With back-to-school bells ringing and holiday tans fading, Aussie travellers are already plotting their next escape – and it’s all about sunshine, smart spending and stretching the dollar as far as it will go.
According to new booking data from Webjet, July school holiday bookings for international destinations are already up year-on-year, as families waste no time locking in mid-year getaways. And while many Aussies have already booked, 40% are still undecided – with a lack of inspiration and destination overwhelm holding some back.
Where Aussies Went for Easter
The Easter and ANZAC Day long weekends delivered a strong boost for Australia’s tourism industry, with experience platform RedBalloon reporting a 6.5% year-on-year increase in bookings. Australians flocked to regional hotspots, with the Great Ocean Road seeing a staggering 2,156% surge in experiences booked compared to last year. The Barossa Valley (+300%) and Byron Bay (+223.1%) also enjoyed bumper travel numbers.
Wellness retreats were high on the agenda, with bookings in this category up 27.7%, while spa days rose 15.6%. Animal experiences, including the start of whale-watching season in WA, recorded a 23.7% boost – with a notable 56.8% spike in bookings for wildlife encounters.
Queensland, which had a slow start to the year due to ex-cyclone Alfred, bounced back strongly. The Sunshine Coast (+25.8%), Gold Coast (+22%) and Brisbane (+21.5%) all experienced notable gains over the Easter/ANZAC Day break.
Where we’re going in July
Webjet data shows a clear shift toward winter sun as Australians look to escape the chill. Top international destinations for the July holidays include:
- Bali
- London
- Queenstown (up 39% year-on-year)
- Fiji (Nadi)
- Auckland
- Phuket
- Los Angeles
- Singapore
- Christchurch
- Athens
Closer to home, cities such as Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns, Sydney, and the Gold Coast are proving popular for winter escapes.
New data from global travel app Skyscanner reveals that 85% of Aussies are planning to escape the cold this winter. But cost-of-living pressures are pushing travellers to be smarter with their choices.
Key travel trends include:
- 35% have more flexibility this year and want to use it for a warm getaway.
- 34% are eyeing domestic sunshine, while 31% are planning overseas adventures like a classic Eurosummer.
- 47% are looking for destinations where their money stretches further.
- 40% are delaying booking due to indecision or lack of inspiration.
To help inspire and inform, Skyscanner’s travel expert Jarrod Kris recommends using tools like the “Everywhere Search” and “underrated destinations” filters to find hidden gems and better value. Top value destinations for winter 2025 include Tasmania, Hamilton Island, and the Sunshine Coast domestically, while international picks include Vanuatu, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
With international bookings for the July school holidays already up 10% on last year, it’s shaping up to be another strong season for travel – and for those still undecided, now’s the time to start planning.
