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This cosy cabin in rural NSW is among the world’s 10 most-loved Airbnbs

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
This scroll-stopping hut overlooking NSW’s Liverpool Plains has snagged a spot on Airbnbs’ 2025 list of most-loved rentals.

Whether it’s the flexibility of a breezy beachside home or the escapist element of a treehouse retreat, there’s a lot to love about the incredible selection of Airbnbs up for grabs these days. The accommodation booking platform has just announced the 10 Airbnb listings that received the most love on social media in 2025, based on total engagement on TikTok and Instagram. Here’s the lowdown. 

The takeaways of the most-loved Airbnbs on social in 2025

The most-loved Airbnbs on social media list reveals the accommodations social media users found most captivating in 2025. The general consensus? Nature-led stays that invite the outdoors in, along with those boasting unique designs and standout architecture. Further, these stays encourage switch-off time through facilities such as soul-warming firepits and calming bathtubs – creating escapes that feel far away from the everyday and lend themselves to deep rest. 

The Australian Airbnb that made the list 

gilay estate cabin
The cabin offers beautiful country views. (Image: Morning Swim)

Located near the town of Quirindi in north-west NSW, Gilay Estate has been named among the top 10 most-loved Airbnbs in the world for 2025. With a striking A-frame build that stands out against the surrounding countryside, the luxury off-grid escape has captured the eyes of travellers and social media users far and wide. (Who could blame them?) Two near-identical, tiny home-style huts are available, both sleeping two. 

gilay estate bedroom
Relax in timber-clad Gilay Estate. (Image: Morning Swim)

The central spaces feature a contemporary fireplace and king-sized bed looking out through generously sized panes of glass to tree-scattered, pastoral greens. Awash in timber panelling with splashes of dusty orange and charcoal hues, interiors are a stylish mash-up of raw natural materials and structured human touches.

Outside, savour complimentary sparkling from local Hollydene Estate Winery while spotting roaming wildlife from the wood-fired hot tub. Or perhaps sharpen your culinary skills using the Gozney pizza oven and open firepit grill. It’s a stay that truly encourages guests to rejuvenate and switch off. 

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

The most-loved Airbnbs on social in 2025

North Cascades Haven airbnb
North Cascades Haven is a delight. (Image: Airbnb)

Earning their place alongside Gilay Estate are a host of nine more inspiring Airbnbs guaranteed to make you stop scrolling. 

Sitting right on the edge of the glacier-fed Cascade River in Washington, USA, North Cascades Haven at the River Cabin promises to lull guests to sleep with the continous sound of running rapids and ethereal forest views. In New York, Birch Falls Spa Cabin at Evergreen Cabins also draws on the element of water and forested surrounds, spotlighting an indoor waterfall and soaker jet tub.  

Come & Dream in Quetzalcoatl’s Nest
Come & Dream in Quetzalcoatl’s Nest. (Image: Airbnb)

Brimming with creativity, Come & Dream in Quetzalcoatl’s Nest in Mexico’s Naucalpan de Juárez is an oasis of futuristic design. The four-bedroom house comprises layered levels of wavy edges complemented by a series of stunning gardens and water ponds. 

Cozy Cabin in Black Mountain
Cozy Cabin in Black Mountain, USA. (Image: Airbnb)

Also named one of the most Insta-worthy Airbnbs in the world in 2025 was Cozy Cabin in Black Mountain, North Carolina. This USA stay is a sanctuary for reflection, lending itself to slow getaways with a picturesque reading nook, sunroom, hot tub and outdoor terrace with a firepit and knockout valley views. 

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Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
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3 vintage train journeys to step back in time and explore NSW

(Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
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    From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.

    Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.

    Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train carriage
    Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.

    The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.

    The Riverina

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train travelling through nsw
    Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.

    The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.

    North Coast

    Forest Sky Pier
    Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.

    Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.

    Golden West

    winery experience in new south wales
    Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.

    Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.

    Special event journeys

    meal onboard Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train
    Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.

    For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.

    Step back into the golden age of rail travel at vintagerailjourneys.com.au.