Dangar Island House is a secluded getaway in the New South Wales bush.

The Australian holiday home is only an hour from Sydney, but it’s surprisingly remote – there’s no vehicular access to the islet, which is on the Hawkesbury River, and the house itself is completely surrounded by a dense canopy of native angophora trees.

‘The ferry is the only and a slow way to get to and from the island. But this is the beauty of the place – everything is done at a slow pace,’ says its owner David Harrison.

Robertson & Hindmarsh Architects designed the holiday home – for rent via Boutique Homes – for writer and stylist Harrison and his wife Karen McCartney, an editorial director.

Its boxy form, which evokes a bird watcher’s hide, hugs a steep tree-lined slope on the island, with its windows peeking out onto the tree canopy.

Dangar Island House’s interiors contrast its dark exterior, which has been stained black to camouflage it amidst the bush. Rooms have muted grey walls, limed-oak floorboards and stained wood panelling. They’ve been been furnished with vintage design pieces by Alvar Aalto and Carl Hansen & Søn, and black and white images by artist Greg Geraghty.

The living areas are on the lower area with bedrooms above, and both levels have large decks. Bedrooms and living spaces also have fully retractable doors that open up to the outdoors.

Dangar Island is in the middle of the Hawkesbury River, surrounded by national parks. It has its own white sandy beach for high tide swimming, kayaking, and for walks.

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