Airbnb Announces Winners of the 2025 Australian Host Awards
Airbnb has unveiled the winners of its 2025 Australian Host Awards, celebrating the creativity, care and community impact of local hosts across the country.
From a heritage-listed Hobart bakery turned boutique retreat to a nature-filled sanctuary in Kangaroo Valley, this year’s winners prove how hosting can transform spaces into unforgettable guest memories.
The annual awards recognise hosts who go above and beyond, welcoming guests with warmth, thoughtful design and local flavour. Categories include: Best Design Stay, Best Nature Stay, Best Family Friendly Stay, Best Room Stay, Best New Host and the coveted Host of the Year.
Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia said: “Our local Aussie hosts are shaping the future of travel by creating spaces that reflect local culture, foster genuine connection and support their communities.
“Their hospitality is more than just welcoming guests. These hosts actively support small businesses, help to revitalise neighbourhoods and hosting provides families with an income stream. These award-winning stays demonstrate the powerful role Airbnb hosting plays in fostering economic opportunity and community-led tourism.”
According to a recent report by Oxford Economics, the spending associated with Airbnb generated an estimated $20.3 billion in economic activity in 2024. Domestic travel was a major driver, with domestic guests accounting for around 84 per cent of Airbnb stays. In 2024, guest spending reached $16 billion across the country, helping small businesses thrive and spreading tourism benefits well beyond the major cities.
Winning hosts were selected based on extensive Airbnb data, guest scores and reviews, with oversight from a panel of judges including Susan Wheeldon and Host Advisory Board members, Geoff Gedge and Sarah Huang.
Please find the full list of award finalists at airbnb.com.au/hostawards25au
For comprehensive information on becoming a host or co-host, refer to airbnb.com.au/host/co-hosts
To understand how Airbnb safeguards its hosts, explore the various protection measures and policies here.
2025 AIRBNB HOST AWARDS WINNERS
Best Family Friendly Stay – recognising hosts who have gone above and beyond to ensure families have an amazing stay
WINNER: Sassafras country retreat, Southern Highlands, New South Wales
ABOUT THE LISTING: Sassafras, hosted by Sally, is a serene country retreat on a 98-acre estate just two hours from Sydney and minutes from Kangaroo Valley village. This five-bedroom farmhouse blends contemporary style with rustic charm, featuring a galley kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances, sandstone fireplace and sweeping valley views. Guests love the bunk room, toys, nature activities and outdoor spaces adorned with grapevines and jasmine. With walking trails, wildlife encounters and a fire pit under the stars, Sassafras is a soulful escape for connection, play, and slow living.
JUDGE SARAH HUANG: “A phenomenal nature-based retreat created by a family, for families who crave an unplugged, nature-connected escape. It’s less beachy-fun and more soulful-reconnection.”
Best New Host – recognising new hosts who have gone above and beyond to ensure guests have an amazing stay
WINNER: The Nook, Adelaide, South Australia
ABOUT THE LISTING: The Nook, hosted by Erin and Rory, is a cosy studio cottage nestled in the peaceful Adelaide Hills, offering a luxurious yet affordable escape surrounded by nature. Built on their family property, this retreat blends sleek design with heartfelt hospitality. With open-plan living, a fireplace and a private patio, guests love soaking in the tub and unwinding in the tranquil setting. Ideal for couples or solo travellers, The Nook is a place where milestones are celebrated and memories made.
JUDGE SARAH HUANG: “The Nook stands out for its authentic warmth, deep personal motivation, and community-minded hosting. What started as a healing project for a family has blossomed into a sanctuary where guests can celebrate life’s moments. Erin and Rory provide a peaceful, well-designed space with all the thoughtful touches of a great host.”
Host of the Year – recognising hosts who have gone above and beyond this year
WINNER: Braithwaite, Hobart, Tasmania
ABOUT THE LISTING: Braithwaite, hosted by Alix and John, is a chic courtyard apartment tucked inside a heritage-listed former bakery in Sandy Bay, just 2km from Salamanca. Thoughtfully restored
with vintage charm and modern luxury, it features a king-size bed, sunlit courtyard with a full-size outdoor bath, and a cosy living space with a gas fireplace. Guests love the heated bathroom floors, compact kitchen, and personal touches like local treats. Braithwaite offers a heartfelt, history-rich base to explore Hobart’s art, multitude of gourmet options and natural beauty.
JUDGE SARAH HUANG: “The Braithwaite hosts exemplify hyper-personalised, emotionally resonant hosting. They don’t just provide a stay, they create a moment in time that’s deeply meaningful. Whether it’s a handwritten note referencing a guest’s life or welcoming descendants of original bakers, these hosts transform history into hospitality. Guests often cancel their plans just to stay in!”
Best Design Stay – recognising the hosts who have a unique and amazingly distinctive home
WINNER: Banksia House, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
ABOUT THE LISTING: Banksia House, hosted by Kirsti and Toni, is a striking coastal retreat on Caloundra’s headland, designed to immerse guests in nature and calm. Created by a landscape architect, this purpose-built home features a magnesium pool, bocce court, two fireplaces and outdoor baths and showers; all set among lush gardens. Separate living and sleeping pavilions are linked by breezy courtyards, with raw, tactile materials and seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Guests love the thoughtful design, tranquil vibe, and the sense of escape from everyday life.
JUDGE SARAH HUANG: “Guests highlight its Scandinavian simplicity, earth tones, and calming energy. This is a masterclass in “rugged luxury.” Every detail from the absence of plasterboard to the immersive gardens, it tells a story of raw nature meeting refined thought. The flow between architecture and landscape creates a meditative, outdoor-centric living experience. The design is minimal yet luxurious, perfect for rest and retreat.”
Best Nature Stay – recognising hosts who showcase the best of Australia’s stunning natural landscape
WINNER: Ligo, Wolgan Valley, New South Wales
ABOUT THE LISTING: Ligo, hosted by Eddie and Ange, is an award-winning tiny house retreat set in the heart of the Wolgan Valley, surrounded by UNESCO-listed Blue Mountains National Park. Built from reclaimed materials after bushfires and floods, this off-grid escape offers cosy interiors, passive heating and cooling, and expansive bushland views. Guests love the outdoor bath under the stars, peaceful walking trails, and total digital detox- ideal for nature lovers seeking solitude and serenity, Ligo is a perfect base to reconnect with the wild beauty of the Australian bush.
JUDGE SARAH HUANG: “ Ligo is a masterpiece of minimal, low-impact, off-grid design. It merges wilderness and architecture with humility and intention. The outdoor bath, reclaimed timber, solar
innovations, and immersive wild setting make this a deeply atmospheric escape – elegant in its restraint.”
Best Room Host – recognising the hosts who have an amazingly distinctive room stay experience
WINNER: Short stay made simple, Sydney, New South Wales
ABOUT THE LISTING: Hosted by Caroline and Daniel, this peaceful upstairs retreat in Sydney offers a queen bed, private bathroom and access to a tranquil garden and verandah. Thoughtfully designed with comfort and care, the space includes heating, cooling, natural light and premium linens. Guests rave about the spotless home, warm hospitality,and generous touches like snacks, and full kitchen access. Ideal for short stays or a compact stay with everything you need, this welcoming room is perfect for those seeking a calm, heartfelt base near nature walks.
JUDGE SARAH HUANG: “Caroline offers honest hospitality at its finest. There’s just exceptional thoughtfulness, deep respect for guests and a peaceful, immaculately clean space. Her ability to anticipate needs, paired with subtle generosity (like late station pickups or shared meals), creates a calm and human experience.”
*Self-reported, based on 86 ANZ Host responses to an internal Airbnb Host Awards survey conducted between 12 August – 1 September 2025 and self reported host community data from July, 2025.