Australia’s first surfing Olympic medalist Owen Wright to host the ultimate family surf safari at his Byron Bay holiday home

With summer just around the corner and travel opening up, now more than ever Aussie families are looking to get away, unwind and reconnect in their favourite coastal destinations. 

To inspire Aussies to take a good old fashioned family beach holiday, Airbnb has partnered with Surfing Australia and Olympic bronze medalist Owen Wright. The pro surfer and Airbnb Superhost is offering one family an unforgettable summer getaway with a special four-night 

family beach stay at his luxury Byron Bay surf shack, Paradiso Property, from January 4-8 2022, which includes a once-in-a-lifetime surf session at one of Owen’s favourite local surf spots. The entire four night stay can be booked for just *$40 AUD for a family of four. 

The unforgettable family surf safari will be available to book on Wednesday 24 November at 12pm AEDT via the Paradiso Property listing (https://abnb.co/owenwright). 

Owen Wright has become a household name since the Tokyo Olympics, which marked a remarkable comeback from the surfer who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2015. Despite the setback, Owen’s determination to once again dominate the pro circuit has inspired the nation. His passion for the sport and spending time with his family kept him going, which is why this summer family getaway is so close to his heart. 

“As a regular Airbnb guest all over the world, I love living like a local, immersing myself in the local community and discovering experiences off the tourist trail that bring the magic to any trip and help me feel at home,” said Wright. “As a Host, I try to bring unique and personalised experiences to my guests so they can discover new things and create authentic memories. This is why I’m excited to offer up my family holiday home for an unforgettable four night stay and an epic surf safari with myself at one of my all time favourite beach breaks in Byron.” 

As part of a partnership between Airbnb and Surfing Australia, Owen has curated a list of his favourite surf destinations and local hidden gems to visit, available at

Airbnb.com/SummerofSurfing. The site includes surfing destination guides from well-known board riders based right across Australia, along with available listings in these locations to inspire surfers of all abilities to hit the waves this summer. Interestingly, Airbnb internal data shows that when it comes to family trips, guests are keen for their four legged friends to join them. Globally, from July to September the most searched-for amenities were: 1) pets-allowed, 2) pools, 3) wifi, 4) kitchens and 5) free parking. Searches that filtered for listings allowing pets increased by 55 percent compared to the same time pre-pandemic (July to September, 2019). 

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, said “After a tough year for many, Australians are itching to reconnect with family and friends and what better way to do this than with a classic beach holiday that also helps to inject much needed tourism dollars into local communities. It’s been wonderful to partner with Owen Wright and Surfing Australia to help showcase a whole range of great surf spots, with Airbnb’s clickable map function also enabling families to find those wonderful hidden gem destinations that might be slightly further afield than better known holiday locations. Whether it’s a surf shack in Yallingup, a beach house in Blairgowrie or a Pro Surfer’s holiday pad in Byron Bay, there are incredible listings right across the country where Hosts make it possible for loved ones to bond and reconnect as they share a wave.” 

Chris Mater, CEO of Surfing Australia said: “We’re so stoked to partner with Airbnb to inspire Aussies to explore our unique coastal landscapes and bring back the Aussie summer family holiday! We’re so proud of our whole Olympic team debuting surfing on the world stage in Tokyo; and for Owen Wright to bring back Australia’s first surfing medal was the icing on the cake. For one lucky family to be able to share Owen’s unique beach shack on one of the world’s most desirable beaches, Byron Bay, it’s a chance to enjoy some downtime on a once-in-a-lifetime family surfing holiday with a true legend of the surf.” 

To inspire Aussies to find a surf shack this summer, Airbnb has rounded up the most wishlisted beach stays from across Australia: 

• Blu Peter Penthouse - North Coogee, WA 
• Magical Maianbar Retreat - Maianbar, NSW 
• Coopers Ocean Cabin & Jacuzzi - Seymour, Tasmania 
• ONE MILE RETREAT- Stunning Beach House! - Boat Harbour, NSW ● Iquique Hideaway - on Rye Ocean Beach - Rye, Victoria 
• At Wye Eyrie with arguably the best views in town - Wye River, Victoria ● Burleigh By The Sea - Burleigh Head, QLD 
• Whitesands - Quindalup, WA 
• Dayz Dreamin - Culburra, NSW 
• 2 Bedroom Panoramic Oceanfront views - Mermaid Beach, QLD 

*Please note the family who books the stay will be refunded the cost of the service fee in cash when they check-in, meaning the entire trip will cost just AUD $40

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer one-of-a-kind stays and unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way. 

About Surfing Australia 

Surfing Australia is a National Sporting Organisation (NSO) that was formed in 1963 to establish, guide and promote the development of surfing within Australia. Our purpose is to create a healthier and happier Australia by enriching communities through surfing. Our vision is to continue to be one of Australia’s most loved sports, creating authentic heroes and champions to inspire the next generation to learn a skill for life.