Auckland, Rarotonga top Kiwis' 2023 winter getaway spots - Booking.com

As Aotearoa moves out of its disastrously rainy summer and autumn into the colder months, new data has revealed where Kiwis are most keen to holiday this winter.

Auckland has topped a just-released list of destinations New Zealanders are most keen on for getaways in July and August.

It was the third most popular domestic destination in Booking.com's 2022 list with Queenstown in number one, but the City of Sails is top dog in 2023.

Auckland also topped the combined list of domestic and international destinations.

As for escaping Aotearoa's winter for warmer climates, Rarotonga is the most popular international destination, with the Gold Coast, London, Sydney and Paris rounding out the top five.

Online travel company Booking.com built its lists by collating searches conducted in April with check-in dates from July 1 to August 31.

The most popular destination lists are as follows:

Domestic:

1. Auckland
2. Queenstown
3. Wellington
4. Christchurch
5. Taupo
6. Rotorua
7. Lake Tekapo
8. Dunedin
9. Wanaka
10. Hanmer Springs.

International:

1. Rarotonga
2. Gold Coast
3. London
4. Sydney
5. Paris
6. Singapore
7. Rome
8. Melbourne
9. Tokyo
10. Nadi.

Domestic and international combined:

1. Auckland
2. Queenstown
3. Rarotonga
4. Gold Coast
5. London
6. Wellington
7. Sydney
8. Paris
9. Singapore
10. Christchurch.

New Zealand inbound:

1. Australia
2. The US
3. United Kingdom
4. Taiwan
5. Japan.