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If 2026 was the year of coolcations, sleepmaxxing and noctourism, what will 2027 bring? Expedia Group’s latest global trends report is officially in, predicting the exact destinations and travel behaviours shaping our getaways in the year ahead. The biggest surprise? More Aussies are swapping ocean views for cosy, landlocked country vibes.
Dubbed ‘Heartland Holidays’ in the Unpack ’27 report, this shift sees travellers prioritising local culture, farm-to-table food and budget-friendly inland destinations. According to Expedia and Stayz data, 57 per cent of Aussie travellers opted for non-coastal holidays in the past year – with that figure only expected to go up in 2027.
Interestingly, Australia’s only landlocked capital city is the top trending inland holiday destination right now. Searches for flights and accommodation in Canberra surged by 55 per cent year-on-year, with travellers trading crowded coastal strips for the capital’s world-class galleries, killer coffee and cool-climate wineries.
Aussies are also flocking to alpine hot spots like Crackenback (up 45 per cent) and Mount Hotham (up 40 per cent), while hiking hubs like the Blue Mountains (up 20 per cent) and Tamborine Mountain (up 15 per cent) picked up momentum. Food and wine escapes are trending too, led by Nannup (up 15 per cent), Hahndorf (up 15 per cent) and the Yarra Valley (up ten per cent).
I’m lucky to have visited more than half of Australia’s top ten trending ‘Heartland’ destinations, all of which sit within a few hours’ drive of their closest capital city. On a recent spring getaway to the Southern Highlands, I rediscovered the relaxed charm of a classic country reset. Instead of fighting for a parking spot at the beach, my weekend turned into a slow, deliberate crawl through antique stores, tulip gardens and farm-to-table restaurants.
My home for the weekend was Treehouse, a cosy 1950s weatherboard cottage in Moss Vale. It felt a world away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney, and offered me the ultimate reset: quiet afternoons, home-cooked meals, and hours spent doing puzzles.
So, take this as your sign to skip the airport chaos and coastal traffic for a classic country escape. Here are the top trending destinations to book before everyone else catches on…
The top 10 trending inland destinations in Australia for 2027:
- Canberra, ACT – 55 per cent search increase
- Crackenback, NSW – 45 per cent
- Mount Hotham, VIC – 40 per cent
- Dubbo, NSW – 20 per cent
- Blue Mountains, NSW – 20 per cent
- Nannup, WA – 15 per cent
- Hahndorf, SA – 15 per cent
- Southern Highlands, NSW – 15 per cent
- Tamborine Mountain, QLD – 15 per cent
- Yarra Valley, VIC – 10 per cent