Australia’s #1 holiday home announced giving a boost to Victoria’s tourism sector

Australia’s best and most popular holiday home has been named at the ninth annual Stayz Holiday Home Awards. The gold medal goes to a renovated cottage in Halls Gap, in the Grampians National Park. Set amongst the gum trees with mountain views to the Pinnacle and Boronia Peak, the cottage sleeps four and guests say they love the outdoor fire pit in winter and deck for spotting local wildlife including kangaroos, red deer, kookaburras and cockatoos. The silver medal also goes to a Victorian holiday home on the Mornington Peninsula whilst bronze was awarded to a cottage in Berry, NSW. 

Over a third of the shortlisted properties are from Victoria – the most of any state with the exception of NSW which also features seven homes in the top 20 list. Simone Scoppa, Travel Expert for Stayz says the win is a good boost for Victoria’s tourism sector but admits there is some irony in the fact Australians are not yet able to visit the top two holiday homes in the country. 

“Victoria is home to some of the country’s best wilderness experiences, beaches, wineries, cities and towns. Now, it’s also home for the third year running, to Australia’s number one holiday home again. Whilst we sadly can’t visit right now, I think I speak for most travellers when I say we can’t wait to return soon,” added Scoppa.  

 This year’s awards are also a boost for regional Australia with 95 per cent of homes outside of our cities. Scoppa believes regional tourism is set to boom as border restrictions continue to ease and Australians embrace the opportunity to hit the road and explore their own backyards.   

The awards, now in their ninth year, were based on the most booked and best reviewed properties of the past year. 

The top three accolades went to:  

Gold medal – Algona Views in Halls Gap: This newly renovated self-contained two bedder is proving popular with travellers who explore the Grampians National Park. Sleeping four adults, the holiday home is the quintessential no fuss home that is the setting for relaxation, taking in the local wildlife and just hanging out with the ones you love. 

Silver medal – Capel Breeze Beach Apartment: In the heart of Capel Sound Beach on the Mornington Peninsula, this two bedroom holiday home has also made it to the top 20 national list. Sleeping five people, with a Queen bed, bunks and a fold out bed – the apartment is popular with families who want to explore the Peninsula Hot Springs, Cape Schank National Park and nearby safe swimming beaches. 

Bronze medal – Bantam Cottage in Berry: This cosy 100 year old cottage in central Berry is where guests can watch the world go by from the front verandah that looks onto the town. With a fully fenced backyard, the cottage is popular with pet owners and in winter, families can toast marshmallows on the open fire. The owners, who are dog lovers themselves, say Berry is a pet friendly town and they share tips with guests on where to find off leash areas including the beach at Shoalhaven Heads.  

While travel restrictions are still in place in Victoria and hope for restrictions to relax in the future, the demand for holiday homes will continue as an accommodation choice for families and groups of friends that want to get away and not necessarily be around crowds of people. Scoppa is urging families to follow government advice and review cancellation policies of holiday homes in the event that travel restrictions change for Summer and beyond. 

 Find out more about this year’s winners by visiting www.stayz.com.au/awards.  

 About Stayz®

Stayz, Australia’s original holiday rental website, is powered by the world class technology of Vrbo and is part of Expedia Group. The company’s mission is to connect travellers with the people and places they love. Stayz has more than 50,000 properties across Australia, and now over two million properties internationally available for rent. For more information about Stayz please visit www.stayz.com.au. 

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Editor Notes: 

Stayz Cleanliness Guidelines can be found here. 

Please always check government advisories before booking and travelling.