Top Spring Travel Destinations

With blossoms blooming and longer days on the horizon, many Kiwis are gearing to explore again.

New Booking.com search data reveals how Kiwis are planning to explore New Zealand this coming spring school holidays.

This year, regional gems are taking centre stage. Rotorua, Taupō, Tauranga, Dunedin, and Papamoa all landed in the top ten most-searched destinations for September, offering their own unique blend of natural beauty and spring-friendly activities.

Paihia in the Bay of Islands saw a remarkable 100 percent increase in searches on the year prior, while Blenheim jumped by 70 percent, hinting at a growing appetite for Northland warmth and Marlborough wine country.

Whilst Queenstown is in the #1 spot again, Wanaka has seen a 50 percent increase in searches from the same time last year.

“As Kiwis make the most of the school holidays, it’s encouraging to see smaller local hotspots growing in popularity. This trend isn’t surprising, with Booking.com’s Travel and Sustainability Report finding that one in three Kiwi travellers actively avoid over-tourism by choosing alternative destinations,” said Melissa Ellison, Area Manager for New Zealand.

“Spots like Paihia, Blenheim and Wanaka are perfect examples of local destinations that offer great tourism experiences and a more relaxed pace.”

For international escapes, family-friendly favourite Gold Coast leads the list. Tokyo follows closely behind, moving up two spots.

London, Paris and Bali continue to inspire travellers, landing in the top 10. The Gold Coast isn’t the only Australian hotspot gaining traction; Perth has seen a 90 percent spike in searches, while Port Douglas in Queensland recorded an 80 percent increase on the prior year.

Warmer beachside getaways are clearly top of mind, with destinations like Nusa Dua in Bali and Nadi in Fiji seeing a 60 percent increase in searches.

Not everyone is heading overseas for the spring school holidays, as data shows it is the domestic destinations that come out on top of the international ones this year.

Domestic Top 25 Most Searched Destinations – Spring