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Airbnb in Northern Rivers: License, Income & Investment Guide 2026

By HostPal Editorial·Updated 306 days ago·Source: Inside Airbnb

Northern Rivers short-term rental market data, neighbourhood breakdown, and regulation summary.

At a glance
Median occupancy
24%
+8.7 pts YoY
Median daily rate
$207.24
+4.7% YoY
Active listings
4,358
6,129 total
Revenue per available night
$31.22

Year-over-year performance

Compared to the closest snapshot from approximately 12 months ago, the Northern Rivers short-term rental market has shifted in measurable ways. Occupancy among active listings is up 8.7 points, while the median daily rate is up 4.7 percent.

Northern Rivers — occupancy over time 13% 3y ago 2022-09 12% 2y ago 2023-09 15% 1y ago 2024-09 24% Now 2025-09

Looking further back: three years ago, occupancy was 10.8 points lower. Two years ago, 12.5 points lower.

When Northern Rivers Airbnbs perform best

Monthly occupancy data shows the seasonal rhythm of the Northern Rivers short-term rental market. Use this to plan dynamic pricing, target peak demand, and avoid lulls.

Northern Rivers — monthly occupancy 46% 36% 37% 43% 39% 42% 47% 48% 57% 52% 43% 49% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 100% 0%

How Northern Rivers compares to Australia

Benchmarked against 11 other Australia markets we track, Northern Rivers's metrics tell a clear story.

Occupancy vs national
-6 pts vs national
National median: 30%
Daily rate vs national
+29.8% vs national
National median: $159.7

What kind of Airbnbs are in Northern Rivers?

Of the 4,358 active operating listings, 92% are entire homes (vs private rooms), and 52.4% are operated by Airbnb Superhosts.

Bedroom mix among active listings
1 BR
2 BR
3 BR
4+ BR
Studio: 2.9%1 BR: 31.8%2 BR: 22.9%3 BR: 22.6%4+ BR: 19.9%

Top neighborhoods in Northern Rivers

The 7 neighborhoods we track range from established tourist hotspots to emerging investment zones. Here are the five strongest by revenue.

NeighborhoodListingsOccupancyRevPARYoY
BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL1,80724%$40.39+5.9 pts YoY
LISMORE CITY COUNCIL16442%$31.42+19 pts YoY
BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL49530%$30.03+14.7 pts YoY
TWEED SHIRE COUNCIL1,08124%$28.38+9.2 pts YoY
CLARENCE VALLEY COUNCIL68024%$21.71+14.1 pts YoY

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Airbnb occupancy in Northern Rivers?
Active Airbnb listings in Northern Rivers run at ~24% occupancy (up 8.7 points year over year). Source: Inside Airbnb.
What is the median daily rate for an Airbnb in Northern Rivers?
The median Airbnb daily rate (ADR) in Northern Rivers is approximately $207.24, up 4.7% year over year. Based on listings with at least one review in the last 12 months.
How many active Airbnb listings are in Northern Rivers?
There are approximately 4,358 active short-term rental listings in Northern Rivers (listings with at least one booking in the last 12 months).
Is Airbnb income growing or shrinking in Northern Rivers?
Compared to a year ago, Northern Rivers short-term rental performance has shifted: occupancy +8.7 pts, daily rate +4.7%. Underlying data comes from the latest Inside Airbnb snapshot vs the closest archive ~12 months prior.

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Going deeper?

Get the full Northern Rivers investment report

Property-level financials, stress tests, neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdowns, and an AI verdict on whether to buy.

See the full report →
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Methodology. Market metrics are derived from Inside Airbnb's 2025-09 snapshot, filtered to active listings (those with at least one booking in the last 12 months). Year-over-year deltas compare against the closest archived snapshot ~12 months prior. Sample sizes: occupancy n=2,979, ADR n=3,963.