One of Australia's most popular and lucrative Airbnb houses hits the market for $1.8 million-plus

One of Australia’s most popular short-term-stay houses has hit the market with a $1.8 million-plus price tag, and it might make more money in a year than you do.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house at 216-228 Sunrise Road, Doonan, is in Noosa’s hinterland, a 20-minute drive from the popular strip of Queensland beaches.

Sitting on an expansive, 6401-square-metre hilltop block, the home is almost surrounded by forest.

SOLD - $1,900,000

216-228 Sunrise Road, Doonan QLD 4562

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It has become one of the most wish-listed holiday properties in Australia and featured in Good Weekend’s 52 Weekends Away issue and Country Style magazine, so it has been a bittersweet decision for owner Rachel Luchetti to sell the property.

Its popularity speaks for itself, with the warm-climate home booked almost all year round. It produced a gross income of $127,785 in the last financial year – or $2457 a week – out-performing most household incomes around Australia.

“It’s a bit heartbreaking,” Ms Luchetti said. “The idea was to have this great dual life between the climate up there, which is like paradise, and still have the Sydney place as well.”

But as the lockdown dragged on, Ms Luchetti, a designer and architect, and her builder husband decided to let go of the place they bought and transformed five and a half years ago.

“The border closure means we don’t get to use it,” she said. “It’s become a bit impossible so we thought we should sell and buy something we can get to.”

The semi-rural property was all but a shell of a barn – and off the grid – when the couple first purchased it. It has since been renovated top to bottom with modern features including airconditioning and a dishwasher.

But it was the cast-iron bathtub and the heated circular concrete swimming pool with a hinterland backdrop that had been the major drawcards for holiday-goers and made it a lucrative investment property, Ms Luchetti said.

“That’s what people want. They’re browsing for something different or special. Not just a home away from home but an elevated experience,” she said. “We have people who have now stayed at least three or four times.”

She said the home was in that sweet spot where people could enjoy country-style living but also be a stone’s throw away from the shores of Noosa.

“It’s a very good investment as well. That’s the hardest part of selling – it’s income producing,” Ms Luchetti said.

“Not many people can say their holiday home can be income producing; usually it’s a drain on finance.”

She said the family had been using it during peak school holiday periods so it could net even more money if the new owner let it during those times.

One Agency Noosa’s Darren Hilliard said the first open-home was next Thursday and there had already been a good level of interest.

“It still brings in a 5 or 6 per cent return which is a pretty solid return for an investment property,” Mr Hilliard said.

The home comes fully furnished.