20 coastal getaways for budget-conscious travellers
Soaking up the sun in a piece of Aussie paradise doesn’t have to break the bank, and we have put together 20 of the cheapest homestays and guesthouses between Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay.
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Financial pressures are at new heights for many, and taking a holiday can seem like a pipe dream for those battling the cost of living crisis.
But taking a vacation doesn’t need to break the bank and we have gathered some of the cheapest getaways for singles, couples, and even families with a pet or two.
However tight your budget might be, there’s no price to step outside and enjoy the great outdoors in the picturesque Cooloola Coast.
*prices are subject to change depending on discounts, deals, dates, and service fees.
Sunset Queen Room, Banksia House – starting from $79/night
This oolone-bedroom, shared bathroom is in a separate wing of a homestead in Cooloola Cove, a rural residential area between Tin Can Bay (7 km) and Rainbow Beach (25 km).
The space is shared with the owners and sleeps two people. The outdoor dining area is accessed via the laundry entrance to your room, and includes shared lounges, a breakfast hutch, cooking facilities, a dining table, barbecue and fire pit.
A collapsible stretcher for a child or a porta-cot are available but no pets are allowed.
No rating as only two people have reviewed the place on airbnb.
“We had a lovely stay at Sheree’s place. Spotlessly clean and lovely garden surrounds with lots of bird life,” Andrew wrote in March 2023.
“Banksia cottage was an absolutely lovely place to stay. Clean, comfortable and a super welcoming hosts. Enjoyed our stay immensely and will be happy to come back!” Elizabeth wrote on March 2023.
Sailfish Cottage, Tin Can Bay – starting from $85/night
A self-contained one-bedroom unit in Tin Can Bay with free parking on premises.
The room sleeps three people, with one king bed and one single with an ensuite. The studio is located underneath the restored ex-principal’s house, Sailfish Cottage, which is about 80 years old.
No pets allowed.
The 11 reviews give it a 5 star rating.
“It was a neat and cozy accommodation. We enjoyed our stay, and it was great time. Thanks :)” Rae wrote in March 2023.
“Fantastic stay for our weekend trip. Well worth the price. Sue and Chris are wonderfully welcoming and communicative hosts, providing recommendations for local attractions and food spots – not to mention the comfiest bed to crawl into after a long day! If you find yourself in the area, don’t look past this.” Gabriel wrote in March 2023.
The Rainbow Shack – Rainbow Beach – starting from $99/night
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow is a 10-minute walk to Rainbow Beach.
The self-contained refurbished studio shed sleeps up to four people and has a queen bed, a king single bunk and a private outdoor bathroom.
Pets are allowed.
Airbnb guests have rated this 4.86 stars with 100 reviews.
“Awesome little shack. Nice and quiet. Kids felt right at home. Great place to unwind,” Dillon said in March 2023.
“Anthony’s and Lisa place was just as they’ve described it – a really lovely getaway! We enjoyed our stay :) The instructions for check in were very clear, the place was clean and we loved the outdoor shower!” Melna said in March 2023.
Seychelle Apartment – Tin Can Bay – starting from $99/night
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is in the centre of Tin Can Bay and 100m from the water.
It sleeps up to two people and has beach access, a kitchen, a lounge, a separate bedroom, a private outdoor dining area and an undercover car park.
No pets allowed.
The unit had not yet been reviewed by airbnb guests.
Unit – Rainbow Beach – starting from $107/night
This one-bedroom self-contained unit on the ground flood of Rainbow Beach Resort is a 350m walk to the beach.
The unit sleeps up to two people and has access to swimming pools, an outdoor spa, tennis court and a barbecue entertainment area.
No pets allowed.
Airbnb guests have given this unit 4.75 stars with 4 reviews.
“Great place! Love the location,” wrote Ella in March 2023.
“This was our second stay at BEACH and we love it here! The place has everything that we need and the resort facilities are great. Thanks for having us, I'm sure we’ll be back!” wrote Cassandra in March 2023.
Marty’s Escape – Rainbow Beach – starting from $110/night
This two-bedroom unit on the ground floor of Rainbow Shores Resort is walking distance to the beach.
The unit sleeps up to four people with a double and two single beds. Guests can access the resort’s tennis court, swimming pools, BBQ areas, hot tub and gardens.
No pets allowed.
Airbnb guest have given this unit 4.9 stars with 195 reviews.
“Very nice apartment in a resort with pool, spa and other amenities. Recommended!” Daniel wrote in March 2023.
“Thank you so much, it was a perfect holiday,” wrote Annalise in March 2023.
Boho Retreat – Rainbow Beach – starting from $110/night
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit at the Rainbow Shores Resort is within walking distance of the beach.
The unit sleeps up to three people and guests can access the resort’s tennis court, swimming pools, barbecue areas, hot tub and gardens.
No pets allowed.
Airbnb guests have given this unit 4.92 stars with 36 reviews.
“Clean, nicely decorated unit in a good location. Perfect for a couple. Would certainly recommend,” Brad reviewed in March 2023.
“We enjoyed our time on Rainbow Beach staying at Paulina’s place. Very spacious, clean little apartment. Was a bonus to be able to use the facilities on site too! Bare in mind, there is no shops nearby but if you are organised /have a car, this shouldn’t be an issue!” Melissa wrote in March 2023.
Ocean Whispers in the Tree Tops – Rainbow Beach – starting from $113/night
This one-bedroom self-contained unit on the third flood of Rainbow Shores Resort is a three-minute walk to the beach.
The unit sleeps up to two people and guests can access the amenities of the resort.
No pets or children allowed.
Airbnb guests gave the unit 4.78 stars with 23 reviews.
“Bobbi was a very receptive host and her place is actually how it looks in the pics. I had a lovely few days here,” Maree wrote in March 2023.
“Bobbi’s place was gorgeous! It was exactly described and she really helped me out as I was a very last minute booking. Her responses were always prompt, helpful and polite. The place is lovely, walkable to the centre of Rainbow and the taxis are reliable if you did not want to walk! The on-site amenities were fantastic- 2 pools that have sun beds around them as well as a tennis court! The apartment felt homely, cosy and is the perfect place for a short break. Couldn’t recommend Bobbi’s place enough! Thank you so much for a fantastic stay,” wrote Emelye in March 2023.
Baden 97 – Rainbow Beach – starting from $113/night
This one-bedroom unit on the third floor overlooks a tennis court and gardens and is a 300m walk to the beach.
The self-contained unit sleeps up to two people and has a kitchen, dining area, laundry and a private balcony.
The complex includes a swimming pool, tennis court, table tennis and a barbecue area.
You will need to supply your own toiletries, such as washing powder, soap, dishwashing liquid, and toilet paper.
Linen and towels are not included but can be hired, as well as bassinets or cots for babies and toddlers.
No pets allowed.
The eight reviews on airbnb give it a 3.5 star rating.
“A lovely location. Very comfortable bed. Responsive host. The place needs some TLC.” Jade wrote in January 2023.
“Great little apartment but needs some TLC. Great, quiet location and resort style amenities was a bonus.” Maxine wrote in June 2022.
Treetops Studio Apartment, Rainbow Beach Resort – starting from $115/night
This third-floor, one-bedroom apartment has a balcony and private undercover parking, 300m from the beach.
The room sleeps two people and has an ensuite. Amenities include a swimming pool, internet, airconditioning and spa.
No pets and no children allowed.
13 reviews on stayz.com.au give it 4.5 stars
“Everything was as per the profile given, very comfortable and we enjoyed the surroundings and amenities,” Edgar J reviewed from December 2021.
“Nicely furnished, comfortable accommodation and the resort has a lot to offer. A microwave would be a helpful addition and the very tiny balcony was a disappointment. however for the price it is good accommodation,” reviewed Robyn from November 2021.
Entire home – Rainbow Beach – starting from $115/night
A three-bedroom, one-bathroom home is located in a residential area of Rainbow Beach, with onsite parking.
The home sleeps up to five people with queen, double, single and trundle beds.
You will need to supply your own toiletries, such as washing powder, soap, dishwashing liquid, and toilet paper.
Linen and towels are not included but can be hired, as well as bassinets or cots for babies and toddlers.
Pets allowed.
Airbnb guests give a 4.62 star rating from 13 reviews.
“Ultimately, I would stay here again. However, please note that this isn’t a typical AIRBNB that it’s run by a Real Estate which means limited time to collect keys (which I didn’t know about until the day of, and was running late due to traffic – I made it with 10 minutes to spare). Also, they advertise that blankets and doonahs have covers, but the main bedroom doonah didn’t have a cover and it was stained. The rest of the unit was impeccably clean. No microwave. But again, I would stay again, it was a quaint little unit with beautiful art and decor (for the price point).” Brodi wrote in March 2023.
“Clean and accurately described place.” Jedidiah wrote in February 2023.
Kookaburra Korner – Cooloola Cove – starting from $115/night
This two-bedroom, one-bathroom suite is a self-contained ground floor flat in Cooloola Cove, a rural residential area between Tin Can Bay (7 km) and Rainbow Beach (25 km), with parking available on site.
The flat sleeps up to 4 people and has a kitchenette, lounge and dining room.
No pets allowed.
Airbnb guests give it 4.97 stars with 31 reviews.
“Convenient to what we required. Very clean, spacious and peaceful. Great communication from Lesley to accommodate our request. Was a heatwave happening at our time of stay, so extra fans or Aircon would have benefited. Though for majority of the year, the sea breeze would have been suffice to keep it at a very comfortable temperature.” Rob wrote in March 2023.
“Lesley was very accommodating as we arrived late at night for a stopover on the way to Fraser Island. We booked at very last minute and Lesley responded and accepted our booking immediately. We received a warm welcome and were made to feel at home. It was a very tidy, clean and homely place to stay with a beautiful garden for our little ones to play,” wrote Kerstin in March 2023.
Our Place – Tin Can Bay – starting from $115/night
This three-bedroom, one-bathroom house is 150m walk to the Tin Can Bay foreshore.
This guesthouse sleeps up to six people and is fully fenced with parking on the property. The guesthouse has airconditioning and a hammock in the backyard.
No pets allowed.
Airbnb guests have given it 4.95 stars with 171 reviews.
“We had an amazing stay at Annette’s house! It was an absolute pleasure staying in peaceful tranquility!” wrote James in March 2023.
“Loved our stay at “Our Place” beautiful home, lots of wildlife around. definitely recommend,” Keira wrote in March 2023.
The Gill Experience – Rainbow Beach – starting from $117/night
This three-bedroom, one-bathroom guesthouse is a 10-15 minute walk to the beach, shops and restaurants.
This guesthouse sleeps up to six people and has a full kitchen, a living area with a carpeted patio, and an outdoor seating and dining area.
No pets allowed.
Airbnb guests have given 4.59 stars with 94 reviews.
“Great place,” Anne wrote in March 2023.
“Great place, would 100% stay again!” Alex wrote in March 2023.
The Shack – Rainbow Beach – starting from $119/night
This two-bedroom beach house is a 150m walk to the beach, and has a fully fenced yard and a deck.
The house can sleep up to six people, with one double bed, two sets of bunk beds and a kitchen.
You will need to supply your own toiletries, such as washing powder, soap, dishwashing liquid, and toilet paper.
Linen and towels are not included but can be hired, as well as bassinets or cots for babies and toddlers.
There are 12 reviews on airbnb with a 4.08 star rating.
“We enjoyed our stay at Rainbow Beach! “The Shack” is a throwback to the beach days long ago. Simple, but had everything we needed. The location can’t be beat! An easy two minute walk down the rainbow stairs. The grocery was maybe 10 minutes away and plenty of options for coffee and brekkie. The ladies at the management office were so accommodating. They went above and beyond. Thank you!” Shane and Jennifer wrote in September 2022.
“Thanks for a great stay!” wrote Vanessa in July 2022.
The Coolberry – Rainbow Beach – starting from $124/night
This one-bedroom guesthouse is a converted shed separately located from the main house with its own parking.
The apartment sleeps up to three people with an ensuite bathroom and kitchenette, but no cooking facilities. Pubs, restaurants and cafes are a two-minute drive.
No pets allowed.
Airbnb guests have given this converted shed 4.73 stars with 45 reviews.
“Samantha was a great host. Friendly and helpful, patient and communicative. I honestly couldn’t ask for more. Fully recommend to anyone in the area. Just a great stay,” Kris reviewed in March 2023.
“We stayed Samantha’s place to catch the early morning barge to get K’gari. There are few shops nearby also great location and peaceful area. Room was super clean and she was very nice even we got there very late after work from Brisbane. Thank you so much,” Aoba wrote in March 2023.
The Beach Loft – Rainbow Beach – starting from $128/night
This one-bedroom, self-contained apartment is five-minute walk from the dining and specialty shops in Rainbow Beach.
The apartment sleeps up to two people and has a terrace and kitchenette, with linen and bath towels provided.
No pets and no children allowed.
Stayz guests have rated the place 4.9 stars with 12 reviews.
“Perfect getaway at the beach. The apartment was very comfortable and had everything we needed, it had its own style (in a nice way that felt homely and not like a motel). Owners were brilliant to deal with. Our only problem is we should have stayed longer. If you want your own space and bored with the motel option, you will love this.” John W said, who stayed in November 2021.
“Lovely little getaway. Perfect position and very friendly hosts. Highly recommended,” Karen C said, who stayed in October 2021.
Fullerton – Rainbow Beach – starting from $129/night
A two-bedroom, one-bathroom home is a five-minute walk to patrolled beach and shops in Rainbow Beach.
The home sleeps up to six people with one queen bed and two sets of bunks. The home has a large living area, ceiling fans, airconditioning and a single lock-up garage.
You will need to supply your own toiletries, and linen and towels are not included but can be hired, as well as bassinets or cots for babies and toddlers.
Airbnb guests have rated it a 4.25 with 4 reviews.
“This is a home which is listed with a real estate agent. The house itself is fine. I don’t like the fact that you have to bring your own sheets and towels or you are charged extra for them. This is not made clear in the listing. I have my own Airbnb and I have always understood that the host must provide sheets and towels. Also, there is no internet at this location,” Diane said in March 2023.
“Great house for a family. Has everything that you need. Plenty of room. Close to town. Very clean and tidy. Would stay here again,” Jasmine said in September 2022.
Toolara House – Tin Can Bay – starting from $129/night
This three-bedroom, 1 bathroom house is 50m to the water and close to the boat ramps onto the bay.
This guesthouse sleeps up to six people and has an open-plan kitchen, dining room and lounge room. The back balcony has a barbecue and dining area. The backyard is fully fenced.
Dogs are allowed, but it is not suitable for cats.
Airbnb guests give this house 4.87 stars with 165 reviews.
“We were just after somewhere ok to stay that allowed us to holiday with our furry friend. Brenda‘s place exceeded our expectations! The house was so homely! We were a bit disappointed with no WIFI (it was stated in the add), BUT we didn’t need it, at all! There was so much to do in Tin Can Bay with lots of walking, swimming, playgrounds and feeding the dolphins … All within walking distance to the house. AND the host provided SO many board games and DVDs, that when we weren’t out and about, we had so many other things to keep us busy. So WiFi was not needed, at all! We enjoyed bbq breakfasts, lunches and dinners up on the veranda and were impressed with the amount of kitchen and bathroom utensils provided. We will definitely be back to stay here when holidaying in Tin Can Bay again. Thanks for the great little holiday!” Suzan wrote in March 2023.
“Great place to stay. Brenda was super helpful and flexible. We would stay again,” Hope wrote in March 2023.
Manooka Place – Rainbow Beach – starting from $130/night
This one-bedroom studio apartment is a 10-minute walk to the shops, bars, restaurants and beach.
The studio sleeps up to two people and has an open-plan kitchen with a private entrance, along with outdoor seating in the patio.
Airbnb guests have rated it with 4.59 stars and 69 reviews.
“Thanks Kayleigh, nice location and a perfect little stay for us for our adventure to Fraser Island,” Thomas wrote in March 2023.
“Beautiful location near the beach and some great hiking trails. Really enjoyed our stay,” Ron wrote in February 2023.
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