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The best Canberra Airbnbs and holiday homes

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
There are a plethora of great Canberra Airbnbs and holiday homes to stay in across the capital and beyond.

Airbnb Canberra options range from slick waterfront apartments and design-led inner-city stays to farm cottages and tiny homes on the city’s fringes. While Canberra is hardly short on incredible hotels and luxury accommodation, choosing an Airbnb or holiday home offers something different: space to spread out, kitchens for slow mornings and neighbourhood stays that let you live like a local.

Here are  the best Airbnb and holiday homes on offer in Canberra.

Best Airbnbs in Canberra

Across the capital, Airbnbs cluster close to Canberra’s best restaurants, cafes and major events such as Floriade.

1. Luxurious Waterfront, Kingston

a suite with a balcony at Luxurious Waterfront, Kingston
Settle in for a cosy stay next to Lake Burley Griffin.

Best for: Those who want a relaxing retreat in the heart of the city

This Canberra Airbnb is set apart due to its stunning views over the Kingston foreshore.

Floor-to-ceiling windows in both the bedroom and living space of the Luxurious Waterfront Unit invite that outlook in, giving the apartment an easy, breezy, light-filled feel. You’re steps from some of Canberra’s best restaurants and cafes, with the city centre just 10 minutes away. Sleeps 2.

2. Entire Loft in Kingston

an entire Loft in Kingston
The Kingston loft evokes a warehouse feel.

Best for: Friends looking for a polished stay with personality

This moody industrial-style Airbnb brings a bit of an edge to your stay in Canberra. Expect leather accents, natural textures and soft French linen bedding that softens the warehouse feel of the Kingston loft.  The kitchen is set up for fun nights in with friends. But you’re also close to some of the best bars and restaurants in Kingston and minutes from the action in Canberra. Sleeps 4.

3. Two Bedroom On Lonsdale Street, Braddon

the arched balcony at Two Bedroom On Lonsdale Street, Braddon Airbnb
Base yourself in this idyllic Lonsdale Street Airbnb.

Best for: Feeling like a local

This lovely Lonsdale St Airbnb drops you straight into the beating heart of Canberra’s cafe culture. Braddon has long been considered the coolest neighbourhood in Canberra and a stay at this Lonsdale Street Airbnb will insert you right in the thick of it, feeling like a local. If you’re looking for a dog-friendly Canberra Airbnb, this is also a great choice as the owners allow up to two house-trained pets. Sleeps 4.

4. Entire Rental Unit in Reid

the living room inside a Rental Unit in Reid
Stay in the heart of the city at this three-bedroom Rental Unit in Reid.

Best for: Access to a shared swimming pool; a luxury for inner-city Airbnbs in Canberra

This bright and airy Canberra Airbnb is situated right in the centre of Canberra’s CBD with public transport on your doorstep. Being close to the city’s main attractions is also handy if you don’t want to drive. For those nights you’d prefer to stay in, the three-bedroom Rental Unit in Reid offers modern interiors, a generous living space, full chef’s kitchen, high-speed internet and a selection of streaming services. Sleeps 6.

5. The Secret Little House, Hackett

The Secret Little House, Hackett
This modern, boho space is a beloved stay in Canberra.

Best for: Getting around using the light rail

The Secret Little House in Hackett is one of Canberra’s most wish-listed Airbnbs. And it’s easy to see why. The light-filled one-bedroom house is tucked away in the leafy suburbs, away from the hubbub of the city. The bright, boho space is anchored by a floor made from upcycled timber from a basketball court. Bounce from the homey Hackett Airbnb to the nearby MetroTram to access the city’s best cafes, pubs and restaurants.  Dogs are welcome. Sleeps 2.

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6. The Kindred, Braddon

the balcony at The Kindred, Braddon
The Kindred features a lush balcony.

Best for: Creative types with a love for detail

Experience Canberra at its most considered with a stay in this light-filled two-bedroom, two-bathroom Airbnb apartment. The interiors of The Kindred are like an essay in subtle hues and natural materials. The enchanting apartment overlooks a giant elm tree and will appeal to kindred spirits who will covet the vintage Danish dining table, local art and ceramics. Two vintage-style bikes are available for guests to burn to Braddon or Ainslie. Sleeps 4.

7. Bunda House, Narrabundah

the outdoor deck of Bunda House, Canberra
Soak up the sun on the outdoor deck.

Best for: Groups of friends looking for Airbnb utopia

A stay at the stylish Bunda House in Narrabundah will transport you back in time to the 1960s before catapulting you back into the present day. The newly renovated bungalow has a backyard and patio built for entertaining, layered interiors and a bathroom with a rain shower and freestanding tub. Pick up some fresh produce from the markets and cook up a storm in the spacious kitchen. Sleeps 6.

8. Designer Series Corner Apartment, Braddon

the bed inside the Designer Series Corner Apartment, Braddon
Bed down at this modern apartment in Braddon.

Best for: Relaxing in the sun-drenched winter garden

Floor-to-ceiling windows enhance the aesthetic of the Designer Series Corner Apartment.  The north-facing apartment feels at once plugged in and removed from busy Lonsdale St below. It has a winter garden that catches much of the light and is softened by trailing greenery that works as well for a morning coffee as it does for switching off at night. The apartment – all timber and leather, polished concrete and brass finishes – sits inside the swanky Nibu building. Sleeps 2.

9. Entire home in Ainslie, Australia

an Airbnb in Ainslie
This family-friendly, four-bedroom house in Ainslie is spacious and stylish.

Best for: Families with active kids

Stylish and spacious, this Four-Bedroom House in Central Canberra backs onto the Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve where the kids can burn off some energy before dinner.  Inside, you’ll find an expansive kitchen with plenty of bench space to prepare family meals. There’s also a backyard and balcony at the Ainsley Airbnb, close to some of the best restaurants and cafes in Canberra. Sleeps 9.

10. Horseshoe Hideaway, Mullion

an indoor shower at Horseshoe Hideaway
Horseshoe Hideaway is an absolute haven on a serene patch of farmland in Mullion.

Best for: Those seeking solitude

If switching off matters to you more than being in Canberra’s busy city centre, consider Horseshoe Hideaway an absolute haven. The Airbnb is 40 minutes outside of town on a serene patch of farmland in Mullion. Part of a sheep property, this Canberra Airbnb is a cosy tiny home, ideal for a couple or solo traveller. The wood-fired hot tub  morphs into a plunge pool in summer. Sleeps 2.

Best holiday homes in Canberra

Whether you’re visiting for culture, food, family time or fresh air, these are some of the best holiday homes Canberra has to offer.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

11. Riversong Rest

the Riversong Rest retreat exterior
Retreat into Riversong Rest on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.

Best for:  Casting a line in or picnicking by the water

Push your search a little further out from Canberra’s CBD to find rural retreats such as Riversong Rest that are still within easy driving distance of the city. Set on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, Riversong Rest is a compact, carefully designed retreat made for slow stays. Retreat indoors with books and board games, then sit on the deck, telescope trained on the night sky.

12. Beltana Farm Cottage

the exterior of Beltana Farm Cottage
Country charm meets modern design.

Best for: Living life in the slow lane

The Cottage at Beltana Farm is about succumbing to life’s simple pleasures. Like reading a book while curled up in the two-bedroom Cottage. Jumping on a bike to explore your surrounds.  Or participating in a truffle hunt (throughout the winter months) or visit to a nearby winery. There’s also the indulgence of having a restaurant and tennis court onsite.

13. The Cottage at Petrichor Farm, Gundaroo

Best for: Immersing yourself in the country

You’ll find The Cottage At Petrichor Farm 40 minutes outside of Canberra in the Gundaroo wine region. The relaxing property includes one of the best wedding venues in the country. It’s surrounded by gardens and tastefully decorated with elegant, elemental interiors. You can visit local wineries and providores, but make sure you block out an afternoon to soak in the picturesque outdoor bathtub, too.

14. Tiny Away

the Tiny Away Airbnb in Canberra
This tiny home sits in a secluded part of Canberra near Lake George. (Image: Alex Davey)

Best for: Spotting kangaroos.

From a distance, this Tiny Away Overlooking Lake George appears like a captivating work of art. Perched above Lake George, which is blanketed with fog at dawn and dusk each day, it has everything you need for an enjoyable stay. Perhaps the greatest luxury at the tiny but mighty accommodation is the large windows that frame views over the water and sky. Expect a snug loft bed and fully equipped kitchen. Sleeps 2.

15. Cubby & Co

Best for: Oenophiles with a love of interior design

Mt Majura is an undeniably magical place, home to a rich array of flora and fauna and a bush trail that traces the bony spine of the mountain. Landscape and architecture are woven together at the Cubby & Co accommodation, which comprises three cubbies dotted around the property, just 15 minutes from Canberra’s CBD. The single-site vineyard is known for standout tempranillo, reisling and shiraz.

16. One-bedroom villa at The Truffle Farm

the kitchen inside The Truffle Farm cabin
Spend a couple of days in the countryside for some R&R.

Best for: Foodie couples

This bougie property, just 15 minutes from the heart of Canberra, is right in the heart of the Majura Valley. Designed for two, the off-grid luxury cabin at The Truffle Farm looks out over groves of oak trees and rolling countryside. It features a wood-fired hot tub made for long, slow evenings. Time your stay with truffle season to join a hunt. Enjoy al fresco dining on the deck in summer.

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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The perfect mid-week reset an hour from Melbourne

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
    Continue
    Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

    Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

    walking trails in the Yarra Valley
    You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

    A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

    holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy
    Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

    a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy
    A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

    I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

    Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

    Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

    Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate
    Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

    As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate, I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

    oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate
    Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

    On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

    I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

    kangaroos in Yarra Valley
    Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

    the Yarra Valley vineyards
    Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

    Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

    COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

    It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

    A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

    legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway
    The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

    The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

    I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

    The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

    After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

    Playing there

    the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley
    Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art. Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

    Eating and drinking there

    Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

    seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station
    The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)