Tired of dodgy flatmates?
Find a real home on the Gold Coast.

Market opens — 2026Estimated Gold Coast launch

Tell us where you study or work — search rooms ranked by estimated bus, train & tram time. Message hosts directly. No agent middlemen.

Government-ID verification is part of every host’s setup — we’re building Nestbys around real, named hosts.

Be first in line when rooms go live

Drop your email and we’ll ping you the moment rooms open near your campus.

Or search rooms by commute anyway ↓
or jump to rooms for:Bond UniversityGriffith UniversitySurfers ParadiseSouthport

Just looking? Browse all rooms · Got a spare room? List it

Gold Coast launch — 2026Estimated commute timesGovernment-ID part of host setup
How it works

From search to move-in — three clear steps

No agent middlemen, no confusing fees. Just a clear path to a home you can trust.

1

Search rooms near your campus or workplace

Filter by suburb and weekly budget. Every listing is screened before it goes live, and flagged listings are reviewed by our team.

2

Message your host directly — safely in the app

Ask anything you need before sharing personal contact details. You control what you share and when — no pressure to decide on the spot.

3

Sort the details and move in

Settle the simple stuff with your host — rent, dates and house rules — with a clear checklist to guide you, then move in on dates that suit you both.

Rooms go live in 2026 — get first pick

Drop your email and we’ll ping you the moment rooms open near your campus.

Built around trust

Looking out for you, every step of the way

From your first message to move-in and beyond, here’s the work we put in behind the scenes to help you feel safe and supported.

Direct messaging unlocks after a government-ID check

Direct messaging unlocks once you’ve passed a government-ID check — so anyone who sends a direct message has passed it too. Your ID is stored securely and reviewed only by our verification team — it’s never shown to other members, and we never sell or share it.

Your money stays yours — we never hold it

Rent and bond go straight between you and your host, so there’s never a middleman sitting on your money. Each side pays a one-off $99 connection fee, then weekly membership — hosts $39/week (or $29 prepaid), students $29/week (or $14.99 prepaid). Never a slice of your rent or bond.

We help keep conversations safer — and on-platform

Chat stays inside Nestbys, where you’re just a member number until you decide to share more. We actively watch for scam patterns and off-platform pressure, and our team is reachable the moment something doesn’t feel right.

See how verification works →

Built for the Gold Coast

Made for students and working-holiday makers around Bond University, Griffith University and the Gold Coast’s English-language schools — not a faceless national listings site.

Verified hosts, real people on hand

Nestbys is built on the Gold Coast by a small team who know what it’s like to arrive somewhere new and just need a safe place to live. An AI-assisted government-ID check is part of every host’s setup, and there’s always a real person reachable when something doesn’t feel right: stay@nestbys.com.

Committing to a room sight-unseen?

At launch you’ll be able to request a Nestbys pre-arrival inspection on eligible homes — a real person visits and checks the place in person, so you’re not committing to a room you’ve never seen.

Browse rooms →

For students & working holiday makers

  • Government-ID verification is part of every host’s setup
  • Real homes with real families — many with bills included
  • Filter by commute — know your travel time to Bond or Griffith before you decide
  • Ask as many questions as you need before you decide
Find a homestay

For hosts with a spare room

  • Guests confirm they’re 18+; ID verification & the Code of Conduct raise their trust level
  • A plain-English proposal — you and your guest set your own terms, not us
  • All messages in one place — no lost emails or texts
  • You choose who you accept — always
List your room — free to start →
What we provide

Everything you need — nothing you don’t

The tools to find a home, connect safely, and get the basics sorted. Rent, bond and final decisions stay between host and guest — Nestbys never handles your money.

Support during your stay

Moved in and something comes up? Our team stays reachable and you can tap our support toolbox — guidance, resources and a real person to help you sort it out.

Host verification levels & Nestbys-inspected homes

A government-ID check is part of every host's setup on Nestbys. Top-tier Nestbys-inspected homes also pass an in-person walk-through by the Nestbys team — an extra point-in-time check for added confidence.

Estimated commute times

Every room shows real travel times to your campus or work — by car and by public transport — so you can pick a home that fits your day, not just your budget.

Bills-inclusive rooms available

Many hosts include electricity, water and internet in the weekly rate. What’s covered is agreed directly with your host — check each listing.

Private in-app messaging

Chat with hosts or guests before sharing any personal details. Everything in one place — no pressure to decide on the spot.

Built for new arrivals

Whether you’re here for a semester or a working holiday, Nestbys is built for people starting fresh — not just finding a room, but finding a home.

FAQ

Straight answers to the questions we hear most

See the full FAQ for more detail.

What does it cost?

A one-off $99 connection fee per side, then weekly membership — hosts $39/week (or $29 prepaid), students $29/week (or $14.99 prepaid). It covers platform access, our support team and the homestay toolkit. We never take a percentage of your rent or bond.

Are meals included?

No — meals are not part of the standard arrangement. If host and guest want to share meals, that’s entirely up to them to work out together.

Does Nestbys hold my rent or bond?

No. Rent and bond are paid directly between host and guest. Nestbys is a marketplace, not a property manager — we never touch your money.

Who can use Nestbys?

Hosts with a spare room, and guests aged 18 or over — international and domestic students, and working holiday makers.

See all FAQs

Your home away from home is here.

Browse rooms and shortlist your favourites at no cost. Create an account only when you’re ready to message a host.

Browse homestaysList your spare room
Not on the Gold Coast?

Tell us where to expand next

Nestbys launches on the Gold Coast first. Drop your postcode below and we’ll let you know the moment we reach your area.