“I Stayed in Australia’s Most Sought-After Airbnb”

As a writer, it’s a rare occasion that I’m at a loss for words, but one step inside Captain’s Rest and any ability to form a sentence was stripped away completely.

Nestled peacefully on the calm waters of Lettes Bay in Strahan, Tasmania, the cosy cottage accommodation couldn’t be any more idyllic. The dreamy stay is the product of stylist, sailor, and author Sarah Andrews’ determination to create a space that emanates the magic she experienced when she first stumbled upon the property in 2017.

Dilapidated and unloved, what was once the pride and joy of previous owners stood forgotten right by the lapping water’s edge of Lettes Bay. What could be considered a stroke of fate, Sarah found the home after surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Mexico; and the home found Sarah, after years of empty evenings spent in solitude.

The pair have since set off to do amazing things. With Sarah using the home to build a safer world of her own to recover from her distressing experience, where the no longer abandoned shack received its name: Captain’s Rest. And the property now serving as a rejuvenating respite for travellers near and far.

The journey to Captain’s Rest was a beautiful but treacherous one. One way roads wound into mist, with day-old snow peppering the rugged surrounds that footed the sprawling mountaintops in the distance. The journey was one Sarah tells her guests about, building up the anticipation of the magic that lies ahead.

Leaving Launceston in the late morning, I arrived in the quaint town of Strahan just as night was falling. The sky was pink, my cheeks were red, and the amber glow of Captain’s Rest glistened in the distance.

I carefully made my way up the moss-clad stepping stones with my bags. I couldn’t believe I was there, and it was real. Years of doting over dreamy images shared by Sarah online were now before me in the flesh. The shoreline, the fireplace, the lanterns, the ducks!!

It wasn’t long before I had made friends. After setting my bags down in the living room faint pitter-patters grew louder and a flock of the most beautiful ducks gathered by the door. Earlier that day, with nothing but time on the car ride to Strahan, I read the Captain's Rest guest instructions, kicking my feet after finding out I’d not only have some duck friends on the property, but that I’d also be able to feed them too.

The cottage-style kitchen was perfectly stocked with all of the essentials one would need while staying at the accommodation. Custom hand-made mugs and plates lined the rustic timber floating shelves, and an assortment of loose leaf teas neatly filled the pantry. Sarah's attention to detail in every aspect of the accomodation was above anything I had ever experienced before. Not a thing looked out of place, and all of it looked incredible.

As the pitter-patters turned into quacks, I thought what better way to appease my feathery companions with a snack! Behind the jars of tea I found what they were after, and made my way to the frosty lawn to scatter the feed Sarah had lovingly left for them.

My hands were freezing, the last touches of pink faded into the star-filled sky, and there I stood alone outside Captain’s Rest feeding ducks. Pure bliss.

After the quacking subsided and my fingers felt like – well, they didn’t really feel at all – I knew it was time to go inside. First order of business: boil the kettle. The second: run a bath in the most beautiful bathroom I have ever seen.

A tea (more like three) down – accompanied by Tim Tams of course – and freshly defrosted by the bath, I called it a night and made my way to the bedroom, where a linen-clad cloud-like mattress sat atop an antique bed frame. I could tell that the experience of every element of my evening so far had been thought out by Sarah. The scent of the sheets, the softness of the pillows, the perfect amount of glow from the amber lightbulb suspended above me.

I got into bed and closed my eyes hoping I’d wake up there tomorrow, unsure if the magical events that transpired earlier were all a dream.

Two forms of pitter-patters woke me the following morning. The first, dull and consistent, light rain landing on the corrugated roof. The second, spontaneous, and starting to quack – it was breakfast time after all.

After cosplaying as Anne of Green Gables, feeding ducks and grabbing wood for the fireplace, I took in my surroundings again. Grateful yesterday wasn’t a dream, and in shock that today wasn't either.

Everything I needed for the stay of a lifetime had been thoughtfully laid out for me, pre-chopped wood for a fire, perfectly plush cushions for an afternoon of reading, and even a Captain's Rest playlist on Spotify which Sarah encourages her guests to play in the background for the duration of their stay.

The more time I spent at Captain's Rest, the more I began to realise how much thought and care had gone into making it the way that it was – all the more reason why Sarah chooses to share her hosting knowledge with the world.

The remainder of my time at Captain’s Rest was spent cosied up by the fire, taking intermittent tea and duck feeding breaks. It was a life I could get used to, but one I knew was only temporary as my time there came to an end.

Even though I’ve recounted my stay, I still struggle to put into words how incredibly magical my time at Captain’s Rest was. If you ever find yourself lucky enough to travel to Tasmania, do yourself a favour and go visit Captain's Rest to experience the incomprehensible magic for yourself.

And if you're looking to curate a stay as magical as this one, Sarah's 'The Hosting Masterclass' will teach you everything you need to turn that dream into a reality.

For more from Sarah, follow her @sarahandrews.co & @captainsrest

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