What your place could earn.
The Mackay Short Stay Report
The real short stay numbers from the Mackay properties we manage, for the twelve months to 31 July 2026. Published by the people who actually manage them.
Most reports about short stay income are guesswork built on scraped averages. This one is not. These are the real, audited numbers from the properties we manage ourselves across Slade Point, Andergrove and the Mackay coast. We are publishing them because owners deserve to make this decision on facts.
What the year actually looked like
Occupancy by month, across the whole portfolio. Mackay's peak is winter, not summer. May, June and July ran 84% to 91% full while January and February, the months most owners assume are busiest, were the quietest of the year. If you price this market like a holiday town, you will discount in exactly the wrong months.
Five things these numbers show
Half the income is not tourists
50% of revenue came from stays of 14 nights or longer. Mackay runs on projects, relocations, contractors and families between houses. Weekend visitors are the smaller half of this market.
This market books late
Median lead time was just 12 days, and 40% of guests booked within a week of arriving. An empty calendar three weeks out is normal here, not a warning sign.
Two guests, not six
60% of bookings were one or two people. A well run, spotless two bedroom unit outperforms a large house on both occupancy and effort. You do not need a trophy property.
Airbnb is still the whole market
98% of confirmed bookings came through Airbnb. The other channels are worth having, but in Mackay they are a rounding error. Get Airbnb right first.
The gap between the best and the worst property was $32,000
Across the same twelve months, in the same suburbs, the strongest ordinary unit earned $62,700 and the weakest $30,100. Same market, same type of property, same demand. The difference is pricing, minimum stay settings, photography, response time and review scores.
Management is not overhead in this market. It is most of the return.
We will run your property against these same numbers and give you an honest estimate, with no obligation and no pressure. If short stay is the wrong answer for your place, we will tell you that too.
Source: Rest & Relax BnB management records, 237 confirmed bookings across the properties we manage in Slade Point, Andergrove and Mackay, for stays commencing 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026. Figures are gross accommodation revenue before operating costs, platform fees and management fees, and exclude cleaning fees charged to guests. The typical unit figure is the median of comparable two bedroom units let for the full twelve months. Every property is different and past performance is not a guarantee of future income. Prepared August 2026.
Rest & Relax BnB · Short term rental management, Mackay & Districts · Airbnb Superhost
chris@restandrelax.net.au · 0409 056 221 · restandrelax.net.au