What Are the Best Places to Invest in Airbnb in New Zealand?

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI

Updated: 2026-06-02

The short-term rental market in New Zealand 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 New Zealand across four dimensions: market depth (active listings), revenue, nightly rate (ADR), and occupancy rate. Queenstown, Otago leads by market size with 2,352 active listings and $5,278/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 38.7% with $1,593/month in average revenue and $188/night ADR. 100 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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand attract the highest volume of travelers and offer the most reliable benchmarking data for pricing and revenue projections. Queenstown, Otago leads with 2,352 active short-term rental listings and $5,278/month in average revenue.

#	Market	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Queenstown, Otago	2,352	$5,278	$377	56.5%	Low
2	Christchurch, Canterbury	2,140	$1,662	$133	50.1%	Low
3	Waitematā, Auckland	1,283	$1,842	$158	48.8%	Low
4	Tauranga, Bay of Plenty	1,184	$1,437	$207	35.4%	Low
5	Wānaka, Otago	1,101	$2,938	$297	45.3%	Low
6	Wellington, Wellington	1,081	$1,415	$132	43.7%	Low
7	Taupō, Waikato	972	$2,073	$220	38.7%	Low
8	Auckland, Auckland	904	$1,309	$166	42.8%	Low
9	Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community, Northland	726	$1,538	$221	34.4%	Low
10	Rotorua, Bay of Plenty	688	$2,136	$177	45.7%	Low
11	Dunedin, Otago	600	$1,537	$140	44.2%	Low
12	Waiheke, Auckland	537	$2,480	$354	33.1%	Low
13	Rodney, Auckland	528	$1,487	$232	31.2%	Low
14	Hamilton, Waikato	519	$1,374	$129	42.4%	Low
15	Nelson, Nelson	505	$1,356	$169	41.3%	Low
16	New Plymouth, Taranaki	453	$1,112	$151	35.3%	Low
17	Napier, Hawke's Bay	436	$1,381	$176	37.1%	Low
18	Lake Tekapo, Canterbury	418	$5,712	$319	61.9%	Low
19	Raglan, Waikato	386	$1,673	$195	38.0%	Low
20	Fiordland Community, Southland	366	$2,438	$181	53.1%	Low
21	Albert-Eden, Auckland	362	$1,195	$142	40.7%	Low
22	Hibiscus and Bays, Auckland	359	$1,351	$162	38.1%	Low
23	Ohakune, Manawatū-Whanganui	308	$978	$194	24.2%	Low
24	Te Hiku Community, Northland	303	$1,058	$162	31.8%	Low
25	Ōrākei, Auckland	291	$1,485	$170	43.3%	Low
26	Banks Peninsula Community, Canterbury	283	$1,577	$163	38.9%	Low
27	Twizel, Canterbury	280	$2,692	$183	52.9%	Low
28	Hanmer Springs, Canterbury	276	$1,914	$262	30.3%	Low
29	Kaikōura, Canterbury	261	$2,072	$205	40.2%	Low
30	Devonport-Takapuna, Auckland	249	$1,460	$179	40.1%	Low
31	Lower Hutt, Wellington	243	$1,060	$107	42.4%	Low
32	Howick, Auckland	235	$1,420	$142	40.1%	Low
33	Papamoa, Bay of Plenty	235	$1,548	$238	34.1%	Low
34	Gisborne, Gisborne	228	$1,116	$197	32.4%	Low
35	Havelock North, Hawke's Bay	221	$1,643	$228	36.1%	Low
36	Jacks Point, Otago	221	$2,718	$312	49.6%	Low
37	Whitianga, Waikato	218	$1,428	$216	34.5%	Low
38	Franklin, Auckland	217	$1,415	$181	35.5%	Low
39	Martinborough Community, Wellington	216	$1,797	$200	34.8%	Low
40	Whangārei, Northland	199	$1,062	$134	37.0%	Low
41	Kaipātiki, Auckland	196	$937	$131	38.5%	Low
42	Waitākere Ranges, Auckland	194	$1,221	$145	36.3%	Low
43	Whangamatā, Waikato	193	$1,224	$237	29.0%	Low
44	Cromwell Community, Otago	189	$1,545	$220	37.4%	Low
45	Mangawhai Heads, Northland	184	$1,439	$239	31.4%	Low
46	Arrowtown, Otago	184	$2,982	$324	46.2%	Low
47	Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui	176	$1,131	$110	41.8%	Low
48	Cambridge, Waikato	173	$1,297	$165	39.0%	Low
49	Hastings, Hawke's Bay	172	$1,333	$193	33.6%	Low
50	Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui	161	$1,034	$113	37.9%	Low
51	Masterton, Wellington	156	$1,084	$143	32.6%	Low
52	Blenheim, Marlborough	152	$1,452	$148	40.6%	Low
53	Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Auckland	145	$1,203	$112	43.5%	Low
54	Paraparaumu, Wellington	139	$1,466	$164	38.3%	Low
55	Vincent Community, Otago	135	$1,248	$153	35.8%	Low
56	Lake Hāwea, Otago	128	$1,861	$205	46.6%	Low
57	Tūrangi, Waikato	127	$1,043	$154	32.6%	Low
58	Invercargill City, Southland	125	$1,265	$117	42.8%	Low
59	Albert Town, Otago	124	$2,092	$200	47.4%	Low
60	Waihi Beach, Bay of Plenty	123	$1,700	$234	34.0%	Low
61	Upper Harbour, Auckland	121	$1,226	$129	42.4%	Low
62	Mangawhai, Northland	120	$1,594	$250	29.9%	Low
63	Tairua, Waikato	120	$1,178	$212	31.1%	Low
64	Oamaru, Otago	117	$1,611	$144	42.4%	Low
65	Porirua, Wellington	114	$1,198	$117	39.2%	Low
66	Henderson-Massey, Auckland	107	$915	$142	36.7%	Low
67	Methven, Canterbury	107	$1,648	$171	41.2%	Low
68	Whau, Auckland	104	$773	$101	35.9%	Low
69	Kaikohe-Hokianga Community, Northland	104	$965	$126	31.3%	Low
70	Ōhope, Bay of Plenty	103	$1,307	$206	33.3%	Low
71	Picton, Marlborough	103	$1,827	$178	43.8%	Low
72	Cooks Beach, Waikato	100	$1,327	$217	35.0%	Low
73	Hahei, Waikato	100	$2,437	$277	39.1%	Low
74	Coromandel, Waikato	93	$1,261	$156	34.7%	Low
75	Greytown Community, Wellington	92	$1,322	$152	34.6%	Low
76	Pauanui, Waikato	89	$995	$293	21.5%	Low
77	Kaiteriteri, Tasman	87	$1,697	$288	33.0%	Low
78	Timaru, Canterbury	84	$1,202	$111	43.8%	Low
79	Kinloch, Waikato	84	$1,802	$234	33.6%	Low
80	Puketāpapa, Auckland	83	$1,204	$114	42.9%	Low
81	Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Auckland	81	$1,302	$117	39.2%	Low
82	Upper Hutt, Wellington	79	$851	$92	37.1%	Low
83	Richmond, Tasman	78	$1,150	$149	42.6%	Low
84	Motueka, Tasman	77	$1,042	$146	38.3%	Low
85	Hokitika, West Coast	76	$2,517	$169	52.6%	Low
86	National Park, Manawatū-Whanganui	75	$1,165	$161	31.8%	Low
87	Matarangi, Waikato	75	$1,332	$282	25.6%	Low
88	Tamahere, Waikato	75	$1,763	$238	36.5%	Low
89	Ngongotahā, Bay of Plenty	73	$2,238	$211	45.1%	Low
90	Aotea Great Barrier, Auckland	71	$1,146	$205	29.0%	Low
91	Oraka Aparima Community, Southland	70	$1,057	$131	33.7%	Low
92	Māpua, Tasman	64	$1,167	$188	34.4%	Low
93	Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty Region	63	$2,119	$258	41.6%	Low
94	Waikawa, Marlborough	62	$1,224	$139	40.6%	Low
95	Waiheke Island, Auckland	60	$2,234	$298	35.7%	Low
96	Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Auckland	59	$783	$116	33.5%	Low
97	Matamata, Waikato	59	$1,683	$144	48.0%	Low
98	Pukehina Beach, Bay of Plenty	57	$1,105	$242	26.1%	Low
99	Ōakura, Taranaki	57	$1,465	$174	35.6%	Low
100	Lake Hayes, Otago	55	$2,745	$292	51.7%	Low

Most Profitable Airbnb Markets in New Zealand by Revenue

The most profitable Airbnb cities in New Zealand are those where hosts earn the highest average monthly revenue per listing — the single most telling indicator of a market's income potential. Lake Tekapo, Canterbury leads with $5,712/month at $319 ADR and 61.9% 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	Lake Tekapo, Canterbury	$5,712	418	$319	61.9%	Low
2	Queenstown, Otago	$5,278	2,352	$377	56.5%	Low
3	Arrowtown, Otago	$2,982	184	$324	46.2%	Low
4	Wānaka, Otago	$2,938	1,101	$297	45.3%	Low
5	Lake Hayes, Otago	$2,745	55	$292	51.7%	Low
6	Jacks Point, Otago	$2,718	221	$312	49.6%	Low
7	Twizel, Canterbury	$2,692	280	$183	52.9%	Low
8	Hokitika, West Coast	$2,517	76	$169	52.6%	Low
9	Waiheke, Auckland	$2,480	537	$354	33.1%	Low
10	Fiordland Community, Southland	$2,438	366	$181	53.1%	Low
11	Hahei, Waikato	$2,437	100	$277	39.1%	Low
12	Ngongotahā, Bay of Plenty	$2,238	73	$211	45.1%	Low
13	Waiheke Island, Auckland	$2,234	60	$298	35.7%	Low
14	Rotorua, Bay of Plenty	$2,136	688	$177	45.7%	Low
15	Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty Region	$2,119	63	$258	41.6%	Low
16	Albert Town, Otago	$2,092	124	$200	47.4%	Low
17	Taupō, Waikato	$2,073	972	$220	38.7%	Low
18	Kaikōura, Canterbury	$2,072	261	$205	40.2%	Low
19	Hanmer Springs, Canterbury	$1,914	276	$262	30.3%	Low
20	Lake Hāwea, Otago	$1,861	128	$205	46.6%	Low
21	Waitematā, Auckland	$1,842	1,283	$158	48.8%	Low
22	Picton, Marlborough	$1,827	103	$178	43.8%	Low
23	Kinloch, Waikato	$1,802	84	$234	33.6%	Low
24	Martinborough Community, Wellington	$1,797	216	$200	34.8%	Low
25	Tamahere, Waikato	$1,763	75	$238	36.5%	Low
26	Waihi Beach, Bay of Plenty	$1,700	123	$234	34.0%	Low
27	Kaiteriteri, Tasman	$1,697	87	$288	33.0%	Low
28	Matamata, Waikato	$1,683	59	$144	48.0%	Low
29	Raglan, Waikato	$1,673	386	$195	38.0%	Low
30	Christchurch, Canterbury	$1,662	2,140	$133	50.1%	Low
31	Methven, Canterbury	$1,648	107	$171	41.2%	Low
32	Havelock North, Hawke's Bay	$1,643	221	$228	36.1%	Low
33	Oamaru, Otago	$1,611	117	$144	42.4%	Low
34	Mangawhai, Northland	$1,594	120	$250	29.9%	Low
35	Banks Peninsula Community, Canterbury	$1,577	283	$163	38.9%	Low
36	Papamoa, Bay of Plenty	$1,548	235	$238	34.1%	Low
37	Cromwell Community, Otago	$1,545	189	$220	37.4%	Low
38	Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community, Northland	$1,538	726	$221	34.4%	Low
39	Dunedin, Otago	$1,537	600	$140	44.2%	Low
40	Rodney, Auckland	$1,487	528	$232	31.2%	Low
41	Ōrākei, Auckland	$1,485	291	$170	43.3%	Low
42	Paraparaumu, Wellington	$1,466	139	$164	38.3%	Low
43	Ōakura, Taranaki	$1,465	57	$174	35.6%	Low
44	Devonport-Takapuna, Auckland	$1,460	249	$179	40.1%	Low
45	Blenheim, Marlborough	$1,452	152	$148	40.6%	Low
46	Mangawhai Heads, Northland	$1,439	184	$239	31.4%	Low
47	Tauranga, Bay of Plenty	$1,437	1,184	$207	35.4%	Low
48	Whitianga, Waikato	$1,428	218	$216	34.5%	Low
49	Howick, Auckland	$1,420	235	$142	40.1%	Low
50	Wellington, Wellington	$1,415	1,081	$132	43.7%	Low
51	Franklin, Auckland	$1,415	217	$181	35.5%	Low
52	Napier, Hawke's Bay	$1,381	436	$176	37.1%	Low
53	Hamilton, Waikato	$1,374	519	$129	42.4%	Low
54	Nelson, Nelson	$1,356	505	$169	41.3%	Low
55	Hibiscus and Bays, Auckland	$1,351	359	$162	38.1%	Low
56	Hastings, Hawke's Bay	$1,333	172	$193	33.6%	Low
57	Matarangi, Waikato	$1,332	75	$282	25.6%	Low
58	Cooks Beach, Waikato	$1,327	100	$217	35.0%	Low
59	Greytown Community, Wellington	$1,322	92	$152	34.6%	Low
60	Auckland, Auckland	$1,309	904	$166	42.8%	Low
61	Ōhope, Bay of Plenty	$1,307	103	$206	33.3%	Low
62	Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Auckland	$1,302	81	$117	39.2%	Low
63	Cambridge, Waikato	$1,297	173	$165	39.0%	Low
64	Invercargill City, Southland	$1,265	125	$117	42.8%	Low
65	Coromandel, Waikato	$1,261	93	$156	34.7%	Low
66	Vincent Community, Otago	$1,248	135	$153	35.8%	Low
67	Upper Harbour, Auckland	$1,226	121	$129	42.4%	Low
68	Waikawa, Marlborough	$1,224	62	$139	40.6%	Low
69	Whangamatā, Waikato	$1,224	193	$237	29.0%	Low
70	Waitākere Ranges, Auckland	$1,221	194	$145	36.3%	Low
71	Puketāpapa, Auckland	$1,204	83	$114	42.9%	Low
72	Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Auckland	$1,203	145	$112	43.5%	Low
73	Timaru, Canterbury	$1,202	84	$111	43.8%	Low
74	Porirua, Wellington	$1,198	114	$117	39.2%	Low
75	Albert-Eden, Auckland	$1,195	362	$142	40.7%	Low
76	Tairua, Waikato	$1,178	120	$212	31.1%	Low
77	Māpua, Tasman	$1,167	64	$188	34.4%	Low
78	National Park, Manawatū-Whanganui	$1,165	75	$161	31.8%	Low
79	Richmond, Tasman	$1,150	78	$149	42.6%	Low
80	Aotea Great Barrier, Auckland	$1,146	71	$205	29.0%	Low
81	Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui	$1,131	176	$110	41.8%	Low
82	Gisborne, Gisborne	$1,116	228	$197	32.4%	Low
83	New Plymouth, Taranaki	$1,112	453	$151	35.3%	Low
84	Pukehina Beach, Bay of Plenty	$1,105	57	$242	26.1%	Low
85	Masterton, Wellington	$1,084	156	$143	32.6%	Low
86	Whangārei, Northland	$1,062	199	$134	37.0%	Low
87	Lower Hutt, Wellington	$1,060	243	$107	42.4%	Low
88	Te Hiku Community, Northland	$1,058	303	$162	31.8%	Low
89	Oraka Aparima Community, Southland	$1,057	70	$131	33.7%	Low
90	Tūrangi, Waikato	$1,043	127	$154	32.6%	Low
91	Motueka, Tasman	$1,042	77	$146	38.3%	Low
92	Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui	$1,034	161	$113	37.9%	Low
93	Pauanui, Waikato	$995	89	$293	21.5%	Low
94	Ohakune, Manawatū-Whanganui	$978	308	$194	24.2%	Low
95	Kaikohe-Hokianga Community, Northland	$965	104	$126	31.3%	Low
96	Kaipātiki, Auckland	$937	196	$131	38.5%	Low
97	Henderson-Massey, Auckland	$915	107	$142	36.7%	Low
98	Upper Hutt, Wellington	$851	79	$92	37.1%	Low
99	Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Auckland	$783	59	$116	33.5%	Low
100	Whau, Auckland	$773	104	$101	35.9%	Low

Most Expensive Airbnb Markets in New Zealand 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. Queenstown, Otago commands the highest Airbnb nightly rate in New Zealand at $377/night, generating $5,278/month at 56.5% 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	Queenstown, Otago	$377	2,352	$5,278	56.5%	Low
2	Waiheke, Auckland	$354	537	$2,480	33.1%	Low
3	Arrowtown, Otago	$324	184	$2,982	46.2%	Low
4	Lake Tekapo, Canterbury	$319	418	$5,712	61.9%	Low
5	Jacks Point, Otago	$312	221	$2,718	49.6%	Low
6	Waiheke Island, Auckland	$298	60	$2,234	35.7%	Low
7	Wānaka, Otago	$297	1,101	$2,938	45.3%	Low
8	Pauanui, Waikato	$293	89	$995	21.5%	Low
9	Lake Hayes, Otago	$292	55	$2,745	51.7%	Low
10	Kaiteriteri, Tasman	$288	87	$1,697	33.0%	Low
11	Matarangi, Waikato	$282	75	$1,332	25.6%	Low
12	Hahei, Waikato	$277	100	$2,437	39.1%	Low
13	Hanmer Springs, Canterbury	$262	276	$1,914	30.3%	Low
14	Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty Region	$258	63	$2,119	41.6%	Low
15	Mangawhai, Northland	$250	120	$1,594	29.9%	Low
16	Pukehina Beach, Bay of Plenty	$242	57	$1,105	26.1%	Low
17	Mangawhai Heads, Northland	$239	184	$1,439	31.4%	Low
18	Tamahere, Waikato	$238	75	$1,763	36.5%	Low
19	Papamoa, Bay of Plenty	$238	235	$1,548	34.1%	Low
20	Whangamatā, Waikato	$237	193	$1,224	29.0%	Low
21	Waihi Beach, Bay of Plenty	$234	123	$1,700	34.0%	Low
22	Kinloch, Waikato	$234	84	$1,802	33.6%	Low
23	Rodney, Auckland	$232	528	$1,487	31.2%	Low
24	Havelock North, Hawke's Bay	$228	221	$1,643	36.1%	Low
25	Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community, Northland	$221	726	$1,538	34.4%	Low
26	Taupō, Waikato	$220	972	$2,073	38.7%	Low
27	Cromwell Community, Otago	$220	189	$1,545	37.4%	Low
28	Cooks Beach, Waikato	$217	100	$1,327	35.0%	Low
29	Whitianga, Waikato	$216	218	$1,428	34.5%	Low
30	Tairua, Waikato	$212	120	$1,178	31.1%	Low
31	Ngongotahā, Bay of Plenty	$211	73	$2,238	45.1%	Low
32	Tauranga, Bay of Plenty	$207	1,184	$1,437	35.4%	Low
33	Ōhope, Bay of Plenty	$206	103	$1,307	33.3%	Low
34	Aotea Great Barrier, Auckland	$205	71	$1,146	29.0%	Low
35	Lake Hāwea, Otago	$205	128	$1,861	46.6%	Low
36	Kaikōura, Canterbury	$205	261	$2,072	40.2%	Low
37	Martinborough Community, Wellington	$200	216	$1,797	34.8%	Low
38	Albert Town, Otago	$200	124	$2,092	47.4%	Low
39	Gisborne, Gisborne	$197	228	$1,116	32.4%	Low
40	Raglan, Waikato	$195	386	$1,673	38.0%	Low
41	Ohakune, Manawatū-Whanganui	$194	308	$978	24.2%	Low
42	Hastings, Hawke's Bay	$193	172	$1,333	33.6%	Low
43	Māpua, Tasman	$188	64	$1,167	34.4%	Low
44	Twizel, Canterbury	$183	280	$2,692	52.9%	Low
45	Fiordland Community, Southland	$181	366	$2,438	53.1%	Low
46	Franklin, Auckland	$181	217	$1,415	35.5%	Low
47	Devonport-Takapuna, Auckland	$179	249	$1,460	40.1%	Low
48	Picton, Marlborough	$178	103	$1,827	43.8%	Low
49	Rotorua, Bay of Plenty	$177	688	$2,136	45.7%	Low
50	Napier, Hawke's Bay	$176	436	$1,381	37.1%	Low
51	Ōakura, Taranaki	$174	57	$1,465	35.6%	Low
52	Methven, Canterbury	$171	107	$1,648	41.2%	Low
53	Ōrākei, Auckland	$170	291	$1,485	43.3%	Low
54	Nelson, Nelson	$169	505	$1,356	41.3%	Low
55	Hokitika, West Coast	$169	76	$2,517	52.6%	Low
56	Auckland, Auckland	$166	904	$1,309	42.8%	Low
57	Cambridge, Waikato	$165	173	$1,297	39.0%	Low
58	Paraparaumu, Wellington	$164	139	$1,466	38.3%	Low
59	Banks Peninsula Community, Canterbury	$163	283	$1,577	38.9%	Low
60	Hibiscus and Bays, Auckland	$162	359	$1,351	38.1%	Low
61	Te Hiku Community, Northland	$162	303	$1,058	31.8%	Low
62	National Park, Manawatū-Whanganui	$161	75	$1,165	31.8%	Low
63	Waitematā, Auckland	$158	1,283	$1,842	48.8%	Low
64	Coromandel, Waikato	$156	93	$1,261	34.7%	Low
65	Tūrangi, Waikato	$154	127	$1,043	32.6%	Low
66	Vincent Community, Otago	$153	135	$1,248	35.8%	Low
67	Greytown Community, Wellington	$152	92	$1,322	34.6%	Low
68	New Plymouth, Taranaki	$151	453	$1,112	35.3%	Low
69	Richmond, Tasman	$149	78	$1,150	42.6%	Low
70	Blenheim, Marlborough	$148	152	$1,452	40.6%	Low
71	Motueka, Tasman	$146	77	$1,042	38.3%	Low
72	Waitākere Ranges, Auckland	$145	194	$1,221	36.3%	Low
73	Oamaru, Otago	$144	117	$1,611	42.4%	Low
74	Matamata, Waikato	$144	59	$1,683	48.0%	Low
75	Masterton, Wellington	$143	156	$1,084	32.6%	Low
76	Albert-Eden, Auckland	$142	362	$1,195	40.7%	Low
77	Howick, Auckland	$142	235	$1,420	40.1%	Low
78	Henderson-Massey, Auckland	$142	107	$915	36.7%	Low
79	Dunedin, Otago	$140	600	$1,537	44.2%	Low
80	Waikawa, Marlborough	$139	62	$1,224	40.6%	Low
81	Whangārei, Northland	$134	199	$1,062	37.0%	Low
82	Christchurch, Canterbury	$133	2,140	$1,662	50.1%	Low
83	Wellington, Wellington	$132	1,081	$1,415	43.7%	Low
84	Oraka Aparima Community, Southland	$131	70	$1,057	33.7%	Low
85	Kaipātiki, Auckland	$131	196	$937	38.5%	Low
86	Hamilton, Waikato	$129	519	$1,374	42.4%	Low
87	Upper Harbour, Auckland	$129	121	$1,226	42.4%	Low
88	Kaikohe-Hokianga Community, Northland	$126	104	$965	31.3%	Low
89	Porirua, Wellington	$117	114	$1,198	39.2%	Low
90	Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Auckland	$117	81	$1,302	39.2%	Low
91	Invercargill City, Southland	$117	125	$1,265	42.8%	Low
92	Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Auckland	$116	59	$783	33.5%	Low
93	Puketāpapa, Auckland	$114	83	$1,204	42.9%	Low
94	Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui	$113	161	$1,034	37.9%	Low
95	Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Auckland	$112	145	$1,203	43.5%	Low
96	Timaru, Canterbury	$111	84	$1,202	43.8%	Low
97	Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui	$110	176	$1,131	41.8%	Low
98	Lower Hutt, Wellington	$107	243	$1,060	42.4%	Low
99	Whau, Auckland	$101	104	$773	35.9%	Low
100	Upper Hutt, Wellington	$92	79	$851	37.1%	Low

Highest Occupancy Airbnb Markets in New Zealand

Airbnb occupancy rate measures the percentage of available nights actually booked — the most telling indicator of short-term rental demand in a market. Lake Tekapo, Canterbury leads New Zealand with 61.9% occupancy, $5,712/month revenue, and 418 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	Lake Tekapo, Canterbury	61.9%	418	$5,712	$319	Low
2	Queenstown, Otago	56.5%	2,352	$5,278	$377	Low
3	Fiordland Community, Southland	53.1%	366	$2,438	$181	Low
4	Christchurch, Canterbury	50.1%	2,140	$1,662	$133	Low
5	Waitematā, Auckland	48.8%	1,283	$1,842	$158	Low
6	Rotorua, Bay of Plenty	45.7%	688	$2,136	$177	Low
7	Wānaka, Otago	45.3%	1,101	$2,938	$297	Low
8	Dunedin, Otago	44.2%	600	$1,537	$140	Low
9	Wellington, Wellington	43.7%	1,081	$1,415	$132	Low
10	Auckland, Auckland	42.8%	904	$1,309	$166	Low
11	Hamilton, Waikato	42.4%	519	$1,374	$129	Low
12	Nelson, Nelson	41.3%	505	$1,356	$169	Low
13	Albert-Eden, Auckland	40.7%	362	$1,195	$142	Low
14	Taupō, Waikato	38.7%	972	$2,073	$220	Low
15	Hibiscus and Bays, Auckland	38.1%	359	$1,351	$162	Low
16	Raglan, Waikato	38.0%	386	$1,673	$195	Low
17	Napier, Hawke's Bay	37.1%	436	$1,381	$176	Low
18	Tauranga, Bay of Plenty	35.4%	1,184	$1,437	$207	Low
19	New Plymouth, Taranaki	35.3%	453	$1,112	$151	Low
20	Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community, Northland	34.4%	726	$1,538	$221	Low
21	Waiheke, Auckland	33.1%	537	$2,480	$354	Low
22	Te Hiku Community, Northland	31.8%	303	$1,058	$162	Low
23	Rodney, Auckland	31.2%	528	$1,487	$232	Low
24	Ohakune, Manawatū-Whanganui	24.2%	308	$978	$194	Low

How to Choose an Airbnb Investment Market in New Zealand

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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand

Understanding the regulatory environment is critical for any Airbnb investment in New Zealand. 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: 100 have a low regulation profile (generally operator-friendly with minimal licensing requirements), 0 have medium regulation (some permit or registration requirements), and 0 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 New Zealand

This page ranks Airbnb markets in New Zealand 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 New Zealand.

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 New Zealand.
Monthly Revenue: Average gross revenue per listing per month — the bottom-line metric for evaluating Airbnb profitability in New Zealand 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 New Zealand, 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 New Zealand

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

What are the best places to invest in Airbnb in New Zealand?

Queenstown, Otago leads this ranking for New Zealand with 2,352 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 New Zealand?

Lake Tekapo, Canterbury posts the highest average monthly revenue in this ranking at $5,712. 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 New Zealand?

Lake Tekapo, Canterbury has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 61.9%. 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 market has the highest Airbnb nightly rate in New Zealand?

Queenstown, Otago commands the highest average daily rate at $377 per night. A high ADR does not automatically translate to the highest revenue — occupancy and seasonality determine how much of that rate converts to realized income.

Which Airbnb markets in New Zealand have the lowest regulation?

Queenstown (Otago), Christchurch (Canterbury), Waitematā (Auckland) 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 New Zealand in 2026?

The markets ranked here average 38.7% occupancy, and the top performer posts $5,712 in monthly revenue. Profitability depends on property acquisition cost, local operating expenses, and regulation compliance — but the data shows active, performing markets exist across New Zealand 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 New Zealand?

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 New Zealand?

First-time investors in New Zealand 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 New Zealand?

Across the markets ranked here, the average occupancy rate in New Zealand is 38.7%. 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 New Zealand?

Regulation is one of the most overlooked risks in short-term rental investing. In New Zealand, 100 of 100 ranked markets have low regulation, 0 have medium, and 0 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 New Zealand?

Markets with fewer than 100 active listings can show volatile averages that do not predict future performance. The median market in this New Zealand ranking has about 161 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 New Zealand?

Seasonal markets in New Zealand 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 2026-06-02. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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