Prices in

Beach townsAustralia2026

Australia Beach Towns

Gold Coast, Noosa Heads and Byron Bay were the most booked of the 119 beach towns in Australia on Airbnb in the 12 months to October 2026, with an estimated 117,272, 28,693 and 26,758 stays. January is the busiest month across them, and the typical stay is 4.6 nights.

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou, Founder @ AirROI Updated November 4, 2026

Figures are AirROI estimates. How they are made

Among the 47 towns with 200+ homes

Most booked of these 47: Gold Coast 117,272 stays
Highest revenue per home of these 47: Noosa Heads A$82,203 a year
Highest rated of these 47: Margaret River 4.87 out of 5
Lowest nightly rate of these 47: Hervey Bay A$270 a night
Longest typical stay of these 47: Townsville 5.7 nights

Ranking

Australia Beach Towns Ranked by Airbnb Stays

Every one of the beach and coastal towns in Australia with 100 or more Airbnb homes and recent stays, most booked first.

Australia Beach Towns ranked by Airbnb stays, with homes, typical stay, busiest month, nightly rate, occupancy, revenue per home and guest rating

1	Gold Coast, Queensland	117,272	4,240	5.1 nights	January	A$438	47%	A$61,218	4.72
2	Noosa Heads, Queensland	28,693	1,003	4.9 nights	January	A$636	48%	A$82,203	4.81
3	Byron Bay, New South Wales	26,758	996	4.7 nights	January	A$679	42%	A$77,932	4.81
4	Busselton, Western Australia	25,601	745	3.8 nights	January	A$473	46%	A$67,564	4.80
5	Margaret River, Western Australia	25,068	470	3.3 nights	October	A$383	60%	A$75,916	4.87
6	Surfers Paradise, Queensland	20,972	761	5.0 nights	January	A$398	51%	A$51,912	4.66
7	Dunsborough, Western Australia	18,044	536	4.2 nights	January	A$503	47%	A$69,326	4.84
8	Cowes, Victoria	15,984	751	3.9 nights	January	A$431	33%	A$39,725	4.77
9	Gosford, New South Wales	15,388	779	4.1 nights	January	A$569	35%	A$47,655	4.79
10	Townsville, Queensland	14,575	690	5.7 nights	July	A$320	39%	A$32,591	4.76
11	Airlie Beach, Queensland	13,931	406	4.1 nights	October	A$450	51%	A$68,724	4.78
12	Fremantle, Western Australia	13,065	333	5.4 nights	October	A$294	62%	A$54,974	4.82
13	Port Douglas, Queensland	12,908	662	5.2 nights	July	A$551	40%	A$58,371	4.83
14	Geelong, Victoria	11,349	434	4.6 nights	January	A$274	41%	A$32,320	4.79
15	Vincentia, New South Wales	11,346	454	3.9 nights	January	A$558	36%	A$57,033	4.76
16	Torquay, Victoria	10,901	498	4.7 nights	January	A$469	37%	A$43,954	4.84
17	Apollo Bay, Victoria	10,649	439	3.5 nights	January	A$417	35%	A$42,553	4.75
18	Port Macquarie, New South Wales	10,407	413	4.8 nights	December	A$333	44%	A$38,376	4.75
19	Albany, Western Australia	10,094	236	3.8 nights	January	A$347	54%	A$60,379	4.81
20	Kiama, New South Wales	9,977	336	4.2 nights	January	A$618	41%	A$69,419	4.81
21	Nelson Bay, New South Wales	9,649	542	4.0 nights	January	A$572	30%	A$43,979	4.59
22	Bicheno, Tasmania	9,640	187	2.9 nights	January	A$334	55%	A$63,290	4.84
23	Coffs Harbour, New South Wales	9,386	372	4.1 nights	October	A$392	41%	A$46,970	4.79
24	Yallingup, Western Australia	8,822	264	3.9 nights	January	A$594	46%	A$78,037	4.85
25	Kingscliff, New South Wales	8,757	389	4.7 nights	December	A$556	37%	A$54,173	4.75
26	Lorne, Victoria	8,593	417	3.9 nights	January	A$582	31%	A$45,745	4.72
27	Huskisson, New South Wales	8,559	263	3.4 nights	January	A$528	39%	A$66,830	4.80
28	Ocean Grove, Victoria	8,333	415	4.8 nights	January	A$435	36%	A$39,961	4.86
29	Mandurah, Western Australia	8,164	312	4.5 nights	January	A$419	43%	A$49,997	4.82
30	Yamba, New South Wales	8,089	451	5.4 nights	January	A$507	36%	A$48,037	4.78
31	Coles Bay, Tasmania	7,859	144	2.8 nights	January	A$394	54%	A$72,376	4.72
32	Hervey Bay, Queensland	7,692	278	5.1 nights	December	A$270	47%	A$36,604	4.82
33	Eurobodalla, New South Wales. Includes Batemans Bay and Moruya.	7,655	404	4.7 nights	January	A$409	35%	A$35,912	4.78
34	Forster, New South Wales	7,555	466	5.0 nights	January	A$418	32%	A$32,423	4.67
35	Port Fairy, Victoria	7,100	329	3.9 nights	January	A$417	33%	A$38,262	4.76
36	Robe, South Australia	6,927	287	4.0 nights	January	A$358	38%	A$37,976	4.79
37	Port Stephens, New South Wales	6,194	309	4.1 nights	January	A$631	33%	A$55,844	4.66
38	Sunshine Beach, Queensland	6,028	300	5.6 nights	December	A$660	41%	A$64,276	4.84
39	Inverloch, Victoria	5,763	340	4.4 nights	January	A$404	31%	A$29,330	4.80
40	Lennox Head, New South Wales	5,472	255	5.5 nights	January	A$519	42%	A$51,012	4.84
41	Byron, New South Wales	5,463	174	3.7 nights	December	A$708	44%	A$76,548	4.90
42	Shoal Bay, New South Wales	5,190	263	3.9 nights	January	A$611	30%	A$50,084	4.60
43	Cottesloe, Western Australia	4,905	148	6.7 nights	October	A$450	64%	A$81,347	4.81
44	Agnes Water, Queensland	4,881	220	4.4 nights	December	A$381	37%	A$39,137	4.75
45	Terrigal, New South Wales	4,829	215	4.7 nights	January	A$591	35%	A$48,615	4.84
46	Broadbeach, Queensland	4,785	164	4.9 nights	January	A$463	53%	A$70,437	4.75
47	Merimbula, New South Wales	4,775	240	5.2 nights	January	A$408	41%	A$42,237	4.76
48	Shellharbour, New South Wales. Includes Shell Cove.	4,640	141	3.8 nights	January	A$500	47%	A$68,877	4.87
49	Noosa, Queensland. Includes Tewantin.	4,604	188	4.3 nights	December	A$435	40%	A$47,747	4.86
50	Rainbow Beach, Queensland	4,501	202	4.1 nights	December	A$353	37%	A$31,573	4.68
51	Kalbarri, Western Australia	4,393	195	4.2 nights	October	A$306	35%	A$31,225	4.64
52	Anglesea, Victoria	4,320	278	4.6 nights	January	A$486	30%	A$35,063	4.82
53	Sawtell, New South Wales	4,274	161	4.2 nights	January	A$422	40%	A$49,781	4.78
54	Bargara, Queensland	4,274	160	4.6 nights	December	A$323	41%	A$37,813	4.78
55	Lakes Entrance, Victoria	4,263	194	3.5 nights	January	A$360	34%	A$34,865	4.71
56	Denmark, Western Australia	4,199	109	4.5 nights	January	A$353	55%	A$63,754	4.89
57	Suffolk Park, New South Wales	4,135	180	6.0 nights	October	A$646	45%	A$59,876	4.88
58	Joondalup, Western Australia	4,091	184	7.2 nights	November	A$281	52%	A$40,934	4.84
59	Geraldton, Western Australia	4,062	119	5.5 nights	October	A$251	57%	A$43,545	4.81
60	Crescent Head, New South Wales	4,007	202	5.1 nights	January	A$359	36%	A$35,077	4.72
61	Gnarabup, Western Australia	3,990	103	3.9 nights	January	A$467	51%	A$72,729	4.84
62	Callala Beach, New South Wales	3,864	169	3.8 nights	January	A$781	34%	A$75,755	4.72
63	Surf Coast, Victoria	3,846	203	4.3 nights	January	A$490	32%	A$37,761	4.83
64	Gerringong, New South Wales	3,806	137	3.6 nights	January	A$803	37%	A$88,513	4.82
65	Port Lincoln, South Australia	3,571	118	4.5 nights	January	A$274	47%	A$36,891	4.83
66	Victor Harbor, South Australia	3,507	134	3.9 nights	January	A$346	37%	A$36,924	4.79
67	Exmouth, Western Australia	3,487	150	5.6 nights	July	A$473	48%	A$62,101	4.70
68	Kingscote, South Australia	3,432	107	3.7 nights	March	A$332	44%	A$42,200	4.79
69	Yeppoon, Queensland	3,414	122	4.3 nights	July	A$310	44%	A$41,078	4.73
70	Cape Woolamai, Victoria	3,338	171	4.2 nights	January	A$422	33%	A$36,297	4.82
71	Scarborough, Western Australia	3,330	127	7.1 nights	November	A$398	59%	A$61,045	4.84
72	South West Rocks, New South Wales	3,288	206	5.2 nights	January	A$304	35%	A$26,582	4.76
73	Douglas, Queensland. Includes Mossman.	3,271	133	4.4 nights	July	A$487	40%	A$56,610	4.86
74	South Fremantle, Western Australia	3,165	103	6.8 nights	December	A$339	60%	A$58,846	4.84
75	Bogangar, New South Wales	3,101	123	5.4 nights	January	A$542	44%	A$64,798	4.83
76	Port Campbell, Victoria	3,091	133	2.2 nights	January	A$391	39%	A$50,346	4.74
77	Port Elliot, South Australia	3,088	137	4.1 nights	January	A$368	36%	A$37,121	4.80
78	Middleton, South Australia	3,080	143	3.8 nights	January	A$412	32%	A$35,797	4.83
79	Manly, New South Wales	3,035	152	6.8 nights	October	A$480	51%	A$55,844	4.82
80	Bass Coast, Victoria. Includes Phillip Island and Wonthaggi.	3,032	119	3.9 nights	January	A$447	36%	A$46,731	4.84
81	Bondi Beach, New South Wales	2,965	134	7.1 nights	March	A$427	53%	A$51,890	4.77
82	Brunswick Heads, New South Wales	2,931	116	4.9 nights	December	A$489	42%	A$54,720	4.83
83	Ballina, New South Wales	2,913	123	4.8 nights	January	A$469	44%	A$50,205	4.87
84	Palm Cove, Queensland	2,892	140	5.4 nights	August	A$526	42%	A$64,101	4.84
85	Burleigh Heads, Queensland	2,878	113	5.3 nights	January	A$546	48%	A$65,221	4.69
86	The Entrance, New South Wales	2,848	170	4.2 nights	January	A$379	32%	A$27,617	4.44
87	Peregian Beach, Queensland	2,757	140	5.6 nights	July	A$558	38%	A$51,213	4.84
88	Mooloolaba, Queensland	2,742	115	4.2 nights	December	A$438	42%	A$44,666	4.75
89	Copper Coast, South Australia. Includes Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo.	2,732	140	4.3 nights	January	A$300	33%	A$28,312	4.63
90	Sunrise Beach, Queensland	2,696	101	6.1 nights	January	A$551	49%	A$78,402	4.88
91	Encounter Bay, South Australia	2,692	117	4.0 nights	January	A$373	37%	A$39,075	4.81
92	Callala Bay, New South Wales	2,667	104	3.9 nights	January	A$636	37%	A$66,846	4.75
93	Ventnor, Victoria	2,543	126	4.5 nights	January	A$428	35%	A$41,230	4.81
94	Casuarina Beach, New South Wales	2,527	106	5.2 nights	December	A$627	38%	A$58,168	4.78
95	Hyams Beach, New South Wales	2,523	108	4.5 nights	January	A$688	33%	A$71,156	4.73
96	Maroochydore, Queensland	2,516	119	5.6 nights	December	A$382	44%	A$38,967	4.76
97	St Kilda, Victoria	2,511	155	6.9 nights	November	A$244	46%	A$23,520	4.74
98	Portarlington, Victoria	2,508	153	4.5 nights	January	A$392	31%	A$28,730	4.83
99	Sussex Inlet, New South Wales	2,474	141	3.7 nights	January	A$382	30%	A$27,920	4.78
100	Rye, Victoria	2,449	131	4.1 nights	December	A$574	34%	A$47,279	4.88
101	Tweed Heads, New South Wales	2,424	108	5.5 nights	January	A$376	43%	A$42,152	4.75
102	Augusta, Western Australia	2,268	99	3.7 nights	January	A$323	36%	A$36,674	4.70
103	Noosaville, Queensland	2,246	103	4.7 nights	December	A$435	39%	A$43,071	4.83
104	Normanville, South Australia	2,230	117	3.8 nights	January	A$370	30%	A$29,873	4.80
105	Malua Bay, New South Wales	2,196	117	4.7 nights	December	A$515	35%	A$46,444	4.76
106	Sandy Point, Victoria	2,193	114	4.3 nights	January	A$396	31%	A$33,125	4.72
107	Aireys Inlet, Victoria	2,189	121	4.5 nights	January	A$493	31%	A$39,723	4.79
108	Rockingham, Western Australia	2,160	113	6.8 nights	November	A$259	46%	A$32,788	4.73
109	Anna Bay, New South Wales	2,098	106	3.5 nights	January	A$630	34%	A$51,704	4.73
110	St Leonards, Victoria	2,096	136	4.2 nights	January	A$409	30%	A$28,156	4.84
111	Narooma, New South Wales	2,075	108	4.8 nights	January	A$363	34%	A$32,542	4.61
112	Smiths Lake, New South Wales	2,062	111	4.9 nights	December	A$473	34%	A$38,698	4.79
113	Hawks Nest, New South Wales	2,003	158	5.6 nights	January	A$402	28%	A$25,540	4.67
114	Fingal Bay, New South Wales	1,970	117	4.2 nights	January	A$693	31%	A$55,154	4.68
115	Bawley Point, New South Wales	1,920	100	4.2 nights	January	A$470	32%	A$35,929	4.79
116	Ulladulla, New South Wales	1,867	115	4.8 nights	January	A$464	32%	A$31,584	4.78
117	Bermagui, New South Wales	1,720	108	5.1 nights	January	A$388	33%	A$29,089	4.72
118	Boomerang Beach, New South Wales	1,626	125	5.3 nights	January	A$695	29%	A$52,288	4.76
119	Tuncurry, New South Wales	1,317	100	5.5 nights	January	A$342	31%	A$22,165	4.69

Figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and stays count Airbnb bookings only. Typical stay is a booking's length, occupancy the share of available nights booked, and revenue the yearly average per home, before costs. Guest rating is out of 5. Airbnb data files some places as one district or township, so Eurobodalla and rows like it cover several towns.

Money figures on this page are in Australian dollars, converted from US dollars at A$1.44 per US$, the typical rate from November 2025 to October 2026.

By region

Stays and Top Town by Region

Australia Beach Towns by region: towns, Airbnb stays and the top town in each
Region	Towns	Stays	Top town
Queensland	22	270,528	Gold Coast
New South Wales	47	244,725	Byron Bay
Western Australia	18	148,908	Busselton
Victoria	21	117,051	Cowes
South Australia	9	31,259	Robe
Tasmania	2	17,499	Bicheno

Town by town

Where the Top Towns Stand Out

7 of 8 are busiest in January. Margaret River peaks in October. Among guests who left a review, Perth is the top home city in 3 of the 8. Houses are the largest home type in 5 of the 8. The lines below add what the table can't show, where one of the 8 most booked towns leads its peers or differs from the rest.

Gold Coast, Queensland
Of the 47 beach towns in Australia with 200 or more homes, Gold Coast (Queensland) had the most Airbnb homes, at 4,240, in the 12 months to October 2026. Apartments and condos were the largest home type in Gold Coast, at 74% of homes. Among guests who left a review, Brisbane was the top home city for Gold Coast, at 5.9%.
Noosa Heads, Queensland
Of the 47 beach towns in Australia with 200 or more homes, Noosa Heads (Queensland) was booked furthest ahead, about 98 days before arrival, in the 12 months to October 2026. Apartments and condos were the largest home type in Noosa Heads, at 75% of homes. Among guests who left a review, Brisbane was the top home city for Noosa Heads, at 6.2%.
Byron Bay, New South Wales
Of the 47 beach towns in Australia with 200 or more homes, Byron Bay (New South Wales) had the highest nightly rate, at A$679, in the 12 months to October 2026. Among guests who left a review, Sydney was the top home city for Byron Bay, at 7.6%.
5
Margaret River, Western Australia
Of the 47 beach towns in Australia with 200 or more homes, Margaret River (Western Australia) had the highest guest rating, at 4.87, in the 12 months to October 2026.
6
Surfers Paradise, Queensland
Of the 47 beach towns in Australia with 200 or more homes, Surfers Paradise (Queensland) had the biggest share of apartments and condos, at 95%, in the 12 months to October 2026. Among guests who left a review, Melbourne was the top home city for Surfers Paradise, at 5.4%.
8
Cowes, Victoria
Of the 47 beach towns in Australia with 200 or more homes, Cowes (Victoria) had the biggest share of homes that sleep 8 or more, at 54%, in the 12 months to October 2026. Among guests who left a review, Melbourne was the top home city for Cowes, at 23%.

When to go

Busiest and Quietest Months

January, December and October rank as the busiest months for Airbnb nights across the beach towns in Australia, and June and May as the quietest. January is the busiest month in 79 of the 119, while Margaret River and Airlie Beach peak in October, and Townsville in July. Across the 119 towns, nightly rates run lowest in August, at about A$432, and highest in January, at about A$513. Across the 119 towns, stays run longest in December, at 5.3 nights, and shortest in September, at 3.8 nights.

January ranks first, May last

Airbnb months in calendar order. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.

Three busiest months
Other months

Month by month: rank, typical stay and nightly rate

Months in Australia by rank
Rank	Month	Typical stay	Nightly rate
1	January	4.8 nights	A$513
2	December	5.3 nights	A$506
3	October	4.1 nights	A$458
4	November	4.5 nights	A$453
5	March	4.0 nights	A$450
6	September	3.8 nights	A$456
7	April	4.2 nights	A$477
8	July	5.0 nights	A$453
9	February	4.6 nights	A$450
10	August	4.3 nights	A$432
11	June	4.5 nights	A$437
12	May	4.2 nights	A$438

Who comes

Where Guests Come From

Among guests who left a review, 76% come from within Australia. Among those guests, the largest groups from abroad come from the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand. The top home cities among those guests are Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Airlie Beach (Queensland) draws the most from abroad, at 49%, among towns with 200 or more homes.

Top countries abroad

Among guests who left a review

United Kingdom 6.1%
United States 2.8%
New Zealand 2.6%
Singapore 1.7%

Top home cities

Among guests who left a review

76% from within Australia

Melbourne 5.8%
Sydney 5.4%
Perth 3%
Brisbane 2.5%

The money view

Revenue, Occupancy and Nightly Rate

Among the 47 towns with 200 or more Airbnb homes, Noosa Heads has the highest estimated revenue per home, at A$82,203 a year. Of those 47, Fremantle has the highest occupancy, at 62%, and Hervey Bay has the lowest nightly rate on Airbnb, at A$270. The most booked of the 119, Gold Coast, earns about A$61,218 per home.

Highest revenue per home of these 47

A year, AirROI estimate

Noosa Heads A$82,203
Queensland
Yallingup A$78,037
Western Australia
Byron Bay A$77,932
New South Wales
Margaret River A$75,916
Western Australia
Kiama A$69,419
New South Wales

Highest occupancy of these 47

Nights booked, AirROI estimate

Fremantle 62%
Western Australia
Margaret River 60%
Western Australia
Albany 54%
Western Australia
Surfers Paradise 51%
Queensland
Airlie Beach 51%
Queensland

Lowest nightly rate of these 47

On Airbnb, AirROI estimate

Hervey Bay A$270
Queensland
Geelong A$274
Victoria
Fremantle A$294
Western Australia
South West Rocks A$304
New South Wales
Townsville A$320
Queensland

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular beach town in Australia?

By AirROI's estimates, Gold Coast (Queensland) is the most booked of the 119 beach towns in Australia, with 117,272 Airbnb stays in the 12 months to October 2026. Noosa Heads is second, with 28,693. This counts Airbnb bookings only.

What is the most affordable beach town in Australia?

By AirROI's estimated nightly rate on Airbnb in the 12 months to October 2026, among beach towns in Australia with 200 or more homes, the lowest are Hervey Bay (Queensland) (A$270), Geelong (Victoria) (A$274) and Fremantle (Western Australia) (A$294). That is the average asking price on booked nights, not what it costs to live or buy there.

What are some small beach towns in Australia?

By AirROI's count of active Airbnb homes as of October 2026, the smallest of the 119 beach towns it lists in Australia are Augusta (Western Australia) (99), Bawley Point (New South Wales) (100) and Tuncurry (New South Wales) (100). AirROI's list starts at 100 homes, so smaller places are not on it.

What beach towns in Australia offer the strongest Airbnb returns?

Returns depend on what a home costs to buy and run, which AirROI's figures do not cover. On AirROI's estimated revenue per home in the 12 months to October 2026, among beach towns in Australia with 200 or more homes, the highest are Noosa Heads (Queensland) (A$82,203), Yallingup (Western Australia) (A$78,037) and Byron Bay (New South Wales) (A$77,932). Among the same towns, Fremantle (Western Australia) has the highest occupancy, at 62%.

Method

How These Lists and Numbers Are Made

How a town gets on this list. A town needs 100 or more Airbnb homes with recent stays. A language model then judges the place from its name, state, country and coordinates, not from words in its name: it has to be on an ocean or sea coast with its own beach, seafront or harbour, or on a Great Lake with a public beach, and within about 10 km of the shore. The town's own listings can back that up, with 30% of its homes listing beach access, or 10% with ocean views, waterfront homes or beach in their titles besides. A town whose listings do not gets a second, stricter check, which asks whether people go there for that or mainly for something else. Big cities stay off, unless people travel to them for the beach. Corrections come last: places the checks got wrong are added or taken off, and rows that name one place are joined.

How the figures are made. Stays, occupancy, nightly rate and revenue are AirROI estimates built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. A town's stays are its bookings in the period, and the typical stay and busiest month come from the same data. Guest ratings, home sizes and how far ahead guests book are the latest figures in each town's AirROI data. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 2,300,145 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. A town needs 1,000 reviews before this page gives its share from abroad.