Easter 2022: Top holiday destinations revealed by Booking.com, Expedia

As COVID-19 restrictions ease, New Zealanders are keen to get travelling again after almost two years of closed borders.

There have been reports of long waits for passport renewals this year as well as an upsurge in travel insurance packages for overseas trips.

But where are Kiwis most interested in travelling?

Accommodation and travel reservation outlets Booking.com and Expedia have released figures on which destinations had the highest search traffic over the last month.

Booking.com specifically looked at Easter holidays, examining all searches made in New Zealand between March 1 and March 13 for bookings with a check-in time between April 14 and April 18.

Booking.com NZ top 10 Easter hotspots - domestic 

1. Queenstown
2. Taupo
3. Rotorua
4. Wellington
5. Auckland
6. Christchurch
7. Napier
8. Paihia
9. Hanmer Springs
10. Tauranga.

Booking.com NZ top 10 Easter hotspots - international

1. Rarotonga, Cook Islands 
2. Gold Coast, Australia 
3. Sydney, Australia
4. Nadi, Fiji
5. Melbourne, Australia
6. Denarau, Fiji 
7. Brisbane, Australia 
8. Dubai, UAE 
9. Noosa Heads, Australia 
10. Los Angeles, US.

Meanwhile, Expedia.co.nz has reported a nearly 70 percent increase in interest for international travel since the border restrictions were eased.

While the Cook Islands topped overseas destination Easter searches made in Aotearoa on Booking.com in March, on Expedia Kiwis were most interested in Fiji.

Top international destinations on Expedia.co.nz since March 5

1. Fiji
2. Sydney
3. Melbourne
4. Los Angeles
5. Gold Coast
6. Brisbane
7. London
8. Singapore 
9. New York
10. Oahu.

Top trending international destinations on Expedia.co.nz since March 5

1. Koh Phangan, Thailand - accommodation interest up over 315 percent
2. New York, US - accommodation interest up close to 210 percent
3. Singapore - accommodation interest up close to 205 percent
4. Bali, Indonesia - accommodation interest up close to 200 percent
5. Phuket, Thailand - accommodation interest up close to 190 percent
6. Oahu, Hawaii - accommodation interest up close to 175 percent
7. Sunshine Coast, Australia - accommodation interest up over 165 percent
8. Yorkshire, UK - accommodation interest up close to 160 percent
9. San Diego, US - accommodation interest up over 155 percent
10. Orlando, US - accommodation interest up over 150 percent.