Anglesea tops list of winter adventure destinations

NEW data reveals that Anglesea has become a top 10 searched destination for tourists seeking a winter getaway.

According to Airbnb, the colder months are driving Australians to seek solace in rural getaways.

Airbnb country manager for Australia and New Zealand Susan Wheeldon said it was clear Australians were not letting the drop in temperature slow down their appetite for adventure.

“The colder months give us a rich opportunity to tap into high octane experiences, from lush ski slopes to hiking in scenic national parks.

“For travellers who are heading away with friends or families who share their interests, Airbnb offers guests the ability to stay together using our new group trips features and functionality including shared wishlists and trip invitations.

“The winter months are also a fantastic opportunity for budding new hosts.

“Airbnb hosts help offer unique listings that help grow the visitor economy, providing more accommodation choice in more locations across a variety of price points.

“In turn, this helps to support local jobs and businesses, many of whom rely on the winter tourism trade to stay afloat.”

In February, a report revealed Victoria had almost 50,000 Airbnb dwellings, accounting for 1.6 per cent of the state’s housing stock.

In tourist destinations such as the Surf Coast, the figure was closer to 10 per cent.

While this provides more opportunities for travellers, it has also resulted in calls for more regulation on the short-term rental market due to a lack of rental availability in a tight market and the rise of homelessness across the state.

The data only included entire homes and did not include individual rooms being let, for which the number is much higher.