Off-Grid Living

The Crest is completely off-grid. In the Australian Alps, the sun can disappear for days, especially in winter. We monitor battery levels and use a generator when needed. If you're out during the day, you won't notice any power issues. If you're at The Crest during the day, we’ll text you to let you know we need to come and put the generator on if necessary. We are also manually filling up the water so if you do run out just text us.

We appreciate your patience and understanding and hope for sunny weather during your stay.

The OVEN

As mentioned in the listing details, there is an electric oven (this came with the house and isn’t ideal with solar); due to being electric, it is to be used sparingly! Please prioritise cooking with the gas stove (especially in the evenings or when weather is really cloudy). If you do really need to use the oven just text us and we can put the generator on for you.

GAS

So as not to waste any gas we need to make sure each gas bottle is completely empty before switching them over. You may be the lucky guest who gets to empty the last of the bottle! If the stove top or heater has no gas then chances are the bottle has been emptied. If you are comfortable with it you can head around to the back of the tiny house, turn off the empty bottle and turn on the full bottle. Or just text us and we can do it for you.

The Internet

The Crest has Starlink Wi-Fi which is connected to the projector. The wi-fi password is also on the wall where you scanned the QR Code.

The Crest 1 - Crackenback123

The Awning

IMPORTANT: Do not use if windy and do not leave it extended + unattended.
If you leave this awning open and unattended and damage occurs you are responsible for the cost of repairs.
This awning is for calm sunny summer days so please only use it on these occasions.
*The awning has a manual crank handle hanging just to the left of the awning from the drain pipe.
Hook it to the black plastic ring on the left of the awning and you can wind it open and closed.
We recommend only winding it out as far as the first section of the deck.

The Projector

For a cozy movie night, use the projector. Pull down the blinds and use the larger remote on the coffee table to turn it on. Use the smaller Amazon Fire Stick remote to choose your streaming service (Netflix, Disney Plus, Stan, and more). Adjust the projector angle as needed.

Heating

The gas heater quickly warms the tiny house. Ensure all doors, windows, and blinds are shut to retain heat during the night. Close the bathroom door to prevent heat loss (unfortunately the bathroom window that came with the tiny house loses a lot of heat).
Keep front blinds open during the day for extra heat from afternoon sun.

Use the following timer settings to have the heater turn on automatically in the morning or evening.

Turn on Timer 1 when you go to bed - so the heater will turn on and warm the place up early in the morning.
Turn on Timer 2 so the house will be toasty when you get home from skiing in winter.

Please do not sleep with the heater on overnight! Flannel Sheets + Hot Air Rising = Too Much (Trust Us).

Outdoor Seating

Cushions are stored under the stairs due to weather. Please bring them in at night.
A picnic board is above the fridge, and cheese knives are in the cutlery drawer.

Wild Weather

Wild weather! Welcome to the Snowy Mountains.

The tiny house is designed for the conditions and securely anchored. It has withstood some crazy winds! So if you feel it shake don’t worry - it’s been through it before. Unfortunately, the cabin is not sound-proof to these loud storms and gusts, but earplugs are provided on the kitchen bench if needed.

If the chairs blow off the deck and the firepit flips over you know it’s been a good one!

Firepit

During winter, dry firewood stocks are limited. If you plan to have a fire, we recommend bringing a bag of dry kindling from the service station. Larger logs are stored under the deck, but they may be damp and hard to burn. You can also find plenty of sticks and logs in the bush. Fire starters and matches are in the bottom wicker drawer under the stairs, and marshmallows are in the pantry.

If it’s windy or there is a fire ban, please do not light the fire.
Never leave the fire unattended and ensure it is extinguished before going to bed.
If you need more wood, you can use the stacks behind the larger fire pit area.

Record Player + Speaker

Located in the second loft you will find tunes!
The little grey boom box will connect easily to your phone via Bluetooth (Audio Pro)
or if you would prefer to listen to records just check out the how-to guide on the player.

Bathroom

The bathroom features has a shower and plenty of towels. If you need more towels or toilet paper, just let us know. The composting toilet requires a cup or two of sawdust (located next to the toilet) after each use. A fan continuously pulls air out of the chamber to prevent odours - if the toilet smells, it means it has accidentally been switched off (so make sure the power point behind the toilet is switched on).
The heated towel rack is on an intermittent timer throughout the day, so just leave your towels on there even if it does not feel warm to the touch. If you encounter any issues, please inform us.

Kitchen

The kitchen has plenty of fridge space and supplies, along with a gas-top stove and an electric oven. Since the oven runs on solar power, avoid using it for more than 30 minutes or for extravagant dishes. If you are using the oven in the evening, chances are we will need to put the generator on so please text us. There is also an air-fryer to use INSTEAD of the oven. If you use BOTH at the same time without the generator on you will wake up with no power.
Please do not cook on the stove with the blinds all the way down -
fire extinguisher and fire blanket are located in the bottom left-hand cupboard.

Tea And Coffee

In a nook under the staircase, you will find a stovetop kettle and a box of assorted teas (if you are running low just let us know). There is also a coffee machine in the pantry cupboard that uses coffee grounds, which are located next to the machine. You will find instructions for the coffee machine on the back of the pantry door.

Rubbish & Cleaning

Under the kitchen sink, you'll find three bins for rubbish, recycling, and compost. When the bins are full, you can drop the rubbish and recycling at the end of the driveway or use the garbage bin in The Crest Car Park. If the compost bin is full, let us know, and we'll empty it for you. Cleaning cloths and supplies are in the bottom drawer under the kitchen bench.

Please do your washing up before you leave. There is a laundry basket for towels in the bathroom.

Laundry

The tiny house doesn’t have a laundry but we offer a laundry service to guests.
This service is $20 per load. If you require laundry just let us know and we will arrange a basket & collect it for you.
If you are staying for longer than a week laundry is free.

Wildlife

There are plenty of critters in the bush, during your stay you may see wombats, possums, wallabies, deer, and eagles. During the Summer there are also Copperhead Snakes, these guys are venomous but also very timid, so keep an eye out where you step on the hot days. But don’t be worried, they are more scared of you!

Activities

You will find backgammon, cards, a puzzle and Finska in the tiny house. But we also have some other board games and puzzles in the main house, so just let us know if you need more entertainment!