PHOTO: Australia’s super wealthy are choosing to drop their hundreds of thousands of dollars on local holidays again, even though this Christmas they could escape overseas.
The borders may be open for overseas travel this Christmas but Australia’s wealthiest holidaymakers are playing it safe at home again this year, spending up to $100,000 a week to stay in palatial mansions in the nation’s most exclusive locations.
An award-winning mansion in Queensland owned by Russian-born hemp tycoon Evgeny Skigin is once again booked solid through the summer months, and the well-heeled are splashing out a minimum of $110,000 for the privilege.
Sue Willis, managing director of Niche Luxury Accommodation, said the three-level concrete-domed residence at Sunshine Beach with spectacular ocean views, known as Domic, was fully booked months ago.
“It’s $100,000 a week over Christmas and then drops down to $86,000 a week after the new year but we don’t have a booking under $110,000 – people are taking it for decent chunks at a time,” she said.
Domic was built in 2019 into sand dunes on Seaview Terrace in Sunshine Beach at a reported cost of $21 million and features six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a day spa, ice bath and pool and a conference and events room.
“It’s interesting, even with the ability to travel overseas, among the people who once went on super luxurious holidays to Europe, the demand to holiday at home is still there,” Ms Willis said.
“People are too worried to travel. The people who are that wealthy are also in the demographic where they’re too worried about their health. So, even though the borders will be open, we haven’t seen an impact at all.”
Ms Willis said the entire Noosa area faced a massive supply challenge with luxury holiday rentals.
“We are pretty much booked from December 13 for the next 12 months. Because all of last year’s COVID bookings were parked in credit and moved, as soon as the border opened we had people fill the gaps. Our phones have been ringing non-stop,” she said.
“What it means is that all the tariffs have increased by 15 to 30 per cent over the past six months.”
Matthew Fleming of Contemporary Hotels said Palm Beach in Sydney and regional NSW was heavily booked over the summer, mostly by Sydney locals who wanted to play it safe and make sure they get their holiday this year.
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