Bathurst and Orange are among the state's trending destinations to travel to during the winter school holidays compared to previous years, as revealed by new data, which also shows Dubbo to be this year's most popular spot.
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Wotif.com - an Australian-made, accommodation reservation website for domestic and international travellers - released figures this week which reveal interest in family holidays to both Bathurst and Orange has skyrocketed in the opening months of 2021.
Families looking to book accommodation in Bathurst for holidays between June 26 and July 18 has astoundingly increased by more than 970 per cent, based on interest shown in the first six months of this year compared to the same period in 2019.
It's clear many Aussies are happily embracing the chance to holiday at home this year.
- Wotif managing director Daniel Finch
With that incredible figure, outside capital cities Bathurst is the top trending winter school holiday destination with Orange ranking sixth with an interest increase of close to 610 per cent compared to 2019.
Batemans Bay (780 per cent increase), Merimbula (780 per cent), the Hunter Valley (690 per cent) and Jervis Bay (680 per cent) are also among the top trending destinations.
However based on the Wotif.com figures, the most popular destination for family holidays between June 26 and July 18 this year is, in fact, Dubbo.
That list, which features neither Bathurst nor Orange, is determined by accommodation demand for family travellers between those dates, based on interest shown and reservations made between January 1 and June 6.
Dubbo tops the list ahead of Coffs Harbour, Jindabyne, Port Macquarie, the Hunter Valley, Newcastle, the Blue Mountains, the Entrance, Byron Bay and Albury.
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The chance to land in a genuine winter wonderland is an obvious drawcard for Orange, as shown by last week's magnificent dumping of snow, while Wotif manager director Daniel Finch said the cooler temperatures also bring other Central West cities to life.
Particularly Bathurst, with the city's Winter Festival kicking off on June 26 and running to July 11, an undeniable factor in the holiday interest shown.
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"It's clear many Aussies are happily embracing the chance to holiday at home this year, it's fantastic to see Bathurst is the top trending NSW travel destination this winter school holidays," he said.
"Cooler temperatures over winter see Bathurst come alive.
"Whether you're snuggling up in front of a warm fire, visiting one of the many bustling art galleries or celebrating the magic of winter at the annual Bathurst Winter Festival, there's plenty on offer."
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
