Where to Travel in December from Australia: 7 Trips for 2026

December is not one travel season from Australia. It is summer-road-trip weather at home, ski season in Japan, dry-season beach weather across parts of Southeast Asia, and one of the busiest weeks of the year for airfares. The right destination depends less on a generic “best places” list and more on your dates, tolerance for crowds, and total trip budget.

This shortlist is designed for an actual booking decision. The budgets are planning ranges per person, based on two adults sharing a room and including economy flights, accommodation, local transport, food and a few paid activities. Live prices can move sharply around Christmas and New Year, so compare current fares before committing.

Quick comparison

Destination	Best for	Suggested time	Working budget	December trade-off
New Zealand South Island	Scenery and self-drive	8–12 days	A$2,400–A$4,200	Peak car and lodging demand
Japan	Snow, cities and food	8–12 days	A$2,800–A$4,800	Ski towns get expensive late month
Tasmania	Easy domestic road trip	6–9 days	A$1,500–A$2,900	Popular campsites book early
Singapore	Short city break	4–5 days	A$1,500–A$2,700	Humid with regular showers
Thailand	Beach plus food	7–10 days	A$1,900–A$3,400	Christmas week is peak season
Vietnam	Food and good value	7–10 days	A$1,700–A$3,000	Weather varies by region
Fiji	Fly-and-flop break	5–7 days	A$1,900–A$3,600	Wet/cyclone season needs flexibility

1. New Zealand South Island: the straightforward summer road trip

Choose New Zealand when you want long daylight hours, hiking and a trip that feels international without a complicated arrival. Queenstown, Wānaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook and the West Coast work well as an 8–12 day loop, but trying to cover both islands in one week creates more driving than holiday.

For Australian citizens travelling on an Australian passport, Immigration New Zealand says no visa or NZeTA is normally required; everyone must still complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration. Australian permanent residents have different NZeTA requirements, so check the official New Zealand entry guidance for the passport you will use.

Book first: rental car, Milford Sound day trip and accommodation around Aoraki. Compare a compact car and full insurance through QEEQ, then check whether a guided South Island experience is better value than a long detour.

2. Japan: cities first, snow second

December gives Japan two distinct trips. Early December is good for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with cool weather and fewer domestic holiday crowds. From mid-month, Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps begin to attract skiers, but reliable snow conditions vary by resort and year.

Australians are currently eligible for visa-free short tourism visits of up to 90 days, according to Smartraveller’s Japan advice. Confirm again before departure because entry rules can change.

A sensible first trip is Tokyo for four nights, Kyoto for three and Osaka for two. Add a ski stop only if snow is the main purpose; it raises transport and accommodation costs. Read the Japan travel guide for Australian travellers before choosing a rail pass—individual tickets are often better for a simple route.

3. Tasmania: the lowest-friction option

Tasmania is the best choice when passport logistics, long flights or exchange rates would turn a holiday into work. A 7-day loop can combine Hobart, the Tasman Peninsula, Freycinet and Launceston; add Cradle Mountain only if you can give the route more time.

December brings long evenings, but the weather can still change quickly. Carry layers and do not build an itinerary that depends on one summit day. Our Tasmania road-trip guide covers route choices and realistic driving times.

Book first: a car with clear excess terms, then national-park accommodation. Search current rental-car options before locking in non-refundable hotels.

4. Singapore: a four-night food and city break

Singapore works when annual leave is tight. Four nights is enough for hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay, the National Gallery, neighbourhood walks and one island or wildlife day. December is humid and showery, so plan one indoor alternative each day rather than abandoning the trip over the forecast.

Accommodation is the biggest cost. Staying near an MRT station outside Marina Bay usually matters more than choosing a famous district. Use the Singapore guide from Australia, compare live hotel prices, and reserve ticketed attractions through Klook only after the basic itinerary is set.

5. Thailand: pick one coast, not the whole country

December is attractive for Bangkok and much of Thailand, but “Thailand in a week” is too broad. Pair Bangkok with either Chiang Mai or one beach base. Every extra domestic flight consumes time, baggage fees and part of the budget you meant to spend on the ground.

Christmas and New Year dates sell at a premium. If you can travel in the first half of December, the same trip is usually easier to assemble. Check live fares on the flight comparison page and keep enough margin for transfers between airports, ferries and resorts.

6. Vietnam: best when you choose the region by weather

Vietnam is long enough that December weather differs substantially by region. Southern Vietnam is a natural choice for warmer conditions, while northern Vietnam can be cool. Central-coast conditions can be more variable. Check the local forecast for your exact stops rather than relying on a country-wide weather summary.

Ho Chi Minh City plus the Mekong Delta or Phú Quốc is a manageable first route. Vietnam’s official immigration portal currently offers electronic visas, but the rules depend on nationality and passport; use the official e-visa portal rather than a lookalike site.

7. Fiji: a relaxing trip with a weather caveat

Fiji is the clearest “do less” option on this list. Five to seven nights lets you choose either a resort base or a main-island stay with day trips. December is within the wet and tropical-cyclone season, so this is not the destination for a rigid, weather-dependent schedule.

Book flexible rates, read the insurance wording for weather disruption, and avoid assuming every island transfer will operate in all conditions. Compare travel insurance options before paying non-refundable resort deposits.

How to keep a December trip affordable

1. Move away from 20 December–3 January if you can. Even shifting a few days can change the fare.
2. Search the whole trip cost. A cheap flight plus an expensive transfer is not a cheap trip.
3. Start with one route. Open-jaw or multi-city itineraries can reduce backtracking.
4. Pay for flexibility where weather matters. Fiji and mountain itineraries deserve different cancellation decisions from a city break.
5. Check the final currency amount. Use the forex calculator, then include card fees and cash withdrawals.

The practical verdict

Choose New Zealand for the best all-round summer trip, Japan for the strongest contrast with an Australian December, Tasmania for low-friction value, and Singapore when you only have four or five days. Choose Thailand or Vietnam for food and warmer weather, but narrow the trip to one region. Choose Fiji only with flexible bookings and weather-aware insurance.

Want a second set of eyes before paying? Send your dates, departure city and approximate budget through the free trip cost check. We will point out the expensive transfers, unrealistic timing or missing costs before you book.