Katoomba, New South Wales

About this house sitting position in Katoomba

🐱 Unique Round House on the Edge of a National Park — Katoomba, Blue Mountains
Dates: 16 March – 1 April (dates are flexible — we can arrange friends to cover any days you can't manage)
Compensation: Free accommodation in exchange for duties

About the Home
Welcome to our one-of-a-kind round house nestled right on the edge of a national park in the beautiful Blue Mountains, in North Katoomba. With its curved walls, huge windows, and wonderfully open feel, it's a truly special place to call home — even if only for a couple of weeks.
The house has two bedrooms — a comfortable bedroom for you, and a large music studio. A stunning north-facing verandah is the perfect spot to soak up the autumn sun, watch the birds, and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Despite being surrounded by nature and feeling incredibly private and peaceful, you're only a 10-minute drive from both Coles and Woolworths for all your everyday needs.
The house is naturally comfortable year-round — large sash windows create wonderful airflow for cooling, and a fireplace keeps things cosy in cooler months (though March is unlikely to need it). There's no air conditioning, but honestly, you'll never miss it.
We have fast NBN internet and a Google Smart TV — ideal if you're working remotely or just want to unwind in the evenings.
A note on mobile reception: it can be patchy inside the house — this is the nature of living on the edge of a national park! Telstra and Telstra-based networks (such as Aldi Mobile) tend to work best, though you may occasionally need to step outside for a clearer signal. Optus and Vodafone are less reliable here. We do have a landline (via the internet), but as it incurs a cost we reserve it for emergencies only.
It's a brilliant base for a digital nomad or anyone who loves nature, quiet, and a slower pace of life.

Getting Around
A car is recommended — public transport to Katoomba town and train station is available by bus, though services are infrequent. A taxi from Katoomba train station to the house costs around $20 one way.

Meet Nori & Mini 🐾
The stars of the show are our two gorgeous black cats, Nori and Mini, who we adore — they are very much our furbabies.
We won't pretend they'll leap into your lap on day one — both Nori and Mini were strays in their early days and can be shy with new people. But with patience, gentleness, and a calm presence, they will absolutely warm to you, and the reward is wonderful. What they need most is someone with a quiet temperament who respects their space rather than chasing them or forcing attention.
Once they trust you, Nori loves nothing more than an all-night cuddle on the lounge, and Mini — the little runt of the litter and a self-declared scaredy cat — will be snuggling in your bed for warmth and climbing onto your lap before you know it.
A few things to know about feeding and care:

Nori is the bigger eater — he tends to wolf down his food quickly and will happily steal Mini's if given the chance. Please keep an eye on this at mealtimes to make sure Mini gets her fair share.

Nori goes outside during the day wearing his collar. He's a pro at using the cat flap, which is left open during the day so he can come and go freely. The cat flap must be closed at night — we have possums who visit the deck, and we want to keep both the possums and the cats safe from any late-night encounters.

Mini may venture out onto the deck but rarely strays far — she doesn't wear a collar.

Both cats are brought in just before dusk each day without fail, and the cat flap is shut for the night.
There are two litter trays that need regular cleaning — sometimes twice a day, as the cats are mostly indoors.


Your Responsibilities
We believe in keeping things simple:

Look after Nori and Mini — feeding, companionship, and litter tray cleaning
Water the plants — both indoors and outdoors, as needed (not a big job)
No shoes on the carpet please — we've just had brand new carpet installed throughout the house and we'd love to keep it that way! We'll leave a booklet with instructions on how to treat any accidental spills. The golden rule: do not rub or scrub — blot gently instead.
Be mindful of our Airbnb guests — we have a separate granny flat that occasionally hosts guests on weekends. We rarely interact with them and don't expect you to either. We just ask that you're mindful of keeping things quiet when they're staying — particularly if you're coming home late.

Optional paid opportunity: If you have cleaning experience and would like to earn a little extra, we're happy to pay $70 per clean to prepare the Airbnb granny flat for guests. We'll walk you through everything — it's straightforward.

The Ideal Sitter
We're hoping to find someone who truly appreciates the peace and beauty of this place. You might be a perfect fit if you are:

A solo sitter or a couple (no children please)
A digital nomad or someone who works remotely and will be home fairly regularly — great for the cats settling in
A non-smoker (or a very considerate smoker who always steps well outside and keeps windows closed)
Experienced with cats, particularly shy or sensitive ones — this is important given Nori and Mini's personalities
Someone who loves nature, birdwatching, and a quiet life
Happy to provide references or reviews from previous sits


Why You'll Love It Here

Wake up to birdsong and national park views every morning
A one-of-a-kind round house unlike anything you've stayed in before
A sun-drenched north-facing verandah to work, read, or simply relax on
Fast NBN for seamless remote work
The magic of the Blue Mountains right on your doorstep
Two sweet (if initially reserved) cats for company
Flexible dates if you can't cover the full period

We take great pride in our home and our cats mean the world to us. We're looking for someone who will care for them as we do — with love, patience, and respect for their gentle natures.
We'd love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out with any questions or to introduce yourself. Read more...

Amenities

Close to