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Wellington may be known as the country’s cool capital, but in a surprise twist this winter, it’s heating u hottest domestic destination for Kiwi travellers—thanks in large part to the power of major sporting events.
Booking.com revealed that Wellington ranked as the number most searched destination in New Zealand over a recent high-profile match weekend, outperforming classic winter favourites like Queenstown and Auckland.
“We were thrilled to see Wellington ranked as the #1 searched destinations over that match weekend after much local investment, even surpassing popular winter holiday destinations like Queenstown,” says Melissa Ellison, area manager at Booking.com.
That surge in search interest aligns closely with the platform’s broader insights into Kiwi travel habits. “Booking.com’s 2025 Travel Trends research highlighted over a third of Kiwi travellers (37%) were planning to take a trip to see a sporting event in 2025 and that short domestic trips of 1–4 nights are the most popular length of stay for Kiwis,” she says.
It’s not the first time sport has driven a spike in travel planning. “We’ve seen similar increases in searches over prior notable sporting moments that Booking.com has sponsored, including the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup,” Melissa says.
While Wellington took the top spot, traditional tourism powerhouses weren’t far behind—highlighting how large-scale events can lift multiple regions at once. “It is important to note that whilst Wellington was #1 over the match weekend, both Queenstown #2 and Auckland #3 also continued to perform strongly in search interest – with Queenstown experiencing a 44% increase in searches on the prior year for that weekend,” she says.
So is event-driven travel becoming the new seasonal norm?
“Sporting, concerts or cultural events are clearly linked to an increase in travel desire, particularly short-breaks set against current cost of living pressures,” Melissa says.
To meet this growing demand, Booking.com is leaning into added value for travellers. “Event-driven travel, be it for sports or festivals, continues to play a significant role in how Kiwis plan their getaways and travellers can make the most of these moments through our Genius loyalty programme,” she says.
“Genius members can access discounts—like free breakfasts and room upgrades—and exclusive perks across flights and car hires, unlocking great value and flexibility when booking around major events,” Melissa says.
