Top 30 Best Places in Queensland, Australia to Invest in Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals (2026)

Source: AirROI

Last updated: 2026-02-01

Unlock high-ROI opportunities in Queensland, Australia‘s booming short-term rental (STR) market. This 2026 Airbnb investment guide from AirROI leverages cutting-edge Airbnb data analytics to pinpoint the most profitable cities for Airbnb and vacation rental entrepreneurs. Whether you’re scaling your portfolio or making your first STR investment, discover markets with strong rental demand, high revenue potential, and favorable regulations. We are committed to providing trustworthy insights based on comprehensive market analysis, and you can learn more about our rigorous approach to data accuracy.

Our STR market analysis dives deep into key performance indicators like monthly revenue, average daily rates (ADR), occupancy trends, property counts, and regulatory landscapes across Queensland, Australia. We go beyond simple rankings to provide the context you need for informed investment decisions using reliable Airbnb data.

Explore the data-driven insights below to identify the premier short-term rental investment hotspots and high ROI Airbnb markets in Queensland, Australia for 2026.

Top Short-Term Rental Markets in Queensland, Australia

Rank:#1Market:Gold Coast CityCountry:AustraliaProperties:5,344Monthly Revenue:$3024.85Daily Rate (ADR):$271.71Occupancy:47.15%Regulation:Low
Rank:#2Market:Greater BrisbaneCountry:AustraliaProperties:5,330Monthly Revenue:$2395.54Daily Rate (ADR):$206.12Occupancy:50.20%Regulation:Low
Rank:#3Market:Sunshine Coast RegionalCountry:AustraliaProperties:3,302Monthly Revenue:$2772.82Daily Rate (ADR):$255.29Occupancy:45.33%Regulation:Low
Rank:#4Market:Noosa HeadsCountry:AustraliaProperties:1,033Monthly Revenue:$4014.68Daily Rate (ADR):$387.33Occupancy:46.11%Regulation:Low
Rank:#5Market:CairnsCountry:AustraliaProperties:917Monthly Revenue:$2531.02Daily Rate (ADR):$177.00Occupancy:53.94%Regulation:Low
Rank:#6Market:Cairns RegionalCountry:AustraliaProperties:693Monthly Revenue:$3554.43Daily Rate (ADR):$312.48Occupancy:42.58%Regulation:Low
Rank:#7Market:Port DouglasCountry:AustraliaProperties:647Monthly Revenue:$2991.68Daily Rate (ADR):$339.48Occupancy:40.30%Regulation:Low
Rank:#8Market:TownsvilleCountry:AustraliaProperties:450Monthly Revenue:$1840.19Daily Rate (ADR):$188.81Occupancy:46.91%Regulation:Low
Rank:#9Market:Airlie BeachCountry:AustraliaProperties:394Monthly Revenue:$3504.83Daily Rate (ADR):$287.84Occupancy:49.64%Regulation:Low
Rank:#10Market:Whitsunday RegionalCountry:AustraliaProperties:359Monthly Revenue:$6203.57Daily Rate (ADR):$534.10Occupancy:47.74%Regulation:Low
Rank:#11Market:Hervey BayCountry:AustraliaProperties:352Monthly Revenue:$1948.74Daily Rate (ADR):$167.37Occupancy:49.61%Regulation:Low
Rank:#12Market:Brisbane CityCountry:AustraliaProperties:330Monthly Revenue:$1994.75Daily Rate (ADR):$177.68Occupancy:51.21%Regulation:Low
Rank:#13Market:Townsville CityCountry:AustraliaProperties:323Monthly Revenue:$1628.35Daily Rate (ADR):$212.43Occupancy:34.97%Regulation:Low
Rank:#14Market:Surfers ParadiseCountry:AustraliaProperties:307Monthly Revenue:$2338.22Daily Rate (ADR):$240.40Occupancy:49.83%Regulation:Low
Rank:#15Market:Sunshine BeachCountry:AustraliaProperties:286Monthly Revenue:$3431.05Daily Rate (ADR):$413.46Occupancy:39.76%Regulation:Low
Rank:#16Market:Scenic Rim RegionalCountry:AustraliaProperties:280Monthly Revenue:$3188.80Daily Rate (ADR):$249.66Occupancy:46.30%Regulation:Low
Rank:#17Market:ToowoombaCountry:AustraliaProperties:263Monthly Revenue:$2355.84Daily Rate (ADR):$147.89Occupancy:55.72%Regulation:Low
Rank:#18Market:Livingstone ShireCountry:AustraliaProperties:219Monthly Revenue:$1679.78Daily Rate (ADR):$188.68Occupancy:36.52%Regulation:Low
Rank:#19Market:Agnes WaterCountry:AustraliaProperties:206Monthly Revenue:$2088.79Daily Rate (ADR):$247.65Occupancy:35.99%Regulation:Low
Rank:#20Market:Noosa ShireCountry:AustraliaProperties:204Monthly Revenue:$2519.00Daily Rate (ADR):$273.13Occupancy:39.66%Regulation:Low
Rank:#21Market:Rainbow BeachCountry:AustraliaProperties:193Monthly Revenue:$1811.13Daily Rate (ADR):$223.37Occupancy:37.03%Regulation:Low
Rank:#22Market:BargaraCountry:AustraliaProperties:155Monthly Revenue:$1785.64Daily Rate (ADR):$189.91Occupancy:39.87%Regulation:Low
Rank:#23Market:Douglas ShireCountry:AustraliaProperties:149Monthly Revenue:$2812.25Daily Rate (ADR):$291.13Occupancy:41.25%Regulation:Low
Rank:#24Market:RockhamptonCountry:AustraliaProperties:133Monthly Revenue:$1978.66Daily Rate (ADR):$190.81Occupancy:48.70%Regulation:Low
Rank:#25Market:Peregian BeachCountry:AustraliaProperties:130Monthly Revenue:$2584.71Daily Rate (ADR):$347.91Occupancy:36.68%Regulation:Low
Rank:#26Market:BundabergCountry:AustraliaProperties:108Monthly Revenue:$1708.76Daily Rate (ADR):$112.36Occupancy:57.81%Regulation:Low
Rank:#27Market:Sunrise BeachCountry:AustraliaProperties:105Monthly Revenue:$3763.22Daily Rate (ADR):$348.50Occupancy:47.35%Regulation:Low
Rank:#28Market:Palm CoveCountry:AustraliaProperties:99Monthly Revenue:$3938.40Daily Rate (ADR):$361.83Occupancy:48.04%Regulation:Low
Rank:#29Market:YeppoonCountry:AustraliaProperties:98Monthly Revenue:$2185.04Daily Rate (ADR):$182.97Occupancy:46.02%Regulation:Low
Rank:#30Market:MackayCountry:AustraliaProperties:96Monthly Revenue:$1739.32Daily Rate (ADR):$130.91Occupancy:49.75%Regulation:Low

Our Data-Driven Methodology for STR Market Analysis

At AirROI, our market rankings and insights are powered by a robust methodology combining comprehensive Airbnb data collection with sophisticated STR analytics techniques. We strive to provide the most accurate and actionable intelligence for short-term rental investors.

Data Collection & Scope

  • Global Coverage: We aggregate STR data from tens of millions of active short-term rental listings across platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo worldwide.
  • Real-Time Metrics: Our systems track key performance indicators (KPIs) daily, including booking rates, nightly pricing (ADR), occupancy rates, and revenue.
  • Regulatory Monitoring: We actively monitor and incorporate local short-term rental regulations, licensing requirements, and tax obligations into our market analysis.

Analysis & Ranking

  • Proprietary Algorithms: AI and machine learning models analyze booking patterns, predict seasonal demand shifts, and identify emerging market trends in the STR space.
  • Key Metric Evaluation: We evaluate markets based on a weighted combination of critical investment factors using our extensive Airbnb analytics:
    • Revenue Potential: Average Monthly Revenue and Average Daily Rate (ADR).
    • Market Demand: Occupancy Rate and booking lead times.
    • Investment Scale: Number of active properties and market growth trends.
    • Regulatory Environment: Assessed impact of local STR regulations on operational feasibility and profitability.
  • Benchmarking: Performance is benchmarked against regional and global averages to provide context for vacation rental investment potential.

Key Metrics Explained

  • Properties: The count of active short-term rental listings in the market.
  • Monthly Revenue: Average revenue generated per property per month, a key indicator for Airbnb profitability.
  • Daily Rate (ADR): Average nightly booking price.
  • Occupancy: Percentage of nights booked out of total available nights, crucial for understanding STR demand.
  • Regulation: An indicator of the local regulatory climate impacting Airbnb investment.

This rigorous approach ensures our recommendations are based on real-world performance Airbnb data and forward-looking market analysis, empowering you to invest smarter in the vacation rental market.

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This report is powered by our industry-leading Airbnb Data API, providing direct access to live short-term rental data from global markets like Queensland. Use this data to build powerful analytics tools, discover investment opportunities, and inform your vacation rental strategy.

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