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The secret is out! This NSW region just made a second coveted global best list for 2026

Credit: Destination NSW

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
‘Byron without the crowds’ was the only Australian place to make Expedia Destinations Of The Year for 2026.

Another respected global list ranking the best destinations around the world: another mention of Byron Bay’s little brother. This time, Expedia’s Destinations Of The Year ranked The Tweed among the top 10 spots in the world that a rapidly increasing number of travellers are desperate to visit. And we know it’s for very good reason.

What is Expedia’s Destinations Of The Year list?

Couple exploring the sugar cane fields at sunset in Duranbah, Tweed
Away from the beaches, find mountain landscapes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Each year, Expedia releases its Unpack list, using real search data to track where traveller interest is climbing for everything from travel trends to travel destinations. And the Destinations of the Year list ranks some of 2027’s fastest-growing travel destinations, meaning they may not be in the mainstream travel zeitgeist just yet, but they’re definitely on the way.

On top of that, six of this year’s destinations met the criteria to receive a tick from Expedia’s Smart Travel Health Check – including The Tweed. This means the destinations don’t just offer memorable experiences; they manage tourism offerings responsibly. The judging framework for this tick was inspired by the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) report on actions for sustainable tourism management.

Why The Tweed?

Lead by chef Ben Devlin and wife Yen Trinh, Pipit is a creative showcase of the flavours, seasons, landscapes, and producers of the Northern Rivers and Tweed Coast
The Tweed is loved for its farm-to-table offerings, like Pipit Restaurant. (Credit: Destination NSW)

There’s no question The Tweed is gaining in popularity, and there are many reasons why. A trip to The Tweed finds sprawling hinterland, quaint villages and coastal towns to explore. While uncrowded beaches are just the beginning, you’ll also find a mix of outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, diverse wellness offerings and delicious dining options (which are particularly lauded for making use of the region’s abundant local produce).

After analysing the data, Expedia found that interest in The Tweed is currently up by 35 per cent over the last year.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Travel trends taking the spotlight

Women heading out for a morning surf at Cabarita Beach, a place on the tweed which was named in Expedia's Destinations Of The Year 2027
Travel groups are organising their trips around shared hobbies. (Credit: Destination NSW)

The Unpack List also shares the growing travel trends likely to take over in 2027. And it looks like we all need a whimsical break.

The first is what Expedia has dubbed “un-adulting"; the urge to ditch adult responsibilities for joyful, carefree and nostalgic trips. Not surprisingly, it’s particularly popular among Gen Z and Millennials. Think Disneyland and carefree, themed nights.

Travelling for your hobby isn’t new to the scene, but it appears to be going nowhere. Whether it’s reading, crafting, photography, or game nights, booking group holidays now tends to be based around a common hobby (and often takes place in a holiday rental large enough for everyone to fit).

Set jetting is another travel trend we can never quite let go of, even if we haven’t seen the show or film yet. This year, Expedia found that nearly half of surveyed travellers reported proactively researching or booking trips to destinations featured in still-unreleased TV shows and films. For example, searches for Monaco spiked by over 120 per cent in the 30 days after Emily in Paris confirmed season six would be filming there.

Head to Expedia’s Unpack ’27 List for full details on trending destinations and ways of travel.

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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Ticking off Australia’s icons? These hotels can help.

(Credit: DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs)

    Monique Ceccato Monique Ceccato
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    Your guide to where to stay for easy access to some of Australia’s most famed attractions.

    Ellery Creek Big Hole, the Busselton Jetty and Lamington National Park; they’re just a handful of some of Australia’s most incredible attractions. With a car and a conveniently located home base, there’s absolutely no reason you can’t start ticking them off your must-see list.

    And where there are iconic sights, there’s a Hilton ready to welcome you.

    1. Darwin

    dawrin waterfront
    Make Hilton Darwin your base for city and wildlife adventures.

    Considered Australia’s portal to Asia, Darwin’s proximity to Indonesia and Timor-Leste has resulted in a highly multicultural population. There’s a strong Southeast Asian influence that coexists with the ancient customs and cultural traditions of the land’s traditional custodians, the Larrakia people. One of the finest examples is Darwin’s most acclaimed dish. It’s not damper or a meat pie, but spicy laksa. You’ll find it everywhere in the city, even at the weekly sunset markets.

    Just a day trip away lie the region’s other major drawcards, the oases of Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park.

    How best to explore it all? Check into Hilton Darwin, or sister properties DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin and Hilton Garden Inn Darwin. Spend the day exploring, then return to delicious meals at these hotel restaurants, and cool down in their refreshing pools.

    2. Gold Coast

    A sea-view room at Hilton Surfers Paradise.
    Stay in the centre of it all.

    What do New York and the Gold Coast have in common? Their iconic skylines. High-rise after high-rise line the city’s 70km stretch of swimmable, surfable, and walkable beach, the majority clustered around the coast’s beating heart, Surfers Paradise.

    It’s the region’s most lively and energetic suburb, known for the nightclubs, shops, and restaurants that sit along Cavill Ave. Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences is right there in the middle of the action, close enough to walk to dinner and drinks, but far enough away to retreat to when you need some R&R.

    For further respite, explore the nearby hinterland. Head towards Lamington National Park in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests for winding hiking trails surrounded by dense tropical foliage and waterfalls.

    3. Alice Springs

    DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs framed by the rugged MacDonnell Ranges.
    Venture into the outback.

    Surrounded by ancient desert and dramatic natural landscapes, there’s plenty to see and do around the ‘gateway to the Red Centre’, Alice Springs. Base yourself at the DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs in the town centre, soaking up views of the iconic Macdonnell Ranges and enjoying native Australian flavours from on-site restaurant, Saltbush.

    Starting just 10-minutes from your accommodation, seasoned hikers can find the famous Larapinta Trail runs through West Macdonnell National Park, from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station through to Mount Sonder.

    Wander the galleries and museums in the Araluen Cultural Precinct to learn more about the Arrernte people – the traditional custodians of Mparntwe. Join an Indigenous-led tour within the region to delve deeper.

    4. Busselton

    Hilton Garden Inn Busselton set against the sea.
    Experience Busselton’s coastal charm.

    World-class wines, sunsets over the ocean, and long stretches of calm beach; Busselton is known for it all. But the heritage-listed, timber-piled Busselton Jetty is the coastal city’s most famous icon.

    At intervals along it, locals dangle squid jigs and baited hooks over the edge, and teens and tweens take flying leaps into the water below. Visitors can also join, but walking the length of the 1.84km jetty is the most popular pastime. It takes approximately 20-30 minutes to reach the underwater observatory at the end, where you can see squid, sea stars, and the occasional Western Blue Groper in the corals and sea sponges. Walk or catch the train back to shore, where cold beer and pizza beckon at the jetty-front Shelter Brewing Co.

    From there, it’s just a hop, skip, and jump to the Hilton Garden Inn Busselton, where upper-level rooms afford you some of the finest views of Busselton’s biggest star.

    5. Cairns

    Hilton Cairns viewed from below, showcasing its tropical pool and resort-style surrounds.
    Make Hilton Cairns your gateway to the reef and rainforest.

    There’s no other place on earth like Cairns. It’s the city where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites sit side-by-side: the lush vegetation of the 130-million-year-old Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest meeting the iridescent blue waters and white-sand beaches of the Great Barrier Reef.

    Settle in to either Hilton Cairns or DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns in the heart of the city, to walk the esplanade or catch a ferry out to this iconic reef. It’s also only a two-hour drive to the Wet Tropics’ most famed region, the Daintree Rainforest. Make it to Cape Tribulation within the Daintree, and you’ve reached the point where the rainforest literally meets the beach and the reef.

    6. Albany

    Aerial view of Misery Beach, located within Torndirrup National Park. .
    Take a break from history in Torndirrup National Park. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    For tens of thousands of soldiers in the first convoy, headed for the battlefields of WWI, the panoramic views of King George Sound were the last glimpses they had of Australian soil. The significance of this moment set the foundations for Albany’s deep-rooted ANZAC history. 

    At the National ANZAC Centre, a five-minute drive from Hilton Garden Inn Albany, the personal stories of some of these soldiers unfold through interactive multimedia displays, from their experiences with recruitment and training to their time on the front lines in Gallipoli.

    Head back to your hotel to recharge while soaking in the stunning views of Princess Royal Harbour. Then try a natural change of pace at Torndirrup National Park. It’s prime wildflower-spotting country from September to November.

    Start planning an iconic holiday at hilton.com.