It’s hard to fathom how we ever holidayed without Airbnb. Not being able to stay in a hobbit hole, a shipping container, a UFO-shaped yurt or an old bus turned bougie retreat? Absolutely tragic! Luckily, the age of boring hotel rooms and dodgy motels is over – Australia has so many cool and cosy Airbnbs, with the very best stays just crowned in the 2025 Australian Host Awards.
Now in its fifth year, these awards “recognise hosts who go above and beyond, welcoming guests with warmth, thoughtful design and local flavour.” Winners are crowned across six categories, such as Best Design Stay and Best Family-Friendly Stay, with three NSW winners making the cut in 2025.
The coolest category, in our humble opinion, is the Best Nature Stay, spotlighting the Airbnb that best showcases Australia’s stunning natural landscape. And if Mother Nature had an Airbnb wishlist, ‘Ligo’ – a dreamy tiny home just outside of Sydney – would be right at the top.
Hidden on a 100-acre property in the Wolgan Valley and surrounded by the UNESCO-listed Blue Mountains National Park, this off-grid retreat is the perfect place to reconnect with the wild beauty of the Australian bush. Hosts Eddie and Ange designed the tiny home using reclaimed materials salvaged from bushfires and floods, offering expansive views of the surrounding bushland, mountains and riverbank.
You’re pretty much forced (in a good way) to go off-grid here, with no Wi-Fi, television or mobile phone reception. The best part? It’s only two hours from the hustle and bustle of Sydney – the perfect excuse to leave your devices and deadlines behind.
Airbnb judge Sarah Huang said, “Ligo is a masterpiece of minimal, low-impact, off-grid design. It merges wilderness and architecture with humility and intention. The outdoor bath, reclaimed timber, solar innovations and immersive wild setting make this a deeply atmospheric escape – elegant in its restraint.”
We’re particularly crushing on the private outdoor tub, where you can soak under a completely clear starry night sky. Add in a hammock, fire pit, barbecue, board games and all the cooking essentials (yes, that includes a French coffee press for your morning brew), and you’ve got the ultimate cosy escape.
A picturesque five-bedroom farmhouse in NSW's Southern Highlands, 'Sassafras', was awarded the 2025 Best Family-Friendly Stay, while a couple in Sydney’s Upper North Shore were named Best Room Hosts for their ‘Short Stay Made Simple’. You can check out a full list of winners and start building your Aussie Airbnb bucket list here.