Holiday guide
Quick getaways: The best destinations for a short break
Less taxing on the wallet and easier to plan than a longer trip, short breaks are the antidote to the daily grind. Immerse yourself in nature on a guided walk, sleep beneath the stars, or jet off to a tropical island and lose track of time. Traveller’s special annual report is once again bursting with short-break inspiration at home and overseas. Because let’s face it: who doesn’t love the spontaneity, and simplicity, of a last-minute getaway?
Can only get two days away? Here are the best spots for a short break
Two days can seem like a lot more if you escape to a wellness retreat, or combine good food and wine with time in nature.
The best destinations for a three-night holiday
Having a long weekend or a few nights away mid-week? Three nights is long enough to get to our best regions for wine-tasting, sky-gazing or cycling.
The best destinations for a four-night getaway
From the Gold Coast to Tasmania, the Northern Rivers to Echuca, head to the far reaches of your state, or further beyond, if you have four nights to spare.
The seven top destinations for a five-night holiday
Five nights lets you have a decent break with one of our near neighbours – Fiji, New Zealand or the Cook Islands. Or escape to the warmth of Australia’s north.
Where hotel owners take their short holidays
Seven prominent hotel owners reveal where they like to go for a short escape.
- Sue Williams
No jet-lag required: The 10 greatest short-haul holiday destinations
These 10 countries offer a great holiday without having to take a long, exhausting flight. You’ll barely even need to change time zones.
- Ben Groundwater
How to snare the ultimate short-break deal
If there’s one thing better than an enjoyable escape, it’s knowing you’ve paid less for it than you might have done without a little strategic thinking.
- Brian Johnston
Kuala Lumpur
This greatly underrated foodie heaven provides a quintessential South-East Asian city experience at a bargain price.
- Julie Miller
Singapore
Still consider this city a place in which to merely pause on the way to somewhere else (or somewhere more interesting)? It’s time to catch up.
- Anthony Dennis
Suva, Fiji
This overlooked gem is home to a third of Fiji’s population, is one of the most cosmopolitan centres in the South Pacific and has a great nightlife.
- Craig Tansley
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Tiny Port Vila, with a population just over 61,000, has come of age. The capital of Vanuatu is home to chic restaurants, bars and gourmet produce outlets.
- Craig Tansley
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam’s frenetic and underrated financial centre offers a rich history and one of the most exciting – and bargainous – food scenes in South-East Asia.
- Katherine Scott
Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand’s biggest city has been utterly transformed by the dramatic redevelopment of its once no-go waterfront as well as a quality food scene.
- Anthony Dennis
Christchurch, New Zealand
With a spectacular natural playground on its doorstep, this big small-city has undergone a revitalisation of unimaginable scale since the 2011 earthquake.
- Katherine Scott
More holiday guides
Australian road trips
Our writers share some of their most memorable Aussie road trips that invariably involve getting lost, discovering somewhere new and eating too many snacks.
- 26 stories
Train journeys
Environmentally friendly, spacious, and often delivering you to the centre of your destination with ease, any train journey is an adventure in itself.
- 44 stories