The best summer holiday deals to book right now

The holiday season is creeping up on us and now is the perfect time to book your summer getaway.

Coming up to the end of the year, many of us are dreaming of a break and starting to plan how we spend our precious holiday time. Thankfully, there is a range of accommodation, experience and cruise deals buzzing around the market to help make this time of year even more special.

We’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up a range of holiday deals to ensure you have the summer break you deserve.

Accommodation

Australia: All Accor Hotel Escape Sale

The exterior of 25Hours Hotel Sydney — The newly opened 25hours Hotel The Olympia.

French multinational hospitality company are offering up to 20 per cent off , when you book two nights or more at hotel brands like, Pullman, Peppers, Mantra, Novotel, Mercure and ibis from now until 31 March, 2026. Some of the dreamiest stays include the newly opened 25hrs The Olympia in Sydney, perfect for a summer escape in the city, or Peppers Broadbeach for a coastal getaway.

Bookings: Now until 10 January, 2026

Hamilton Island: The Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and The Sundays

The swimming pool at The Sundays, Hamilton Island — Lock in a stay at the coveted The Sundays, Hamilton Island.

Idyllic Hamilton Island is perfect for family getaways or couples retreats, offering Whitsunday adventures galore. Spend the holiday season in the tropics at one of the island’s best accommodations. Christmas and New Year’s Eve festive packages are available at Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and The Sundays for stays of five nights or more, including December 24 and 25, 2025.

The Reef View Hotel and Palm Bungalows are offering deals that combine stay and festive dining, a fantastic value package for families celebrating Christmas on Hamilton Island. The five-night or more package includes Christmas Day buffet lunch, and if you book a Reef Suite or Superior Reef suites, breakfast is also included, plus other standard inclusions. This can save families up to $396 for two adults and two children.

Want a more luxurious experience? Spending Christmas and/or New Year at The Sundays will be an unforgettable family affair. They are offering a five-night+ package that includes Christmas Day lunch or dinner at Catseye Pool Club, a complimentary glass of champagne, a la carte breakfast daily at Catseye Pool Club, plus standard The Sundays inclusions. You could save up to $365 (based on two adults and one child).

Sydney: Fullerton Sydney

The grand exterior of the Fullerton Sydney — Base yourself in the heart of Sydney.

Those in need of a staycation or wanting to spend the holidays in Sydney should turn their attention to the Fullerton Sydney. The “Love Sydney Today " package offers a convenient CBD location with several perks, including: Daily breakfast for two, complimentary self-parking for one vehicle, late check-out until 1pm and free breakfast for children up to 12 years old staying in existing bedding. Get in quick though, as the first 100 bookings will also get a A$100 food and beverage dining credit to use during the stay. From $499.

Promotion code: AUSTRAVELLER

Newcastle: QT Newcastle

A suite at QT Newcastle — Relax in style at QT Newcastle.

Discover charming Newcastle and stay at the city’s premier hotel QT Newcastle with the “Seek Off Beat" promotion. Get 15 per cent off the best available rate for a two-night stay (starting from $255 per person, per night), a $100 food and beverage credit and a late checkout at 12 noon.

Promotion code: SEEKOFFBEAT

Flinders Ranges: Arkaba Homestead

Arkaba Homestead in the outback — Arkaba is a private wildlife conservancy, and guests can stay in the beautiful homestead.

For the ultimate outback stay, Arkaba Homestead, a wildlife conservancy in South Australia’s picturesque Flinders Ranges, is great for unwinding after the Christmas rush. Enjoy a three-night, all-inclusive summer retreat in the historic homestead with the “Rest, Reset & Reconnect" package , which includes twice-daily guided safaris and bush walks focusing on wildlife and conservation, all meals and beverages and chef-led tastings. Bask in peaceful mountain views, leisure time by the pool and stargazing under the outback sky.

Available from: 27–30 December 2025 (three nights)

Rate: $5,985 per room (twin share) for three nights, at a discounted seasonal rate (saving $1,440).

Gold Coast: JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa

A room at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa — Soak up summer on the Gold Coast at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa.

Luxury vacationers and families can soak up summer on the Gold Coast with a two-night stay at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa. The “Luxury Escape by JW GOLD COAST" package offers a two-night luxury stay in a guest room with a hinterland view, two welcome drinks each upon arrival, buffet breakfast for two at the Citrique restaurant, $50 AUD daily resort credit usable at onsite dining venues, Spa by JW treatments or resort activities and complimentary self-parking.

The “Family Getaway at JW Marriott Gold Coast" package offers a two-night luxury stay in a guest room with a hinterland view, daily buffet breakfast for two adults and two children, daily complimentary children’s meals, complimentary snorkel hire to swim in the resort’s saltwater lagoon and a choice of Family by JW activity, including pizza and sushi making classes and more.

Experiences

Australia: Great Southern Festive Escape 2025

Give yourself the gift of a bucketlist-worthy Christmas onboard a luxury train that traverses Australia’s East Coast. The Great Southern Festive Sale can save travellers up to $1,910 per couple if you book by 30 November 2025. Enjoy private cabins (Gold Twin, Gold Premium, and Platinum classes, each with varying luxury levels), gourmet meals including a fabulous Christmas Day lunch and stops for curated activities outside the train and a city stay in Adelaide.

Central Coast: Broken Bay Pearl Farm

Summer days call for indulging in fresh oysters, and Broken Bay Pearl Farm is offering 15 per cent off all of their experiences. Located on the stunning Lower Hawkesbury River, browse the selection of locally grown pearls, shells and jewellery, before enjoying some fresh local oysters outside while enjoying the river views.

Use code: COASTXMAS15

Tasmania: Tarkine and Cradle Mountain

Intrepid Travel’s six-day guided tour, “Best of Tasmania’s Tarkine & Cradle Mountain “, allows travellers to see Tassie’s most spectacular sites, including the ancient temperate rainforests of the Tarkine and enjoy walks and wildlife in Cradle Mountain National Park. Departing January 4, 2026, the six-day tour includes a local leader, activities, accommodation, transport and some meals, and they’re offering 20 per cent off for a total of $2,716 per person.

Tasmania: Hobart and Launceston

AAT Kings is offering two guided tours through Tasmania to experience the state’s divine national parks and wildlife. The AAT KINGS Tassie’s Wilderness Icons tour runs for six days, five nights from 27 December from Hobart to Launceston, visiting Mt Field, Franklin-Gordon, and Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair. For those seeking a longer getaway, the 10-day, more comprehensive Tasmanian Wonders includes additional destinations. Spot Tassie Devils and penguins, savour fresh seafood and cheese, and explore dramatic mountains and pristine lakes.
Tassie’s Wilderness Icons: $2,979 per person (after 10 per cent off, originally $3,310)
Tasmanian Wonders: $4,667 per person (after 9 per cent off)

Cruising

Sydney: Celebrity Cruises

Kangaroo Island coastline — Discover the picturesque Kangaroo Island. (Image: Frame)

This wine-focused cruise around Australia is designed for travellers who enjoy scenic coastal experiences, fine dining and exploring Australia’s renowned wine regions. The nine-night wine tour departs from 5 January 26, returning 14 January 2026, docking at Hobart, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide and Melbourne. Celebrity Cruises is currently offering up to 75 per cent off the second guest’s fare with rates starting at $4139 per person based on two people sharing an Infinite Veranda stateroom.

Sydney: Silversea

Experience-seeking travellers should turn their attention to the Silversea Sydney–Auckland luxury cruise . Departing just after Christmas, this 13-day cruise suits those seeking a festive yet sophisticated summer escape in the Southern Hemisphere. The itinerary combines coastal scenery, wildlife experiences, art, heritage sites, and nature-focused excursions along Australia’s east coast to Tasmania, then across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. A 20 per cent limited-time discount applies to the All-Inclusive (covers accommodation, meals, drinks, gratuities, most onboard activities) and All-Inclusive Plus (includes everything above plus a US$720 shore-excursion credit per guest to use on tours in each port) fare types.

Booking code: SN251227013

Sydney to New Zealand: Princess Cruises 14-Day New Zealand Holiday

There is last-minute availability on the Discovery Princess’s 14-day New Zealand cruise over Christmas and New Year (December 20-January 3). It’s the ship’s inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand, and a rare opportunity to board a brand new ship. The 14-day New Zealand Discovery Princess cruise takes travellers to the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Picton, Dunedin and the Fiordland National Park.

Prices start from $4399 per person, including $600 onboard spending money per stateroom.

The Mornington Peninsula is a coastline of contrasts, where convict and military history meets shipwrecks, wild seas and adventures above and below the surface.

The Mornington Peninsula can be the kind of place where salt-tangled hair feels like a badge of honour – proof you’ve been somewhere wild, raw and real. Peel back the layers and you’ll discover stories that anchor this region to something other than its famed food and wine.

This land is the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people. Long before grapevines were planted and artisanal goods were crafted, the Bunurong Traditional Owners lived in deep connection with the land and sea. Today, places such as Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary echo that tradition, with families exploring its rockpools in search of colourful sea stars and crabs at low tide and learning how these fragile ecosystems have been cared for across countless generations.

a group of people visiting the Port Nepean National Park — Take in the rugged coastal landscape at Port Nepean National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

A visit to Point Nepean National Park feels like stepping back through time. The fort, built in 1882, protected the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay until the end of the Second World War. It was here that the first Allied shot of the First World War was fired – at a German cargo ship trying to escape just hours after war was declared. Nearby, the old Quarantine Station, one of Australia’s first permanent quarantine facilities, established in 1852, still stands. Walking through the hospital and disinfecting complex evokes stories of those who arrived from faraway shores.

Not far from here is a story of survival that inspired the Aussie phrase ‘you’ve got Buckley’s chance’. In 1803, escaped convict William Buckley vanished into the bush near what’s now Sorrento. Everyone thought he had no hope of surviving, but he reappeared 32 years later, having lived with local Aboriginal people.

Even the waters here hold history. The infamous stretch known as The Rip, just three kilometres wide at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, is among the most treacherous waterways. Countless ships were lost here in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and in 1967, Australia’s own Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming off the coast, never to be found.

a seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay — A seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

But for all its danger, the sea here also holds extraordinary beauty. Dolphins are often seen near Sorrento’s cliffs, while below the surface, seagrass meadows and rocky reefs teem with life. Marine tours offer a viewing to this underwater wonderland, while back on terra firma, walking trails lead along beaches, through coastal scrub, and over rock pools.

And if you think you’ll forget about the Mornington Peninsula once you’ve left? You’ve got Buckley’s chance.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the suite interior at InterContinental Sorrento — Luxury interiors at the historic InterContinental Sorrento. (Image: Greg Elms)

Point Nepean Discovery Tents is immersive glamping beside the historic Quarantine Station. Or upgrade to luxury at the 1875-built InterContinental Sorrento .

Playing there

an aerial view of Cape Schanck Lighthouse — Make your way to the Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

Bayplay Adventure Tours offer eco-adventures from snorkelling with sea dragons to kayaking with dolphins and cycling Point Nepean. Cape Schanck Lighthouse is fascinating to explore on a guided tour, which takes you into the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage.

Eating there

Portsea Hotel is a beautifully restored 1876 Tudor-style pub right on the beach, serving seasonal local fare.