A One-of-a-Kind Garden Escape with Private Natural Billabong
House • Highfields QLD Australia
4 Guests
3 Bedrooms
2 Beds
1.5 Bathrooms
2 Car spaces
1 Car available
Primary home
Exchange types accepted
Simultaneous
Non-Simultaneous
Non-Reciprocal
Statistics
Listed April 2026
Views 418
General Overview
Our home is a relaxed, light-filled retreat in Highfields, just outside Toowoomba in Queensland’s beautiful Darling Downs. Surrounded by greenery, it’s a place to slow down and enjoy indoor-outdoor living, with wide verandahs, a peaceful garden, and our signature natural billabong.
It’s the kind of home where mornings start slowly with coffee on the deck, and evenings wind down by the water or firepit. We’re close enough to town for convenience, but far enough out to feel calm and private.
The Space
Our home is a single-level, character-style house with warm timber floors, high ceilings, and plenty of natural light throughout.
Now that we’re empty nesters, the home has evolved into a calm, spacious retreat. There are three bedrooms in total, including a master bedroom a flexible office space featuring a very comfortable Ecosa sofa that converts into a luxurious bed for guests. In addition, we have a dedicated wellness room with a Pilates reformer and treadmill, perfect for movement or a quiet reset during your stay. This space can also accommodate an additional bed if needed, offering extra flexibility for families or groups.
There’s a spacious living area that opens out to the deck, and a bright, airy kitchen with garden views and high raked ceilings.
Outside, the home really shines, with a large wrap-around verandah, established gardens, and a natural swimming billabong that creates a resort-like feel. There are multiple spots to sit, relax, or entertain, whether it’s a sunny morning or a warm evening.
Guest Access
Guests will have access to the full home and outdoor areas.
The home is single level with minimal stairs (a few steps to access the verandah and entry).
Our adult daughter lives in a completely separate studio at the front of the property. It is fully fenced and private, and you likely won’t even notice she’s there, but we like to be upfront about it.
No special access requirements, but please note the outdoor areas include a natural water feature (billabong), so supervision of children is important.
Notes
This is our family home, so it has a lived-in, welcoming feel rather than a “hotel” setup.
The billabong is a natural swimming environment, designed to blend into the landscape, which is part of what makes the space so special. It is unfenced, so appropriate care is required. It’s not suitable for children who are not confident swimmers to be left unsupervised outdoors.
There’s a lot of nature around, which is something we really value. We prefer not to use chemical pest control, and while we keep cobwebs to a minimum both indoors and out, you may come across the occasional insect. The garden is also home to local wildlife including bandicoots, possums, and plenty of frogs and birdlife, which you’ll often hear in the mornings and evenings.
We also have a friendly, relaxed neighbourhood and appreciate guests who treat the home with care and respect.
Features
Fridge
WiFi
Bed sheets
Oven
Towels
Washer
TV
Heating
Hair dryer
Microwave
Iron
Dishwasher
Smoke alarms
Workspace
Clothes dryer
Coffee machine
High Speed Internet
Garden / yard
Bathtub
Air conditioning
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
BBQ
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Balcony
Fireplace
Toys
Covered porch / verandah
Bikes
Pool
Gym
Wheelchair accessible
Home cinema
Hot tub
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Standup paddleboard
Camping gear
Kayak
Sauna
Tennis court
Meat-free kitchen
Kosher home
Piano
Travel Styles
Long term
Budget
Romantic
Foodie
Relaxing
Eco
Village
Mountains
Water
Hiking
Cycling
House Rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Carpet free
Smoke free
Fragrance free
Low allergen
Hypoallergenic
Dates of Availability
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Neighbourhood
Highfields is a quiet, leafy area just outside Toowoomba, known for its space, greenery, and relaxed pace.
There’s something for everyone in the region, from local cafés, parks, galleries and shopping, to walking tracks and hiking trails. The Toowoomba region offers beautiful gardens, great food, and seasonal events, especially in spring when the region really comes to life.
We’re also within easy reach of some truly magnificent national parks (all within around 1.5 to 2 hours), including Main Range National Park, Bunya Mountains National Park, and Girraween National Park, each offering incredible scenery, hiking, and a chance to really experience this part of Queensland.
Previous house sitters from Europe described the Toowoomba region as “the place you didn’t know you needed to visit” which we think sums it up perfectly.
It’s a wonderful base for exploring, or simply slowing down and enjoying a more grounded, nature-filled stay.
Getting to my home
The easiest way to reach us is by car.
We’re approximately:
15–20 minutes from Toowoomba
Around 2 hours drive from Brisbane
If flying, you can arrive via Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport (WTB) or Brisbane Airport and drive from there.
There is also a Greyhound bus service from Brisbane to Toowoomba if you’re travelling without a car. Depending on arrival times, we may be able to arrange a pick-up from Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport or the Toowoomba bus station.
A car is recommended for getting around, especially if you’d like to explore the wider region.
That said, Highfields itself is very walkable and rideable. It’s around a 2km walk to the main supermarket and village centre, and you’re welcome to borrow our bikes to get around.
There is also a local bus service that runs into Toowoomba CBD as well as the Highfields village centre.
Shops, cafés, and essentials are just a short drive away, with larger shopping and dining options in Toowoomba (15–20 minutes). There are also local parks and walking areas nearby if you feel like staying close to home.
Depending on how we’re travelling ourselves, we may be able to offer use of our VW Amarok to guests with a valid licence suitable for driving in Australia. We would just need a copy of your licence prior to your stay.
Map of Approximate Location
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Feedback
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Premium
Ellie
We are Darren and Ellie, fresh empty nesters from regional Queensland, Australia. Our two children, Chloe (21) and Corey (20), have recently flown the nest, which has given us a little more freedom to travel and explore the world together.
Darren runs a business designing and building natural swimming ponds and water features, and Ellie works in the health and wellness space as a Pilates instructor and mentor. We both love nature, beautiful landscapes, thoughtful design, and places that have a sense of calm and character.
We’re experienced with home sharing and house sitting. We’ve hosted house sitters in our own home through TrustedHousesitters (and are happy to share our reviews), and we’ve also been trusted house sitters ourselves while travelling in England, Germany, France and Scotland. These experiences have given us a real appreciation for the trust involved in caring for someone else’s home.
We are respectful, tidy, and conscientious guests. We understand the care that goes into creating and maintaining a home and will treat yours with the same consideration we give our own. When we travel, we enjoy exploring local culture, good food, nature walks, and discovering the little details that make a place unique.
Now that the kids are grown, we’re really looking forward to experiencing more of the world together and discovering new places through home exchanges. ✨
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.