Maclean, NSW, named Australia's best tiny town by Airbnb

Maclean, the self-proclaimed “Scottish town of Australia”, has been crowned the country’s top tiny town in Airbnb’s new Tiny Town Guide, which spotlights 50 charming regional locations. 

The town sits on the Clarence River, nestled between Byron Bay and Coffs Habour in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, and is home to fewer than 3000 people.

 Resident and agent Fiona Beamer of Elders Maclean describes it as “a beautiful, picturesque place”. She says that, unlike its eastern neighbour of Yamba,  which is known for its beaches, Maclean is beloved for its country lifestyle.

“Everywhere you drive around, you’ll get a glimpse of the river, the Ashby Hills and the hinterland,” she says. “Maclean has that beautiful community, close-knit sort of atmosphere.  There are some nice old buildings.”

$770,000 - $800,000

67A River Street, Maclean NSW 2463

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Maclean has a Caledonian heritage dating back to the 1840s and is very  proud and supportive of its Scottish links, Beamer adds.

A recent YouGov research study that inspired the Airbnb guide found that 74 per cent of Aussies admitted they had never heard of the NSW town.

It also found that nearly 80 per cent of Australians  wanted to explore small regional towns but  didn’t because they  believed there was a lack of accommodation options. 

Indeed, Maclean has a limited amount of beds available, with only a handful of hotels and holiday rentals, says agent Lee Johns of Ray White Yamba.

“[Tourists] will probably be lucky if there are 10 or 12 holiday properties in Maclean,” he says. “There’s a brand-new hotel and a couple of older ones. There’s only one pub that offers accommodation now.”

On Airbnb, there are – depending on the dates chosen – a couple of cottages available, but most listings are rooms in the Argyle Hotel.

“People are attracted to Airbnbs because they get a better experience of the town,” Beamer says.

SOLD - $567,500

29 Cameron Street, Maclean NSW 2463

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Long-term residents have deliberately chosen Maclean for its slower lifestyle and affordable property prices compared to nearby towns like Yamba and Tweed Heads, she says.

Houses in Maclean have a median price of $650,000 – much less than higher-profile neighbours within a two-hour drive, like Byron Bay ($2.28 million), Coffs Harbour ($725,000), Yamba ($950,000) and Tweed Heads ($967,750), according to Domain data.

“We’ve had a pretty broad range of buyers,” Johns says. “I’ve dealt with some people from Brisbane recently … also got some people from out west. Farmers selling up and retiring to the area want to come somewhere nice and quiet. I just sold a property in the area to a couple from Bathurst.”

Maclean’s population is a mix of young families and retirees, he adds.

“I don’t want to overuse the word ‘lifestyle’, but there is a lot to offer in this area,” Beamer says. “There are beaches, rivers, fishing, surfing, and all those fun things. Maclean is pretty special.”

The Airbnb Tiny Towns Guide top 10 are:

1. Maclean, NSW
2. Scamander, TAS
3. Monto, QLD 
4. York, WA
5. Myrrhee, VIC 
6. Taranna, TAS 
7. Bremer Bay, WA 
8. Lake Bennett, NT
9. Glen Alice, NSW 
10. Tumby Bay, SA