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With blossoms blooming and longer days ahead, Kiwis are gearing up to travel this spring school holidays — and new Booking.com data shows domestic gems are leading the way.
While Queenstown holds onto its number one spot, smaller destinations are seeing big gains. Paihia in the Bay of Islands has doubled in popularity compared to last year, while Blenheim searches are up 70 per cent, and Wanaka has risen 50 per cent. Rotorua, Taupō, Tauranga, Dunedin and Papamoa also ranked among the top 10 most-searched spots for September, offering a mix of natural beauty and spring-ready activities.
Booking.com area manager for New Zealand Melissa Ellison says the trend reflects a growing appetite for alternatives to the usual hotspots. “It’s encouraging to see smaller local destinations growing in popularity. One in three Kiwi travellers are actively avoiding over-tourism by choosing alternatives — and places like Paihia, Blenheim and Wanaka are perfect examples.”
For international escapes, family-favourite Gold Coast tops the list, followed by Tokyo, which has climbed two spots. Perth (up 90 per cent) and Port Douglas (up 80 per cent) are also seeing strong growth, alongside classic holiday draws like Bali, Fiji, London and Paris.
Despite the lure of overseas beaches and big cities, Booking.com’s data shows domestic destinations are still outpacing international ones this spring, proving many Kiwis are choosing to explore closer to home.
Top 25 Domestic Destinations – Spring 2025
Queenstown
Auckland
Christchurch
Wellington
Rotorua
Taupō
Wānaka (+1)
Dunedin (+2)
Tauranga
Hamilton (+1)
Mount Maunganui
Napier
Hanmer Springs (+1)
Lake Tekapo (+1)
New Plymouth (+1)
Paihia (+4)
Palmerston North
Nelson
Lower Hutt
Invercargill (+2)
Kaikōura
Ohakune
Blenheim
Whanganui
Papamoa
Top 25 International Destinations – Spring 2025
Gold Coast, Australia
Tokyo, Japan (+2)
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Sydney, Australia
Nadi, Fiji (+3)
Seminyak, Indonesia
London, United Kingdom
Melbourne, Australia
Brisbane, Australia (+2)
Paris, France
Ubud, Indonesia (+1)
Singapore
Bangkok, Thailand (+6)
Canggu, Indonesia
Uluwatu, Indonesia
New York, USA
Nusa Dua, Indonesia (+11)
Port Douglas, Australia (+14)
Mooloolaba, Australia (+4)
Dubai, UAE
Rome, Italy
Osaka, Japan (+12)
Perth, Australia (+14)
Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia (+16)
Kuta, Indonesia
