I have a love-hate relationship with my phone. Sometimes, I wish I could throw it out the car window and never see it again. But, at the same time, it’s my entire lifeline.
It’s a constant battle between staying connected and recognising when I need space. My body is practically begging me to switch off, yet I have absolutely no self-control when it comes to checking my social media feeds or reading every notification the second it arrives. It’s my personal hell.
So, when I heard that Lovehoney had partnered with Into The Wild Escapes to invite couples to put their phones down and enjoy a blissfully off-grid escape, I knew it was exactly what I needed.
With cabins across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and WA, I chose the Tiny Phoebe in the gorgeous Southern Highlands, just an hour from Sydney. And what started as a simple weekend away quickly became something much more meaningful.
What is Lovehoney’s DND?
A playful take on Do Not Disturb, Lovehoney’s DND stays with Into The Wild Escapes stand for Down N Dirty — an aptly named series of off-grid cabin
The idea is simple: leave your phone behind and reconnect with your partner instead. And the best part? The less you use your phone, the less you pay. Both you and your partner take screenshots of your screen-time reports when you arrive and again when you check out, with your reductions averaged to calculate your discount.
Every percentage point counts, earning you a 2% discount on the first night’s accommodation for each 1% reduction in screen time. Manage to cut your screen time by 50% or more, and your first night is completely free. And in case you were wondering, our screen time was zero. Not a single minute!
The experience is made even easier with Lovehoney’s Reconnect Kit, valued at over $250, which is designed to encourage exploration, intimacy and pleasure without pressure.
There’s also a disposable camera and a journal to help you capture the moments that matter without reaching for your phone. Because, as it turns out, not every moment needs to be documented, posted or shared with the world to be worth remembering.
And take it from me: putting my phone down for 24 hours was actually much easier than I expected. Once my husband and I settled into the cabin, I barely thought about it. We had everything we needed, beautiful surroundings to enjoy and, most importantly, nowhere else we needed to be.
What it’s really like to switch off for 24 hours
Our first morning was spent making breakfast and lazing around on the deck, listening to the birds and watching magpies linger in the hope of scoring a few food scraps. I made a cup of tea with the supplies provided by the cabin and settled in with my Kindle to read A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), while my husband enjoyed some downtime of his own.
Already, I felt a sense of calm that I hadn’t realised I was missing.
We’d packed groceries from home, so we cooked lunch together and made the most of the outdoor BBQ, which had all the utensils and essentials we needed. There was something wonderfully uncomplicated about the whole experience. No reservations to rush to, no plans to stick to and no temptation to scroll through my phone while waiting for a meal.
Later, we took a stroll around the grounds, spotted a few kangaroos hopping about and eventually wandered back to the cabin to make dinner.
As the sun went down, we toasted marshmallows and made s’mores by the fire pit, listening as the surrounding bush came alive with the sounds of the night. It was peaceful in a way that’s surprisingly difficult to find in everyday life.
What struck me most was how little I felt the need to do. There was no urgency to be productive, no pressure to fill every spare moment and no nagging feeling that I should be checking something. I could simply sit, enjoy the views and watch the wildlife go about its business.
I’d never truly allowed myself to be that ‘lazy’ — and I loved every minute of it.
My husband struggled a little more than I did with the lack of stimulation, but thankfully, the cabin had games we could play together. Without our usual distractions, conversation flowed more freely, and we found ourselves enjoying the kind of quality time that’s easy to take for granted when you’re caught up in the busyness of everyday life.
On the drive home, we couldn’t stop talking about how relaxed we felt. Despite his initial struggle to switch off, my husband seemed calmer than I’d seen him in weeks. And I felt it, too.
What was the tiny cabin actually like?
Tiny Phoebe is exactly what you’d picture when you think of a romantic off-grid escape. Tucked away in the Southern Highlands, the cabin is surrounded by native bushland, making it feel worlds away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, despite being just an hour from Sydney.
One of my favourite features was the wide windows beside the bed. They created the most beautiful backdrop, letting us wake up surrounded by the natural scenery. It was such a lovely way to start the morning, and one of those little details that made the cabin feel extra special.
Despite its tiny footprint, the cabin was thoughtfully equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable stay. I was initially worried that the only bathing option would be the outdoor bathtub, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a shower inside, too.
And while the temperatures dropped at night, the heating worked brilliantly, with plenty of extra blankets on hand to keep us cosy.
Outside, there’s a deck where we spent our mornings, an outdoor BBQ for cooking meals and a fire pit that was perfect for making s’mores after dark. There’s also a hammock for lazy afternoons and an outdoor bathtub that looked particularly inviting.
In hindsight, it’s the one thing I wish we’d made time for, especially with the idea of soaking under the stars while listening to the sounds of the bush around us.
Did Lovehoney’s DND stay bring us closer?
When I say my husband and I had one of our best weekends to date, I’m not exaggerating. It almost rivalled our honeymoon in Italy, which is saying something.
We both left feeling refreshed, more present and, in a way, like two different people. Not because we’d done anything particularly extraordinary, but because we’d finally given ourselves permission to slow down.
I went into the weekend thinking I needed a break from my phone. What I didn’t realise was just how much I needed a break from the constant noise of everyday life, too.
And the best part? We didn’t need an elaborate itinerary, a packed schedule or even our phones to have a genuinely memorable weekend together.
As my husband put it, we felt more connected than ever.
And really, isn’t that the whole point?
Lovehoney’s DND stays are available to book from October 20, with selected dates between November 4 and December 22, 2026.
With limited availability, it’s worth checking the Lovehoney DND website to find a cabin and date that suit you.
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