TASMANIA WITH SARAH ANDREWS 

TASMANIA WITH SARAH ANDREWS

Sarah Andrews is a new and unique voice in international interiors. She first came to international attention with Captains Rest, her shack on the west coast of Tasmania, which has become one of the most successful Airbnbs in the world. Helping to launch her teaching career, today her hugely successful Hosting Masterclasses, in which she shares her renovating, design, styling and marketing experience, are globally renowned. Her first book, Principles of Style, was an international success and her second, The Poetry of Spaces, will be published in September.

Sarah wears the Irina Tunic and the Mortimer Pleated Pant.

You studied and worked in London, and then attempted to sail solo around the world. What first took you to Tasmania?

I moved back to Australia in my 30s after sinking my boat off the coast of Mexico. Returning home wasn’t my plan, but the comfort of a familiar place seemed like the right thing to do after such a big experience. After five years living wild, both on the seas out of my boat and out of a small bag wandering around different global wildernesses, coming back to the modern world of Melbourne was jarring and painful. It hadn't changed all that much since I left at 20, but I had.

I wanted to find a place that was wild and lonely enough to find the comfort in untouched places I had become used to, but safe enough to heal, rebuild my life after losing everything to the bottom of the sea — and figure out what was next. I bought a small fisherman's shack at the end of a jetty on the wild west coast, which cost less than a car, and called it Captains Rest.

Sarah wears the Sofia Dress.

For people unfamiliar with Captains Rest, tell us about it and what it means to you.

What attracted you to live in the Huon Valley on Tasmania’s southern coast?

Through my work with The Hosting Masterclass and my travels around Tasmania, I got to spend a few years experiencing every corner of the island before deciding where to live. A close friend gave me the sage advice to start narrowing down my options by first deciding if I wanted to live on the still waters of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel or the constantly moving Southern Ocean close by. After renting for nearly a year in the most perfect still water bay that could possibly exist, the house I live in now came up for sale and I bought it. It all seems very fated — my house was called “The Hermitage”.

Sarah wears the Ines Dress.

You’re a keen sailor – what sailing spots would you recommend to others exploring the island by sea?

Tasmania really is a bucket list sailing destination. It has an incredibly diverse coastline, with remote beaches and little islands. The best of all is the D’Entrecasteaux Channel where I live, which has miles and miles of coastline sheltered from bad weather by Bruny Island. I own a little clinker sailing dinghy which takes me sailing for days, exploring the coastline, camping on lonely untouched beaches, or for a morning out to one of the tiny islands for a day in the sun where I know I’ll have the whole place to myself. Having sailed so many other waters around the world, I know the waterways here are incredibly special.

The Hosting Masterclass, Captains Rest and your first book 'Principles of Style' have become globally renowned – what’s your top hosting hack?

At the top of the list is education. I can’t tell you the number of talented interior designers with gorgeous properties that have landed in our school stressed, upset with empty booking calendars. A beautiful property, with lovely interiors is really about ten percent of it. What we most commonly hear from our students after the first week in our school is, “I just had no idea how much I didn’t know”. The world of micro hotels is a whole different universe from the world of interior design and property investment, so the biggest tip I have is to invest in education first.

Sarah wears the Rosa LS Shirt.

What are your absolute must-see places and things to do, see and eat in Tasmania?

Places to be: Sheepwash Bay on Bruny Island, Captains Rest on the West Coast, and Binalong Bay on the East Coast.

What’s one insider tip for getting the most out of the island?

The very best part of Tasmania is Tasmania itself. I always recommend not overloading yourself with places to see and things to do, but rather pack a picnic and go exploring. An hour in any direction from Hobart or Launceston will put you in the most incredible landscapes, all so different. Hill Street Grocers have the most delicious things to eat and drink, and if you ask nicely will pack your supplies with a little bit of ice. The Alltrails app is super handy if you’d like to take an easy hike and find somewhere peaceful.

When you’re not in Tasmania, where do you like to go?

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some incredible people through teaching my school, The Hosting Masterclass, which has become known as the best school in the world for Airbnb hosts and micro hoteliers. When I'm not in Tasmania I spend my time exploring my students' worlds in far away places. Chateaus in France, grand historic houses in Scotland, summer houses in Sweden. Every place is so special. I always feel lucky to be invited. Our global directory of students launches this month, so for everyone reading this — join me and everyone I've taught around the world over at www.thehostingmasterclass.com

TASMANIA WITH SARAH ANDREWS

Sarah Andrews is a new and unique voice in international interiors. She first came to international attention with Captains Rest, her shack on the west coast of Tasmania, which has become one of the most successful Airbnbs in the world. Helping to launch her teaching career, today her hugely successful Hosting Masterclasses, in which she shares her renovating, design, styling and marketing experience, are globally renowned. Her first book, Principles of Style, was an international success and her second, The Poetry of Spaces, will be published in September.

Sarah wears the Irina Tunic and the Mortimer Pleated Pant.

You studied and worked in London, and then attempted to sail solo around the world. What first took you to Tasmania?

I moved back to Australia in my 30s after sinking my boat off the coast of Mexico. Returning home wasn’t my plan, but the comfort of a familiar place seemed like the right thing to do after such a big experience. After five years living wild, both on the seas out of my boat and out of a small bag wandering around different global wildernesses, coming back to the modern world of Melbourne was jarring and painful. It hadn't changed all that much since I left at 20, but I had.

I wanted to find a place that was wild and lonely enough to find the comfort in untouched places I had become used to, but safe enough to heal, rebuild my life after losing everything to the bottom of the sea — and figure out what was next. I bought a small fisherman's shack at the end of a jetty on the wild west coast, which cost less than a car, and called it Captains Rest.

Sarah wears the Sofia Dress.

For people unfamiliar with Captains Rest, tell us about it and what it means to you.

What attracted you to live in the Huon Valley on Tasmania’s southern coast?

Through my work with The Hosting Masterclass and my travels around Tasmania, I got to spend a few years experiencing every corner of the island before deciding where to live. A close friend gave me the sage advice to start narrowing down my options by first deciding if I wanted to live on the still waters of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel or the constantly moving Southern Ocean close by. After renting for nearly a year in the most perfect still water bay that could possibly exist, the house I live in now came up for sale and I bought it. It all seems very fated — my house was called “The Hermitage”.

Sarah wears the Ines Dress.

You’re a keen sailor – what sailing spots would you recommend to others exploring the island by sea?

Tasmania really is a bucket list sailing destination. It has an incredibly diverse coastline, with remote beaches and little islands. The best of all is the D’Entrecasteaux Channel where I live, which has miles and miles of coastline sheltered from bad weather by Bruny Island. I own a little clinker sailing dinghy which takes me sailing for days, exploring the coastline, camping on lonely untouched beaches, or for a morning out to one of the tiny islands for a day in the sun where I know I’ll have the whole place to myself. Having sailed so many other waters around the world, I know the waterways here are incredibly special.

The Hosting Masterclass, Captains Rest and your first book 'Principles of Style' have become globally renowned – what’s your top hosting hack?

At the top of the list is education. I can’t tell you the number of talented interior designers with gorgeous properties that have landed in our school stressed, upset with empty booking calendars. A beautiful property, with lovely interiors is really about ten percent of it. What we most commonly hear from our students after the first week in our school is, “I just had no idea how much I didn’t know”. The world of micro hotels is a whole different universe from the world of interior design and property investment, so the biggest tip I have is to invest in education first.

Sarah wears the Rosa LS Shirt.

What are your absolute must-see places and things to do, see and eat in Tasmania?

Places to be: Sheepwash Bay on Bruny Island, Captains Rest on the West Coast, and Binalong Bay on the East Coast.

What’s one insider tip for getting the most out of the island?

The very best part of Tasmania is Tasmania itself. I always recommend not overloading yourself with places to see and things to do, but rather pack a picnic and go exploring. An hour in any direction from Hobart or Launceston will put you in the most incredible landscapes, all so different. Hill Street Grocers have the most delicious things to eat and drink, and if you ask nicely will pack your supplies with a little bit of ice. The Alltrails app is super handy if you’d like to take an easy hike and find somewhere peaceful.

When you’re not in Tasmania, where do you like to go?

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some incredible people through teaching my school, The Hosting Masterclass, which has become known as the best school in the world for Airbnb hosts and micro hoteliers. When I'm not in Tasmania I spend my time exploring my students' worlds in far away places. Chateaus in France, grand historic houses in Scotland, summer houses in Sweden. Every place is so special. I always feel lucky to be invited. Our global directory of students launches this month, so for everyone reading this — join me and everyone I've taught around the world over at www.thehostingmasterclass.com