Where Australians and New Zealanders Should Be Booking Now: The 2027 Round-Up

Most people planning a big trip for 2027 start with the destination. A more useful starting point is the calendar each destination runs to. Some trips are tied to a festival, a flowering or a migration that happens on roughly the same dates every year; others depend on a small number of lodges, camps or permits that are spoken for well ahead. Those fixed points — not deals, and not guesses about availability — decide the order in which a year of travel is best planned.

This round-up orders ten trips for travellers in Australia and New Zealand by how soon, in our planning experience, the decision is usually needed, from the ones worth settling before Christmas to the ones that can wait for the new year. It finishes with an honest look at the shorter trips that still suit the coming summer holidays.

How to read this list

"Decide by" is not a deadline anyone sets. It is the point at which, in our experience of how these trips come together, the choice of places to stay or dates starts to narrow. Travel later than that is often still possible; it simply tends to mean working with what remains rather than choosing first. Every trip below also has an alternative season or region if the main window doesn't suit.

Easter 2027 falls from Good Friday 26 March to Easter Monday 29 March. Australian winter school holidays generally fall in July, as does New Zealand's mid-year break, while spring holidays vary across September and October. Exact dates differ by state, territory and school, so check your own calendar before fixing travel dates.

1. Japan's cherry blossom — late March to early April

Decide: now, for spring 2027.

In a typical year, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka begin flowering in late March, with full bloom usually following over the next week or so. Northern Japan and higher-altitude regions generally flower later, extending the season into April and, in parts of Hokkaido, May. Easter 2027 sits close to the usual main-city window, although it does not guarantee peak bloom. The first forecasts appear over the northern winter and are revised as the season approaches; in our experience, the ryokan nights and well-located city hotels that shape a blossom trip are often arranged before then. The practical approach is to plan the shape of the trip now — two or three bases with different typical flowering periods — and let the forecast fine-tune the days.

If spring doesn't suit: Japan's autumn colour, from late October into early December in the main cities, is the other season with a similar pull.

2. Costa Rica's dry season — December to April

Decide: before Christmas, for Easter or the April holidays.

Costa Rica's dry season broadly runs from mid-December to late April. On the Pacific side — Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio and the cloud forest around Monteverde — it is most clearly defined from December to March, with April a transition month. The Caribbean coast, including Tortuguero, follows its own rainfall pattern, which is why the itinerary matters as much as the month. From Australia and New Zealand, journeys commonly involve connections through North America or other international hubs, so a recovery night in San José is often worth building in. Easter and the April holidays fall towards the end of the dry season, when families are travelling from the northern hemisphere as well.

If the dry season is too soon: the Caribbean coast can be a good choice later in the year, and the green season brings fewer visitors and lush forest.

3. Taiwan — the Lantern Festival and the spring months

Decide: by the end of the year for February–April 2027.

Taiwan's spring weather is often comfortable for touring, although conditions vary between the north, the central mountains and the south. The 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival is tentatively scheduled for 20 February to 7 March in Miaoli County, following Lunar New Year on 6 February. The two are separate events, and travellers should plan around both: the holiday period brings heavy domestic demand and business closures, and festival dates can affect arrangements nearby. A week covers Taipei, the east coast and the central mountains; ten days adds the south.

If spring doesn't fit: late autumn, from around October, is another popular touring window.

4. Mongolia and the Naadam festival — mid-July

Decide: by the end of the year.

Naadam, Mongolia's national festival of wrestling, archery and horse racing, is traditionally celebrated in July. A published 2027 festival listing gives 11–13 July for Ulaanbaatar, although travellers should confirm the official programme before booking around specific ceremonies. The summer visitor season is relatively short, and festival dates put pressure on accommodation, guides and touring arrangements, particularly within reach of the capital. There are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand; Seoul is one convenient connection, with others possible depending on schedules. Visa arrangements for Australian and New Zealand passport holders should be checked for 2027 travel before anything is booked.

If July is difficult: June and early September offer the steppe and the Gobi with fewer visitors, though without the festival.

5. Botswana in the dry season — July to October

Decide: early in the new year at the latest; many travellers start now.

As winter progresses, floodwater moves through the Okavango Delta while the surrounding landscape becomes drier, and wildlife is drawn to permanent water across the Delta and Chobe regions. The mix of water and land habitats changes through the season, influencing which camps and activities work best. Many camps are small, and peak-season stays are often planned well ahead — commonly nine to twelve months, although it varies by camp and itinerary. Water levels vary each year, so combining water-based and land-based camps can help keep an itinerary flexible. Flights connect through Johannesburg from Sydney and Perth, with New Zealand travellers usually connecting through Australia.

If peak months are full: the green season from November brings dramatic skies, quieter camps and, for many species, young animals.

6. East Africa and the migration — July to October

Decide: early in the new year.

Between roughly July and October, the migrating herds are often in Tanzania's northern Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara, where the river crossings take place. This is a broad period rather than a timetable: movements follow rainfall and grazing, and no guide can promise a crossing on a particular day. Mobile and seasonal camps move to follow the herds, and the best-placed ones for crossing season are limited in number. July school holidays overlap the start of this window, which can suit families whose dates fit.

For a different calendar: the calving season in the southern Serengeti, usually around January and February, is a quieter alternative.

7. Peru and Machu Picchu — May to October

Decide: plan ahead now, ready for when 2027 permit arrangements are announced.

Peru's southern highlands are generally in their drier season from May to October. Inca Trail access is limited, permits are tied to individual travellers, and the trail closes for maintenance in February. The release schedule for 2027 permits is set by Peru's Ministry of Culture and should be checked against its latest announcement. If the classic trail matters to the trip, settle the dates and traveller details in advance rather than waiting for the release. Machu Picchu entry is managed by circuit and route, so the circuit you want is worth settling at the same time.

If the trail isn't the goal: the train to Aguas Calientes avoids the need for an Inca Trail trekking permit, although visitors still need the appropriate Machu Picchu entry ticket and route. April and November can be quieter shoulder months.

8. The Canadian Rockies — June to September

Decide: early in the new year.

Summer in Banff, Jasper and Yoho is short, and many of the popular lodges in and around the national parks take bookings many months ahead. Rail journeys through the Rockies release their departures on their own timetables, so it is worth checking each one early. July and August are the busiest months. June and September can offer cooler conditions and a different feel from peak summer, while larches at suitable elevations often turn gold in late September or early October. Flights from Australia and New Zealand typically connect through Vancouver.

If summer is full: early autumn, or a Rockies trip combined with the Pacific coast, can offer more choice.

9. The Yukon and the Dempster Highway — summer or winter

Decide: soon for February–March 2027; early in the new year for summer.

The Dempster Highway runs north from near Dawson City, across the Arctic Circle, to Inuvik, with the all-season highway continuing to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic coast. Summer, from roughly June to August, brings very long days, and travel depends on road conditions and seasonal ferry crossings. In winter, ice crossings and local ice roads operate only when conditions permit, and the aurora can be seen when skies are clear and dark. The freeze-up and break-up periods can leave times when neither ferries nor ice crossings are available, which is what sets the calendar — check current road information before committing to dates. Guided trips in either season run on a limited number of dates.

For a gentler start: Whitehorse and Dawson City make a shorter northern trip in either season.

10. Europe in summer — July and August

Decide: January and February.

The Australian and New Zealand winter holidays fall in the middle of Europe's busiest season. Planning in January and February usually gives travellers more choice for July and August, especially for popular coastal accommodation, family room configurations and multi-stop rail itineraries. Individual rail booking windows vary, so tickets and seat reservations need to be checked as they open.

If summer crowds are the concern: April to June, and September to October, can offer milder weather in southern Europe with fewer visitors, though conditions and seasonal opening times vary by region.

The short-haul list for this summer

For the coming December–January holidays, most long-haul trips are already inside their usual planning window. Closer to home, a few destinations still line up with the summer break, and it is worth being clear about what each season brings.

• Sri Lanka's south and west coasts are generally in season from December to March, with seasonal whale-watching off the south coast (sightings are never guaranteed) and cooler weather in the hill country.
• The Philippines usually moves into its drier months from around December, although conditions vary by island; the central Visayas and Palawan are among the options.
• Southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and the island of Phu Quoc, is generally drier from December to April. Lunar New Year (Tet) falls on 6 February 2027 and is a major domestic holiday, so transport, closures and accommodation need careful checking around it.
• Fiji and the South Pacific remain a short flight from both countries. December to April is the wet and tropical cyclone season across much of the region; travel remains possible, but travellers should consider regional weather patterns, flexible arrangements and comprehensive insurance.

Christmas and New Year remain peak travel periods even for short-haul trips, so these are best planned on what is open when you ask, with some flexibility over dates and where you stay.

Frequently asked questions

When should I book a 2027 overseas holiday from Australia or New Zealand?
It depends on the trip. Those tied to a fixed event or a small number of lodges or camps — Japan's blossom, Naadam, Botswana and the migration, the Inca Trail, the Canadian Rockies — benefit from planning several months to a year ahead. Europe in July and August is usually planned in January and February. Some short-haul trips can be arranged closer to departure, depending on flights, accommodation and the itinerary.

Do I need to know my exact dates before I start planning?
No. A rough window, the number of travellers and any fixed points — school holidays, a festival, a family event — are enough to start shaping an itinerary. The details can follow.

Which 2027 trips suit the Easter and April school holidays?
Japan's main-city blossom period can overlap Easter. For later April breaks — NSW government schools from 12 to 23 April, and New Zealand's school holidays from 10 to 26 April — northern or higher-altitude Japan is often the more relevant blossom option. Costa Rica and Taiwan are also worth considering, depending on the itinerary and exact dates.

What are the best short-haul options for the summer holidays?
Sri Lanka's south and west coasts, the Philippines and southern Vietnam are generally in their drier seasons over December and January. Fiji and the South Pacific are in their wet season then, which suits travellers who are comfortable with some flexibility.

Got a 2027 list forming?

Perhaps one of these trips has been on your mind for years, or perhaps you only know that 2027 should include something bigger than usual. Either way, Pack Ya Bags can help turn a loose idea into an itinerary that fits the calendar it depends on.

Send them the trips you're weighing up, roughly when you could travel and who would be coming. They'll come back with what to settle first and what can wait. Write to them at info@packyabags.com.