Australia’s best holiday homes for 2025 unveiled

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
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From dreamy coastal escapes to swoon-worthy luxe lodges. 

Something about staying at a holiday home makes a getaway feel extra special – the privacy, the space, the sense of escape. If you’re dreaming of your next trip, the reveal of Stayz’s 2025 Holiday Homes of the Year list is your cue to start planning. This year’s list showcases the crème de la crème of holiday rentals – each a perfect setting for your next unforgettable escape. 

Handpicked from over 50,000 listings, these 10 private Aussie rentals have guest ratings of 9.8 and above and are the stuff holiday dreams are made of. Think chic country escapes, jaw-dropping coastal stays and dreamy architectural retreats, all handpicked for their luxe factor and stellar guest reviews. 

1. Abercorn, Buckaroo, NSW 

Abercorn near Mudgee in Buckaroo, NSW 
Enjoy an authentic farm stay at Abercorn.

An architect-designed countryside retreat near Mudgee, Abercorn offers guests stylish, light-filled interiors, lush veggie gardens and a charming herd of Belted Galloway cows for a genuine farm-stay experience. 

2. Mountain Lodge, Sassafras, Vic 

Mountain Lodge in the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria
Stay among the treetops at Mountain Lodge.

Perched among the treetops of the Dandenong Ranges, this lodge features a spectacular rooftop viewing deck – ideal for evening drinks and nature gazing in serene luxury. 

3. Carpe Mykonos, Margaret River, WA 

Carpe Mykonos in Margaret River, WA
Step into Greece at Carpe Mykonos.

Experience a Mediterranean-inspired getaway on just over three picturesque hectares in Margaret River at Carpe Mykonos, complete with a private tennis court, fire pit and expansive views from a spacious outdoor deck. 

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4. The Cape House, Dover, Tas 

Cape House, Dover, Tasmania
This luxurious property is found at the southern end of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

Nestled on a 100-hectare private estate near Dover in southern Tasmania, this luxurious farmhouse blends modern comfort with old-world charm, offering panoramic water views and a heated outdoor hot tub. 

5. The Hamptons Hinterland Retreat, Gold Coast, Qld 

The Hamptons Hinterland Retreat in the Gold Coast, Queensland
Hamptons Hinterland Retreat is perfect for large get-togethers.

This sprawling luxury estate accommodates up to 14 guests and includes a 16-metre saltwater pool, designer kitchen and multiple lounge areas, all just 20 minutes from the Gold Coast’s vibrant centre. 

6. Frogwell Hollow, Stirling, SA 

Frogwell Hollow in Stirling, South Australia
Stay at Frogwell Hollow in autumn.

A charming countryside escape in the Adelaide Hills, Frogwell Hollow features a wildlife-rich garden, sunlit conservatory, wood-fired oven and fire pit, perfect for peaceful getaways. 

7. The Bahama House, Port Douglas, Qld 

Bahama House in Port Douglas, Queensland
This Caribbean-inspired home is in Australia’s tropical north.

Steps from Four Mile Beach, one of Port Douglas’s best beaches, this Caribbean-inspired home boasts a large pool, gourmet chef’s kitchen and alfresco dining. Its central location makes it ideal for exploring Tropical North Queensland. 

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8. Oliver’s Cottage, Yarra Glen, Vic 

Oliver’s Cottage in Yarra Glen, Victoria
Run yourself a bath in Oliver’s Cottage.

Set in the beautiful Yarra Valley, this spacious six-bedroom farmhouse offers a cosy gas fireplace, outdoor spa, cedar barrel sauna and panoramic mountain views. 

9. Braeside, Kangaroo Valley, NSW 

Braeside in Kangaroo Valley, Victoria
Braeside is a luxury retreat in Kangaroo Valley.

This two-hectare luxury retreat in Kangaroo Valley features a 12-metre saltwater swimming pool, wraparound decking and an inviting outdoor firepit, all within a tranquil, wildlife-rich setting. 

10. Le Chateau, Holgate, NSW 

Le Chateau in Holgate, NSW 
Bring your friends to Le Chateau.

Inspired by a French chateau, this grand mansion on the Central Coast accommodates up to 18 guests and features an infinity-edge pool, billiard room and an exquisite private art collection. 

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Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her 4+ years at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? South Australia and The Kimberley.
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Film lovers need to add these Victorian theatres to their bucket list

    Ricky French Ricky French
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    Theatres have always been a cornerstone of regional Victoria, reflecting the character and history of their local communities.

    From grand, gold rush-era masterpieces to Art Deco wonders to repurposed prisons, we’ve rounded up four of Victoria’s best regional theatres to catch a show at next time you’re travelling through.

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat 
    Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat has been standing for 150 years. (Image: Michael Pham)

    A monument to the immense gold rush wealth flooding through Ballarat in the second half of the 19th century, Her Majesty’s Theatre (‘Her Maj’ to locals) celebrates its 150th anniversary as the city’s premier performing arts venue this year.

    Built in a classical style and immaculately preserved (thanks largely to a recent $16-million restoration), this Lydiard Street landmark is the oldest continuously operating theatre in mainland Australia, notable for its double balcony and a stage that slopes towards the front, making it one of the most audience-friendly venues in the country to see a show.

    The Capital, Bendigo

    The Capital Theatre, Bendigo
    The Capital in Bendigo was built in 1873 as a Masonic Hall. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Denoted by its distinctive Corinthian columns, more reminiscent of ancient Greece than regional Victoria, The Capital theatre in Bendigo has been through several iterations since the first stone was laid in 1873.

    Originally a Masonic hall, the renaissance revival-style building became a theatre in the 1890s, falling into disrepair for a time during the 1970s, before being restored and reopened (as the Bendigo Regional Arts Centre) in 1991. Today, the 480-seat venue hosts everything from comedy to cabaret to traditional theatre, dance, opera and live music.

     Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo

    a look insideBendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre
    Inside Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, a former prison. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Bendigo has busted out as a regional performing arts hotspot, so it’s fitting that one of its newest venues is housed within a former prison. Meaning ‘meeting place’ or ‘gather together’ in the language of the local Dja Dja Wurrung people, the $26-million, 950-seat auditorium rose from within the red brick walls of the historic Sandhurst Gaol in 2015.

    It’s an eerie feeling as you approach the imposing granite facade, pass beneath the old gallows and pick up your ticket from the box office occupying a repurposed cell block. With the building playing a main character in the show, this is performative architecture at its finest.

    Rex Theatre, Charlton

    the Rex Theatre in Charlton
    The 1938-built Rex Theatre in Charlton is an Art Deco gem. (Image: Jenny Pollard)

    Regional theatres don’t come more romantic than this Art Deco gem in the river town of Charlton, in north-central Victoria. Built in 1938, the 350-seat community-owned theatre provides an essential entertainment outlet for residents in the Wimmera Mallee region, as well as visitors making the trip up the Calder Highway from Melbourne.

    The volunteer-run venue is the last remaining purpose-built cinema in regional Victoria, and hosts the Charlton Film Festival every February, plus three weekly film screenings (Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday).