Whitsundays QLD Property Investment
Whitsunday · 4802 · Score: 54/100 · Hold
Whitsundays Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market
Estimated revenue assumes year-round availability. Non-hosted short-stays are night-capped in some councils (e.g. 60 nights across most of Byron Shire, 180 in Ballina, Muswellbrook and parts of Greater Sydney) and levied in Victoria — the legal cap can cut achievable income well below this figure. Run STR Check for the rules on a specific address.
Whitsundays QLD Investment Brief
HOLD — 1.4% gross yield on a $1,365,918 median.
THE MARKET
Whitsundays has compounded at 2.2%/yr over 5 years — a house that cost $1,225,096 in 2021 is worth $1,365,918 today. Properties are sitting on market for 79 days (buyers have negotiating room). At the same growth rate, today's median reaches $1,522,927 by 2031.
- Median house: $1,365,918 | Units: $1,005,821
- Gross yield: 1.4% | Net yield: -0.1%
- 5yr price CAGR: 2.2%/yr | 3yr forecast: 2.0%/yr
- Population: 2,281 | Owner-occupier rate: 55% | Affluence: Above Average
- Supply pipeline: Moderate — Strong population growth likely attracting new development approvals
RENTAL SNAPSHOT
- Vacancy: 3.0% (stable) | Rental demand: Moderate
- Median weekly rent: $365/wk | Days on market: 79 (worsening)
- Tenant market — vacancy elevated, negotiate hard on rent.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
- Median nightly rate: $505/night | Occupancy: 44%
- Estimated annual STR gross: ~$81,084/yr
- vs long-term rent: $18,980/yr (+327% STR premium — factor in higher management costs)
INFRASTRUCTURE & CATALYSTS
- No major confirmed infrastructure projects on record.
- Transport: Proserpine station 28.6km away
BULL CASE
If Whitsundays maintains 6%+ annual growth and vacancy stays below 2.1%, median prices could reach $1,570,806 within 3 years with yields compressing slightly as capital values rise.
BEAR CASE
A market correction or interest rate shock could see prices in Whitsundays pull back 10-15% from $1,365,918, with vacancy rising to 5.0% and rental yields softening as tenants gain leverage.
KEY RISKS
- Flood risk: HIGH (qld_elevation_proxy) — order a flood certificate for the specific address before commit
- - Distance from CBD may limit long-term capital growth potential
COMPARABLE MARKETS
- Samford Village (QLD): $1,573,088 median, 2.8% yield, 0.0% 1yr growth
- Griffin (QLD): $1,052,706 median, 3.4% yield, 14.0% 1yr growth
- Dakabin (QLD): $1,020,958 median, 3.2% yield, 7.0% 1yr growth
THE PLAY
Whitsundays offers balanced fundamentals but does not present an urgent buying signal. The market is in a stable phase with moderate vacancy risk. Monitor vacancy trends and price movements over the next 6-12 months. Only enter if a property can be acquired at or below median pricing with yields exceeding 4.0%.
- Entry range: $1,229,326 – $1,502,510
- Minimum gross yield to target: 4.5%
- Watch signal: vacancy dropping below 2% and days on market falling below 35
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Seek professional advice before making investment decisions.
Gentrification Index
Growth Forecast
low confidenceBasis: 5yr CAGR 2.2% + 10yr CAGR 2.2%
- +Strong population growth (6.4%/yr) driving demand
- −Slow market (79 days avg) — buyer hesitancy
- −High supply pipeline (946 new approvals) — may cap price growth
Suburb Metric Thresholds
Macro Environment
Macro Indicators
Cash Rate
4.35%
▲ 0.25%Cash rate as at 2026-05-06 · Credit data 2026-06
Suburb Supply & Demand
Suburb Supply Pipeline — New Dwelling Approvals
88
2020
138
2021
303
2022
210
2023
207
2025
New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply
Socio-Economic Profile
Source: ABS Census 2021SEIFA Index · Postcode 4802
Decile 5 of 10 — Average
Population
13,393
Education (IEO)
4/10
Econ. Resources (IER)
4/10
10-Year Investment Projection
Modelled on Whitsundays QLD data — rent, capital growth, tax, and depreciation over 10 years.
Pre-filled: $365/wk median rent for Whitsundays. Capital growth and rent increase are editable assumptions.
Nearby Suburbs
Analyse a Property in Whitsundays
Get instant STR rules, granny flat feasibility, rental yield, and full investment strategy comparison for any address in Whitsundays.
Analyse a Property →Data sourced from ABS, state government property sales, and Airbnb market analytics. For informational purposes only — not financial advice.