Australia's Best Airbnb Hosts for 2025 Have Been Named, Showcasing Dream Family-Friendly Stays and Serene Nature Escapes
Make short stays even more memorable as Australia's top Airbnb hosts have been chosen for their appreciation of design and love of hospitality.
When you want a stay that feels unique and personal, sometimes an Airbnb offers something that hotels often don't. Now you'll know which stays offer the best of the best experience, as the short-term stay giant has revealed the winners of its 2025 Host Awards — its annual accolades that celebrate "the creativity, care and community impact of local hosts."
With six awards up for grabs, these honours cover everything from the best family-friendly stay to the best design experience. Spanning heritage-listed Hobart bakeries, bold coastal escapes on the Sunny Coast and serene Kangaroo Valley retreats, the winners come from far and wide, meaning an award-winning stay might be closer than you think.
Host of the Year: Braithwaite (Hobart, TAS)
There's no shortage of deserving hosts, but there can only be one Host of the Year. In 2025, that's Alix and John from Braithwaite — a heritage-listed former bakery in Sandy Bay. Wonderfully restored, this courtyard apartment is the perfect base to explore the cultural hub of Salamanca Place, with its restaurants and art galleries just two kilometres away. According to judge Sarah Huang: "[Alix and John] don't just provide a stay, they create a moment in time that's deeply meaningful."
Best Family-Friendly Stay: Sassafras (Southern Highlands, NSW)
You don't have to trek hours into the wilderness to discover a country retreat when it comes to Sassafras. Set on 98 acres in Kangaroo Valley, this five-bedroom farmhouse carefully balances rustic charm with modern features, offering all the creature comforts you desire alongside a sandstone fireplace and unbeatable valley views. And at just a two-hour drive from Sydney, this peaceful stay is primed for weekend escapes.
Best New Host: The Nook (Adelaide, SA)
Some Airbnbs have become synonymous with luxury stays over numerous years. Yet others have just begun to earn their reputation. The Nook is the latter, with owners Erin and Rory taking home the Best New Host award in 2025. Set on their family property, guests encounter a modern cottage featuring an airy open-plan design made for easygoing entertaining. Plus, the outdoor terrace is the ideal spot to admire the cottage's surrounding greenery.
Best Nature Stay: Ligo (Wolgan Valley, NSW)
While living in a tiny house forever might not appeal, Ligo in the Wolgan Valley might convince you it's more than possible. Hosted by Eddie and Ange, this award-winning retreat in the shadow of the Blue Mountains National Park is built from materials reclaimed from bushfires, offering an off-grid stay rich in warm interiors, passive sustainability and bushland views. Take a bath beneath the stars and roam the nearby walking trails when you need to reconnect.
Best Room Stay: Short Stay Made Simple (Sydney, NSW)
The best Airbnb experiences don't have to be exclusive. In fact, sometimes the warm hospitality of the host can make the mutual enjoyment of a space that much more special. Short Stay Made Simple's Caroline and Daniel received the award for Best Room Stay, with the peaceful upstairs retreat of their Sydney home celebrated for its spotless presentation, full kitchen access and generous touches, like late-night train station pickups and welcoming shared meals.
Best Design Stay: Banksia House (Sunshine Coast, QLD)
The interiors are impressive enough at Banksia House, but the winner of the Best Design Stay really comes into its own when you consider its outdoor features. Designed by hosts Toni and Kirsti, the latter brought her experience as a landscape architect to conceive the magnesium pool, bocce court, fireplaces and al fresco bathrooms immersed in lush gardens. "Guests highlight its Scandinavian simplicity, earth tones, and calming energy. This is a masterclass in 'rugged luxury,'" says Huang.
Looking for more information on the winners? Head to the website to get all the details.
Images: Rachel Tagg.
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