While metropolitan Sydney – with an impressive dining scene and iconic harbour – may be the most famed spot in New South Wales, the eastern state also boasts a bounty of low-key gems hidden by bush and beach. If you’re looking to escape this season, these best Airbnbs in New South Wales are the ticket.

From true Romanticist escapes in the natural world to award-winning architectural experimentations, we’ve rounded up some of the best Airbnbs in New South Wales to book and explore regions yonder the big smoke.

Whether you’re looking for an off-grid tiny home escape in regional New South Wales, or you’re a fan of the coast and are keen to retreat into home-away-from-home comfort further north around Byron Bay or along the gorgeous South Coast, these Airbnbs in New South Wales bring a little bit of everything. From pet-friendly remote stays to self-contained architect-designed accommodation, we have a cosy stay perfect for you.

There’s no better way to beat the winter blues than with a sojourn away from the city. Read on for our curated edit of luxurious, romantic and unique NSW Airbnb stays.

GT‘s top stays in New South Wales for 2025

The best Airbnb in NSW for families or groups: The Pinnacle
The best Airbnb in NSW for couples: Ground House 107R
The best tiny homes in NSW: Gilay Estate
The best treehouse stays in NSW: Pepper Tree Passive House
The best farm stay Airbnb in NSW: Mulberry Barn
The best off-grid stay in NSW: Gawthorne’s Hut
The best NSW Airbnb with ocean views: Magnificence of Gerroa

The best romantic Airbnbs in NSW

little black shack airbnb in new south wales

The Little Black Shack

Sleeps: Two guests

Love a little romance? Find the spark on a romantic getaway for two at the Little Black Shack. Situated in Ku-ring-gai National Park across from Palm Beach, The Little Black Shack is an original timber and sandstone fisherman’s cottage set metres from the water on Great Mackerel Beach. Fully eco-friendly and furnished with either second hand or handmade pieces, this cottage that is also fit with a gourmet chef’s kitchen and fully stocked pantry, is as eclectic as it comes. Hire a tinny or board Myra, the old timber ferry from Palm Beach and you’re off to a secluded lovers’ paradise.

Reasons to stay:

Hand-built sandstone open fireplace
Window box seat
Views from each room
Gourmet chef’s kitchen
Floor-to-ceiling bookcase
Stone bath and copper shower
Sun deck with wood fired oven and fireplace
Hammock available on deck

Location: Great Mackerel Beach, Pittwater

The Salty Dog airbnb in Newport, Pittwater new south wales

The Salty Dog

Sleeps: Two guests

Another romantic getaway set in the Northern Beaches’ Pittwater is The Salty Dog boathouse – an idyllic spot to take time out from the big smoke. Spend the day lapping up the sun and salt then share a sunset tipple over a charcuterie board on the deck before crawling into the loft bed and falling asleep to the rocking of waves.

Reasons to stay:

Wooden boathouse design
Off grid
Large opening skylight window
Dinghy
Outdoor shower
Deck for serene wave-watching
Bluetooth sound system
Coffee machine
Breakfast included

Location: Newport, Pittwater

The best tiny home Airbnbs in NSW

Gilay Estate airbnb in quirindi, new south wales

Gilay Estate

Sleeps: Two guests

You’ll want to spend your entire weekend cosied up at Gilay Estate, drinking wine, soaking in the private hot tub and making pizzas in the wood-fired Gozney oven. But for those wanting to explore the area, nearby Murrurundi offers a couple of good cafés, a gin distillery and local art gallery while Graze at Willow Tree Inn serves up great steaks and gastropub fare.

Reasons to stay:

Off grid design
Outdoor fire pit
Gozney pizza oven
Outdoor hot tub
king-sized bed
Custom linen robes

Location: Quirindi

Arabella eco cabin airbnb in shoalhaven, new south wales

Arabella eco cabin

Sleeps: Three guests

Forgo city concrete for rural rainforest with a stay at eco-cabin Arabella, set on 140 acre farm overlooking the Kangaroo Valley on the fringe of the Cambewarra Ranges. Run on solar power with an award-winning mirrored capsule bathroom, this nature retreat is surrounded by dense bushland in a forest clearing where you may encounter wombats, echidnas, kookaburras and lyrebirds. A true Romanticist’s escape.

Reasons to stay:

Off grid design
Outdoor fire pit
Gas barbecue
Award-winning glass bathroom
Runs on solar energy
Bathtub
Mountain view
Indoor fireplace

Location: Beaumont, Shoalhaven

The best treehouse Airbnb in NSW

Pepper Tree Passive House airbnb in wollongong, new south wales,

Pepper Tree Passive House

Sleeps: Four guests

Winning the Sustainable Architecture Award 2022 from the Institute of Architects, this art eco-house designed by Alexander Symes is set against the striking backdrop of Mount Kembla and is built around a 50-year-old pepper tree. So, why not take a week off the grind and live as the fae do in a treehouse?

Reasons to stay:

Mountain view
Samsung Bluetooth sound system
Central air conditioning and heating
Coffee maker
Electric vehicle charger

Location: Unanderra, Wollongong

The best couples’ retreat Airbnb in NSW

Ground House 107R airbnb in Ballina Shire, new south wales

Ground House 107R

Sleeps: Two guests

Ground House 107R is a concrete stay ethereally nestled in the grass, designed to “curate sensory immersion”. Featuring a curving jade shower and hearted magnesium soak tank – plus the option for an in-stay massage therapist and yoga instructor to be present – this conceptual getaway epitomises luxe.

Reasons to stay:

Stone walled courtyard with water feature
Brass kitchen
Double sided fireplace
Curving jade shower
Magnesium soak tank
Plunge pool
Barbecue grill

Location: Tintenbar, Ballina Shire

The Hideaway airbnb in jervis bay, new south wales

The Hideaway

Sleeps: Two guests

Set in the middle of a retired native wildflower farm, this tiny home in Jervis Bay is the perfect romantic couples’ retreat. Surround yourself in a grove of old, towering banksia and protea trees, and take in the lingering scent of native wildflowers.

Reasons to stay:

King-sized bed
Bottle of wine on arrival
Mood lighting
Minutes from white-sand Callala Beach
Surrounded by native forest
Part of a larger accommodation group

Location: Myola, Jervis Bay

The best Airbnb farm stay in NSW

Mulberry Barn airbnb in shoalhaven, new south wales

Mulberry Barn

Sleeps: Two guests

Between the town of Berry and the sea lies Mulberry Barn, a converted barn set on a farm on Coolangatta Mountain. Neighbouring the stables with bush tracks beginning through the back gate, this is an ideal getaway for those wanting to relish in the soundscapes of nature.

Reasons to stay:

Indoor fireplace
Large bath
Mood lighting
Underfloor bathroom heating
Breakfast provided
Barbecue
On five acres of paddocks

Location: Far Meadow, City of Shoalhaven

The best off grid Airbnb in NSW

Gawthorne’s Hut in mudgee, new south wales

Gawthorne’s Hut

Sleeps: Two guests

Awarded the Best Unique Stay by Airbnb in 2021, Gawthorne’s Hut is an inviting yet sophisticated eco-hut designed to create a sense of peace in isolation for its visitors of Wilgowrah, the historic rural property on which the hut is set.

Reasons to stay:

King bed
Fire pit
Air conditioning
JB Bluetooth sound system
Indoor fireplace
Waterfront location

Location: Mudgee

The best Airbnb in NSW with ocean views

The Pinnacle salamander bay, new south wales

The Pinnacle

Sleeps: 12 guests

Boasting a 250-degree spectacular panoramic ocean view is The Pinnacle in Salamander Bay. Sleeping up to 12 guests and featuring an outdoor hot tub, this impressive three-storey holiday home makes for the perfect group getaway.

Reasons to stay:

250° panoramic water views
Built-in heated spa on balcony
Elongated fireplace
Fully equipped chef’s kitchen
Dual sink butler’s pantry
Integrated coffee machine
Pizza oven fireplace

Location: Salamander Bay

Why book an Airbnb in Australia over a hotel?

While luxury hotels in Australia offer a valuable and exclusive experience, choosing an Airbnb instead of a hotel can often be more personalised and immersive, reflecting the local experience. Think designer beach houses, rustic homesteads, or off-grid cabins that connect you to the natural environment. Many Airbnbs in New South Wales now come equipped with special features such as fully stocked kitchens, private outdoor spaces, hot tubs, fireplaces, and luxury amenities, granting you greater flexibility and comfort during your stay. If a casual, immersive, and flexible stay is what you’re after, consider an Airbnb for your next trip to New South Wales and beyond.

Is there an alternative to Airbnb in Australia?

While Airbnb is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable platforms for unique stays in Australia, many hotels and resorts offer equally immersive escapes – not just through location, but through thoughtful design, culinary homages, and a deep connection to place. From architecture that mirrors the surrounding landscape to interiors that honour local craftsmanship, these stays can offer a myriad of experience. Discover our full 2025 guide to Gourmet Traveller-approved hotels here.