This coastal city on the western end of the spectacular Great Ocean Road is perfect for a low-key summer escape. When you\u2019re booking last-minute, one of our top tips is to look beyond well-known hotspots to their quieter (but equally great) neighbours and Warrnambool is a perfect example of why. If you spend your Chrissy there instead of Lorne, you could save up to 35% on your accommodation, with a predicted accommodation rate of $222 per night (a bargain for this time of year).<\/p>\n Christmas falls during the wet season in Tropical North Queensland, so take advantage of the cheaper rates and head north to Trinity Beach, which is perfectly positioned between Cairns and Port Douglas. In the last year, we\u2019ve seen accommodation prices fall by over 10% and this summer Trinity Beach stays are predicted to average around $181 per night. The relaxed tropical vibe is perfect for unwinding away from the hustle and bustle of the busier neighbouring towns.<\/p>\n A five-hour drive from Perth, Albany has become one of Australia\u2019s fastest growing holiday destinations. With year-on-year demand up 20% and with the Field of Light: Avenue of Honour<\/a> immersive art installation on display until April 2019, this summer is sure to be a bumper season for the region. Check out Albany\u2019s fantastic beaches and learn about the city\u2019s fascinating history with a predicted accommodation rate of just $196 per night.<\/p>\n Hot off the heels of Prince Harry and Meghan\u2019s royal visit, Dubbo is sure to thrive this summer thanks to the region\u2019s famous country hospitality and family-friendly facilities. With a predicted accommodation rate of $153 per night, Dubbo is fantastic value, with excellent accommodation options for both couples and families. If you\u2019re road-tripping from Sydney, the neighbouring town of Mudgee makes for a delicious pit stop too.<\/p>\n Not only is Launceston a charming riverside town, it\u2019s also the gateway to some of the best of Tassie. Think cool-climate wineries, fresh local produce, cute B&Bs, and stunning nature hikes. Needless to say, summer is one of the best times of year to get out and make the most of everything that Launceston has to offer. There are fantastic deals still available for last-minute travellers, with a predicated accommodation rate of just $180 per night.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t go wrong with a road trip along the Eyre Peninsula this summer \u2013 especially not with a predicted accommodation rate of $142 per night. The Lower Eyre boasts some of Australia\u2019s most stunning national parks and coastal scenery that includes endless white beaches and crystal-clear waters. Port Lincoln is a top pick for seafood lovers (it\u2019s often referred to as the Seafood Capital of Australia) and one of Coffin Bay\u2019s famous oyster farm tours is a serious must-do.<\/p>\n The home of Australia\u2019s newest \u2018Big Thing\u2019, Chinchilla is a must-visit this summer. We recently gifted Chinchilla its brand-new Big Melon<\/a> to celebrate Wotif\u2019s 18th birthday, Chinchilla\u2019s rich melon-farming history and the awesome Melon Fest<\/a> (the next of which is happening in February 2019). Chinchilla is also one of Australia\u2019s most affordable holiday destinations, with a predicted average summer accommodation rate of $127 per night.<\/p>\n While Darwin\u2019s humidity is at its highest over summer, the incredible sunsets and lightning shows are well worth it. Darwin is also the most affordable Australian capital for a Christmas holiday, with a predicted accommodation rate of only $147 per night. In fact, in the last year we\u2019ve seen accommodation demand for Darwin grow by more than 10%, while rates have fallen by over 5%. That makes this summer a very smart time to visit the city, as the city workers and business travellers clearing out will make for fewer crowds and even better deals.<\/p>\n Christmas accommodation on NSW\u2019s popular South Coast is filling up fast, however there are still some great deals available in Nowra, with a predicted accommodation rate of $190 per night. Whether you want to make friends with the local wildlife, sip your way around the Shoalhaven winery trail, or get stuck into gourmet food, Nowra is right in the middle of everything the South Coast has to offer. And just a three-hour drive from Sydney and Canberra, it\u2019s a top pick for a summer road trip too.<\/p>\n December is the cheapest time to visit the spa town of Daylesford \u2013 almost 15% cheaper than the peak season in autumn. The end of the year is a great time to wander through Daylesford\u2019s beautiful gardens, explore its art galleries or just sit back at a local pub (which is only appropriate, as Daylesford is arguably Victoria\u2019s most relaxing town). With a predicted accommodation rate of $198 per night, it\u2019s another great summer bargain.<\/p>\n<\/i> PLAN YOUR XMAS GETAWAY <\/a>\n Predicated accommodation rates<\/strong> are based on the average daily rate for 3 \u2013 5 star-rated and self-rated accommodation demand on Wotif.com between 24 December 2017 and 6 January 2018 for the described destinations. Rates are subject to accommodation type and date selections made.<\/em><\/p>\n Accommodation demand<\/strong> is based on accommodation demand on Wotif.com between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2018 for the described destinations.<\/em><\/p>\n Annual accommodation demand increases<\/strong> are based on travel demand on Wotif.com from 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018 compared to travel from 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Think you\u2019ve left it too late to book an Aussie Xmas holiday? No way! You just need to know where to go. Here are our top 10 places to score a last-minute Christmas getaway bargain. But you\u2019d better get in quick! 1. Warrnambool, VIC This coastal city on the western end of the spectacular Great …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":6712,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[740,765],"tags":[319,157,318,159,320,158],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6710"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6710"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6741,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6710\/revisions\/6741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![](\"https:\/\/a.travel-assets.com\/travel-assets-manager\/23fa8830-4a53-415d-95a4-26d89b5c2cdd\/anz-17721-600px-1.jpg\")
2. Trinity Beach, QLD<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Albany, WA<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/a.travel-assets.com\/travel-assets-manager\/23fa8830-4a53-415d-95a4-26d89b5c2cdd\/anz-17721-600px-2.jpg\")
4. Dubbo, NSW<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Launceston, TAS<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/a.travel-assets.com\/travel-assets-manager\/23fa8830-4a53-415d-95a4-26d89b5c2cdd\/anz-17721-600px-3.jpg\")
6. Eyre Peninsula, SA<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
7. Chinchilla, QLD<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/a.travel-assets.com\/travel-assets-manager\/23fa8830-4a53-415d-95a4-26d89b5c2cdd\/anz-17721-600px-4.jpg\")
8. Darwin, NT<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
9. Nowra, NSW<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/a.travel-assets.com\/travel-assets-manager\/23fa8830-4a53-415d-95a4-26d89b5c2cdd\/anz-17721-600px-5.jpg\")
10. Daylesford, VIC<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/h4>\n
Behind the data:<\/em><\/h4>\n