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Best places to travel to in December 2026: Top destinations for the holidays
Find where to travel in December from Australia, with dry-season Asia picks, Southern Hemisphere summer breaks, and festive winter trips.
December is the busiest travel month of the year for Australians. It brings peak summer at home, the long school-holiday break, and Christmas and New Year all at once, which means the choice is often between chasing dry-season warmth in Asia, staying close for a Southern Hemisphere summer, or flying north for snow and festive markets.
This guide to the best places to travel to in December compares realistic holiday options from Australia. December is peak season, so flights and accommodation are usually at their priciest and busiest, especially around Christmas and New Year. But if you plan early and choose the right region, it can still be one of the most rewarding times of year to travel.
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Why December is a great month for Australians to travel
December works well because it’s peak summertime with long daylight hours, and you may already have time off, schools break for summer holidays, and the Christmas–New Year window makes longer trips easier to justify.
The trade-off is cost. December is one of the most booked-out travel periods of the year, especially for families, resort destinations, ski holidays, and major cities.
The best places to travel in December from Australia usually fall into three groups: dry-season Southeast Asia, Southern Hemisphere summer escapes close to home, and Northern Hemisphere winter trips for snow, lights, and Christmas markets.
Dry-season Asia: beaches and cool-season city breaks
For Australians, Asia is often the easiest answer to where to travel in December from Australia. Flight times are manageable, jet lag is limited, and many destinations are entering drier or cooler travel seasons.
Taiwan
Taiwan is one of the best places to travel to in December if you want a cooler city break without flying all the way to Europe. From Australia, flights to Taipei are much easier than long-haul winter trips, and the time difference is small enough for a one-week holiday.
December to February is a relatively warm winter period in Taiwan, with maple colours still part of the seasonal appeal. If you want to leave the summer heat behind, Taipei, Jiufen, Kaohsiung, and hot spring towns can feel like a refreshing change. Expect cooler evenings, street food, night markets, easy rail travel, and a festive city atmosphere without extreme cold.
Taiwan is especially useful if you are deciding where to go for Christmas from Australia, but do not necessarily want beaches or snow. It is a good fit for food-focused travellers, couples, solo travellers, and families who want a compact itinerary with cities, mountains, temples, and day trips.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a strong choice for those who want warm weather, beaches, culture, wildlife, and a longer Asia trip. It requires more travel time than Southeast Asia, but it offers a varied itinerary: Colombo, the southwest coast, tea country, and the Cultural Triangle.
December is part of the peak tourist season on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast because the northeast monsoon makes the southwest coast sunny and the sea calmer from November to March. That makes December a practical time to focus on Galle, Mirissa, the inland hill country, and other things to do in Sri Lanka rather than trying to cover every coast.
Philippines
The Philippines is one of the best places in Southeast Asia to travel to in December for island-hopping, beaches, surfing, and warm-weather holidays. From Australia, routes usually connect through Manila, Cebu, or other Asian hubs, so it suits travellers who are happy with a multi-stop itinerary.
December to February is considered the cool dry season, which makes December a good month for many outdoor activities. But keep in mind that the Philippines is an archipelago and the weather is not identical everywhere. Some regions would have different rainfall patterns, so check the exact island before booking.
Southern Hemisphere summer escapes close to home
If you want to avoid major jet lag, stay close to home, or travel with children, the South Pacific and New Zealand are some of the easiest December choices.
New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the most practical destinations from Australia in December. Flights are short, jet lag is minimal, and summer conditions are ideal for road trips, hiking, lakes, food regions, and outdoor adventures.
Summer in New Zealand runs from December to February, which makes New Zealand feel familiar in season but different in landscape: alpine scenery, geothermal areas, vineyards, and cooler evenings than most of Australia. If New Zealand is on your list, make sure to book rental cars, accommodation, and major activities early since it’s the peak travel season.
Fiji
Fiji is a classic December holiday destination: short flights, family-friendly resorts, warm water, and an easy time difference. Fiji also works best if your priority is resort comfort, pools, beaches, kids’ clubs, snorkelling, and a relaxed pace.
While December is warm, festive, and one of the best seasons to visit Fiji, it also falls within the wet season. This does not rule out a December trip, but it does mean you should expect humidity, possible rain, and the need for travel insurance that covers weather disruption.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is an ideal December pick for Australians who want a South Pacific escape with a French influence, direct flight options, and a short time difference. Nouméa, the lagoon islands, coastal road trips, and snorkelling make it feel different from a standard beach break without requiring a long-haul flight.
December falls in New Caledonia’s warmer season with temperatures often above 30°C and cyclone season beginning in this period, particularly later in summer. There are also direct flights from Australia to Nouméa, which keeps it practical for travelling from Australia.
Fly north for a Northern Hemisphere winter
December is also the month when you want the opposite of home: snow, Christmas lights, and festive markets. These trips take more planning, but they can feel especially memorable because the season is so different from an Australian Christmas.
Japan
Japan is one of the best places to travel to in December for those who want winter without flying to Europe or North America. Direct flights to Tokyo, Osaka, and other major hubs make it more accessible than many Northern Hemisphere winter trips, and the time difference is easy to manage.
December weather in Japan varies across the country: Major cities may be cold without heavy snow, while northern regions and mountain areas are regularly covered in powder. Do note that the New Year period is busy and expensive, and some businesses close around the holiday period.
Europe’s Christmas markets
Europe is a long way from Australia, but December is the season that makes the flight feel worthwhile. If your dream holiday involves Christmas markets, festive lights, hot drinks, and the chance of snow, Europe is the place to go.
While visiting Christmas markets in Europe in December is dreamy, the trade-off is distance and cost. Europe works best if you have at least two weeks and are comfortable with winter packing, long flights, and peak-season pricing. Consider routing through one or two regions rather than trying to cover too much.
Iceland
Iceland is not an easy December trip from Australia, but it is one of the most dramatic. It suits travellers who want winter landscapes, waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights.
December in Iceland means short daylight hours and winter conditions. The sightseeing tends to focus on the middle of the day because daylight is limited, while evenings can be used for hot pools or aurora excursions. Book guided tours if you are not confident driving in icy conditions, leave buffer time for weather changes, and pack proper winter gear.
Tips for planning a December trip from Australia
Travel from Australia in December can be brilliant, but it is also the month when planning matters most. Before booking, think carefully about school holidays, Christmas and New Year pricing, and the season you will arrive in.
- Book as early as possible: December is peak travel season, especially around the school-holiday break and Christmas/New Year period. Flights, resorts, rental cars, ferries, and tours can sell out early.
- Be flexible with dates: Travelling before the main Christmas–New Year spike, or returning after the first week of January, can sometimes make a big difference to price and availability.
- Pack for opposite seasons: You might leave Australia in summer clothes but land in Japan, Europe, or Iceland needing thermals, boots, and a proper coat. For Fiji, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, or New Caledonia, pack breathable clothing and rain protection.
- Check regional weather patterns: December can mean dry-season beaches in one country and cyclone or wet-season risk in another. Check the exact island, coast, or city before locking in plans.
- Plan around public holidays and closures: Christmas and New Year can affect opening hours, transport schedules, and restaurant bookings, especially in Europe and Japan.
- Sort your mobile data before departure: Many of the best places to travel in December from Australia involve multi-stop routes, weather checks, and translation. A travel eSIM like Holafly can make it easier to stay connected without relying only on hotel WiFi.
Stay connected on your December trip with Holafly
Stepping out into a Tokyo winter or walking between Christmas markets in Europe is easier when your phone already works. Holafly gives you unlimited data at speeds up to 5G, so maps, translation apps and train times keep loading as you go, and 24/7 customer support is there if anything comes up over the holidays. Set up an eSIM for Japan or an eSIM for Europe before you fly, and it connects as soon as you land. You don’t have to swap SIM cards, and no roaming bill will be waiting for you back in Australia.
Holafly has you covered even after your plan runs out. December is peak season, so flights get delayed and holidays sometimes run a few days longer than planned. With Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data, you can still rebook a flight, message your accommodation or check the weather before you head home.
If you’re spending a few weeks moving between countries, Holafly Plan offers a subscription that keeps you connected across multiple trips.
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