The Times Australia
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Holidays and Travel

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Winter is coming and these are the fastest growing destinations for Aussies

  • Written by Krystal Heng

Tripadvisor data reveals Bolifushi Island and Lake Hayes are trending for international travel, while Hahndorf is top of the list for domestic staycations

 

With vaccines rolling out and travel bubbles slowly coming into play, Aussies are confident and ready to return to travel -- both domestically and regionally. In fact, a recent Tripadvisor survey found that 81% of travellers in Australia feel confident that it is safer to travel now, than it was three months ago1.

 

Tripadvisor search data shows that the most popular travel weeks for Australians this winter are weeks commencing 7 June and 14 June, but which destinations are on the up for Aussies this winter?

 

When looking at the Australian destinations which have seen the largest increase in searches since January for domestic travel this winter, Hahndorf in Adelaide comes out on top, followed by Palm Beach in Queensland and New South Wales’ Dubbo in second and third place respectively. Queensland overall seems to be a hot spot for travellers, taking five of the top ten destinations seeing the biggest increase in Tripadvisor clicks from Aussie travellers looking to book a domestic trip.

 

Internationally, New Zealand is trending heavily as seven of the top ten destinations seeing the biggest increase in Tripadvisor clicks from Aussie travellers are located here. This is likely owing to the fact that the Trans-Tasman travel bubble has been established between the two countries, allowing for quarantine-free travel between them. However, the destination currently at the top of the list for international travel is Bolifushi Island in the Maldives, known for its stunning blue waters and vibrant marine landscape - the ideal spot for travellers looking to escape the cold weather.

 

Here is a full list of the fastest growing domestic and international destinations based on the biggest increase in searches since January, along with highly rated hotel options with winter availability:

 

Fastest Growing (Domestic)

Highly rated hotel with winter availability1

Fastest Growing (International)

Highly rated hotel with winter availability1

Hahndorf, Adelaide

Hahndorf House Bed & Breakfast

Bolifushi Island, Maldives

Ozen Reserve Bolifushi

Palm Beach, Queensland

Currumbin Sands on the Beach

Lake Hayes, New Zealand

Stoneridge Estate

Dubbo, New South Wales

Country Leisure Motor Inn

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Rosewood San Miguel de Allende

Carrara, Queensland

Elite Gold Coast

Christchurch, New Zealand

The George Christchurch

Benowa, Queensland

RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast

Wanaka, New Zealand

Wanaka Homestead Lodge and Cottages

Townsville, Queensland

Mercure Townsville

Queenstown, New Zealand

Kamana Lakehouse

Hope Island, Queensland

InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort

Dunedin, New Zealand

Amross Motel

Wallerawang, New South Wales

Black Gold Motel

Rome, Italy

Hotel Colosseum

Fremantle, Western Australia

Esplanade Hotel Fremantle - by Rydges

Te Anau, New Zealand

Radfords on the Lake

Biggera Waters, Queensland

Pelican Cove Apartments

Rotorua, New Zealand

Peppers on the Point Rotorua

 

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