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Kiwis are heading into summer with clear travel intentions, favouring either high-energy metropolitan breaks or slow, nature-focused escapes, according to new Summer Search Data released by Booking.com for 2025.
The trends show strong interest in short-haul international destinations across the Asia–Pacific region, with the Gold Coast retaining its position as the top overseas search. Rarotonga also continues to rise, supported by Air New Zealand’s direct Christchurch service.
Major cities are driving domestic demand, led by a 30 per cent increase in searches for Auckland as travellers plan holidays around festivals, events and dining. Christchurch is also seeing strong momentum, up 25 per cent.
At the same time, South Island destinations are benefiting from renewed interest in slower, nature-first holidays. Wānaka searches are up 40 per cent, while Taupō has moved up one place in the domestic top 10.
The data points to a continuing appetite for culture, food and outdoor experiences, whether through Auckland’s event-packed summer, Tokyo’s urban energy or Wānaka’s alpine calm.
Top 10 most searched domestic destinations
| Rank | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | Up 30 per cent |
| 2 | Queenstown | |
| 3 | Christchurch | Up 25 per cent |
| 4 | Rotorua | |
| 5 | Taupō | Up 1 place |
| 6 | Wellington | |
| 7 | Dunedin | Up 4 places |
| 8 | Mount Maunganui | |
| 9 | Wānaka | Up 5 places; up 40 per cent |
| 10 | Napier |
Top 10 most searched international destinations
| Rank | Destination |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Coast, Australia |
| 2 | Rarotonga, Cook Islands |
| 3 | Sydney, Australia |
| 4 | Tokyo, Japan |
| 5 | Melbourne, Australia |
| 6 | Singapore |
| 7 | Bangkok, Thailand |
| 8 | Brisbane, Australia |
| 9 | Nadi, Fiji |
| 10 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
Top 10 most searched destinations overall
| Rank | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | Up 30 per cent |
| 2 | Gold Coast | |
| 3 | Queenstown | |
| 4 | Christchurch | Up 25 per cent |
| 5 | Rarotonga | |
| 6 | Sydney | Up 2 places |
| 7 | Rotorua | |
| 8 | Tokyo | |
| 9 | Taupō | Up 2 places |
| 10 | Melbourne |
