Surprise town revealed as Australia's most searched destination on Airbnb

Forget Sydney, Melbourne, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast: Aussies can't get enough of this humble little paradise.

Given how pretty it is, sometimes it's hard to believe there aren't overwater Maldives-style villas in Jervis Bay.

In fact, given our increased heart-thudding over this quaint holiday town three hours south of Sydney, the fact that it's public land is probably the only thing saving the likes of Hyams Beach (Jervis Bay's star stretch of sand) from this kind of fate. 

See also: 'Aussie Maldives' just three hours from Sydney you need to know about

Why? Jervis Bay is hotter than the skinny cappuccino of a boomer who treats anything cooler than molten as a personal insult. 

Hyams Beach has been likened to the Maldives, and it's easy to see why

It's currently the number one summer domestic destination in Australia as well as the number one trending domestic family destination in Australia, according to Airbnb search data for Australian guests in quarter three of this year. 

Trending summer domestic destinations, according to Airbnb

Jervis Bay topped Airbnb's list for trending Aussie domestic destinations in Q3 this year

1. Jervis Bay, Jervis Bay Territory
2. Ascot Vale, VIC
3. Yarraville, VIC
4. North Adelaide, SA
5. Pokolbin, NSW
6. Tanunda, SA
7. Sandstone Point, QLD
8. Langhorne Creek, SA
9. Bunbury, WA
10. Freycinet, TAS

Jervis Bay even ranked fifth in Airbnb's list of the most popular trending summer destinations worldwide (as searched by Aussies), ranking among the likes of Fortaleza, Brazil and Cheste, Spain.

Trending summer destinations worldwide, according to Airbnb

1. Joinville, Brazil
2. Fortaleza, Brazil
3. Itajaí, Brazil
4. Cheste, Spain
5. Jervis Bay, Australia
6. Cornwall, England, UK
7. Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain
8. Logroño, Spain
9. Caucaia, Brazil
10. Heroica Veracruz, Mexico

Why is Jervis Bay so popular?

The biggest reason for Jervis Bay's popularity is its proximity to Sydney. It's far enough away to feel a world apart, but close enough you can easily drive down there for a weekend escape. 

Other draw-cards include Honeymoon Bay (a stunning Polignano a Mare lookalike), Hyams beach (a place which - other than Whitehaven - has the whitest sand in Australia) and the iconic Greenpatch - a campsite where you pitch your tent a short stroll from an emerald lagoon.

@escape.com.au

Green patch, nestled in Booderee National Park, is one of the most beautiful camspites in NSW 💎 From bush to beach to city, New South Wales has a swag of campsites for holiday fun. For our top list, visit escape.com.au 📽️ sandystrays #campsites #visitnsw #seeaustralia #australia #greenpatchbeach #boodereenationalpark #camping #jervisbay

♬ original sound - Escape.com.au

And that's just the start of it. Surfers can camp among the kangaroos at Cave Beach, and scuba divers can book tours to see seals and underwater arches that would give Malta's blue grotto a run for its money. Then there's hiking, with Steamers Beach and Whiting Beach making for great places to explore. 

@vanlifestraya

Possibly the most beautiful beach we've been too in Australia! 🥰 A big shout we know but seriously this beach is incredible 💙 📍 Murrays Beach (Booderee National Park) Where to stay: Green Patch Campsite A beautiful campsite in the National Park with its own little beach paradise and some great short walks. From there it's only a 5 min drive to Murrays Beach ☀️ ⭐ Tip: Go to Murrays Beach early in the morning on a weekday and you're likely to have the beach pretty much to yourselves like we did 😉✌🏼 #MurraysBeach #BoodereeNationalPark #JervisBay #VanLifeAustralia #visitnsw #southcoastnsw

♬ Paradise - Bazzi

Murrays Beach, however, is probably the cream of the crop of Jervis Bay's beaches. A touch more more out of the way than Hyams, it still has blinding white sand, gin-clear waters, and effervescent fish. Sometimes there's wobbegongs and rays too.

Why is Jervis Bay so popular on Airbnb?

1. There are not many hotels down there
2. The are only three or so campsites, which are limited in number, well regulated by rangers and often booked out for popular dates
3. There's nothing better for a beach holiday than a beach house

What else is going on with Airbnb?

Airbnb has introduced a co-hosting function, which connects new hosts to experienced hosts

Millions of people search for stays on Airbnb everyday. To help make this process smoother, Airbnb is launching a bunch of new features and upgrades. One of these is called the Co-Host Network, which is a handy tool for new or inexperienced hosts. Plus it lets you rent out your house while you're on holiday, knowing its in good hands with a co-host while pocketing a tasty bit of cash at the same time. 

Connecting you with the best local hosts in your area, the Co-Host Network allows you to connect with existing Airbnb hosts who are experienced and have an exceptional track record and rating on the platform, and helps you collaborate with them to share your calendar and manage your bookings, of which they take a cut for their efforts.

"With the Co-Host Network, we’re taking the work out of hosting", said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. "Starting today, you provide the home and we’ll provide an exceptional co-host."

Other upgrades for hosts include price tips, new quick replies and an earnings dashboard. As for guests, recent Airbnb updates include a welcome tour of the app, a suggested destination function, recommended filters and more. 

Originally published as Surprise town revealed as Australia's most searched destination on Airbnb