As cooler temps creep in around Australia, travellers are keen to chase the sun with almost nine in 10 Aussies (85%) planning a winter escape and maximise their summer holidays in 2025. Here’s how travel advisors can tap into the sunbird trend.
A new Skyscanner study shows that while summertime is top of mind, cost-of-living concerns will determine Aussie travel budgets and destinations for a winter escape this year.
Almost half of the survey respondents (47%) seek destinations where their money goes further, including being open to travelling on less popular days to score better deals (40%).
In good news for the travel industry, 35 per cent of Aussies have more annual leave flexibility this year and want to take advantage of it by booking a warm getaway over the winter months.
Most popular destinations for a winter escape
Warmer domestic destinations and Europe tie for preference with more than one-third (34%) of Aussies will escape winter in domestic locations and 31 per cent are keen to head overseas.
However, 40 per cent of those surveyed were yet to book trips, citing indecisiveness and a lack of destination inspiration – a prime opportunity for advisors to inspire their clients’ travels.
According to Skyscanner flight data, the most popular international hotspots for Aussies keen to maximise their winter escape are Tokyo, Athens, London, Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Queenstown and Bali with lower prices in either July or August 2025, depending on the destination.
Domestically, Melbourne and Sydney are the most popular winter destinations among Aussies with the week commencing 21 July offering the best value for flights to Victorian capital while Sydney-bound travellers can snap up a seat for less on the week commencing 25 August 2025.
For the cheapest destinations this winter, Skyscanner highlights domestic hotspots as offering the best bang for buck with an average return economy seat to Launceston at AUD$177, Sunshine Coast at $254, Adelaide at $329, Hamilton Island at $381 and Uluru at $640.
Overseas, the cheapest destinations are Krabi with an average economy return seat at AUD$548, Port Vila at $594, Ho Chi Minh City at $709, Guangzhou at $765 and Dumaguete, Philippines at $796.
