Australia continues to be in hot demand for Kiwi travellers, and while Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef prove as popular as always, the retail travel chains say more unique experiences and smaller destinations are gaining traction.
The Australia Bureau of Statistics shows that in 2024, there were some 1,391,210 Kiwi arrivals; this is 109% of 2023 arrivals and 97% of 2019, shows the data. And looking ahead further growth is tipped, with House of Travel’s head of Australia and South Pacific Julia Bozich saying the chain expects Queensland to remain the top booked Australian destination in 2025, thanks to increased airline capacity driven by new routes and increased airline competition. However, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef region will also see strong growth, ‘particularly from the South Island with new direct routes’, she adds. South Australia is also popular, and she says Tasmania ‘is having a moment’. “The food, wine, whiskey and gin scene is creating a buzz with travellers on this side of the Tasman.” Queensland, too, is popular at Flight Centre, but outside of the main cities, local Flight Centre brand gm Heidi Walker says Cairns, Maroochydore and Darwin are performing well. “While VFR remains a major driver, we’re seeing more Kiwis expand their Aussie itineraries beyond the main cities,” adds Walker, who says the retail chain is actively encouraging dispersal. “For example, pairing an Adelaide visit with a stay in the Barossa Valley or adding a Daintree retreat at Silky Oaks to a Cairns holiday.”
. . . Experiences
Bozich says self-skippered houseboating on the Murray River is back in favour for 2025 and rail experiences continue to be a standout with increases in bookings and enquiry year-on-year, in particular The Ghan and The Great Southern. Walker adds that event travel is selling strong, especially in sport with Formula One and State of Origin. Other trends noted by the chain include more solo travel and multigenerational holidays that bring together at least three generations.
