Ready or not, the end of 2024 is well and truly on its way. Sure, it might mean looming deadlines, unfinished goals and a reminder of how quickly time flies, but it’s also the perfect chance to dream big and plan your next adventure. After all, a new year means more annual leave and more time to stash away those travel funds.
Not sure where to go? Booking.com’s 2025 Travel Predictions playbook has us covered. This year, they surveyed more than 27,000 travellers from 33 countries to suss out which Aussie destinations are set to be all the rage in 2025.
Topping the list is one of Australia’s oldest gourmet regions, the King Valley, located a three-hour drive from Melbourne’s CBD. Often described as a slice of Italy tucked away in the rolling hills of Northeast Victoria, this gorgeous region is all about fine wine, delicious food and charming hospitality. The King Valley’s calling card is its prosecco, with our favourite spots for a glass (or two) including Pizzini Wines, Chrismont and Brown Brothers.
The title of Australia’s second top trending destination for 2025 went to Amity Point, a quiet coastal village on Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island. Just a zippy ferry ride from Brisbane, this laid-back town is the perfect place for slipping into full relaxation mode. Spend your days swimming, snorkelling, fishing, dolphin spotting and soaking up sunsets over the bay – while quietly hoping the future crowds to stay away.
Sydney’s beachside burb, Manly, also cracked the top three – though we’d argue it’s already a hotspot thanks to its long stretches of golden sand, stellar restaurants, tiny dive bars, indie boutiques, and the famous double-ended ferries that shuttle you there from Circular Quay.
South Australia claimed more top ten entries than any other state or territory, including the charming coastal town of Encounter Bay in sixth and Adelaide’s beloved beachside suburb of Glenelg in eighth. Kangaroo Island even scored two spots, with the island’s seafood capital, American River, in sixth and the tiny township of Penneshaw following in seventh.
Got the global travel bug? You can check out Booking.com’s top trending international destinations and other travel trends here.
Here are Australia’s top 10 trending destinations for 2025:
- King Valley, VIC
- Amity Point, QLD
- Manly, NSW
- Sydney, NSW
- Encounter Bay, SA
- American River, SA
- Penneshaw, SA
- Glenelg, SA
- Pearl Beach, NSW
- Carbunup, WA