Where to find last-minute accommodation under $250 a night this Easter break
And which beach getaways rule during the school holidays.
A long Easter and ANZAC Day break this year means more days off for holidays and coastal destinations are coming out ahead.
That's according to Expedia and Wotif which have crunched the numbers on their accommodation websites and found the April school holidays are shaping up to be the busiest holiday season in 2025.
While the old favourites Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are set to be hot this year, beachy destinations including Wollongong, Cairns and Newcastle have all experienced an upswing in bookings for the Easter holidays, according to the outlook.
The data comes from Expedia and Wotif's April Travel Outlook, which reveals its most popular domestic destinations.
The top domestic destinations for the April school holidays, based on lodging services data are:
- Gold Coast, Qld
- Sunshine Coast, Qld
- Cairns, Qld
- Newcastle, NSW
- Port Stephens, NSW
- Jervis Bay, NSW
- Byron Bay, NSW
- Central Coast, NSW
- Coffs Harbour, NSW
- Wollongong, NSW
The most trending domestic destinations are:
- Merimbula, NSW (+70 per cent compared to the same period in 2024)
- Cairns, Qld (+63 per cent)
- Byron Bay, NSW (+51 per cent)
- Central Coast, NSW (+51 per cent)
- Port Stephens, NSW (+36 per cent)
Wotif travel expert Sarah King said the outlook reveals coastal destinations are top of mind for Easter and the school holiday period as Aussies seek one last domestic beach break before winter sets in.
"This year, Wotif reveals that Aussies are flocking to Merimbula in New South Wales and Cairns in Queensland, with both taking the top two spots for trending domestic destinations, experiencing over 60 per cent year-on year growth," Ms King told ACM.
"Merimbula is a magical seaside town on the NSW Sapphire Coast, renowned for its fresh local oysters, lakes, beaches and water activities. Beyond the coastline there's plenty of family fun with Potoroo Palace wildlife park and the amusement park, Magic Mountain.
"Whereas Cairns is one of the best gateways to two of Australia's most iconic experiences, the Great Barrier Reef, and the lush and green Daintree Rainforest. It's a great base for families in the region, close by to the airport and with plenty of family friendly hotels, resorts and self-catered accommodation in the centre of town."
Ms King said regional travel offers "incredible value" particularly when driving and using self-catering accommodation, as well as the opportunity to support local tourism.
"Over Easter and the holidays many local areas have free activities and events on for the kids, so it's worth also checking the local tourism office to see what's going on," she said.
"At Wotif, we're still seeing good value deals for the April school holidays, so it's not too late to book a last-minute getaway. Destinations such as Cairns and Newcastle are offering Aussies accommodation rates under $250 per night."
The outlook found Launceston in Tasmania, Coffs Harbour in NSW and Brisbane in Queensland are also offering accommodation under $250 a night.
The cheapest day of the week for domestic accommodation is Monday, based on rates across the 2024 April school holidays.
My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me.
Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life.
My top travel tip is … Don’t plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what’s within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
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