The 13 best holiday rentals and Airbnbs in Noosa

Not all holiday rentals are created equal which is why we’ve uncovered the full range of stand-out Airbnbs in Noosa for your easy booking reference.

Upmarket hotels and ritzy resorts (our pick of the best accommodation in the area covers them all) will always attract luxury-seeking travellers, but true charms lie in the impeccable collection of laidback Airbnb in Noosa.

Providing a private sanctuary fitted with start-of-the-art appliances, family-friendly facilities and ample space to sloth around, find the perfect base for easy, breezy holidaying.

1. Babar House, Noosa Heads

Sick of Scandi? Babar House feels you. The three-bedroom townhouse, which sleeps up to six people, strives to brighten every day of your escape with its considered clash of eye-popping pastel and paisley prints and light-filled living spaces.

Styled by Anna Spiro, the creative genius behind Halcyon House on NSW’s Tweed Coast, the gorgeous Airbnb in Noosa features a swimming pool overlooking tropical bushland, plus front-door access to some of the region’s best walking trails and parklands.

An open-plan kitchen, separate living and sitting areas, an eight-seater outdoor dining table and laundry facilities offer further comfort.

2. Domic, Sunshine Beach

Domic graced the cover of Australian Traveller’s Spring 2021 issue dedicated to 100 Unique Stays and it still leads our list of the best holiday rentals and Airbnbs in Noosa.

Domic, which means ‘place of domes’ in Russian, resembles a Brutalist hornet’s nest, or Hobbiton-inspired display home for eco-friendly Hempcrete, which was invented by owner Evgeny Skigin. All aspects of the holiday home designed by the Russian tycoon blend luxury with sustainability.

The property, which fronts Sunshine Beach and adjoins Noosa National Park, features six suites and ten bathrooms (yes, seriously, one for absolutely everybody), a 25-metre infinity pool, its own ‘day spa’ complete with a steam room, sauna, lounge area, locker room, ice bath and showers, a cinema, a gym, a personal concierge service, car parking for seven vehicles including two electric cars and a bar with a pool table. Domic is endlessly elegant with an eco-conscious edge and we all want to live there.

3. Eh Frame, Noosa National Park

Eh Frame is a Mid Century-inspired A Frame Canadian-style log cabin named after the short phrase Canadians are stereotyped for ending their sentences with. It’s the kind of love shack a bona fide lumberjack might stumble across while hiking the Canadian Rockies and we, like, totally love it, eh?

The two-bedroom Airbnb in Noosa, with exposed timber beams, has a warm amber glow and is kitted out with top-of-the-line appliances and a dreamy loft as one of the bedrooms. A serene chill zone awaits guests out back where fires are allowed in its firepit during winter, however, you must seek approval from the owners.

While the space itself is tight, there is a washing machine, a fully equipped kitchen, and a closet for extra storage so families will feel right at home. Although Eh Frame is in the middle of the forest, the only bears you are likely to see are koalas.

4. Sabi Suite, Noosa Heads

Oozing enviable whitewash and timber coastal vibes, Sabi Suite is a picture-perfect one-bedroom apartment ideal for couples.

The second-floor open-plan one-bedroom space is located about 500 metres from Hasting Street’s impressive collection of boutiques and eateries, so lovebirds won’t have to venture far to get their retail fix.

Dialling up the romance even further, it features a two-person spa bath, private balcony and king bed, while the apartment block’s facilities include a steam room, another spa, gym and swimming pool.

There’s also a cafe located on-site in case leaving the love nest for an extended period is just too painful. A kitchenette fitted with a dishwasher and basic crockery should do the trick otherwise.

5. Spyglass, Sunshine Beach

There are dozens of lovely holiday homes scattered around the coastal village of Noosa, many of them managed by Luxico. If you’re looking for a beautiful hangout that peeks over the inky-blue sea, check out Spyglass.

The luxurious Noosa holiday rental sleeps up to eight in its five bedrooms and boasts elegant, airy interiors, an award-winning kitchen, water features, a cinema, a wine cellar, a spa, Italian Carrara marble floors and large day beds jutting out over the pool.

You’ll love the neutral colour scheme, which shows off those oceanic blues, the gourmet welcome hamper and the fact you can book a butler for the duration of your stay.

6. Luxury Afloat Noosa, Diyan Street Memorial Park Jetty, Tewantin

Enjoy the buttery-skied break of a day onboard a Luxury Afloat Noosa houseboat where you can take your foot off the accelerator in favour of chugging along Noosa’s network of watery highways.

Choose between a six-berth, eight-berth and 10-berth Noosa holiday rental, fully kitted out with kitchen and BBQ and all linen and towels. Plus you’re all good to bring bubs from the age of six months along for the adventure.

Drop anchor off Noosaville, watch the lights wink on and ask the fisherperson cruising past in their tinnie for tips on how to hook a big one. What better way to get to know the curves of the Noosa River than by meandering through to Lake Cooroibah?

7. Hale Douglas, Sunshine Beach

Still in awe of the tiny house phenomenon? Us too. The itty bitty Hale Douglas is an Airbnb in Noosa that may only feature one bedroom in a loft above the kitchenette but also a distinct personality, maximised.

Themed ‘retro Hawaiian’, the space is dotted with a subtle scattering of hula girl figurines and pineapples, while earthy rattan and exposed timber beams go hand in hand with cream furnishings and stark white finishes.

An outdoor deck overlooking a tropical garden offers a flood of sunlight and a little outdoor setting has been popped out there to help you bask in the adorableness of it all.

8. The Lodge, Noosa Heads

Three-bedroom, two-bathroom beach house, The Lodge, is geared toward the al fresco lifestyle Noosa is known for.

The groovy beach shack opens onto a sun-splashed deck with a heated plunge pool surrounded by palm trees. It’s ridiculously idyllic. Dangle your feet in the pool, enjoy breakfast on the deck or loll on the lawn in the back garden. Otherwise, stay indoors and camp out on the living room couch, a space that vibes off the classic Aussie beach-chic blueprint.

There’s also a laundry, fireplace, laptop workspace and complimentary cruiser bicycles. It’s just 20 minutes to the beach (speaking of, here’s our guide to the best Sunshine Coast beaches) so the peacefulness of this Noosa holiday rental makes it all the better for those craving a well-earned break.

9. Makepeace Island, Noosa River

Makepeace Island is a small heart-shaped island located on the Noosa River, not to be confused with the other heart-shaped spot in the Great Barrier Reef, owned by Virgin Australia founding partners Sir Richard Branson and Brett Godfrey.

Accessed by a private boat from Noosa Marina, the elaborate Noosa holiday rental sleeps up to 20 people, making it perfect for small wedding parties. There are three villas, a four-bedroom Island House, a one-bedroom Boathouse and eight bathrooms at this private island sanctuary.

A mammoth lagoon pool, 15-seater spa, tennis court and gym have been built on-site, and there are spectacular walking trails to explore plus kayaks and paddle boards.

Those with extra cash to splash will also have their own hatted chef, Zeb Gilbert (ex-Wasabi Group) on hand to curate bespoke menus. This is decadence on every level and quite possibly Australia’s ultimate extended family accommodation offering.

10. Little Red Barn, Doonan

Dishing up a slice of hinterland heaven, the Little Red Barn is a three-bedroom Airbnb in Noosa that manages to evoke remote farmyard vibes without totally isolating its guests.

The suburb of Doonan is home to the stellar food and entertainment venue The Doonan, easily one of the best restaurants in Noosa, and the Little Red Barn is only the start of what we predict will boom as a tourist destination.

The star of the show is the heated plunge pool, creating an incredible spot to catch a sunset with a glass in hand. A fireplace, freestanding cast iron bathtub on the spacious veranda and comfortable bedrooms make this cosy country living you’ll struggle to part with.

11. Poinciana House, Sunshine Beach

Be sure to take comprehensive style notes at Poinciana House as you will want to use this Art Deco villa’s breezy interiors as design inspiration.

Pack your best loose white linen outfits so you fit effortlessly into the colour scheme at this four-bedroom Airbnb in Noosa, where the flame-red flowers of the poinciana tree will stop you in your tracks over summer.

The garden has an outdoor shower and plunge pool, an enormous day bed in the reading room and an open-plan living room designed for relaxation. It sleeps up to 10 guests so keeping the kids in tow, sadly, won’t be an issue.

12. Hamptons of Noosa, Tewantin

The owners have affectionately dubbed this spot Hamptons of Noosa, and they speak accurately of their reimagining of the northern hemisphere hot spot.

It’s awash with nautical-themed furnishings, woven textures and plush white on white, and with that magical Noosa River backdrop off its wraparound deck, this Aussie homage might just be better than the real thing.

The three-bedroom renovated Queenslander features open-plan living (so those soothing views follow you everywhere), an undercover al fresco dining area with a barbecue, a fully equipped kitchen and laundry and it’s within walking distance to Noosa Marina and Noosaville’s shops and eateries.

13. Noosa Junction Cottage, Noosa Heads

A little bit Palm Springs and a little bit country, Noosa Junction Cottage blends homely vintage pieces with a solid dose of the desert resort city’s signature cool.

The two-bedroom rental, which is a 20-minute walk from the action of Hastings Street, is a tranquil oasis featuring an oval-shaped pool speckled by lush, sometimes spikey, greenery and a daybed.

A private deck is decorated with a barbecue and outdoor setting, and a beach umbrella and towels are on hand if you’ve planned a beach day. Come nightfall, queen beds fill uncluttered bedrooms and there’s a double sofa bed in the living room if you’ve got guests.

The original article was written by Carla Grossetti and has been updated by Kristie Lau-Adams.