How much can I earn from Airbnb on the Sunshine Coast?
Sunshine Coast Airbnb properties typically earn 35–45% more than traditional long-term rentals. A 2-bedroom beachfront apartment in Noosa Heads or Mooloolaba averages $1,300–$1,700 per week during peak season, while properties in Maroochydore or Caloundra earn $1,100–$1,400 weekly. Noosa commands premium rates as the Sunshine Coast's flagship destination, with waterfront properties achieving the highest returns. Hinterland retreats in Montville and Maleny attract couples and wellness seekers with rates of $1,000–$1,500 weekly for well-appointed properties. Use our Airbnb vs long-term rental calculator to see your property's potential. Actual earnings depend on your property's location, beach or hinterland proximity, presentation, and our dynamic pricing strategy that adjusts rates based on Sunshine Coast events, school holidays, and seasonal patterns.
Is Airbnb legal on the Sunshine Coast? What are the regulations?
Yes, Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal on the Sunshine Coast, but Queensland introduced new regulations starting mid-2026. Property owners must register with Sunshine Coast Council or Noosa Council (depending on location), obtain necessary permits, and comply with safety standards including smoke alarms, pool fencing, and building codes. Some body corporate complexes, particularly in Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headland, have by-laws restricting short-term rentals—we always verify your building's rules before onboarding. Read our comprehensive Queensland STR regulations guide for full compliance details. Lane Property handles all regulatory requirements for our Sunshine Coast clients, including council registration, safety inspections, and ensuring you meet the mandatory 24/7 local contact person requirements under Queensland's new framework.
Which Sunshine Coast suburbs are best for Airbnb?
The highest-performing Sunshine Coast suburbs for Airbnb are Noosa Heads and Noosaville (premium destination with year-round demand), followed by Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, and Alexandra Headland (central beachfront locations with strong tourism infrastructure). Sunshine Beach and Peregian Beach attract upscale travellers seeking quieter, more exclusive coastal experiences. Caloundra and Kings Beach perform well for family holidays with calm swimming beaches. Hinterland locations like Montville, Maleny, and Flaxton offer unique positioning for couples, wellness retreats, and nature-based experiences. Coolum Beach provides excellent value with reliable occupancy. Properties within walking distance of Hastings Street, Mooloolaba Esplanade, or beaches perform exceptionally well. We analyse your specific location to maximise its unique advantages across the Sunshine Coast's diverse markets.
What does your Sunshine Coast Airbnb management service include?
Our full-service Sunshine Coast management includes 24/7 guest communication, professional photography and listing optimisation showcasing beach or hinterland lifestyle, dynamic pricing that responds to Sunshine Coast seasonal patterns and events (Noosa Food & Wine Festival, Triathlon, Marathon), coordinated cleaning by vetted local teams after every stay, maintenance and emergency repairs, pool servicing coordination where applicable, linen and amenity management, multi-platform listing across Airbnb, Booking.com, and Stayz, financial reporting and bi-monthly payouts (1st and 16th), compliance with Sunshine Coast or Noosa Council regulations, and guest screening. We handle everything so you can enjoy passive income while we maintain your property's 5-star reputation across the Sunshine Coast's premium holiday rental market.
How much do you charge for Airbnb management on the Sunshine Coast?
We charge 18% of your booking revenue for full-service Sunshine Coast Airbnb management, with no hidden fees or setup costs. This includes all services: guest communication, pricing optimisation, professional photography, multi-platform listings, cleaning coordination, maintenance, and compliance management. You receive payouts twice monthly (1st and 16th) with transparent reporting showing all income and expenses. Use our Airbnb tax calculator to understand your net returns after management fees and tax obligations. Our pricing is competitive with other Sunshine Coast property managers, and because we maximise your occupancy through Noosa's peak periods and nightly rates, most owners earn significantly more even after our fee compared to managing themselves or using a traditional long-term lease.
How long does it take to set up my Sunshine Coast property on Airbnb?
We can have your Sunshine Coast property live and accepting bookings within 48 hours if it's already furnished and camera-ready. For unfurnished properties, we offer complete styling and furnishing packages through our wholesale partnerships, typically completed within 2–3 weeks with coastal or hinterland-inspired décor that resonates with Sunshine Coast holiday-makers. The process includes a property inspection, professional photography emphasising beach lifestyle or hinterland serenity, videography and virtual tours, listing creation with SEO-optimised descriptions targeting Sunshine Coast visitors, pricing setup based on your suburb's seasonal patterns, and compliance verification. Once live, our dynamic pricing immediately starts working to maximise your bookings across the Sunshine Coast's peak summer season, school holidays, and major events like the Noosa Food & Wine Festival and Noosa Triathlon.
What occupancy rates can I expect on the Sunshine Coast?
Our Sunshine Coast portfolio maintains an average 84% occupancy rate across all suburbs. Noosa properties typically achieve 86–92% occupancy due to consistent premium demand year-round, with particularly strong performance during events and festivals. Well-presented properties in Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, and Alexandra Headland average 82–88% occupancy with seasonal peaks during summer and school holidays. Caloundra and Coolum Beach properties maintain 78–85% occupancy with reliable family bookings. Hinterland retreats in Montville and Maleny achieve 75–85% occupancy with strong weekend and couples getaway demand. Our dynamic pricing strategy balances occupancy and revenue—Noosa properties often maintain premium rates year-round, while other locations adjust seasonally to optimise your total annual income across the Sunshine Coast's tourism patterns.
Do you handle cleaning and maintenance for Sunshine Coast properties?
Yes, we coordinate all cleaning and maintenance for your Sunshine Coast Airbnb. We work with vetted, professional cleaning teams across the Sunshine Coast including Noosa, Mooloolaba, and hinterland areas who provide resort-grade cleaning after every checkout, ensuring same-day turnaround for back-to-back bookings. Quality inspections verify each clean meets our 5-star standards. For maintenance, we have established relationships with licensed Sunshine Coast tradies for plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, pool servicing, and general repairs. Emergency issues are handled 24/7—if a guest reports a problem in Noosa Heads at midnight, we dispatch our on-call team immediately. Regular property inspections catch minor issues before they become expensive problems, particularly important for coastal properties and hinterland homes with unique maintenance considerations like septic systems and water tank management.
How do you price my Sunshine Coast Airbnb to maximise revenue?
Our dynamic pricing system analyses Sunshine Coast-specific data including school holiday calendars, major events like Noosa Food & Wine Festival, Noosa Triathlon, Mooloolaba Triathlon, and Caloundra Music Festival, competitor rates in your suburb, beach or hinterland positioning, historical booking patterns, and seasonal demand trends. Prices adjust daily—a 2-bedroom apartment in Noosa Heads might be $220/night in winter but $420/night during peak summer or festival weekends. We implement strategic minimum stay requirements, particularly in Noosa where weekend minimums protect premium positioning. This Sunshine Coast-focused approach, understanding Noosa's unique year-round premium market versus more seasonal coastal suburbs, consistently generates 35–45% more revenue than static pricing while maintaining strong occupancy across the year.
What makes the Sunshine Coast different from Brisbane or Gold Coast for Airbnb?
The Sunshine Coast's Airbnb market is driven by premium lifestyle tourism, nature experiences, and events rather than party tourism or corporate travel. This creates more consistent demand than the Gold Coast's pronounced seasonal peaks, with Noosa maintaining strong occupancy year-round. The Sunshine Coast attracts mid-length stays (3–5 nights) from upscale domestic tourists, couples, and families seeking relaxed beach experiences. Noosa commands premium rates comparable to elite Australian destinations. Hinterland properties offer unique positioning unavailable in Brisbane or Gold Coast. The market values quality over quantity—well-presented properties with lifestyle amenities outperform basic accommodation. We tailor our strategy to the Sunshine Coast's sophisticated tourism market, emphasising natural beauty, culinary experiences, wellness amenities, and the refined coastal lifestyle that differentiates the region from more commercialised tourism destinations.
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