Ground House 107R
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 escape than a sojourn away from the city. Read on for our curated edit of luxurious, romantic and unique NSW Airbnb stays.
You might also like: 13 of the best farm stays in NSW for a rustic escape
GT‘s top airbnbs in New South Wales for 2025
- Best stay for families or groups: The Pinnacle
- Best stay for couples: Ground House 107R
- Best tiny homes: Gilay Estate | Ligo
- Best treehouse stay: Pepper Tree Passive House
- Best farm stay: Ocean Farm
- Best off-grid stay: Gawthorne’s Hut
- Best stay with ocean views: Magnificence of Gerroa
The best romantic Airbnbs in NSW
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
Distance from central Sydney: ~one hour
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
Distance from central Sydney: ~one hour
The best tiny home Airbnbs in NSW
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
Distance from central Sydney: ~four hours
Ligo
Sleeps: Two guests
Winner of the Airbnb Host Awards 2025 for best nature stay, this architecturally-designed tiny home encourages calmness and serenity within its natural landscape. Just over two hours from Sydney CBD, this private retreat gives you access to over 100-acres of natural bushland and riverfront, and if nature isn’t enough to bring calm, a private hot tub, hammock and firepit are available for a comfortable, eco-friendly and romantic escape.
Reasons to stay:
- Private hot tub
- Central air conditioning for warm evenings
- Cooking basics available
- Private backyard with a firepit, hammock, dining area and BBQ grill
Location: Wolgan Valley
Distance from central Sydney: ~three hours
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
Distance from central Sydney: ~two hours
The best couples’ retreat Airbnb in NSW
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
Distance from central Sydney: < eight hours
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
Distance from central Sydney: ~two and a half hours
The best treehouse Airbnb in NSW
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
Distance from central Sydney: ~one and a half hours
The best Airbnb farm stay in NSW
Ocean Farm
Sleeps: 12 guests
A seaside take on the winter getaway. The four-bedroom, four-bath villa is situated on 200 acres of rainforest, giving you easy access to short walking tracks to town or down to Werri Beach. Watch the moon rise over the ocean while taking advantage of the infinity pool or warm yourself by the crackling fire in this modern coastal farmhouse set by the sea on the verdant hills of Gerringong.
Reasons to stay:
- Private infinity pool
- Indoor wood-burning fireplace
- Sound system
- Game room with ping pong, air hockey and football
- Wine cellar
- Espresso machine
Location: Gerringong
Distance from central Sydney: < two hours
Luxury farmhouse
Sleeps: 12 guests
Another farm stay that doesn’t stray too far from the water’s edge, Mayfield is a spacious five-bedroom, three-bath home located on a dairy farm in the heart of the NSW South Coast, just a short drive to Culburra and Callala beaches. From lush green paddocks to rustic interiors adorned with period styling and décor, indulge in the local wineries or in a roast dinner made in a fully equipped kitchen. This rural oasis will take you back in time.
Reasons to stay:
- Private property
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Outdoor fire pit
- Luxury bathroom amenities
- Private outdoor heated pool
Location: Mayfield
Distance from central Sydney: ~two hours
The best off-grid Airbnb in NSW
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
Distance from central Sydney: ~three and a half hours
The best Airbnb in NSW with ocean views
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
Distance from central Sydney: ~two and a half hours
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.
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.
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