Holiday rental homes in Northern NSW record strong bookings for Christmas

The winner of the 2021 Stayz Holiday Home of the Year Awards in NSW is preparing for a busy summer with a home she designed and turned into a reality.

Despite lockdowns and grim economic forecasts, Northern NSW holiday homes are still getting strong bookings, particularly for the Christmas and New Year period.

Bronwyn Brown is the owner of the Dragon Tree House, a Lennox Head property and winner of the 2021 Stayz Holiday Home of the Year Awards in NSW, and also ranked third in the country.

Ms Brown is currently living between Lennox Head and Coffs Harbour, and said the house was still performing well with future bookings.

“The middle of December to the beginning of January is booked out,” she said.

“The last 18 months have been challenging for everyone, and we have moved dates for a number of guests.

“Despite the lack of international guests, which used to be a big part of our guests, Australians guests have told me that being unable to travel overseas meant they had to look for new experiences locally, which has been very good for the North Coast.”

The property features three bedrooms, an outdoor tropical garden bathroom with an undercover stone bath and decks.

It can host up to two families at the same time, Ms Brown said.

“It’s been voted the best house in NSW, and it feels pretty special, because I put my heart and soul into creating Dragon Tree House, and making it a fabulous experience for everyone who stays here,” she said.

“In 2017 I bought the block and took me about 18 months to build this house.

“The house was originally just a three-bedroom brick veneer house, so the place was pulled down and I had a design of what I wanted.

“If features a big open plan, with slider doors that open to up a massive undercover deck, and it has a pool so it’s a great place for families to holiday at,” she said.

The Northern NSW resident said she adored the house because she put all her interior design skills into the property, and she also loves Lennox Head.

“I first came to Lennox Head in the 1980s, my brothers were surfing and I was lying in the beach,” she said.

“Lennox headland was a cow farm, and it was so beautiful and I lived here in the 1990s.

“I just love it, it’s so beautiful.”

The Dragon House won best holiday home in NSW and ranked third nationally

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Stayz spokeswoman Simone Scoppa said the online enterprise featured more than 3300 holiday homes on the Northern Rivers, with Byron Bay and Lennox Head boasting 1300 and 1100 rental homes respectively.

Ballina has 400, and Evans Head just over 100.

“On the Stayz website, three-bedroom homes in Lennox Head are the most popular type of home,” she said.

“Four-bedroom homes are most booked throughout the year in Lennox by our travellers.

“Occupancy rates in Lennox Head are up 15 per cent year on year, and October-to-January, as we expect, has the most booked-nights over the busy summer period.”

The top searched for amenity featured at holiday homes in Lennox Head is a swimming pool, accounting for 60 per cent of searches for the village by Stayz travellers.

Stayz spokeswoman Simone Scoppa.

The travel expert said Stayz has seen new Northern NSW spots become sought-after spots for holiday-makers.

“Lennox Head really is the new Byron,” she said.

“Lennox Head is a short drive to Byron Bay but people like to come back to a more quiet village.

“But also Yamba, for instance is 100 per cent booked out for the Christmas holidays this year.”