What Are the Best Places to Invest in Airbnb in Australia?

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI

Updated: 2026-04-08

The short-term rental market in Australia spans 100 cities tracked in AirROI's 2026 dataset, ranging from mature urban markets with thousands of active listings to emerging destinations where early operators still have pricing leverage. Supply growth, regulation, and seasonal demand vary significantly across the region — making market selection one of the highest-leverage decisions an Airbnb investor can make.

This page ranks the best Airbnb markets in Australia across four dimensions: market depth (active listings), revenue, nightly rate (ADR), and occupancy rate. Melbourne, Victoria leads by market size with 16,229 active listings and $2,089/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 40.9% with $2,597/month in average revenue and $276/night ADR. 50 of 100 markets carry a low regulation profile — a key consideration for investors evaluating compliance costs and time-to-market.

Rankings based on AirROI's analysis of 20,000,000+ short-term rental listings across revenue, ADR, occupancy, and regulation. See ranking methodology.

Explore Live Market Data

Top Airbnb Markets in Australia by Active Listings

Active listing count is the most direct measure of a market's depth, maturity, and investor confidence. Cities with the most Airbnb listings in Australia attract the highest volume of travelers and offer the most reliable benchmarking data for pricing and revenue projections. Melbourne, Victoria leads with 16,229 active short-term rental listings and $2,089/month in average revenue.

#	Market	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Melbourne, Victoria	16,229	$2,089	$221	42.6%	Low
2	Sydney, New South Wales	11,405	$2,680	$248	48.3%	High
3	Greater Brisbane, Queensland	5,130	$2,367	$212	48.2%	Low
4	Gold Coast City, Queensland	5,082	$3,090	$275	46.8%	Low
5	Adelaide, South Australia	3,472	$2,591	$212	48.1%	Low
6	Sunshine Coast Regional, Queensland	3,160	$2,797	$259	45.0%	Low
7	Hobart, Tasmania	1,528	$2,714	$192	52.9%	High
8	Shoalhaven City Council, New South Wales	1,094	$3,043	$402	33.1%	High
9	Noosa Heads, Queensland	1,025	$4,115	$396	46.1%	Low
10	Byron Bay, New South Wales	983	$4,096	$435	41.7%	High
11	Newcastle-Maitland, New South Wales	889	$2,552	$233	44.5%	High
12	Cairns, Queensland	884	$2,565	$182	53.5%	Low
13	Gosford, New South Wales	855	$2,479	$365	33.4%	High
14	Central Coast Council, New South Wales	852	$2,571	$359	32.3%	High
15	Cowes, Victoria	701	$2,130	$267	31.8%	Low
16	Cairns Regional, Queensland	681	$3,536	$313	42.9%	Low
17	Darwin, Northern Territory	647	$2,425	$201	50.2%	Low
18	Port Douglas, Queensland	638	$3,069	$348	40.2%	Low
19	Jindabyne, New South Wales	585	$2,381	$398	31.4%	High
20	Wollongong City Council, New South Wales	562	$2,481	$244	43.9%	High
21	Launceston, Tasmania	559	$2,206	$176	47.7%	High
22	City Of Busselton, Western Australia	554	$3,621	$322	42.7%	High
23	City of Stirling, Western Australia	535	$2,883	$197	57.6%	High
24	Dunsborough, Western Australia	507	$3,505	$317	44.7%	High
25	Nelson Bay, New South Wales	502	$2,296	$366	28.8%	High
26	Cessnock, New South Wales	494	$3,695	$424	33.9%	High
27	Bright, Victoria	487	$2,930	$284	38.5%	Low
28	Geelong, Victoria	470	$1,596	$169	39.8%	Low
29	Torquay, Victoria	468	$2,309	$303	34.7%	Low
30	Daylesford, Victoria	436	$2,909	$295	36.1%	Low
31	Eurobodalla Shire Council, New South Wales	433	$1,878	$261	33.3%	High
32	Townsville, Queensland	432	$1,749	$197	44.9%	Low
33	Vincentia, New South Wales	425	$3,048	$366	34.3%	High
34	Yamba, New South Wales	425	$2,460	$322	34.0%	High
35	Forster, New South Wales	424	$1,693	$270	30.0%	High
36	Margaret River, Western Australia	414	$4,109	$238	60.8%	High
37	Ocean Grove, Victoria	411	$2,009	$272	32.7%	Low
38	Apollo Bay, Victoria	409	$2,226	$260	34.5%	Low
39	North Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	406	$1,865	$146	48.6%	Low
40	Airlie Beach, Queensland	393	$3,527	$293	49.5%	Low
41	Lorne, Victoria	392	$2,423	$386	29.5%	Low
42	Ballarat, Victoria	391	$1,693	$155	44.4%	Low
43	Port Macquarie, New South Wales	390	$1,981	$202	42.8%	High
44	Shire of Colac Otway, Victoria	378	$2,462	$293	34.8%	Low
45	Perth, Western Australia	373	$2,541	$166	58.8%	High
46	Whitsunday Regional, Queensland	358	$6,334	$536	48.5%	Low
47	City of Greater Geelong, Victoria	355	$2,125	$300	33.5%	Low
48	Port Stephens Council, New South Wales	343	$2,774	$405	31.0%	High
49	Kingscliff, New South Wales	340	$3,001	$368	36.2%	High
50	Orange, New South Wales	337	$2,392	$220	43.4%	High
51	Hervey Bay, Queensland	335	$1,912	$171	48.5%	Low
52	Inverloch, Victoria	331	$1,445	$252	29.4%	Low
53	Shire of South Gippsland, Victoria	331	$1,781	$226	32.3%	Low
54	Brisbane City, Queensland	326	$2,260	$184	50.7%	Low
55	Port Fairy, Victoria	325	$1,991	$282	31.4%	Low
56	Coffs Harbour, New South Wales	323	$2,704	$245	41.2%	High
57	Townsville City, Queensland	321	$1,587	$216	34.0%	Low
58	Mandurah, Western Australia	306	$2,711	$265	42.3%	High
59	Surfers Paradise, Queensland	302	$2,844	$252	50.1%	Low
60	Mid-Coast Council, New South Wales	298	$1,897	$245	33.9%	High
61	Fremantle, Western Australia	298	$2,907	$176	61.5%	High
62	Bendigo, Victoria	289	$1,886	$177	45.0%	Low
63	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	284	$1,811	$163	47.3%	Low
64	Sunshine Beach, Queensland	284	$3,407	$409	40.0%	Low
65	Scenic Rim Regional, Queensland	277	$3,258	$258	46.8%	Low
66	Thredbo, New South Wales	271	$2,830	$512	26.6%	High
67	Wagga Wagga City Council, New South Wales	271	$2,025	$231	42.4%	High
68	Anglesea, Victoria	271	$1,725	$314	28.9%	Low
69	Robe, South Australia	267	$1,970	$218	36.8%	Low
70	Shire of Hepburn, Victoria	264	$2,802	$308	36.0%	Low
71	Bathurst, New South Wales	254	$2,052	$291	36.6%	High
72	Toowoomba, Queensland	252	$2,394	$155	55.0%	Low
73	Warrnambool, Victoria	249	$2,138	$216	41.2%	Low
74	Albany, Western Australia	249	$3,042	$214	53.6%	High
75	Yallingup, Western Australia	249	$4,223	$377	45.4%	High
76	Blackheath, New South Wales	247	$3,067	$276	43.3%	High
77	Shoal Bay, New South Wales	242	$2,513	$383	28.0%	High
78	Huskisson, New South Wales	240	$3,489	$341	37.5%	High
79	Lennox Head, New South Wales	235	$2,766	$339	40.6%	High
80	Busselton, Western Australia	230	$3,285	$242	49.7%	High
81	Surf Coast Shire, Victoria	228	$1,894	$312	30.6%	Low
82	Snowy Monaro Regional Council, New South Wales	224	$3,414	$399	34.1%	High
83	Mid-Western Regional Council, New South Wales	222	$2,931	$318	34.2%	High
84	Merimbula, New South Wales	219	$2,168	$252	38.9%	High
85	Livingstone Shire, Queensland	219	$1,698	$192	36.8%	Low
86	Mudgee, New South Wales	217	$3,306	$312	41.0%	High
87	Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria	208	$1,456	$207	30.8%	Low
88	Terrigal, New South Wales	205	$2,517	$364	35.3%	High
89	Kiama, New South Wales	204	$3,132	$377	36.8%	High
90	Halls Gap, Victoria	203	$2,302	$191	41.9%	Low
91	Noosa Shire, Queensland	201	$2,487	$277	39.1%	Low
92	Agnes Water, Queensland	198	$2,264	$253	37.0%	Low
93	Crescent Head, New South Wales	197	$1,635	$219	33.3%	High
94	Albury, New South Wales	196	$1,976	$163	47.4%	High
95	District of Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory	194	$1,671	$139	45.9%	Low
96	Joondalup, Western Australia	192	$2,293	$171	54.9%	High
97	Rainbow Beach, Queensland	190	$1,749	$224	36.8%	Low
98	South Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	189	$2,049	$152	51.7%	Low
99	Bowral, New South Wales	186	$4,136	$400	43.2%	High
100	Byron Shire Council, New South Wales	186	$3,908	$429	42.5%	High

Most Profitable Airbnb Markets in Australia by Revenue

The most profitable Airbnb cities in Australia are those where hosts earn the highest average monthly revenue per listing — the single most telling indicator of a market's income potential. Whitsunday Regional, Queensland leads with $6,334/month at $536 ADR and 48.5% occupancy. Whether you are evaluating your first STR investment or benchmarking an existing property, these top-earning Airbnb markets show where vacation rentals generate the greatest short-term rental income.

#	Market	Revenue/mo	Active Listings (TTM)	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Whitsunday Regional, Queensland	$6,334	358	$536	48.5%	Low
2	Yallingup, Western Australia	$4,223	249	$377	45.4%	High
3	Bowral, New South Wales	$4,136	186	$400	43.2%	High
4	Noosa Heads, Queensland	$4,115	1,025	$396	46.1%	Low
5	Margaret River, Western Australia	$4,109	414	$238	60.8%	High
6	Byron Bay, New South Wales	$4,096	983	$435	41.7%	High
7	Byron Shire Council, New South Wales	$3,908	186	$429	42.5%	High
8	Cessnock, New South Wales	$3,695	494	$424	33.9%	High
9	City Of Busselton, Western Australia	$3,621	554	$322	42.7%	High
10	Cairns Regional, Queensland	$3,536	681	$313	42.9%	Low
11	Airlie Beach, Queensland	$3,527	393	$293	49.5%	Low
12	Dunsborough, Western Australia	$3,505	507	$317	44.7%	High
13	Huskisson, New South Wales	$3,489	240	$341	37.5%	High
14	Snowy Monaro Regional Council, New South Wales	$3,414	224	$399	34.1%	High
15	Sunshine Beach, Queensland	$3,407	284	$409	40.0%	Low
16	Mudgee, New South Wales	$3,306	217	$312	41.0%	High
17	Busselton, Western Australia	$3,285	230	$242	49.7%	High
18	Scenic Rim Regional, Queensland	$3,258	277	$258	46.8%	Low
19	Kiama, New South Wales	$3,132	204	$377	36.8%	High
20	Gold Coast City, Queensland	$3,090	5,082	$275	46.8%	Low
21	Port Douglas, Queensland	$3,069	638	$348	40.2%	Low
22	Blackheath, New South Wales	$3,067	247	$276	43.3%	High
23	Vincentia, New South Wales	$3,048	425	$366	34.3%	High
24	Shoalhaven City Council, New South Wales	$3,043	1,094	$402	33.1%	High
25	Albany, Western Australia	$3,042	249	$214	53.6%	High
26	Kingscliff, New South Wales	$3,001	340	$368	36.2%	High
27	Mid-Western Regional Council, New South Wales	$2,931	222	$318	34.2%	High
28	Bright, Victoria	$2,930	487	$284	38.5%	Low
29	Daylesford, Victoria	$2,909	436	$295	36.1%	Low
30	Fremantle, Western Australia	$2,907	298	$176	61.5%	High
31	City of Stirling, Western Australia	$2,883	535	$197	57.6%	High
32	Surfers Paradise, Queensland	$2,844	302	$252	50.1%	Low
33	Thredbo, New South Wales	$2,830	271	$512	26.6%	High
34	Shire of Hepburn, Victoria	$2,802	264	$308	36.0%	Low
35	Sunshine Coast Regional, Queensland	$2,797	3,160	$259	45.0%	Low
36	Port Stephens Council, New South Wales	$2,774	343	$405	31.0%	High
37	Lennox Head, New South Wales	$2,766	235	$339	40.6%	High
38	Hobart, Tasmania	$2,714	1,528	$192	52.9%	High
39	Mandurah, Western Australia	$2,711	306	$265	42.3%	High
40	Coffs Harbour, New South Wales	$2,704	323	$245	41.2%	High
41	Sydney, New South Wales	$2,680	11,405	$248	48.3%	High
42	Adelaide, South Australia	$2,591	3,472	$212	48.1%	Low
43	Central Coast Council, New South Wales	$2,571	852	$359	32.3%	High
44	Cairns, Queensland	$2,565	884	$182	53.5%	Low
45	Newcastle-Maitland, New South Wales	$2,552	889	$233	44.5%	High
46	Perth, Western Australia	$2,541	373	$166	58.8%	High
47	Terrigal, New South Wales	$2,517	205	$364	35.3%	High
48	Shoal Bay, New South Wales	$2,513	242	$383	28.0%	High
49	Noosa Shire, Queensland	$2,487	201	$277	39.1%	Low
50	Wollongong City Council, New South Wales	$2,481	562	$244	43.9%	High
51	Gosford, New South Wales	$2,479	855	$365	33.4%	High
52	Shire of Colac Otway, Victoria	$2,462	378	$293	34.8%	Low
53	Yamba, New South Wales	$2,460	425	$322	34.0%	High
54	Darwin, Northern Territory	$2,425	647	$201	50.2%	Low
55	Lorne, Victoria	$2,423	392	$386	29.5%	Low
56	Toowoomba, Queensland	$2,394	252	$155	55.0%	Low
57	Orange, New South Wales	$2,392	337	$220	43.4%	High
58	Jindabyne, New South Wales	$2,381	585	$398	31.4%	High
59	Greater Brisbane, Queensland	$2,367	5,130	$212	48.2%	Low
60	Torquay, Victoria	$2,309	468	$303	34.7%	Low
61	Halls Gap, Victoria	$2,302	203	$191	41.9%	Low
62	Nelson Bay, New South Wales	$2,296	502	$366	28.8%	High
63	Joondalup, Western Australia	$2,293	192	$171	54.9%	High
64	Agnes Water, Queensland	$2,264	198	$253	37.0%	Low
65	Brisbane City, Queensland	$2,260	326	$184	50.7%	Low
66	Apollo Bay, Victoria	$2,226	409	$260	34.5%	Low
67	Launceston, Tasmania	$2,206	559	$176	47.7%	High
68	Merimbula, New South Wales	$2,168	219	$252	38.9%	High
69	Warrnambool, Victoria	$2,138	249	$216	41.2%	Low
70	Cowes, Victoria	$2,130	701	$267	31.8%	Low
71	City of Greater Geelong, Victoria	$2,125	355	$300	33.5%	Low
72	Melbourne, Victoria	$2,089	16,229	$221	42.6%	Low
73	Bathurst, New South Wales	$2,052	254	$291	36.6%	High
74	South Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	$2,049	189	$152	51.7%	Low
75	Wagga Wagga City Council, New South Wales	$2,025	271	$231	42.4%	High
76	Ocean Grove, Victoria	$2,009	411	$272	32.7%	Low
77	Port Fairy, Victoria	$1,991	325	$282	31.4%	Low
78	Port Macquarie, New South Wales	$1,981	390	$202	42.8%	High
79	Albury, New South Wales	$1,976	196	$163	47.4%	High
80	Robe, South Australia	$1,970	267	$218	36.8%	Low
81	Hervey Bay, Queensland	$1,912	335	$171	48.5%	Low
82	Mid-Coast Council, New South Wales	$1,897	298	$245	33.9%	High
83	Surf Coast Shire, Victoria	$1,894	228	$312	30.6%	Low
84	Bendigo, Victoria	$1,886	289	$177	45.0%	Low
85	Eurobodalla Shire Council, New South Wales	$1,878	433	$261	33.3%	High
86	North Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	$1,865	406	$146	48.6%	Low
87	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	$1,811	284	$163	47.3%	Low
88	Shire of South Gippsland, Victoria	$1,781	331	$226	32.3%	Low
89	Rainbow Beach, Queensland	$1,749	190	$224	36.8%	Low
90	Townsville, Queensland	$1,749	432	$197	44.9%	Low
91	Anglesea, Victoria	$1,725	271	$314	28.9%	Low
92	Livingstone Shire, Queensland	$1,698	219	$192	36.8%	Low
93	Forster, New South Wales	$1,693	424	$270	30.0%	High
94	Ballarat, Victoria	$1,693	391	$155	44.4%	Low
95	District of Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory	$1,671	194	$139	45.9%	Low
96	Crescent Head, New South Wales	$1,635	197	$219	33.3%	High
97	Geelong, Victoria	$1,596	470	$169	39.8%	Low
98	Townsville City, Queensland	$1,587	321	$216	34.0%	Low
99	Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria	$1,456	208	$207	30.8%	Low
100	Inverloch, Victoria	$1,445	331	$252	29.4%	Low

Most Expensive Airbnb Markets in Australia by Nightly Rate

The average daily rate (ADR) measures how much guests pay per night in each market, making it the clearest indicator of a city's short-term rental pricing power. Whitsunday Regional, Queensland commands the highest Airbnb nightly rate in Australia at $536/night, generating $6,334/month at 48.5% occupancy. Markets with premium nightly pricing typically feature high-demand destinations where travelers pay a significant premium over hotel alternatives.

#	Market	ADR	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Whitsunday Regional, Queensland	$536	358	$6,334	48.5%	Low
2	Thredbo, New South Wales	$512	271	$2,830	26.6%	High
3	Byron Bay, New South Wales	$435	983	$4,096	41.7%	High
4	Byron Shire Council, New South Wales	$429	186	$3,908	42.5%	High
5	Cessnock, New South Wales	$424	494	$3,695	33.9%	High
6	Sunshine Beach, Queensland	$409	284	$3,407	40.0%	Low
7	Port Stephens Council, New South Wales	$405	343	$2,774	31.0%	High
8	Shoalhaven City Council, New South Wales	$402	1,094	$3,043	33.1%	High
9	Bowral, New South Wales	$400	186	$4,136	43.2%	High
10	Snowy Monaro Regional Council, New South Wales	$399	224	$3,414	34.1%	High
11	Jindabyne, New South Wales	$398	585	$2,381	31.4%	High
12	Noosa Heads, Queensland	$396	1,025	$4,115	46.1%	Low
13	Lorne, Victoria	$386	392	$2,423	29.5%	Low
14	Shoal Bay, New South Wales	$383	242	$2,513	28.0%	High
15	Kiama, New South Wales	$377	204	$3,132	36.8%	High
16	Yallingup, Western Australia	$377	249	$4,223	45.4%	High
17	Kingscliff, New South Wales	$368	340	$3,001	36.2%	High
18	Vincentia, New South Wales	$366	425	$3,048	34.3%	High
19	Nelson Bay, New South Wales	$366	502	$2,296	28.8%	High
20	Gosford, New South Wales	$365	855	$2,479	33.4%	High
21	Terrigal, New South Wales	$364	205	$2,517	35.3%	High
22	Central Coast Council, New South Wales	$359	852	$2,571	32.3%	High
23	Port Douglas, Queensland	$348	638	$3,069	40.2%	Low
24	Huskisson, New South Wales	$341	240	$3,489	37.5%	High
25	Lennox Head, New South Wales	$339	235	$2,766	40.6%	High
26	City Of Busselton, Western Australia	$322	554	$3,621	42.7%	High
27	Yamba, New South Wales	$322	425	$2,460	34.0%	High
28	Mid-Western Regional Council, New South Wales	$318	222	$2,931	34.2%	High
29	Dunsborough, Western Australia	$317	507	$3,505	44.7%	High
30	Anglesea, Victoria	$314	271	$1,725	28.9%	Low
31	Cairns Regional, Queensland	$313	681	$3,536	42.9%	Low
32	Surf Coast Shire, Victoria	$312	228	$1,894	30.6%	Low
33	Mudgee, New South Wales	$312	217	$3,306	41.0%	High
34	Shire of Hepburn, Victoria	$308	264	$2,802	36.0%	Low
35	Torquay, Victoria	$303	468	$2,309	34.7%	Low
36	City of Greater Geelong, Victoria	$300	355	$2,125	33.5%	Low
37	Daylesford, Victoria	$295	436	$2,909	36.1%	Low
38	Airlie Beach, Queensland	$293	393	$3,527	49.5%	Low
39	Shire of Colac Otway, Victoria	$293	378	$2,462	34.8%	Low
40	Bathurst, New South Wales	$291	254	$2,052	36.6%	High
41	Bright, Victoria	$284	487	$2,930	38.5%	Low
42	Port Fairy, Victoria	$282	325	$1,991	31.4%	Low
43	Noosa Shire, Queensland	$277	201	$2,487	39.1%	Low
44	Blackheath, New South Wales	$276	247	$3,067	43.3%	High
45	Gold Coast City, Queensland	$275	5,082	$3,090	46.8%	Low
46	Ocean Grove, Victoria	$272	411	$2,009	32.7%	Low
47	Forster, New South Wales	$270	424	$1,693	30.0%	High
48	Cowes, Victoria	$267	701	$2,130	31.8%	Low
49	Mandurah, Western Australia	$265	306	$2,711	42.3%	High
50	Eurobodalla Shire Council, New South Wales	$261	433	$1,878	33.3%	High
51	Apollo Bay, Victoria	$260	409	$2,226	34.5%	Low
52	Sunshine Coast Regional, Queensland	$259	3,160	$2,797	45.0%	Low
53	Scenic Rim Regional, Queensland	$258	277	$3,258	46.8%	Low
54	Agnes Water, Queensland	$253	198	$2,264	37.0%	Low
55	Surfers Paradise, Queensland	$252	302	$2,844	50.1%	Low
56	Inverloch, Victoria	$252	331	$1,445	29.4%	Low
57	Merimbula, New South Wales	$252	219	$2,168	38.9%	High
58	Sydney, New South Wales	$248	11,405	$2,680	48.3%	High
59	Mid-Coast Council, New South Wales	$245	298	$1,897	33.9%	High
60	Coffs Harbour, New South Wales	$245	323	$2,704	41.2%	High
61	Wollongong City Council, New South Wales	$244	562	$2,481	43.9%	High
62	Busselton, Western Australia	$242	230	$3,285	49.7%	High
63	Margaret River, Western Australia	$238	414	$4,109	60.8%	High
64	Newcastle-Maitland, New South Wales	$233	889	$2,552	44.5%	High
65	Wagga Wagga City Council, New South Wales	$231	271	$2,025	42.4%	High
66	Shire of South Gippsland, Victoria	$226	331	$1,781	32.3%	Low
67	Rainbow Beach, Queensland	$224	190	$1,749	36.8%	Low
68	Melbourne, Victoria	$221	16,229	$2,089	42.6%	Low
69	Orange, New South Wales	$220	337	$2,392	43.4%	High
70	Crescent Head, New South Wales	$219	197	$1,635	33.3%	High
71	Robe, South Australia	$218	267	$1,970	36.8%	Low
72	Townsville City, Queensland	$216	321	$1,587	34.0%	Low
73	Warrnambool, Victoria	$216	249	$2,138	41.2%	Low
74	Albany, Western Australia	$214	249	$3,042	53.6%	High
75	Greater Brisbane, Queensland	$212	5,130	$2,367	48.2%	Low
76	Adelaide, South Australia	$212	3,472	$2,591	48.1%	Low
77	Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria	$207	208	$1,456	30.8%	Low
78	Port Macquarie, New South Wales	$202	390	$1,981	42.8%	High
79	Darwin, Northern Territory	$201	647	$2,425	50.2%	Low
80	Townsville, Queensland	$197	432	$1,749	44.9%	Low
81	City of Stirling, Western Australia	$197	535	$2,883	57.6%	High
82	Livingstone Shire, Queensland	$192	219	$1,698	36.8%	Low
83	Hobart, Tasmania	$192	1,528	$2,714	52.9%	High
84	Halls Gap, Victoria	$191	203	$2,302	41.9%	Low
85	Brisbane City, Queensland	$184	326	$2,260	50.7%	Low
86	Cairns, Queensland	$182	884	$2,565	53.5%	Low
87	Bendigo, Victoria	$177	289	$1,886	45.0%	Low
88	Fremantle, Western Australia	$176	298	$2,907	61.5%	High
89	Launceston, Tasmania	$176	559	$2,206	47.7%	High
90	Hervey Bay, Queensland	$171	335	$1,912	48.5%	Low
91	Joondalup, Western Australia	$171	192	$2,293	54.9%	High
92	Geelong, Victoria	$169	470	$1,596	39.8%	Low
93	Perth, Western Australia	$166	373	$2,541	58.8%	High
94	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	$163	284	$1,811	47.3%	Low
95	Albury, New South Wales	$163	196	$1,976	47.4%	High
96	Ballarat, Victoria	$155	391	$1,693	44.4%	Low
97	Toowoomba, Queensland	$155	252	$2,394	55.0%	Low
98	South Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	$152	189	$2,049	51.7%	Low
99	North Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	$146	406	$1,865	48.6%	Low
100	District of Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory	$139	194	$1,671	45.9%	Low

Highest Occupancy Airbnb Markets in Australia

Airbnb occupancy rate measures the percentage of available nights actually booked — the most telling indicator of short-term rental demand in a market. Margaret River, Western Australia leads Australia with 60.8% occupancy, $4,109/month revenue, and 414 active listings. Markets with the highest STR occupancy rates reflect strong, sustained guest demand — a critical signal for investors evaluating where properties will stay consistently booked year-round. This ranking is filtered to markets with 300+ listings to ensure statistical reliability.

#	Market	Occupancy	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Regulation
1	Margaret River, Western Australia	60.8%	414	$4,109	$238	High
2	Perth, Western Australia	58.8%	373	$2,541	$166	High
3	City of Stirling, Western Australia	57.6%	535	$2,883	$197	High
4	Cairns, Queensland	53.5%	884	$2,565	$182	Low
5	Hobart, Tasmania	52.9%	1,528	$2,714	$192	High
6	Brisbane City, Queensland	50.7%	326	$2,260	$184	Low
7	Darwin, Northern Territory	50.2%	647	$2,425	$201	Low
8	Surfers Paradise, Queensland	50.1%	302	$2,844	$252	Low
9	Airlie Beach, Queensland	49.5%	393	$3,527	$293	Low
10	North Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	48.6%	406	$1,865	$146	Low
11	Whitsunday Regional, Queensland	48.5%	358	$6,334	$536	Low
12	Hervey Bay, Queensland	48.5%	335	$1,912	$171	Low
13	Sydney, New South Wales	48.3%	11,405	$2,680	$248	High
14	Greater Brisbane, Queensland	48.2%	5,130	$2,367	$212	Low
15	Adelaide, South Australia	48.1%	3,472	$2,591	$212	Low
16	Launceston, Tasmania	47.7%	559	$2,206	$176	High
17	Gold Coast City, Queensland	46.8%	5,082	$3,090	$275	Low
18	Noosa Heads, Queensland	46.1%	1,025	$4,115	$396	Low
19	Sunshine Coast Regional, Queensland	45.0%	3,160	$2,797	$259	Low
20	Townsville, Queensland	44.9%	432	$1,749	$197	Low
21	Dunsborough, Western Australia	44.7%	507	$3,505	$317	High
22	Newcastle-Maitland, New South Wales	44.5%	889	$2,552	$233	High
23	Ballarat, Victoria	44.4%	391	$1,693	$155	Low
24	Wollongong City Council, New South Wales	43.9%	562	$2,481	$244	High
25	Orange, New South Wales	43.4%	337	$2,392	$220	High
26	Cairns Regional, Queensland	42.9%	681	$3,536	$313	Low
27	Port Macquarie, New South Wales	42.8%	390	$1,981	$202	High
28	City Of Busselton, Western Australia	42.7%	554	$3,621	$322	High
29	Melbourne, Victoria	42.6%	16,229	$2,089	$221	Low
30	Mandurah, Western Australia	42.3%	306	$2,711	$265	High
31	Byron Bay, New South Wales	41.7%	983	$4,096	$435	High
32	Coffs Harbour, New South Wales	41.2%	323	$2,704	$245	High
33	Port Douglas, Queensland	40.2%	638	$3,069	$348	Low
34	Geelong, Victoria	39.8%	470	$1,596	$169	Low
35	Bright, Victoria	38.5%	487	$2,930	$284	Low
36	Kingscliff, New South Wales	36.2%	340	$3,001	$368	High
37	Daylesford, Victoria	36.1%	436	$2,909	$295	Low
38	Shire of Colac Otway, Victoria	34.8%	378	$2,462	$293	Low
39	Torquay, Victoria	34.7%	468	$2,309	$303	Low
40	Apollo Bay, Victoria	34.5%	409	$2,226	$260	Low
41	Vincentia, New South Wales	34.3%	425	$3,048	$366	High
42	Townsville City, Queensland	34.0%	321	$1,587	$216	Low
43	Yamba, New South Wales	34.0%	425	$2,460	$322	High
44	Cessnock, New South Wales	33.9%	494	$3,695	$424	High
45	City of Greater Geelong, Victoria	33.5%	355	$2,125	$300	Low
46	Gosford, New South Wales	33.4%	855	$2,479	$365	High
47	Eurobodalla Shire Council, New South Wales	33.3%	433	$1,878	$261	High
48	Shoalhaven City Council, New South Wales	33.1%	1,094	$3,043	$402	High
49	Ocean Grove, Victoria	32.7%	411	$2,009	$272	Low
50	Shire of South Gippsland, Victoria	32.3%	331	$1,781	$226	Low
51	Central Coast Council, New South Wales	32.3%	852	$2,571	$359	High
52	Cowes, Victoria	31.8%	701	$2,130	$267	Low
53	Jindabyne, New South Wales	31.4%	585	$2,381	$398	High
54	Port Fairy, Victoria	31.4%	325	$1,991	$282	Low
55	Port Stephens Council, New South Wales	31.0%	343	$2,774	$405	High
56	Forster, New South Wales	30.0%	424	$1,693	$270	High
57	Lorne, Victoria	29.5%	392	$2,423	$386	Low
58	Inverloch, Victoria	29.4%	331	$1,445	$252	Low
59	Nelson Bay, New South Wales	28.8%	502	$2,296	$366	High

How to Choose an Airbnb Investment Market in Australia

No single ranking tells the full story. The best Airbnb market for a given investor depends on their capital, risk tolerance, operating model, and income goals. The four ranking dimensions on this page — market depth, revenue, ADR, and occupancy — serve different investor profiles.

If you prioritize predictable cash flow, start with the occupancy rankings. Markets where occupancy exceeds 55% offer consistent bookings and lower vacancy risk. High-occupancy markets may not have the highest nightly rates, but their revenue stability makes them better suited for mortgage-backed investments where monthly debt coverage matters more than peak earnings.

If you're targeting maximum income per property, use the revenue rankings. Revenue is the product of nightly rate and occupancy — it captures the combined effect of both. The highest-revenue Airbnb markets in Australia tend to be destination cities where travelers stay longer and pay a premium for entire-home listings.

If you're evaluating luxury or premium positioning, the ADR rankings show where guests are willing to pay top dollar per night. High-ADR markets reward property upgrades, professional photography, and amenity investments. However, a high nightly rate with low occupancy may generate less income than a moderately priced listing that stays booked consistently.

If you want the deepest market data, the active listings rankings identify cities with the largest short-term rental supply. More listings mean more comparable properties for pricing, more data points for revenue projections, and typically a more liquid resale market if your investment thesis changes.

In all cases, check the regulation column before committing capital. A profitable market with high regulation may require permits, annual caps on rental days, or costly compliance steps that erode returns. Markets with low regulation offer faster time-to-market but may tighten rules as STR supply grows.

Short-Term Rental Regulation in Australia

Understanding the regulatory environment is critical for any Airbnb investment in Australia. Regulation affects licensing costs, annual operating limits, tax obligations, and the long-term viability of a short-term rental strategy.

Across the 100 markets ranked on this page: 50 have a low regulation profile (generally operator-friendly with minimal licensing requirements), 0 have medium regulation (some permit or registration requirements), and 50 have high regulation (strict licensing, annual rental day caps, or active enforcement). Markets with low regulation offer the lowest barrier to entry, while high-regulation markets may still be profitable — but require careful compliance planning and often limit the number of properties a single operator can manage.

AirROI classifies regulation as a market-level signal based on available ordinance data and platform registration patterns. This is not legal advice — always verify current local ordinances, as short-term rental rules can change rapidly, especially in high-growth markets where municipalities are actively responding to STR expansion.

How We Rank the Best Airbnb Investment Markets in Australia

This page ranks Airbnb markets in Australia across four dimensions that matter most to short-term rental investors and operators: market depth (active listings), revenue potential (monthly income per listing), pricing power (average daily rate), and booking demand (occupancy rate). Each ranking uses the same underlying dataset but sorts by a different metric, giving you multiple lenses to evaluate where to invest in Airbnb in Australia.

No single metric tells the full story. A market with high ADR but low occupancy may underperform one with moderate pricing and strong demand. Revenue captures the combined effect of rate and occupancy, while active listings signal whether a market has enough depth for reliable benchmarking and a liquid resale environment. We include regulation data alongside every ranking so you can weigh compliance risk before committing capital.

Ranking Methodology & Data Sources

Active Listings (TTM): The count of active short-term rental listings in each market over the trailing twelve months — a proxy for market maturity, data reliability, and investor confidence in Australia.
Monthly Revenue: Average gross revenue per listing per month — the bottom-line metric for evaluating Airbnb profitability in Australia and projecting cash flow.
Average Daily Rate (ADR): The mean nightly booking price across all active listings — the clearest measure of a market's short-term rental pricing power.
Occupancy Rate: Percentage of available nights booked — the demand signal that determines how much of your nightly rate converts to actual income. Occupancy rankings are filtered to markets with 300+ listings to exclude small markets with unreliable averages.
Regulation: An indicator of the local regulatory climate in Australia, from low (operator-friendly) to high (strict licensing and enforcement) — essential for assessing compliance risk.

All data is sourced from AirROI's proprietary analytics pipeline, which tracks 20,000,000+ properties across 190+ countries. Metrics are recalculated on a rolling basis using trailing twelve-month aggregates from active listings. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Airbnb Markets in Australia

These quick answers summarize the most common investor and operator questions using AirROI's latest market data for Australia.

What are the best places to invest in Airbnb in Australia?

Melbourne, Victoria leads this ranking for Australia with 16,229 active listings — the largest market by depth. Markets are ranked by listing count because deeper markets offer more comparable data, more pricing benchmarks, and a more predictable operating environment for investors. Each row also shows revenue, ADR, occupancy, and regulation so investors can evaluate based on what matters most to them.

Which market has the highest Airbnb revenue in Australia?

Whitsunday Regional, Queensland posts the highest average monthly revenue in this ranking at $6,334. Revenue leaders often combine healthy rates, solid occupancy, and enough listing scale to support repeatable operations rather than one-off outliers.

Which market has the strongest Airbnb occupancy in Australia?

Fremantle, Western Australia has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 61.5%. High occupancy can signal resilient demand, but investors still need to balance it against nightly rates, regulation, and supply depth before deciding where to buy or operate.

Which Airbnb markets in Australia have the lowest regulation?

Melbourne (Victoria), Greater Brisbane (Queensland), Gold Coast City (Queensland) currently show low regulation profiles in this ranking. Lower regulation can reduce compliance costs and time-to-market for new hosts, but investors should always verify local ordinances before purchasing — rules can change quickly as short-term rental markets grow.

Is short-term rental investing still profitable in Australia in 2026?

The markets ranked here average 40.9% occupancy, and the top performer posts $6,334 in monthly revenue. Profitability depends on property acquisition cost, local operating expenses, and regulation compliance — but the data shows active, performing markets exist across Australia for well-researched investors.

How often are AirROI's top Airbnb market rankings updated?

AirROI updates these rankings using the latest market snapshot available in the dataset, which for this page is anchored to 2026. Rankings should be treated as current market intelligence rather than permanent truths because pricing, demand, regulation, and supply can all shift over time.

What metrics should I use to evaluate Airbnb investments in Australia?

The most important metrics for comparing short-term rental markets are active listing count (market depth and data reliability), occupancy rate (demand consistency), average daily rate (pricing power), monthly revenue (income potential), and regulation level (compliance cost and risk). This ranking sorts by market depth first; use the other columns to filter for the profile that fits your investment strategy.

What makes a good Airbnb market for first-time investors in Australia?

First-time investors in Australia should prioritize markets with high occupancy (55%+) and low regulation, which reduce the risk of empty calendars and compliance surprises. Markets with 200+ active listings also provide better benchmarking data and a more predictable operating environment. Revenue is important, but consistent demand is more forgiving for operators still learning pricing and guest management.

What is a good Airbnb occupancy rate in Australia?

Across the markets ranked here, the average occupancy rate in Australia is 40.9%. Occupancy above 50% is generally considered healthy for short-term rentals, and above 65% signals strong, sustained demand. However, the best occupancy rate depends on pricing strategy — some hosts maximize revenue by targeting fewer bookings at higher nightly rates rather than maximizing booking volume.

How does regulation affect Airbnb investment returns in Australia?

Regulation is one of the most overlooked risks in short-term rental investing. In Australia, 50 of 100 ranked markets have low regulation, 0 have medium, and 50 have high. High-regulation markets often require permits, limit annual rental days, or impose occupancy taxes — all of which reduce net returns. Low-regulation markets offer faster time-to-market and lower compliance costs, but rules can tighten as STR supply grows.

What is the difference between ADR and RevPAR for Airbnb investing?

ADR (Average Daily Rate) is the average nightly price guests pay, while RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Rental night) factors in both price and occupancy. A market with $200 ADR and 50% occupancy has $100 RevPAR — the same as a market with $125 ADR and 80% occupancy. RevPAR is a better single-number benchmark for comparing markets because it captures how effectively nightly rates convert to realized income. AirROI's city-level reports include RevPAR with percentile breakdowns for deeper analysis.

How many Airbnb listings does a market need to be investable in Australia?

Markets with fewer than 100 active listings can show volatile averages that do not predict future performance. The median market in this Australia ranking has about 337 listings. Larger markets (500+) offer more reliable data, more comparable properties for pricing, and typically a more liquid exit if you decide to sell. Smaller markets can still be profitable, but investors should treat the data as directional rather than precise.

How do seasonal and year-round Airbnb markets differ in Australia?

Seasonal markets in Australia experience dramatic swings in booking demand — often earning 60-70% of annual revenue in just 3-4 peak months. Year-round markets deliver steadier cash flow with lower peak-to-trough variation. Investors who need predictable monthly income should prioritize high-occupancy markets with low seasonal variance, while those comfortable with cash-flow timing can target seasonal markets where peak rates compensate for off-season softness.

About AirROI Market Data

AirROI tracks over 20 million properties across 190+ countries and maintains 15+ years of historical performance data, making it one of the deepest Airbnb and STR intelligence platforms available. The analytics pipeline aggregates listing-level data monthly — revenue, occupancy, nightly rates, RevPAR, guest demographics, booking patterns, and competitive supply — so investors and operators can benchmark any market against its own history and against neighboring destinations.

Real estate investors, property managers, financial institutions, hospitality consultants, and academic researchers rely on AirROI data to underwrite acquisitions, optimize pricing, model macro trends, and conduct peer-reviewed research. Data is available through in-depth market reports, the data portal for bulk downloads, the Airbnb API with 22 endpoints, and an Airbnb MCP Server for AI agents.

All metrics reflect trailing twelve-month aggregates from active listings as of 2026-04-08. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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What Other Airbnb Markets Are in Australia?

Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Norfolk Island Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia