Townsville
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Overview
Annual Rev
A$49.7k
12 mo avg
↓13%
from prior 12 mo
Occupancy rate
🔒 4•%
12 mo avg
••.•%
from prior 12 mo
Avg daily rate
🔒 A$2••
12 mo avg
••.•%
from prior 12 mo
Lead time
33 days
12 mo avg
↓11 days
from prior 12 mo
Revpar
A$84
12 mo avg
↓36%
from prior 12 mo
Methodology note: Figures reflect Townsville market data as of May 2026. Data covers Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com listings. Values are seasonally influenced; rounding applied for readability.
Revenue per listing by bedroom
Bedroom count:
0
1
2
3
4+
Short-term rental supply growth
Performance metrics by bedroom
Bedrooms
Annual Rev
Supply
Revenue boost by amenity
| Amenity | Listings With | Revenue Boost | Revenue With | Revenue Without |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Access | 14 (2%) | +$22,538 (+38%) | $82,178 | $59,640 |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
Nightly rate by day of week
Occupancy rate by day of week
Listings by channel
Listings by rental type
Listings by amenities
Listings by size
4+ bedrooms (0%)
Listings by availability
Length of stay by bedroom
3 bedrooms (6.1 nights)
4+ bedrooms (5.1 nights)
2 bedrooms (4.9 nights)
1 bedroom (4.3 nights)
Studio (3.4 nights)
Cleaning fee by bedroom
4+ bedrooms (A$192)
3 bedrooms (A$124)
2 bedrooms (A$85)
Studio (A$52)
1 bedroom (A$49)
Professional host share
Professionally managed (69%)
Independent hosts (31%)
As of May 2026, Townsville, Magnetic Island have 682 active Airbnb and VRBO listings. This represents a 7% decrease from the previous year.
The average Airbnb or VRBO in Townsville generates A$43K per year. High-performing properties earn A$82K/year, while low-performing properties earn A$17K/year. This wide disparity suggests that market returns are highly sensitive to property-specific performance rather than general market trends, despite the overall decline in revenue.
Airbnb and VRBO can be profitable in Townsville. Average annual revenue is A$43K with 44% occupancy. High-performing properties earn up to A$82K/year. The 44% occupancy rate highlights a competitive landscape where top-tier listings capture a disproportionate share of the available demand.
The average occupancy rate for Airbnbs and VRBOs in Townsville is 44%. This occupancy level, combined with an average nightly rate of A$283, results in a RevPAR (revenue per available room) of A$75 per day.
4+ bedroom properties demonstrate the strongest performance in Townsville, with annual revenue of A$84K. These properties balance operating costs and rental demand most effectively in the Townsville market. Property performance varies significantly by location, amenities, and management quality.
Short-term rental regulations vary by jurisdiction in the Townsville area. Townsville: Lenient. No specific short-term rental permits required, standard business registration applies. Must comply with local zoning. No owner-occupancy rules or rental caps. Minimal enforcement, hosts operate freely. Magnetic Island: Lenient. Part of Townsville City Council jurisdiction, same minimal regulations apply. No STR-specific permits, licenses, or caps. Very light enforcement due to tourism focus and small population. Always verify current regulations with local authorities and obtain necessary permits before operating a short-term rental.
The Townsville Airbnb and VRBO market is currently showing balanced conditions. Supply has declined 7% year-over-year, while RevPAR has decreased 27%. This indicates balanced supply-demand dynamics, suggesting that the market is recalibrating as revenue compression outpaces the reduction in available listings.
Launch around January, 2-3 months before peak summer season (April peaks). This pre-peak timing lets you build reviews when competition is 13% lower than peak months. Avoid launching during peak season when established listings dominate, or slow months (January-February) when gaining traction is harder.
The most common amenities in Townsville listings include: Air Conditioning (98%), Kitchen (98%), Tv (97%), Washing Machine (92%), Balcony (63%). Amenities that boost revenue the most include Washing Machine, Pool, Air Conditioning, with Washing Machine properties earning approximately 38% more (A$61K/year vs A$44K/year).
Monthly estimated revenue per listing in Townsville over the last 12 months: May: A$2K, June: A$2K, July: A$3K, August: A$3K, September: A$3K, October: A$2K, November: A$2K, December: A$2K, January: A$2K, February: A$1K, March: A$2K, April: A$3K. These figures are based on RevPAR (revenue per available room) multiplied by the number of days in each month.
The overall average nightly rate in Townsville is A$283, up 5% year-over-year. By property size: 1-bedroom properties average A$191/night, 2-bedroom properties average A$254/night, 3-bedroom properties average A$380/night, 4+ bedroom properties average A$573/night. Rates peak in April and are lowest in May.
Guests in Townsville book an average of 32 days in advance, down 27% from last year. By property size: 1-bedroom: 28 days, 2-bedroom: 33 days, 3-bedroom: 36 days, 4+ bedroom: 38 days. Larger properties tend to have longer booking windows as guests plan group trips further ahead.
Over the past year, the Townsville Airbnb and VRBO market has seen the following changes: supply declined 7%, revenue per listing decreased 27%, occupancy fell 16%, average nightly rates increased 5%, and lead time decreased 27%. These figures reflect a market where shorter booking windows and reduced occupancy are placing significant downward pressure on total revenue.
In Townsville, Saturday sees the highest booking demand while Monday has the lowest. Nightly rates peak on Friday and are lowest on Wednesday. Weekends show 22% higher occupancy than weekdays.