Page 27 erched boldly on the rim of Dangars Gorge – peering out towards the impressive falls – sits one of the New England region’s most remarkable hideaways. By Gorge Escape isn’t merely accommodation; it’s a unique, off-grid retreat that lets visitors experience the vastness of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park that stretches in every direction. Dangars Falls is visible from the deck of the tiny house and shifts dramatically with the seasons – roaring and thunderous after rain, gentling to a silver thread during dry spells. The unique Eco Hauslein tiny home offers that rare alchemy of solitude and indulgence. It is exactly the sanctuary that Lucy Emmery and her family envisioned. Just over ten years ago, Lucy and her husband Graham made a life‑altering decision. Their children were eight and six, and the couple sensed a now‑or‑never moment to shift their lives to another country. For 17 years they had lived in a village tucked beneath Mont Blanc in the Chamonix Valley. But France, as Lucy tells it, could be complicated. Graham, originally from Canberra, felt the pull homewards. Lucy – who grew up on a farm in Herefordshire and had spent time working in Australia years before – was ready for wide spaces. The family travelled across Australia, from the Northern Territory to Western Australia, searching for the right place. They wanted space, beauty, and critically, a location where the children could attend good schools without needing to board far from home. The New England region struck them immediately. With help from a local agent, they found Tiverton Park – a 340‑acre property where they began running Angus cattle. Then the 2019 drought hit. In a courageous and somewhat daunting move, they bought an additional 1,000 acres from a neighbour, land etched with spectacular gorge country that Lucy quickly fell in love with. What felt risky at first gradually revealed itself as opportunity. With tourism experience already in their skill set, diversifying into accommodation felt intuitive. Armidale Regional Council (ARC) was supportive of the idea, and Lucy tracked down a second‑hand Hauslein cabin, which was transported from Yass to its new perch above the gorge. From the moment they opened their doors just over a year ago, demand has been strong. Some guests return again and again; one couple even came back to get married beside the gorge. What consistently surprises her is the number of Sydney-siders willing to make the long drive for just two nights of restorative wilderness. They come for the open vistas, the solitude, the off‑grid sustainability, the night sky, and yes – the bath with the view. “They love that it’s only them, no other cabins. Just the gorge, the falls, and the sky.” Lucy believes the New England has only begun to tap its tourism potential and she was recently involved in ARC’s Destination Management Plan consultation process. “The gorge and falls are absolutely magnificent, and the hiking opportunities rival some of the world’s better-known trail regions,” said Lucy. “I would love to see a future where adventure tourism is embraced, drawing inspiration from places like New Zealand. Improved infrastructure would definitely help unlock that potential.” But for now, By Gorge Escape is already offering travellers something increasingly rare: genuine stillness, deep quiet, and an encounter with landscape on a grand scale. BY GORGE what a view Discover one of our region’s hidden tourism gems P As a local tourism operator, Lucy took part in The Armidale Region Destination Management Plan (DMP) community consultation process. The DMP is designed to guide the sustainable growth of the visitor economy across the Armidale Region and was shaped by the voices of locals who care deeply about where they live and about sharing it in meaningful ways. For more information on the DMP visit armidale.nsw.gov.au.
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