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We all know how taking a big old break from the office grind can boost our day-to-day joy levels. But according to Airbnb, there’s a new way to hack your happiness in 2026: ‘Weekending’. Never heard of it? Neither had we until five minutes ago – but it’s pretty easy to get the gist. Instead of waiting for one big annual holiday, Australians are now spreading the joy year-round by taking more short, regional trips.
Airbnb describes weekending as the modern, stress‑free alternative to a traditional holiday – an easy, close‑to‑home escape that delivers a genuine mental reset without the admin overload. New research they commissioned found 91 per cent of Aussies feel that a weekend getaway leaves them feeling revitalised – sometimes even more than a long-haul trip.
To provide you with some weekending inspo, Airbnb has rounded up the top weekend getaways across Australia that are close enough to major cities – and two NSW gems made the list. The charming wine region of Polkobin (in the Hunter Valley) and the gorgeous beach town of Callala (in the Shoalhaven region) ranked fourth and fifth on the list respectively – each within three hours’ drive of the CBD, but far enough to make you feel like you’re really getting out of the city.
According to Airbnb, Warrnambool – aka the largest town along the Great Ocean Road – is the best weekending destination in the country for 2026. This vibrant coastal hub has been a longstanding favourite with Melbournians, just a breezy three-hour drive from the CBD. Last year, Warrnambool won the title of Victoria’s Top Tourism Town, largely thanks to its rich maritime history, excellent beaches and some of the best whale watching in the state. If you’ve never been, your weekend plans are officially sorted.
Next up was Inverloch, a charming coastal town in Victoria loved for its family-friendly beaches, scenic coastal drive and calm nature walks. Located just two hours from Melbourne City, you could clock off work on a Friday arvo, arrive in time for dinner and then lap up the entire weekend.
You’ll find the full list below, and you’ll find our pick of the best weekend getaways from Sydney over here.
The top 10 weekend getaways in Australia
- Warrnambool, VIC
- Inverloch, VIC
- Mandurah, WA
- Pokolbin, NSW
- Callala, NSW
- Maleny, QLD
- North Stradbroke Island, QLD
- Tanunda, SA
- Port Willunga, SA
- Bicheno, TAS
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