Margie Maccoll
A three-storey Greek island-inspired castle at Sunshine Beach has been awarded the gold medal by holiday accommodation website Stayz in its 2023 Holiday Home of the Year Awards.
The 1/37 Duke Street ‘Mykonos’ townhouse features everything you’d want for a family holiday – luxury, open living areas, three very spacious bedrooms, each with their own ensuite, a swimming pool, a large, private roof-top terrace with ocean views and fireplace, kids space on the lower floor, and all just a short walk to the beach, shops and restaurants.
Purchased in 2021 for $9million the property, managed by Beach Holidays Noosa, has since been renovated.
Stayz travel expert Daniel Finch said the winners of the awards, now in its 12th year, were selected from various criteria, including luxury and facilities, with a big part of it dependent on the reviews of travellers who had holidayed there.
Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel said it was no surprise the top award from across Australia went to a Sunshine Coast property.
The Sunshine Coast has such a selection of luxury accommodation for families and couples, enabling them to connect and enjoy the wonderful experiences available, he said.
Mr Stoeckel said the region had a diversity of accommodation, including hotels, units, apartments, caravan parks and short-term accommodation, that was in high demand from Kawana to Noosa and the hinterland.
In 2022 Sunshine Coast visitors injected $5 billion into the economy, he said.
Mr Stoeckel said in the last few years domestic travellers had dominated visitation during Covid restrictions but with the return of international travellers we’re seeing more and more international travellers coming to the Sunshine Coast, and luxury is in high demand.
Chris Leach, of Beach Holidays Noosa which manages 12 properties across the shire, including Mykonos, said holiday stays across Noosa didn’t stop during Covid with domestic travellers regarding Noosa to be a safe destination.
Mr Leach said the Noosa market was still attracting mostly Australian visitors, predominantly from Victoria and many to Mykonos were attracted by the architecture. “People who would go to Greece, come here,” he said.
Holiday rentals at the property are a five-day minimum and range from $1500 a night in low season to $3500 a night in peak season.
Having managed holiday properties in Noosa for the past 12 years “without a complaint from neighbours” Mr Leach welcomed the restrictions on short-term accommodation introduced last year by Noosa Council through a new local law.
“It’s a lot better for us. It keeps everyone accountable,” he said.
He said prior to the restrictions there had been no filter on parties held by groups from school kids to weddings, and a lot of interstate owners had “let them run rife”.
Mr Finch said Stayz were flexible and happy to work with councils and Noosa Council’s STA local law had not impacted Stayz bookings.
We screen for the right travellers and make sure they’re being respectful of properties and neighbours, he said.
See the full list of the 2023 Holiday Homes of the Year at www.stayz.com.au/2023holidayhomes
