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If there’s one thing Aussies love more than a Boxing Day barbie, it’s locking in a last-minute summer escape – and so far this year, Melbourne is destination number one. Fresh data from Webjet reveals that in the leftover-fuelled days after Christmas, flight bookings for January and February 2026 more than doubled, jumping 103 per cent compared with the fortnight before Christmas. And when it came to choosing where to go, travellers overwhelmingly headed south.
According to the data, domestic travel led the charge – and Melbourne emerged as the clear favourite. Nearly one in six flights booked in that post-Christmas rush – 17 per cent, to be precise – were bound for the Victorian capital, placing it ahead of perennial favourites like Sydney, Brisbane and even international heavy-hitters Bali and Tokyo.
So why Melbourne, and why now? Part of the appeal is timing. As Webjet Group CEO Katrina Barry notes, Aussies are opting for short, sharp getaways, with domestic trips in January averaging around four days. That sweet spot plays perfectly into Melbourne’s strengths: it’s walkable, easy to access and home to a well-connected network of bars, restaurants and shops that you can dip in and out of over a long weekend.
Then there’s the atmosphere. With the Australian Open underway, the city is humming – from Rod Laver Arena to the laneways, where bars and late-night kitchens stay busy well into the small hours. Add in blockbuster exhibitions, a stacked summer festival calendar and Melbourne’s ever-reliable dining scene, and it’s really no surprise that other Aussies are adding the Victorian capital to the top of their travel hit list.
Unlike beach-only escapes, Melbourne also offers a whole lot of variety. You can café-hop in Fitzroy in the morning, catch a matinee or gallery show in the afternoon, and be two Martinis deep in a trendy back-street bar by sunset. If the weather turns – as it famously does – there’s always a theatre seat, a wine bar or a shopping strip nearby. It’s a city that rewards spontaneity, which makes it ideal for those last-minute bookings made between prawns and pavlova.
According to WebJet, the broader data paints a picture of confidence when it comes to travel. During the post-Christmas planning phase, international bookings rose 40 per cent, and trans-Tasman travel climbed 60 per cent – with Aussies clearly feeling ready to travel despite the ever-growing cost of living crisis.
These are the most popular domestic destinations in Australia right now:
Melbourne
Sydney
Brisbane
Gold Coast
Adelaide
Perth
Cairns
Hobart
Canberra
Maroochydore
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