Another year is fast closing, and 2019 has been a big year for travel. There have been record-breaking flights and the introduction of new routes; openings of glittering hotels and airports, museums and galleries; pilgrimages to events that were broadcast around the globe; and the exploration of destinations both on bucket lists and off-the-beaten track. So where did Australians travel to in 2019? We’ve crunched the numbers and dived into the data to look at the destinations that you couldn’t get enough of this year. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these lists read like a who’s-who of perennially popular holiday hotspots. Take a look below to find out if you were one of the many who touched down in these destinations – or perhaps book in your 2020 travel to one or more of these places, just so you can find out what all the fuss is about…
The Most Popular Destinations 2019 in Australia
Australians love to explore our own backyard – after all, there is an incredibly diverse range of landscapes, cities, natural sights and thrills to uncover and experience. Melbourne not only scoops the honour of being one of the world’s most liveable cities, but it also takes out the title as the most popular destination within Australia for 2019. The Victorian capital beats out long-time rival Sydney, although the Harbour City was close behind in second place. Queensland gets two nods in the popularity stakes, with Brisbane and Gold Coast both proving that the appeal of the Sunshine State continues to tempt holiday-makers north. Adelaide rounds out the top five.
- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Brisbane
- Gold Coast
- Adelaide
- Perth
- Cairns
- Hobart
- Canberra and Sunshine Coast
The Most Popular Destinations 2019 in New Zealand and the South Pacific
What about destinations just across the Tasman? With the tropical islands of the South Pacific and the vibrant cities of New Zealand only a few hours’ flight away, it is little surprise that Aussies continue to book flights over the pond in droves. Auckland rules the roost, with the City of Sails luring in visitors with its proximity to the Bay of Islands, black-sand beaches, and its line-up of cracking sightseeing and dining opportunities. Hot on the heels of New Zealand’s largest city is Christchurch, on the eastern coast of the South Island. The capital of NZ’s thrill-seeking pursuits and outdoor adventures, Queenstown, takes out bronze as the most popular New Zealand destination for Australian travellers. Wellington gets a look-in with fourth place. But it is then Nadi, one of the major cities on Fiji’s main island, that stops New Zealand from taking out a clean sweep of the top five.
The Most Popular Destinations 2019 Across the World
Australians explored all corners of the globe in 2019, from the unspoiled beaches of South East Asia, to the historic capitals of Europe and the glittering metropolises of America. And while travelling to these further afield destinations often calls for long-haul flights, awkwardly-timed stopovers, and arriving bleary-eyed yet excited; that didn’t deter Australians from converging on international airport terminals this year. The Australian love affair with the bounty of Bali continues, as Denpasar is crowned the most flown-to international destination of 2019. It seems Australians just can’t enough of those Bali beach clubs, villas in Ubud and Seminyak sunsets. London is one of the most popular gateways into Europe, so it is little surprise the English capital is the second most popular international destination. A trio of destinations Asia comprise the next three runners-up. The global hub of Singapore was the third-favourite go-to. Thailand then nabs both fourth and fifth spot on this round-up with Phuket and Bangkok, respectively.
- Denpasar
- London
- Singapore
- Phuket
- Bangkok
- Tokyo
- Los Angeles
- Manila
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Kuala Lumpur
Take off to any of these destinations by booking cheap flights with Webjet. You can also book hotels and resorts to stay at while you’re away, or combine your flights with your accommodation in a Webjet holiday package.
Hero image: Plane flying into Denpasar. Credit: Photo by Yulia Agnis on Unsplash.
Data is based on flights booked on Webjet.com.au between 1 January and 31 November 2019.
