Is Airbnb Hosting Profitable in Australia?
Short-stay accommodation is a fantastic investment within the Australian market, especially when working with an experienced management team, but how much you earn always depends on the property, its location and how well it's managed.
Want to Find Out More?
Thinking about turning your property into a short-stay rental? Oasis Stay can help you understand its earning potential and what it takes to get started.
Speak with our team for a no-obligation conversation about your property and how we could help you make the most of it.
How Much Can You Earn From an Airbnb in Australia?
A short-stay property can generate a solid rental income, particularly in areas with strong visitor demand. How much you earn depends on the property itself, its location, the rates you charge and how well it’s managed.
Market data gives an indication of annual gross rental revenue across Australia’s major short-stay markets:
- Melbourne: $32,000
- Sydney: $40,800
- Brisbane: $36,500
- Gold Coast: $48,900
- Sunshine Coast: $48,700
- Perth: $38,400
These figures represent revenue across active short-stay listings over the preceding 12 months, including properties advertised on Airbnb and other booking platforms. They’re gross figures, so they don’t account for every expense that may go into hosting.
What your property ultimately earns will depend on how those costs compare with its rental income. A higher nightly rate doesn’t always mean a better return, and keeping a property booked is only part of the equation.
At Oasis Stay, we manage the day-to-day details that influence your property’s performance. From dynamic pricing and listing optimisation to guest communication and booking management, our team works to make your property more competitive and get the most out of its earning potential.
What Occupancy Rate Can You Expect From an Airbnb?
Keeping your property booked is important, but getting the most out of your Airbnb isn’t simply about filling every night. The nightly rate matters just as much, and finding the right balance takes an understanding of local demand and when guests are willing to pay more.
Current market data puts average occupancy across Australia’s major short-stay markets at approximately:
- Melbourne: 61%
- Sydney: 67%
- Brisbane: 66%
- Gold Coast: 66%
- Sunshine Coast: 60%
- Perth: 74%
These figures offer a snapshot of the market, but individual property performance can vary considerably.
At Oasis Stay, we look beyond occupancy alone. Our team uses dynamic pricing to adjust nightly rates as demand changes, helping your property stay competitive during quieter periods and make the most of peak seasons and major local events. We also manage your listings across multiple booking platforms to help connect your property with more potential guests.
The aim is to get the best possible return from your property, not simply to keep the calendar full. With Oasis Stay managing the bookings, pricing and guest communication, you can leave the day-to-day decisions to our team while staying informed about how your property is performing.
Does Airbnb Income Change Throughout the Year?
Absolutely, as what your property earns in January can look quite different from what it earns in June. School holidays, long weekends and major events can bring a surge in bookings, while quieter months often require a different approach to attract guests.
At Oasis Stay, we don’t take a set-and-forget approach to pricing. Our team adjusts nightly rates in response to local demand, seasonal trends, booking lead times and upcoming events. This helps us make the most of high-demand periods while keeping your property competitive when bookings are harder to secure.
With that said, it’s not all about filling the calendar. We focus on pricing your property strategically to help maximise rental revenue, without relying on unnecessary discounts to attract bookings. And because we manage the day-to-day details, you don’t have to spend your time monitoring the market or adjusting rates yourself.
Where Are Some of the Best Suburbs For Airbnb?
Location can make a significant difference to your property’s short-stay performance. Areas close to beaches, major attractions, restaurants, business districts and transport links can attract a steady flow of visitors, while holiday destinations may offer opportunities for higher nightly rates during peak periods.
At Oasis Stay, we manage short-stay properties across Melbourne, Queensland, Brisbane, Hobart and the Mornington Peninsula. Our local knowledge helps us understand what attracts guests to different areas and how to position properties to make the most of local demand.
Below, we’ve highlighted suburbs and destinations across Australia that are worth considering for short-stay accommodation. If you’re thinking about listing your property with Oasis Stay, get in touch with our team to confirm availability in your area and discuss your property’s earning potential.
Victoria
Melbourne’s combination of business travel, sporting events, restaurants and cultural attractions creates opportunities for short-stay accommodation throughout the year. Regional Victoria also attracts visitors looking for coastal escapes and country stays.
Areas worth exploring include:
- Melbourne CBD: Convenient for business travellers, event attendees and visitors exploring the city.
- Southbank: Appeals to guests wanting easy access to the arts precinct, restaurants and city attractions.
- Richmond: Well connected to the CBD, with dining, shopping and sporting venues nearby.
- Fitzroy: Popular with visitors drawn to independent retailers, cafés and Melbourne’s inner-city culture.
- St Kilda: Offers a coastal setting within easy reach of central Melbourne.
- Mornington Peninsula: A destination to consider for holiday homes catering to weekend trips and longer coastal stays.
Queensland
Queensland offers a diverse range of short-stay markets, from city apartments to beachside holiday homes and regional tourism destinations. Demand can vary significantly depending on the location and time of year.
Areas worth exploring include:
- Brisbane City and South Brisbane: Convenient for business travel, events, dining and cultural attractions.
- Fortitude Valley and Newstead: Close to restaurants, entertainment and Brisbane’s inner-city lifestyle.
- Surfers Paradise: A major Gold Coast tourism destination with beaches, attractions and entertainment.
- Broadbeach: Appeals to visitors looking for beach access, dining and shopping.
- Burleigh Heads: Popular for its beaches, cafés and relaxed coastal atmosphere.
- Noosa Heads: A holiday destination where property presentation, seasonal demand and operating costs are particularly important.
- Cairns: A base for visitors exploring Tropical North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef.
Hobart
Hobart offers a mix of heritage homes, city apartments and boutique short-stay accommodation, supported by food and wine tourism, cultural attractions and access to Tasmania’s natural landscapes. Demand can fluctuate around festivals, cruise ship visits and peak holiday periods.
Areas worth exploring include:
- Hobart CBD: Convenient for business travellers and visitors seeking restaurants, shopping, museums and central attractions.
- Salamanca and Battery Point: Popular for their historic architecture, waterfront setting, cafés, galleries and proximity to Salamanca Market.
- Sandy Bay: Appeals to visitors looking for a quieter residential setting, waterfront access and proximity to the University of Tasmania.
- North Hobart: Known for its dining scene, independent businesses and relaxed local atmosphere.
- Bellerive and Eastern Shore: Offers waterfront accommodation, access to local beaches and convenient connections to central Hobart.
- West Hobart: Attracts guests seeking character homes, leafy streets, cafés and views across the city.
- Mount Wellington surrounds: May appeal to visitors prioritising nature, hiking and scenic experiences, although accessibility and transport considerations are important.
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula offers a lifestyle-driven short-stay market, with beach houses, coastal retreats and rural properties attracting holidaymakers, couples and families. Demand is often highly seasonal, with summer holidays, long weekends, wineries and wellness experiences influencing occupancy and pricing.
Areas worth exploring include:
- Mornington: A popular coastal town offering beaches, cafés, restaurants, boutique shopping and convenient access to the wider peninsula.
- Sorrento: Appeals to premium holidaymakers seeking upscale accommodation, boutique shopping, beaches and a relaxed coastal atmosphere.
- Portsea: Known for luxury holiday homes, coastal scenery and high-end seasonal demand.
- Rye: Attracts families and groups looking for beach access, holiday homes and proximity to hot springs and other peninsula attractions.
- Rosebud: Offers family-friendly beaches, holiday accommodation and convenient access to shops and local amenities.
- Mount Martha: Popular for its beaches, scenic coastal setting and relaxed residential feel, with potential appeal for higher-quality holiday homes.
- Red Hill: Appeals to visitors seeking vineyard stays, farm-style accommodation, gourmet food experiences and a quieter rural retreat.
- Flinders: Offers a boutique coastal and countryside experience, attracting guests interested in nature, golf, dining and premium escapes.
Choosing the Right Location for Your Airbnb
A popular destination is a useful starting point, but it doesn’t guarantee a strong return. Nightly rates, occupancy, property costs, competition and seasonal demand all influence how much an owner ultimately earns.
Local regulations also matter. Before listing a property, owners should check the applicable planning requirements, short-stay rules, owners corporation restrictions and any relevant levies.
At Oasis Stay, we help property owners understand their property’s short-stay potential and manage the details that influence its performance. From listing optimisation and dynamic pricing to guest communication and property coordination, our team takes care of the day-to-day work involved in running an Airbnb.
If you’re considering short-stay accommodation, get in touch with Oasis Stay to discuss your property and how professional management could help you make the most of it.
What Does Airbnb Management Cost With Oasis Stay?
Oasis Stay’s standard management fee is 18% plus GST of net rental revenue. A one-off listing fee may also apply, depending on the preparation required to get your property ready for market.
Our management service covers the day-to-day work involved in running a short-stay property, including listing management, dynamic pricing, guest communication, cleaning coordination and maintenance support.
You can find more information on our pricing page.
Short-Term Rental Management Services
Our service covers the practical details involved in preparing, listing and managing your property.
Listing management
- Listing creation and optimisation
- Distribution across multiple booking platforms
- Dynamic pricing
- Support from our local team
Reservation management
- Guest enquiries and communication
- Guest support throughout the stay
- Guest screening
- Secure check-ins
Property management
- Cleaning, linen and consumables coordination
- Maintenance coordination
- Support with property presentation, styling and furnishing
- Guidance on relevant property requirements
Owner management
- No lock-in contract on the standard plan
- Owner stays, subject to applicable terms and availability
- A transparent owner portal
- A dedicated point of contact for your account
With Oasis Stay looking after the operational side, you can stay involved in your investment without having to manage every detail of the guest experience.
Property Management Made Simple
Getting your property ready for short-stay accommodation doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ll guide you through the process, from the initial conversation to welcoming your first guests.
1. Tell Us About Your Property
Complete our enquiry form and our team will get in touch to learn more about your property, your goals and what you'd like to achieve.
We'll discuss the short-stay opportunity, the work required to get started and the factors that could influence your property's earning potential.
2. Find the Right Approach
Every property is different, so we'll talk through the management arrangements and costs that apply to your situation.
You'll have the opportunity to ask questions, understand the service and decide whether short-stay management is the right fit for you.
3. Get Your Property Listed
Once the necessary arrangements are in place, we'll prepare your listing and get your property ready to welcome guests.
We aim to have listings live within five working days, depending on the property's readiness and the requirements of the onboarding process.
4. Let Us Handle the Day-to-Day
Once bookings begin, our team manages the agreed day-to-day operations, from guest communication to cleaning coordination and pricing.
You'll have access to your owner portal to keep track of your property, while our team takes care of the work involved in running it.
One Simple Management Fee
Our standard management fee is 18% plus GST of net rental revenue.
There is no lock-in contract on the standard plan, and a one-off listing fee may apply depending on the preparation your property requires.
With Oasis Stay, you get:
- Professional short-stay management
- Dynamic pricing and listing optimisation
- Guest communication and operational support
- Transparent owner reporting
- Flexibility without a lock-in contract on the standard plan
Is Airbnb Hosting Worth It?
Airbnb can be a great way to earn income from your property, but getting the most out of it takes time, the right strategy and consistent management. From setting competitive nightly rates to keeping guests happy and managing the property between stays, there’s more to hosting than simply listing your home online.
That’s where Oasis Stay comes in. We take care of the day-to-day running of your short-stay property, including listing management, dynamic pricing, guest communication, cleaning coordination and maintenance. Our team works to keep your property competitive, deliver a great guest experience and make the most of booking opportunities throughout the year.
With Oasis Stay managing your property, you can enjoy the benefits of short-stay hosting without being responsible for every booking, guest enquiry or unexpected issue. You’ll have more time to focus on what matters to you, while our team looks after the details.
Want to know what your property could earn?
Get in touch with Oasis Stay for a no-obligation conversation about your property, its short-stay potential and how our management service could work for you.