Australia
- Majority of Aussies travelling this upcoming Easter are choosing to stay domestic, with coastal destinations emerging as the clear favourites
SYDNEY, March 18, 2026 – Today, Expedia revealed the most popular and trending domestic Easter destinations and last-minute booking tips, as the majority (79%) of Aussies travelling this upcoming Easter are choosing to stay local*.
Expedia’s domestic Easter travel insights
With Easter falling earlier this year, Aussies are chasing sun‑soaked escapes at home, with nine of the top 10 destinations by the beach. The Gold Coast remains the top pick, while hotspots like Port Stephens (+130%) and Noosa (+65%) are surging as travellers squeeze in a final dose of warmer weather.
“April is only two weeks away, but it’s not too late to book a local escape,” said Sarah King, Expedia Travel Expert. “Keeping your options open on timing and destination is key. The Expedia app is showing Launceston, Brisbane, and Canberra are destinations with good availability and value with average accommodation rates ranging from $200 to $350 per night, making it easier to snap up a last‑minute deal if you haven’t booked yet.”
Expedia’s most popular and trending domestic destinations
| Most popular domestic Easter destinations1 | Top trending domestic Easter destinations2 |
| 1. Gold Coast, QLD 2. Sunshine Coast, QLD 3. The Whitsundays, QLD 4. Cairns, QLD 5. Port Douglas, QLD 6. Port Stephens, NSW 7. Central Coast, NSW 8. Byron Bay, NSW 9. Busselton, WA 10. Launceston, TAS | 1. Toowoomba, QLD (+315%) 2. Byron Bay, NSW (+145%) 3. Port Stephens, NSW (+130%) 4. Tweed Heads, NSW (+125%) 5. Coffs Harbour, NSW (+120%) 6. Wollongong, NSW (+100%) 7. Newcastle, NSW (+75%) 8. Noosa, QLD (+65%) 9. Canberra, ACT (+45%) 10. Port Macquarie, NSW (+25%) |
Expedia’s tips for booking a last-minute domestic getaway this April:
- Travel the week after Easter3: Should you have the flexibility, plan your trip for 6–12 April when it’s expected to be slightly less busy and better value for money. This week is expected to be 15% less busy than Easter week (30 March – 5 April) and can help you save up to 10% on accommodation.
- Choose Easter Sunday for long weekend travel3: If you are travelling over the long weekend, opt for Easter Sunday (5 April) instead of Good Friday as it’s predicted to be 60% less busy.
- It’s not too late to escape: Easter is shaping up to be a busy period, but destinations such as Launceston, Brisbane, and Canberra still have good availability and average accommodation rates under $350 per night.
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FAQ
Q1: What are the most popular destinations for Easter 2026?
A1: Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and The Whitsundays are the most popular this Easter
Q2: When is the cheapest time to travel this Easter?
A2: The week after Easter (6–12 April) is the cheapest
Q3: When is the best time to travel to avoid the crowds this Easter long weekend?
A3: Easter Sunday (5 April) is the least busy day to travel
Q4: Which destinations are likely to offer the best availability and value?
A4: Launceston, Brisbane and Canberra still offer availability and value over the Easter long weekend
*Third-Party Methodology
Expedia research commissioned in collaboration with YouGov. Total sample size was 1,021 Australian adults aged 18 years and older. Fieldwork was undertaken between 5 to 9 February 2026. The survey was carried out online.
Data disclaimers:
1 Based on an analysis of domestic accommodation demand on Expedia.com.au for travel between 30 March 2026 and 12 April 2026, excluding capital cities
2 Based on an analysis of domestic accommodation demand on Expedia.com.au for travel between 30 March 2026 and 12 April 2026, compared to the same period the previous year
3 Predicted best value and busiest times are based on an analysis of booked domestic data on Expedia.com.au for travel between 1 April 2025 to 30 April 2025
