Report reveals Aussies’ top 5 destinations for a luxury escape

When it comes to our favourite domestic holiday destinations, one state takes the crown.

Nudey beach on Fitzroy island near Cairns in Queensland, Australia. Picture: Getty

With its endless beaches, myriad island escapes and hedonistic city destinations, Queensland is the state Australian’s most want to take a luxury vacation this year.

The latest Luxury Escapes annual Travel Trends report has revealed Tropical Far North Queensland, the Whitsundays and the Gold Coast as the top three domestic locations we want to visit in 2023, with Hobart and Melbourne rounding out the top five.

“Our best performing region domestically in 2022 was Far North Queensland, with more than 25,000 customers visiting during the year,” co-founder and CEO Adam Schwab revealed.

“These destinations are perennially popular but there has definitely been a spike in Queensland bookings as Australians have sought more local alternatives to overseas options during the pandemic.”

Victoria Dock Waterfront in Hobart, Tasmania, one of the top destinations Australian travellers want to explore in 2023. Picture: Getty

Schwab said key growth destinations in Queensland included Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas as well as Sunshine Beach and Brisbane.

It’s also the first time Melbourne has overtaken Sydney on the list since the report’s inception, a development Schwab credits with the growth in luxury accommodation offerings in the southern city as well as its robust calendar of cultural and sporting events.

“First, there has been a huge investment in new hotels in Melbourne including but not limited to W Hotel, Sheraton, Movenpick, Hilton, Quincy Hotel, Next Hotel, Le Meridien and Ritz Carlton,” he explained. “The second driver remains Melbourne’s incredible event schedule as well as it’s huge food and theatre scene – all ensuring a strong flow of visitors.”

More than 4000 respondents were surveyed for this year’s report, which looks at motivations and trends among Australian travellers.

The spate of new luxury hotels in Melbourne has made it a favourite destination choice for Australian travellers. Photo: Young & Percival

The Five Most Popular Australian Travel Destinations for 2023

1. Tropical Far North Queensland
2. The Whitsundays and QLD islands
3. Gold Coast
4. Hobart
5. Melbourne