Header image credit: Brook James
Holiday rental platform Airbnb has released a selection of its most wishlisted stays in Australia. That is, the listings that have been saved by the most users as potential holiday destinations.
There’s a key link between these properties, and that is, as Airbnb puts it: ‘tiny is trending’. Minimalistic properties that have everything you need and nothing you don’t are what people are digging this year. SA is no stranger to the trend, with companies like EYRE.WAY, CABN, and Wellington Private Marina embracing these minuscule retreats.
Rural and off-grid properties are also all the rage. Getting away from the hustle and bustle seems to be what holidaymakers are chasing at the moment. In that vein, the list also includes some great stargazing options.
Coach Light Cabin, Aldinga
And why bathe indoors, when a bunch of the most sought after Airbnbs put their baths outdoors so you can enjoy a wine or two, gaze out at the view, and make the most of the tranquil privacy.
In South Australia, two properties stood out among the most wishlisted. The Passage in KI, and Coach Light Cabin in southern wine country.
The Passage, Kangaroo Island
Image credit: Brook James
Image credit: Wilding Heart Photo
Perched in the rolling hills of a working sheep farm, The Passage feels like a true Kangaroo Island escape, where the drama of the coastline meets the quiet pull of off-grid living. Just 10 minutes from the ferry, the couples’ cabin looks out across Backstairs Passage, with panoramic ocean views, roaming wildlife and the kind of night skies that remind you how far from the city you really are.
The architecturally designed tiny home leans into the landscape, with double glazing, an indoor wood-burning fireplace, French linen, a rain-head shower beneath a skylight and a fully equipped compact kitchen. Outside, the wood-fired bath is the showpiece, made for slow afternoons with local wine from nearby Dudley Wines or False Cape. It captures exactly why tiny stays are having a moment: less space, more nature, and a much bigger sense of escape.
For more information, click here.
Coach Light Cabin, Aldinga
Set in the heart of South Australian wine country, Coach Light Cabin taps into the romance of a vineyard stay, but keeps things intimate, quiet and beautifully pared back. This luxury tiny home is designed for slowing down, whether that means waking to birdsong, curling up inside with warm earthy interiors, or ending the day in an outdoor bath beneath the stars.
Located on a small working vineyard, the cabin offers a genuine sense of place, with seasonal pruning and picking forming part of the rhythm of the property. Inside, there’s a cosy living space, luxury linen, a queen bed and soft, thoughtful styling that makes the compact footprint feel indulgent rather than simple. Like the best tiny homes, Coach Light Cabin proves the appeal is not just about size, but about stripping a getaway back to the good bits like wine, firelight and fresh country air.
For more information, click here.
Other listings that made the cut across the country include a lush rainforest retreat in New South Wales, a Star Gazing Bubble in regional Victoria among others. Here’s Airbnb’s annual selection of Most Wishlisted homes in Australia:
Overall, the trend for travel this year is weekending. Australians are embracing the low-pressure weekend getaway over massive overseas trips.
Susan Wheeldon, Country Manager for Airbnb Australia and New Zealand, said “Weekending signals a shift in what Australians are looking for from travel. It’s less about planning big, overseas holidays and more about building regular moments of escape from everyday life. The destinations and homes that are featuring on people’s Wishlists reflect a desire for digital detox and local travel. As people look for ways to disconnect and reset, the homes featured in the Most Wishlisted Airbnbs for 2026 point to a desire for nature-led stays, from tiny homes to off-grid retreats, that offer various options for those looking for a chance to reset.”
