“There was so much thought that went into the textures, the finishes, the views, everything. We'd wake up in the middle of the night and ask, what do you think about that? And we'd both be awake thinking about all these ideas. So there was so much love and care that went into it from both of us.”
We’re in great company with Katie & Rom Lamaro, the husband and wife duo who picked up their family and settled into what was at the time, a rundown “Five Acre” patch of property on Phillip Island in Australia, having since transformed it into a picturesque and functioning micro-farm welcoming guests from all over the world with luxury coastal accommodations.
After leaving careers in hospitality to live a slower way of life living on the coast - hosting friends, growing a garden, learning carpentry - quickly made Katie & Rom crave more. Five Acres more, in fact - upon which they’ve built cabins, a guesthouse and community gathering space, for all to savor their labor of love.
As we welcome in our Fifth Season with our first episode featuring a family halfway around the world, Katie & Rom share with us what we all seek out in our travels - local food, sustainable practices, beautiful views, and great hospitality.
Top Takeaways
[1:35] While both Katie and Rom pursued separate careers in hospitality, they both had personal desires to not only tend to guests - but to nature, its produce and other living creatures, as well.
[6:05] How a romantic turn of events in Katie and Rom’s love story led them to create a slower lifestyle on Phillip Island away from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne.
[7:40] What most would overlook as a rundown piece of wasted land, Katie and Rom saw as an opportunity to build their dream homestead.
[9:25] There are plenty of chores to keep this family of 5 busy as they steward their Five Acres - from picking the fruit, to feeding the chickens, to pickling the vegetables.
[13:05] Five Acres is a micro-farm full of flavor with an orchard of fruit and nut trees, extensive vegetable gardens, honey-producing beehives, and “family pets” that roam the land.
[21:50] A stay in one of Five Acres three cabins or guesthouse comes equipped with a view everywhere you look - from the bed, to the bathtub, to the shower skylight - so guests can watch the highland cows grazing in the fields by day and take in the expansive starry sky by night.
[25:20] “We love to indulge in the local food, it’s really for us, what traveling is all about.” and thus Katie & Rom curate a grazing board and gin cocktail to welcome every guest.
[27:45] There’s so much Phillip Island has to offer, including nature park attractions, the world-famous penguin parade, wineries, coastal walks and a stunning array of beaches.
