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The trip worth taking is already on your doorstep.
The best trip you’ll take this winter doesn’t require an expensive long haul flight to get to. Overseas travel is more expensive and harder than it used to be, but that’s not an excuse to stay home. It’s a reason to get out and see more of your own backyard. From city breaks to nature retreats and coastal escapes – YHA has affordable stays all across Australia, right where the adventure is.
Skip the long-haul for an adventure close to home
Germany on your mind? Adelaide has it all
Oktoberfest energy, wine country on your doorstep, and a vibrant German influence. Adelaide delivers it all without the 22-hour flight. Lively festivals and events bring Adelaide to life in winter, paired with an up-and-coming food & wine scene and underrated cultural gems.
Raring for Reykjavik? How about Hobart?
If you're looking for culture, hot springs, and magical night skies, then this small Tasmanian city ticks all the boxes. Come to catch a glimpse of the "Southern Lights", stay for the hearty restaurants, cosy bars and roaring calendar of seasonal events.
Looking at London? Choose Melbourne instead
Laneways, live music, sporting events, weather that keeps you guessing. Melbourne is Australia's cultural capital where there's always something happening in the winter months - perfect for a solo recharge or a group trip.
Considering Lisbon? Bounce over to Brisbane
Warm, walkable and welcoming. Brissy's riverside charm heats up in the winter months – plus, with daytime temperatures regularly hitting the 20s, it'll barely even feel like winter! Grab a pastel de nata with your flat white, and switch into holiday mode.
Maldives too expensive? Fly over to Fremantle
If you're seeking turquoise waters and white sand beaches, WA delivers. Dodge the heat and visit Fremantle when the tourists don’t. This vibrant port city has a wealth of museums, galleries and historical sites to enjoy with fewer crowds.
Skip Los Angeles, get starstruck in Sydney
Internationally recognised as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the Harbour City is just as spectacular in winter, especially when Australia's famous festival of light, Vivid, comes to town from May-June. Beaches, sunshine and alfresco vibes await.
Pondering Porto? Never thought of Newcastle?
A beachside city with a rising reputation for its food and arts, it’s no surprise Newcastle has lots going on all year round. Just a short escape from Sydney, it offers great bites, breweries, and a buzzing live music scene, plus glimpses of migrating whales offshore.
Bright lights and buzzing nightlife in the big city
Australia’s best city swaps this winter
A lot of people book flights to London for the culture, Lisbon for the alfresco scene, or LA for the bright lights and big stars. The truth is, Australia's capitals already deliver this, and more.
Sydney in winter
Throw off the doona, here's your ultimate guide to all the unique things you can do around Sydney this winter.
9 Aussie winter festivals worth booking a trip for
Choosing to hibernate at home this winter? Think again. With so many festivals and events to choose from, you'll realise there's no excuse to stay inside.
The best ways to enjoy Melbourne in winter
From cosy pubs and winter markets to ice skating, footy games, festivals and galleries, there's something for everyone in Victoria's capital during the cooler months.
7 reasons you'll love Tasmania this winter
In Tasmania, winter offers a mix of wild festivals, hearty food and drink, stunning scenery, bracing walks and warm hospitality that you won't find anywhere else in Australia.
What to do in Australia in winter
If you've had your fill of cricket matches and BBQs at Bondi, and want to try something a bit... Cooler... Here's some of the greatest things you can experience Down Under during winter!
Thinking about Tuscany? Go to the Grampians
Regional Victoria is where vineyard country meets some seriously impressive landscapes. Sip, snack, snooze, repeat - this is the ultimate weekend getaway, with picturesque cellar doors and postcard-perfect mountains calling your name.
Captivated by Cornwall? You'll be awed in Apollo Bay
Swap the traffic jams for a charming coastal road trip - Apollo Bay is just a short escape from Melbourne but you'll feel an entire world away. Spend a couple of days or an entire week enjoying great food, cliffside walks, lush rainforest and thundering waterfalls.
Interested in Ireland’s coastal charm? Pack the car and head to Port Elliot
Picturesque Port Elliot in Adelaide's Fleurieu Peninsula is the ideal destination in winter for brisk sea breezes and long walks. It also plays host to a pod of southern right whales, who raise their calves in the calm waters off Basham's Beach.
Searching for the Scottish Highlands? Katoomba is much closer
Just a short drive or train journey from Sydney, yet it feels a whole world away - the Blue Mountains are the ultimate nature escape. Pack a jacket, pop the out-of-office-on, and get back to basics - bushwalks, board games and roaring fireplaces await.
Wildlife, waterfalls and wow-moments in nature
Go far, stay near: Getaways that feel like you’re overseas
Australia's landscapes are more diverse than you think. So too are the reasons to travel closer to home this winter.
7 reasons to visit the Grampians in winter
This breathtaking region of Victoria has adventure in store around every corner, and if you're brave enough to embrace the chill, there's plenty to love about visiting during the brisk cold season. Not convinced? Read on...
7 ways to save money skiing in Thredbo
Strap on your ski boots and read on to discover seven ways to make your next Thredbo 'snowcation' more affordable this winter.
Searching for California's surf vibe? Coolangatta is for you
Located on Queensland's iconic Gold Coast, Coolangatta is a beach paradise that hardly skips a beat when the cooler months roll in. The tourists go home, the surf stays immaculate and the water temperature rarely dips below 20°C.
Dreaming of Bali? How about Byron Bay?
Chasing waves this winter? Byron has all the surf vibes, without needing your passport. A hub for digital nomads, persuade your boss for an extra week of remote work while staying in the same time zone, and start your day with a yoga and açaí, before logging off and catching a big one.
Want a tropical escape? Skip Cancún, Cairns is calling
An adventure tourism hub and the gateway to Tropical North Queensland's spectacular natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, balmy Cairns never experiences a true winter at all, with May-August the most popular time to visit.
Surf, sand and serenity along the coast
Need a break this winter? Here’s 9 reasons why
Desperately need a winter escape but don’t know where to start? The trip worth taking is already on your doorstop, and Australia’s colder months deliver much more than most give them credit for.
![7 Australian destinations that are better [and cheaper] via train or coach](/globalassets/site-wide-shared-content/generic-images/coastal_train.png)
7 Australian destinations that are better [and cheaper] via train or coach
A train journey or bus ride is all you need to reach mountain lookouts with the wow factor, sweeping coastlines where whales swim with their calves, and port cities famous for fresh seafood and afternoon sun.
Why you should visit Byron Bay in winter
In fact, you could argue that a visit to this iconic Aussie destination in the cooler months offers a more authentic experience, one that goes deeper than summer’s Insta-perfect sunshine smiles and shirtless surf gods.
It's a date - the perfect winter events & festivals
Whip out your diary and warm up the group chat, Australia's cooler months are full of exciting events and festivals to get excited about. Ignite your winter with dazzling light shows, hearty festivals, and scrumptious culinary events to nourish the soul. Find your spark with our favourite winter events below.
Vivid Sydney
22 May – 13 June | Transforming Sydney for 23 days and nights, Vivid lights up the city with awe-inspiring art installations and 3D light projections, casting a magical glow upon Sydney’s iconic buildings and urban spaces.
Illuminate Adelaide
1 – 19 July | Illuminate Adelaide is South Australia's answer to Vivid, held annually on Kaurna Country. The festival is the city's brightest celebration of art, light, music, and technology and brings late nights, bright lights, and big adventures.
Dark Mofo
11 - 22 June | Hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art, pagan-inspired Dark Mofo rings in winter with an utterly unique calendar of exhilarating, colourful and often challenging events, art installations and more.
Rising (Melbourne)
27 May – 8 June | RISING is a festival of new art, music, and performance lighting up the long winter nights in the heart of Naarm/Melbourne. Brave the chill and experience the city like you've never seen before.
South Australian Living Artists Festival
1 – 31 August | SALA is a showcase of South Australia’s living visual artists, with events and exhibitions featuring everyone from grass roots to world-famous artists held across Adelaide and beyond.
Wallabies (Rugby Union)
July – September | See the Wallabies live in action in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth, with the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia and The Rugby Championship hot on its heels.
Byron Bay Writers Festival
14 – 16 August | The largest regional literary festival in Australia, the Byron Writers Festival draws some of the best writers in the world and thousands of attendees in an immersive, outdoor event.
Sydney Marathon
30 August | Recently joining London and New York as an Abbott World Marathon Major, the Sydney Marathon's 42.2km route features stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Milsons Point and Sydney Opera House and more.
State of Origin
27 May (Sydney), 17 June (Melbourne), 8 July (Brisbane) | Australian sport's greatest rivalry is back! This year, the 3-game rugby league series is contested across multiple states with games in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Sale T&Cs:
Stay 2 nights (or more) & save - 25% off for YHA members, 15% off for all other guests. Members must be logged into the YHA Explorer app or yha.com.au to access the discount. Select 'YHA Member Winter Sale - Save 25% / YHA Member Winter Sale - Save 25% Including Breakfast' or 'Winter Sale - Save 15% / Winter Sale - Save 15% Including Breakfast' on yha.com.au and 'Winter Sale - Save 25% / Winter Sale - Save 25% Including Breakfast' in the YHA Explorer app.
Valid for bookings made between 19th - 25th May 2026 for select dates across 2026. Please see individual property pages for further details on eligible stay dates and blackout periods (vary by property).
Does not apply to group or Rent-a-YHA bookings.
Full payment will be charged to your credit card at the time of booking. Bookings are non-refundable and subject to availability. Eligible stay dates and blackout periods vary by property.
Offer available when booking direct via the YHA Explorer app, YHA website, or with our Reservations team.
