New Caledonia has claimed the number one spot on Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List, with Australian searches for the destination up 75 per cent year-on-year, according to the online travel company’s latest data.
The Pacific neighbour leads a ranking of 10 islands within easy reach of Australia, with searches for island escapes rising an average of 40 per cent year-on-year and social media mentions up 20 per cent.
The list points to a clear pattern: travellers are prioritising short-haul getaways that deliver beaches, culture and value without the long-haul journey.
The rankings are drawn from accommodation searches on Expedia.com.au between 22 September 2025 and 22 March 2026, for travel dates across 2026, compared with the same window a year earlier.
Which islands made the top 10?
New Caledonia (up 75 per cent) leads, followed by Palau (up 60 per cent) and Vanuatu (up 45 per cent), the latter riding a broader push to lift annual visitors to 150,000 by 2028. Cebu in the Philippines and Langkawi in Malaysia are tied at fourth and fifth (both up 25 per cent).
Rounding out the list are Jeju Island, South Korea (up 20 per cent), Fiji (up 15 per cent), Okinawa, Japan (up 15 per cent), the Whitsundays (up 10 per cent) and the Cook Islands (up 10 per cent).
New Caledonia’s rise is attributed to its crystal-clear lagoon, affordable luxury resorts and a touch of France close to home, with increasing air capacity helping open the destination up.
Where the value sits
Average accommodation rates across the list range from $105 to $535 a night. Cebu is the cheapest of the group at an average $105 a night, followed by Okinawa at $150 and Jeju at $185: all under $200.
Favourable exchange rates for the Korean won and Japanese yen are driving interest in Jeju and Okinawa, both pitched as slower-paced escapes beyond the region’s major cities.
At the premium end, the Whitsundays top the rates at an average $535 a night, with Fiji at $420 and New Caledonia and the Cook Islands each at $370.
What’s fuelling the short-haul shift
Several destinations on the list are benefiting from expanded air access. Palau is drawing divers via direct Brisbane to Koror flights, while Fiji has been buoyed by expanded Gold Coast flight options, including Fiji Airways’ first direct Gold Coast-Nadi service.
New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Whitsundays are all within roughly four hours of Australia and often served by direct flights.
“Island getaways can offer exceptional value, particularly when travellers bundle flights, accommodation and activities together. That’s making close-to-home island escapes an increasingly attractive option for Australians looking to maximise their holiday time and budget” says Expedia travel expert Sarah King.
Average accommodation rates are based on Expedia.com.au for travel between 5 July 2025 and 3 May 2026, and range from $105 a night (Cebu) to $535 a night (the Whitsundays). Full destination detail is at expedia.com.au.
KARRYON UNPACKS: The Pacific is doing the heavy lifting here, with New Caledonia, Palau and Vanuatu filling three of the top spots on the back of short flight times and improved air access. It’s a search-data snapshot rather than confirmed bookings, but it maps neatly onto the destinations advisors can package and get clients into within four hours of home.
