation through my camera.

For me, it’s not just about snapping pictures of these stays; it’s about capturing the calm, the freedom, the sense of pure disconnect from the world to inspire others to escape the everyday.

Read more: The 9 Best Multi-day Hikes Victoria Has To Offer

I’ve been lucky enough to photograph some incredible tiny homestays hidden away in Victoria’s bushlands, but Tiny Harper? This one tops the list.

About 40 minutes from Bendigo, this little gem is perched on a hill, surrounded by nothing but bush and private farmland. It’s the kind of off-grid escape where you feel like you have your own slice of the world for the weekend.

Read more: The Bendigo Region is a Gold Mine of Adventures

As we drove up we were welcomed by Harry, the resident sheepdog. He was like our personal guide, leading us straight to the tiny home and sticking with us all weekend, he became our mate straight away.

We arrived just in time for my favorite part of the day – golden hour. As the sun started to dip, I made a fire, grabbed my camera, and got to work capturing that last magical bit of light and colour in the sky before it disappeared.

Everything was draped in a warm, hazy glow, and I knew the photos would be enough to make someone else want to pack their bags and find their own escape. Each tiny home I photograph has its own story, and I really wanted this one to capture the feeling of complete freedom.

Mornings were all about catching the soft light before the world woke up. I was up before the sun every day, getting those dreamy shots of light filtering through the trees, steam rising from our coffee cups, the kettle on the fire, and the layered mountain views stretching into the distance.

But honestly, one of the highlights was Harry. He quickly became our best mate, tagging along on bushwalks and just hanging out with us. It felt like we’d rented a dog for the weekend – and he was all in.

What I really love about these tiny home projects is because you’re so far away from the city, the sky is always lit up with stars.

There’s no light pollution out here, so it’s always ideal for stargazing and capturing the Milky Way.

Once the sky was completely dark I set up the tripod, popped the camera on long exposure, lit up the house, and took a few shots until I had what I needed.

After capturing the stars, there was no need to freeze our way back to bed, we were just a few steps from the cosy warmth of the tiny home.

It’s basically fancy camping, and I’m all about it. You get the thrill of being in nature with all the comforts of home within arm’s reach.

After my astrophotography session, I set my alarm for just before dawn. I didn’t want to miss the first light of day. There’s something magical about being up before the world wakes when the air is crisp, the light is soft, and everything is still. That first burst of sunlight is gold for photographers – it romanticizes everything and I’m obsessed.

The tiny home itself was designed to bring the outside in, with huge windows that frame the views from every angle, making you feel like you’re outside. Tiny Harper has one dominant window that looks straight out into the paddocks.

The sun streams through in the morning and it’s the perfect place to read and sip a hot coffee.

After the morning images had been snapped, we walked through the bush to a stunning farmland outlook and watched kangaroos and cattle graze.

These tiny home stays offer a unique way to experience Victoria’s great outdoors without giving up modern comforts, and I feel pretty lucky to capture those moments.

Once I’d ticked off every frame on my shot list, we gave Harry one last hug, packed up, and left the place just as we found it, with dreams of returning again soon.