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Best Airbnb Markets in New Zealand (2026)

Based on Airbtics data from September 2025 to August 2026, this page ranks the best Airbnb markets in New Zealand by Market Grade. The grade compares short-term rental yield, year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy (demand), then adjusts for local regulation. The table also shows listing count, average daily rate, and annual revenue for every market.

Markets on this page are ranked by the Airbtics Market Grade, not by the number of listings. The grade compares each market with the other markets in this ranking on three measures, then adjusts for local short-term rental regulation.

  1. Yield: Annual short-term rental revenue divided by property price. A higher yield ranks higher.
  2. Growth: Year-over-year change in revenue. Faster revenue growth ranks higher.
  3. Demand: Average occupancy rate over the last 12 months. Higher occupancy ranks higher.

Stricter short-term rental regulation lowers the letter grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, and annual revenue are shown for every market. Exact yield and revenue growth are published for the three highest-graded markets. For every other market those two figures are in Market Explorer. The rankboard plots the same markets by occupancy and average daily rate, and the table under the chart lists those values in text.

Learn more about how we collect the data and accuracy

Last updated: 16th October, 2026

New Zealand Short-Term Rental Market Overview (September 2025 to August 2026)

National averages across all New Zealand markets
Average Occupancy Rate i
64.08%
Average Annual Revenue i
NZ$70,530
Average Daily Rate (ADR) i
NZ$285
YoY Supply Growth i
31.10%
YoY Revenue Change i
7.53%

Top 12 New Zealand Cities for Airbnb in 2026

Tick the markets you like to track their revenue, occupancy, and ADR in your Airbtics watchlist. Free to start, up to 10 markets.

Position Market Grade Market Name Regulation No of Listings Avg. Occupancy Rate Avg. Daily Rate Revenue Short-term Rental Yield Revenue Growth
1AOtago
Lenient
6,48273% 🚀NZ$375NZ$102,61218.2%+14.2%
2AChirstchurch
Lenient
2,39273%NZ$203NZ$56,51410.9%+17.5%
3B+Queenstown
Lenient
2,51281% 🚀NZ$508NZ$154,59212.9%+12.8%
4CTasman-Nelson Region
Lenient
1,42459%NZ$229NZ$50,834Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
5CWellington
Lenient
1,10568%NZ$186NZ$47,559Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
6C+Canterbury
Lenient
5,29368%NZ$235NZ$60,640Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
7C+Auckland
Lenient
4,84867%NZ$196NZ$49,677Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
8C+Wanaka
Lenient
1,09468%NZ$435NZ$110,758Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
9DBay Of Plenty
Lenient
3,34356%NZ$266NZ$56,513Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
10D+Northland
Lenient
2,58950%NZ$250NZ$47,498Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
11D+Hawkes Bay
Lenient
1,22351%NZ$242NZ$46,555Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
12D+Taupo
Lenient
1,07055%NZ$300NZ$62,611Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer

Data Seen By

BiggerPockets
Trustpilot

Market Explorer

Filter markets by occupancy, price, and yield

Filter New Zealand by occupancy, ADR, yield, rent gap, and property price, then compare markets side by side.

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Find the Best Airbnb Markets with Our Interactive Tool

Use our interactive Market Explorer to find the best places to start an Airbnb in New Zealand. Compare multiple markets side by side, apply filters like regulations, budget (property or rent prices), and market size, and even export the results to Excel.

Explore Interactive Tool

Why Invest in Airbnb New Zealand in 2026?

The highest-graded short-term rental markets in New Zealand are Otago, Chirstchurch and Queenstown. The table ranks every tracked market by Airbtics Market Grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, annual revenue, yield, and revenue growth are the figures behind that grade.

Top 3 Airbnb markets in New Zealand by Market Grade

These are the three highest-graded Airbnb markets in New Zealand. Market Grade compares yield, revenue growth, and occupancy (demand) with the other markets on this page, then adjusts for short-term rental regulation. The chart repeats those three percentiles in text so the ranking is readable without the graphic.

Rank 1 — Otago (Grade A)

Otago is rank 1 of 12 markets in this New Zealand ranking by Airbtics Market Grade A, with 18.2% short-term rental yield, 73.0% occupancy, and +14.2% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Otago ranks top 4% for yield, top 21% for growth, and top 17% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of NZ$375, annual revenue of NZ$102,612, a rent gap of 5208.0%, 6,482 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of NZ$614,215.

  • Market gradeA
  • Yield18.2%
  • Revenue growth+14.2%
  • Occupancy73.0%
  • Average daily rateNZ$375
  • Annual revenueNZ$102,612
  • Rent gap5208.0%
  • Active listings6,482
  • 2-bedroom priceNZ$614,215
  • RegulationLenient
top 4%Yieldtop 21%Growthtop 17%Demand

Percentile versus other New Zealand markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 4%
  • Growth: top 21%
  • Demand: top 17%

Rank 2 — Chirstchurch (Grade A)

Chirstchurch is rank 2 of 12 markets in this New Zealand ranking by Airbtics Market Grade A, with 10.9% short-term rental yield, 73.0% occupancy, and +17.5% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Chirstchurch ranks top 21% for yield, top 4% for growth, and top 17% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of NZ$203, annual revenue of NZ$56,514, a rent gap of 3089.7%, 2,392 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of NZ$614,215.

  • Market gradeA
  • Yield10.9%
  • Revenue growth+17.5%
  • Occupancy73.0%
  • Average daily rateNZ$203
  • Annual revenueNZ$56,514
  • Rent gap3089.7%
  • Active listings2,392
  • 2-bedroom priceNZ$614,215
  • RegulationLenient
top 21%Yieldtop 4%Growthtop 17%Demand

Percentile versus other New Zealand markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 21%
  • Growth: top 4%
  • Demand: top 17%

Rank 3 — Queenstown (Grade B+)

Queenstown is rank 3 of 12 markets in this New Zealand ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B+, with 12.9% short-term rental yield, 81.0% occupancy, and +12.8% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Queenstown ranks top 12% for yield, top 29% for growth, and top 4% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of NZ$508, annual revenue of NZ$154,592, a rent gap of 4567.7%, 2,512 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of NZ$1,140,685.

  • Market gradeB+
  • Yield12.9%
  • Revenue growth+12.8%
  • Occupancy81.0%
  • Average daily rateNZ$508
  • Annual revenueNZ$154,592
  • Rent gap4567.7%
  • Active listings2,512
  • 2-bedroom priceNZ$1,140,685
  • RegulationLenient
top 12%Yieldtop 29%Growthtop 4%Demand

Percentile versus other New Zealand markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 12%
  • Growth: top 29%
  • Demand: top 4%

Market Rankboard: New Zealand

Each dot is a vacation rental market in New Zealand, plotted by occupancy rate (x-axis) and average daily rate (ADR) (y-axis). Dashed lines mark the national median.

New Zealand Airbnb markets rankboard scatter chart showing occupancy rate versus average daily rate (ADR)
Occupancy rate and average daily rate for each New Zealand market plotted in the chart above, in Market Grade order.
MarketOccupancy rateAverage daily rate
Otago73.0%NZ$375
Chirstchurch73.0%NZ$203
Queenstown81.0%NZ$508
Tasman-Nelson Region59.0%NZ$229
Wellington68.0%NZ$186
Canterbury68.0%NZ$235
Auckland67.0%NZ$196
Wanaka68.0%NZ$435
Bay Of Plenty56.0%NZ$266
Northland50.0%NZ$250
Hawkes Bay51.0%NZ$242
Taupo55.0%NZ$300

Compare property prices, short-term rental yield, rent gap, annual revenue, and supply growth in the Airbtics Market Explorer watchlist.

See all Airbnb markets in New Zealand

Browse all 12 markets we track in New Zealand. Each link opens the market's Airbnb revenue and performance data page.

New Zealand Airbnb market FAQs

  • What are the best Airbnb markets in New Zealand?

    Airbtics ranks short-term rental markets in New Zealand by Market Grade. The grade compares yield (annual revenue divided by property price), year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy, then adjusts for regulation. The highest-graded market in this dataset is Otago. The main table lists markets in that order; use the Market Explorer to filter by budget, regulations, and more.

  • How many Airbnb markets does Airbtics track in New Zealand?

    We currently analyze 12 active short-term rental markets in New Zealand with listing supply, median occupancy, ADR, and revenue estimates.

  • What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in New Zealand?

    The national average occupancy rate across tracked markets is 64.08% (LTM). Rates differ by city. Use the rankboard on this page, or open a market page for that city's numbers.

  • How do I compare Airbnb markets in New Zealand?

    Use the occupancy vs ADR rankboard on this page for a quick view, or open the Market Explorer to compare markets side by side, change chart axes, export to Excel, and save markets to a watchlist.

  • How can I estimate Airbnb income in New Zealand?

    Use our Airbnb income calculator to estimate revenue for a specific address, or open any market link below for median revenue and occupancy benchmarks.




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For trends, supply, and year-over-year changes, see the 2025 short-term rental report for New Zealand.