Australia’s Easter hotspots
Expedia data shows nine of the ten top Easter 2026 destinations in Australia are coastal — Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays, Cairns and Port Douglas lead demand, while Launceston (Tasmania) emerged as a cooler alternative (thenewdaily.com.au). The piece frames coastal escapes as the dominant domestic pick for the holiday period (thenewdaily.com.au).
Expedia’s March 18, 2026 newsroom release says 79% of Australians planning to travel this Easter intend to stay domestic. (expedia.com.au) Search activity shows sharp regional spikes year‑on‑year: Toowoomba searches are up 315% and Byron Bay searches are up 145%. (expedia.com.au) Additional strong increases recorded include Port Stephens (+130%), Tweed Heads (+125%) and Coffs Harbour (+120%) in Expedia’s trending list. (expedia.com.au) Expedia’s app flags Launceston, Brisbane and Canberra as having good availability and value, with average accommodation rates ranging from about $200 to $350 per night. (expedia.com.au) The company advises travellers who can be flexible to travel the week after Easter (6–12 April), which it predicts will be roughly 15% less busy than Easter week (30 March–5 April) and could save up to 10% on accommodation. (expedia.com.au) For long‑weekend trips Expedia recommends departing on Easter Sunday (5 April) rather than Good Friday, noting Easter Sunday is expected to be about 60% less busy. (expedia.com.au)
