Nelson
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Overview
Annual Rev
NZ$46.9k
12 mo avg
↓4%
from prior 12 mo
Occupancy rate
🔒 4•%
12 mo avg
••.•%
from prior 12 mo
Avg daily rate
🔒 NZ$2••
12 mo avg
••.•%
from prior 12 mo
Lead time
34 days
12 mo avg
↓11 days
from prior 12 mo
Revpar
NZ$77
12 mo avg
↓28%
from prior 12 mo
Methodology note: Figures reflect Nelson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauna | 6 (1%) | +$53,074 (+94%) | $109,486 | $56,412 |
| 🔒 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•••• |
| 🔒 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
4+ bedrooms (4.8 nights)
2 bedrooms (4.7 nights)
3 bedrooms (4.5 nights)
Studio (4.3 nights)
1 bedroom (4.2 nights)
Cleaning fee by bedroom
4+ bedrooms (NZ$81)
3 bedrooms (NZ$63)
2 bedrooms (NZ$47)
1 bedroom (NZ$31)
Studio (NZ$23)
Professional host share
Professionally managed (61%)
Independent hosts (39%)
As of May 2026, Nelson, Richmond, Motueka have 448 active Airbnb and VRBO listings. This represents a 13% decrease from the previous year.
The average Airbnb or VRBO in Nelson generates NZ$40K per year. High-performing properties earn NZ$77K/year, while low-performing properties earn NZ$19K/year. This wide revenue spread, occurring alongside a 13% supply contraction, suggests that market returns are increasingly polarized rather than driven by broad-based demand.
Airbnb and VRBO can be profitable in Nelson. Average annual revenue is NZ$40K with 44% occupancy. High-performing properties earn up to NZ$77K/year. The delta between average and top-tier earnings indicates that revenue potential is heavily concentrated in a select segment of the market despite a recent reduction in total supply.
The average occupancy rate for Airbnbs and VRBOs in Nelson is 44%. This occupancy level, combined with an average nightly rate of NZ$293, results in a RevPAR (revenue per available room) of NZ$68 per day.
4+ bedroom properties demonstrate the strongest performance in Nelson, with annual revenue of NZ$67K. These properties balance operating costs and rental demand most effectively in the Nelson market. Property performance varies significantly by location, amenities, and management quality.
Short-term rental regulations vary by jurisdiction in the Nelson area. Nelson: Moderate. Resource consent required for non-hosted STRs, building compliance needed. Enforcement through complaints, some operate without consent. Richmond: Moderate. Resource consent needed, must comply with district plan rules. Complaint-based enforcement, variable compliance. Motueka: Lenient. Part of Tasman District, minimal specific STR rules beyond general residential zoning. Light enforcement, many operate freely. Always verify current regulations with local authorities and obtain necessary permits before operating a short-term rental.
The Nelson Airbnb and VRBO market is currently showing balanced conditions. Supply has declined 13% year-over-year, while RevPAR has decreased 14%. This indicates balanced supply-demand dynamics, where the simultaneous drop in both supply and revenue suggests a market adjusting to lower overall demand levels.
Launch around November, 2-3 months before peak winter season (February peaks). This pre-peak timing lets you build reviews when competition is -20% lower than peak months. Avoid launching during peak season when established listings dominate, or slow months (August-June) when gaining traction is harder.
The most common amenities in Nelson listings include: Kitchen (96%), Tv (88%), Washing Machine (82%), Heating (72%), Air Conditioning (70%). Amenities that boost revenue the most include Hot Tub, Washing Machine, Bbq, with Hot Tub properties earning approximately 97% more (NZ$108K/year vs NZ$55K/year).
Monthly estimated revenue per listing in Nelson over the last 12 months: May: NZ$1K, June: NZ$1K, July: NZ$1K, August: NZ$1K, September: NZ$1K, October: NZ$2K, November: NZ$2K, December: NZ$3K, January: NZ$3K, February: NZ$3K, March: NZ$3K, April: NZ$2K. 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 Nelson is NZ$293, up 13% year-over-year. By property size: 1-bedroom properties average NZ$183/night, 2-bedroom properties average NZ$295/night, 3-bedroom properties average NZ$375/night, 4+ bedroom properties average NZ$572/night. Rates peak in December and are lowest in May.
Guests in Nelson book an average of 34 days in advance, down 26% from last year. By property size: 1-bedroom: 32 days, 2-bedroom: 35 days, 3-bedroom: 35 days, 4+ bedroom: 38 days. Larger properties tend to have longer booking windows as guests plan group trips further ahead.
Over the past year, supply declined 13%, revenue per listing decreased 14%, occupancy fell 12%, average nightly rates increased 13%, and lead time decreased 26%. These shifts reveal a tightening environment where higher nightly rates are struggling to offset the impact of reduced occupancy and shorter booking windows.
In Nelson, Saturday sees the highest booking demand while Monday has the lowest. Nightly rates peak on Friday and are lowest on Monday. Weekends show 11% higher occupancy than weekdays.