A Family Reset

There comes a time in every modern family’s life when you need to do something drastic.


Like… turn off the Wi-Fi. Actually, at Big Hill Beach Cottages, you don’t even have to do that yourself.


There’s no phone signal.


There’s no internet.


There’s just… nature and plenty of it!


Welcome to your accidental 1980s holiday! Tucked away on Plomer Road, just outside the beautiful little coastal town of Crescent Head on the Mid North Coast of NSW. Big Hill Beach Cottages is the kind of place you come when you’re ready to remember what your family actually looks like. There are six three-bedroom cottages, surrounded by bushland and only a short walk to the beach. The cottages are definitely on the 1980's side, but they’re super clean, comfortable and have everything you need.


Well, almost everything. Bring your own sheets.

Rustic cottage surrounded by tall trees with sunlight filtering through, featuring a hammock and gravel driveway.

No signal. No problem.

At first, the lack of phone reception feels slightly confronting. You’ll instinctively walk around holding your phone above your head like you’re trying to summon a satellite. Then you realise something magical. You can’t check Instagram. You can’t answer emails. You can’t Google something like sunrise time (which would have been handy).


Instead, you might have to talk to your family. Like actual humans. Pack some board games. Pack cards. Pack a footy. Pack a book. Pack the kids. Leave the iPads at home.


Beach mornings are pretty special

The cottages are across the road from the beach. If you’re an early riser, do yourself a favour and get down there for sunrise. Or if like me and you aren't just bloody get up! Trust me it's worth it. I had the beach almost entirely to myself and Mother Nature clearly decided to put on a show and as luck would have it a lone fisherman and his dog were just where the light was magic. Thanks whoever gee'd that up for me. Note Big Hill Beach Cottages are not dog friendly. Which meant I didn't get woken up by my dog, Milo or have to pick up shit. Thats another win to chalk up.


Silhouette of a person and dog playing on a beach at golden sunset with ocean waves and rocky headland backdrop.
Golden sunset over calm ocean waves gently washing onto a sandy beach with a silhouetted headland on the horizon.

There’s plenty to do. Just none of it involves scrolling.

Every cottage has its own fire pit, which means evenings can involve sitting around a fire solving the world’s problems. There’s also a tennis court, two communal BBQ areas and a couple of sets of swings for the kids. And then there’s the beach. Spend the day swimming, walking, building sandcastles, throwing a ball around or doing absolutely nothing. Honestly, doing nothing is wildly underrated.


If you need a change of scenery or a wifi hit, head into Crescent Head for the day. Grab a coffee, wander around, have lunch, check out the cute boutique shops and remind yourself that civilisation still exists, albeit fairly slow paced.

Two white marshmallows on a wooden skewer being roasted over a glowing campfire outdoors.
Person in hat sitting on bench by stone fire pit with smoke rising, surrounded by trees in outdoor setting.

Come here when your family needs a reset

Big Hill Beach Cottages aren't trying to be fancy. And that’s kind of the point. This isn’t the place for room service, infinity pools or someone fluffing your pillow while you sip a cocktail. It’s a place for quality family time. For kids to actually play. For adults to sit down. For beach walks, BBQs, board games, fires and real conversations.


And after a couple of days, you might discover something slightly terrifying…

You don't miss technology.


Big Hill Beach Cottages are a little slice of old-school Australian holidays — simple, surrounded by nature, close to the beach and gloriously disconnected. So pack your sheets, your swimmers, a few games and your sense of adventure.


Your 1980s reset is waiting!

A SELECTION OF SOME OF THE IMAGES I DELIVERED TO THE CLIENT...

Entrance sign for Big Hill Beach Cottages beside a quiet road at dusk with trees.
Silhouette of a person and dog on a beach at golden sunset with ocean waves and rocky headland in background.
Outdoor pavilion with string lights and picnic table on concrete pad, surrounded by lush green trees at dusk.
Rural homestead with covered veranda surrounded by lush green lawn and tall trees at golden sunset.
White outdoor dining set with teak table, open book, hat, and draped scarf on a patio surrounded by lush green trees.
Woman in straw hat standing by rustic fire pit surrounded by wooden benches in lush garden setting.
Weathered wooden directional sign pointing to cottage and cottages 2, 3, 4, 5 surrounded by green garden foliage.
Cozy warmly lit bedroom with green blanket, wooden nightstand, lamp, and ceiling fan on hardwood floor.
A charming single-story home with a white metal roof, covered veranda, and warm interior lighting surrounded by lush trees at dusk.
Straw hat and striped towel hanging on hooks beside a doorway of a grey timber coastal cottage interior.
Person in cowboy hat sitting on wooden bench by a campfire in a wooded outdoor setting.
Rustic wooden directional sign pointing to Cottage 2, 3, and 4.5 surrounded by lush green trees.
Sliced bread on wooden board with rosemary and chili on white kitchen counter near sink and window.
Charming rural house at dusk surrounded by tall trees with warm interior lights and a carport with vehicle.
Two marshmallows on skewers resting in a glass jar beside a glowing campfire on rocky stones.

Is your holiday accommodation fully booked?

If it’s not, could your photography be the problem? Now is the perfect time to update your photos. Great accommodation photography should make people feel like they’re already on holidays before they’ve booked. It should sell the feeling — the morning light, the lazy afternoons, the fire pit, the beach walks and that “I need to stay here” feeling.


Kristen Shaw Photography creates holiday accommodation imagery designed to make potential guests picture themselves there — Kris doesn't just photograph the bed, the kitchen and the bathroom like standard real estate photography does. Nobody books a holiday because they’re excited about a nice tap which by the way you won't find here. They book because they can see themselves having a great holiday. I know Mum and I had a cracker of a time on this 'job'.

Two people sitting at a white outdoor table enjoying coffee in a sunny park surrounded by green trees.

I was allowed to bring a friend on this assignment. So I called Mum the morning of and said, "Hey what are you up to?" Here we are pretending we drank tea on this assignment...