If it feels eerily quiet in your neighbourhood this week, it’s probably because Christmas travel is back on the cards for many people – in Australia and overseas.
Hotel revenue platform Siteminder has seen a surge in bookings globally. Its Changing Traveller report 2025 found Australian hotel bookings were up by 21% for the Christmas period (21–25 December) compared with last year, and while those bookings are a mix of local and international tourists, the chief growth officer, Trent Innes, says it shows growing consumer confidence in travel: “There is a strong return in international travel and travellers booking months in advance.”
Fin-tech company Wise also saw an uptick in Australians’ spending on travel this year. Between 15 November and 15 December 2024, Australians spent more on flights and experiences than any other category, with most people spending at Booking.com, Qantas and Trip.com, alongside non-travel sites Amazon and Uniqlo.
So where did everyone go? According to travel platform Traveloka, which conducted a global survey with YouGov, 59% of Australians were planning to travel locally because it was cheaper and they wanted to support local businesses. It also found the majority craved getaways in nature, including beaches, mountains and national parks.
Siteminder’s report found a similar trend; Australians were the most likely to stay at a camping site (11%), surpassing French travellers, who topped the list of campers last year.
When to book your Christmas camping trip
While you can still book campsites for this summer, especially if you’re open to unpowered sites and non-coastal locations, if you want to stay in a cabin by the beach with the entire family at Christmas next year, you’ll want to set a reminder for June. That’s when most bookings open for locations in New South Wales national parks and Victoria, for example.
“The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is the busiest week for camping and accommodation,” says a spokesperson at NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. “Coastal campgrounds near beaches with full facilities are the most popular at this time of year. Cabins, particularly along beaches, are also popular during summer holiday periods.”
Parks Victoria, which waived all its fees for 131 camping locations this year for stays up to 30 June 2025, says its Christmas bookings open mid-year. From March 2025 you can book accommodation for holidays between July and 17 December – and in June, bookings will open for 18 December onwards. Camping and accommodation in NSW national parks can be booked from 7am, 180 days prior to the arrival date.
Book a cabin stay today
Holiday park cabins tend to book out quickly, says Discovery Park chief marketing officer, Lahnee White. The very organised among us can book next year’s Christmas holiday as soon as Christmas Day. “Bookings open 12 months in advance,” White says. “It’s a good idea to look at least three months in advance if you’re keen on securing a spot over Christmas at our most popular summer destinations.”
The most sought-after locations for the festive season are coastal – in Western Australia, South Australia and NSW. “We also see a lot of interest in the Riverland and Murray regions across Victoria and NSW,” she says.
However, if you do leave it to the last minute, White suggests the Snowy Mountains as “a fantastic and affordable destination”.
“While this region is popular in winter, it’s often overlooked in summer, making it less crowded and more budget-friendly.”
Discovery Parks also says many guests who stay at peak times opt to rebook their stay for the following year. Doing so “saves a lot of hassle”.
Book ahead for cheaper flights
“Aussies planning to travel for about a week or less during Christmas only plan 62 days in advance on average,” says Skyscanner travel expert Jarrod Kris. Skyscanner search data suggests those planning to travel between one and two weeks during Christmas tend to plan flights 90 days in advance. Those planning to stay away longer – between two weeks to a month – “tend to plan 112 days in advance”, Kris says.
Qantas says its busiest booking period is January, with many customers planning their next trip immediately after they return from the last one. Qantas flights are typically available to book up to 353 days in advance, while Flight Centre says most flights open bookings 11 months in advance.
“Generally speaking, the earlier you can book, the better the savings,” says James Kavanagh, Flight Centre’s global leisure CEO.
Virgin Australia is operating close to 3,000 flights a week for domestic and short-haul international locations in December and January. The company added extra flights for routes to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Tasmania, the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island and Byron Bay. Its most sought-after international flights were to Bali, Fiji and Queenstown, New Zealand.
Qantas’ most popular international routes in December and January are to Auckland, Singapore, Tokyo and London. Skyscanner’s search data showed people looking for flights over the Christmas period going to Bangkok, Tokyo, Perth, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Kris says Australians are looking for “tropical getaways” such as Bali and Bangkok. “It’s clear, based on the trending searches and from Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2025 report … because these destinations are closer to home and they are also cheaper.”
A note on cancellation insurance
Planning a trip well in advance can be daunting if you don’t know what you’ll be doing next month, let alone next year. Most travel insurers offer cancellation insurance for costs that can’t be recouped in other ways, but these policies tend to only cover unforeseen events such as illness or injury. They will not apply if you change your mind or can’t get leave from work.
