Surprise town crowned top Aussie holiday spot
Cost of living pressures have changed Aussies travel habits, with a local spot emerging as the most popular holiday destination this summer.
Cost of living pressures have encouraged Aussies to travel closer to home this year, with Jervis Bay emerging as the most sought after location to rent a holiday home.
The NSW south coast town about 200km from Sydney beat out other perennial beach favourites like the Gold Coast and Byron Bay to become the most searched for holiday destination in the country, according to Airbnb data.
AirBnB country manager Australia and New Zealand Susan Wheeldon said affordability was top of mind for Aussies this summer.
“City escapes and coastal getaways continued to be popular holiday destinations with Aussie travellers this year with people taking advantage of a city stay and road trips to cut down on travel costs,” she said.
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Group travel was a staple this summer with searches in Australia consisting of an average of four guests, another way to cut down costs, Ms Wheeldon said.
Holiday letting site Stayz travel expert Sarah King said booking a holiday home with a group was a great way to keep the costs down per person.
When staying in a large group, paying under $100 per person per night, was a priority for Aussies, Stayz revealed.
“Despite the cost-of-living pressures, Aussies still have a strong appetite for travel but with a real emphasis on value-for-money,” she said. “Holiday homes can offer great value and affordability, especially if divided among a couple of families or groups of friends.”
Aussies love affair with a local classic coastal getaway remains, while city stays and trips to wine regions were also popular this summer.
Jervis Bay was popular because of dolphin watching, white sandy beaches like Hyams Beach, diving, boating, fishing and easy access to Sydney.
After Jervis Bay, Ascot Vale and Yarraville near Melbourne’s CBD, North Adelaide and Polkolbin in the Hunter Valley wine region rounded out the top five local searches for Aussie guests this summer.
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While Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, Brisbane, Broadbeach, and Scotts Head followed Jervis Bay for the top Aussie family destinations.
Top booked categories for summer accommodation were golfing, beach, amazing pools, national parks and top cities, the Airbnb data revealed. Events like the New Year’s Eve fireworks and Melbourne’s Boxing Day Cricket Test also continued to attract people to Australia’s two biggest cities.
This was also the case for big music events in Sydney Olympic Park and the Melbourne CBD.
Sydney local Anastasia has just purchased an apartment in Collaroy on Sydney’s Northern Beaches as a beach getaway within reach of her family home in the Hills district.
“One of my dreams was always to own near the ocean, whenever I get the chance I’m always near water” Ms Massouras said.
After years of holidaying near the beach she was able to purchase a three-bedroom Collaroy apartment through Vicki Lamb at McGrath, which Ms Massouras thought she would never be able to buy a property by the beach.
Now, she plans to use it as a holiday home and to lease out to other holiday makers.
“I’ve got three kids so I want to have special experiences with them,” Ms Massouras said.
With views over the coast and only minutes from the sand, Ms Massouras planned to decorate and make the home a special getaway for her family as well as become a host on Airbnb for other guests to enjoy the coastal location.
“We want to use it for a mix of families for holidays and just individuals as well, I work in corporate space so I know when I travel its in a generic hotel, I wanted to create a space for people to have a beautiful place to be in,” she said.
Ms Lamb said coastal properties drew interest from Australians from all over the country as well as international buyers who wanted that relaxed beach lifestyle.
“Northern beaches have always had great appeal, its a little bit more relaxed and laid back its just got so much natural beauty but your still close to the action and the city... it appeals to those wanting to live there, or use it as a holiday home and lease it out for guests like Anastasia is doing.”
Originally published as Surprise town crowned top Aussie holiday spot