I did a weekend getaway in an off-grid tiny house - here's what it was like

As someone who has been camping - both tent and camper trailer - plenty of times I definitely thought staying in an off-grid tiny house in the middle of nowhere would be pretty similar.

In some aspects that was definitely the case. But in others, I was very wrong.

For starters it rained most of the weekend and having an actual dry space, complete with an indoor bathroom and toilet, was ideal.

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Some of the big travel trends in 2025 include sustainable trips and outdoor escapes, as travellers look to embrace a more considered lifestyle, minimising their impact on the environment.

In response to this, Volvo Car Australia and Into The Wild escapes have teamed up to launch a Scandinavian-inspired 'tiny home' called Tiny Astrid, nestled in Blue Mountains, NSW.

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Located just two hours from Sydney, the eco-luxury tiny home is named after Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippi Longstocking, and is surrounded by stunning landscapes and iconic views.

Boasting nature-inspired interiors and sustainable, recycled materials, it was a the perfect spot to give this off-grid holidaying a go.

Inside the tiny house

Even though Astrid was designed with couples or solo travellers in mind, we included our one-year-old in the equation as well.

The tiny home offers a loft queen bed, a cosy lounge nook, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a reverse-cycle air conditioning unit. The unit has a three-hour timer so you don't waste any energy but we ended up not using it at all.

The space was big enough to fit a porta-cot and the bed itself was extremely comfortable. But my favourite feature by far was the bathroom. This is what sets staying in a tiny home apart from camping.

With a huge shower and the nicest 'dump' toilet I've ever seen, it was well designed you wouldn't even know you were 'off-grid'.

Can you stay in a tiny house with a baby?

Put simply, yes you can of course. But not without some preparation. As per usual we packed more for our little one than we did for ourselves.

Given the weather looked a bit up and down, we made sure to have plenty of things for a little one to do if stuck inside all day. Of course, playing outside was much more fun.

The trickiest part to navigate was nap time. What I didn't realise was that while the stunning floor to ceiling doors and large windows were fabulous for letting nature in, they did not in fact have blinds.

Broad daylight is not a friend to a napping baby. In the end there was a hammock on the wall that we fashioned into a small cot cover. It did the trick.

Getting there

As part of the partnership, guests have the option to go the extra mile with their escape by adding on the all-new Volvo EX30, Volvo's most sustainable all-electric SUV.

Designed to have the smallest carbon footprint of any Volvo car to date, the EX30 will be available for guests to add on to their stay, allowing for an entirely eco-conscious journey from start to finish.

It was the first time ever I'd driven an electric car and I was very impressed. It had no difficulties getting up the mountains and even crossing some 'unpaved' terrain to the tiny house.

It was extremely comfortable, and I didn't once worry about running out of charge. The car has plenty of nifty features to ensure that doesn't happen.

I loved some of the tech, but as with anything ultra modern, sometimes there can be too much tech. The over-eager driver monitor was a bit of a nuisance and it did take some getting used to having absolutely no dash in front of you. Everything is displayed and controlled from the large 'Ipad-like' screen in the centre.

Also, again travelling with a baby, the open sun roof was a stunning design feature, but as it doesn't have a cover, we had to get creative with some muslin wraps to keep our little one from being in the full sun, and being able to snooze during the drive.

The novelty of watching the car charge in my driveway won't wear off any time soon. I can definitely see how the electric car market is one of the fastest growing in the country.

The writer was a guest of Volvo Car Australia and Into The Wild. 'Tiny Astrid' is available to book via the Into the Wild Escapes website here. Lead-in rates from $349 per night.