Three days may not sound like much, but it’s is enough time to discover somewhere new… as long as it’s not too far. If you’re lucky with flight times or want to expand with a day off work, you can make the most out of just about any long weekend with a getaway to one of these overseas destinations. We’ve certainly done it!

From snowy mountain passes to tropical islands, these spots are all within just a few hours of Australia’s east coast.

New Zealand

Best for: Those living in New South Wales, Victoria or Queensland due to the availability of direct flights and shorter flight times than elsewhere in Australia.

When to go: December to February, or July to September for skiing

With just a weekend, you will need to pick either the North or South Island (one of the most difficult choices), but it is certainly doable – and we’ve done it!

With just a few days, you’ll want to stick close to one of the major airports you can fly to from Australia, but there’s plenty of incredible destinations to choose from.

Where to go for a weekend in New Zealand:

• Queenstown: Explore Lake Wakatipu, wander around nearby Arrowtown, check out the Central Otago vineyards
• Wellington: Check out cafes that rival any in Melbourne, learn about the country’s history at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. ride the famous red cable car
• Auckland: Stroll along Viaduct Harbour before settling into one of the many restaurants for dinner, sail over to Waiheke Island for a day amongst the vines, shop until you drop in Ponsonby
• Canterbury: Just a 90-minute drive from Christchurch, ski areas like Mount Hutt and Porters are the perfect weekend getaway in winter. (If you’re not used to it, your legs will probably thank you for just doing a day or two on the slopes.)

✅ We’ve been here! Over the years we’ve spent plenty of time exploring both islands of New Zealand. We were last in New Zealand in January 2024.

Vanuatu

Best for: Those living in New South Wales or Queensland due to the availability of direct flights and shorter flight times than elsewhere in Australia.

When to go: Anytime of the year, but it will be wetter from April to September (however, we’ve been during this time and still loved it.)

As soon as you step off the plane here though, it’s nothing but tropical vibes, perfectly blue waters, fringing reefs and plenty of kava to go around. At just 2.5 hours from Brisbane, or 3.5 hours from Sydney, Vanuatu is closer to the East Coast than some other parts of Australia.

Where we’d go in Vanuatu for the weekend:

• Port Vila: Stay at a resort along Pango Road, so you’re close to the town, the beach and plenty of dining options.
• Moso Island: Disappear from reality with a few days on a jungle-filled island lined with beaches and coral reefs.

Read our guide to a few days on Moso Island, or our more recent stay in Port Vila.

✅ We’ve been here! We spent 10 days in Vanuatu at the end of 2024/beginning of 2025, and went back in December 2025.

Fiji

Best for: Those living in New South Wales, Victoria or Queensland due to the availability of directflights and shorter flight times than elsewhere in Australia.

When to go: Any time of the year, but it will be drier from May to October

If you don’t mind a slightly longer journey, we promise, it’s worth it. Every bit the paradise you imagine it to be, Fiji’s laid back pace, friendly locals and untouched beaches make it the perfect place to unwind for a few days… or a few weeks.

Where we’d go in Fiji for the weekend:

• Coral Coast: Within an hour or so of the airport, you’ll find beachfront resorts, fringing reefs to snorkel and waterfronts to swim beneath.
• Denarau Island: Home to luxury resorts, this is the kind of place that you come do and don’t have to leave until it’s time to go home. You’ll find restaurant, pools, bars and views all on site.
• Mamanuca Islands: Closer than the Yasawas, these islands offer idyllic escapes from the everyday.

✅ We’ve been here! We spend a couple weeks exploring Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, and a couple of the Yasawa Islands. We were last in Fiji in April 2022.

Bali

Best for: Those living in Western Australia or the Northern Territory due to the availability of direct flights and shorter flight times than elsewhere in Australia. That said, we’ve still travelled to Bali over a long weekend from Sydney.

When to go: Any time of the year, but it will be drier from May to September. School holidays do get very busy here, though.

Okay, we know this one may be a bit of a stretch distance-wise for a long weekend but for readers on the west coast, or those willing to travel a bit further, there’s few better places for many Australians to spend a few days than Bali.

Where we’d go in Bali for the weekend:

• Ubud: A bit of a drive from the airport, but worth it for the rice terraces, Balinese food and monkey-filled forests.
• Jimbaran: Offering picturesque sunsets, beach barbecues and easy access to nightlife in Kuta and Seminyak.
• Nusa Dua: Sprawling family friendly resorts, clear-blue waters and a few days of beachfront bliss.

✅ We’ve been here! Over a few different trips, we’ve stayed in a few parts of Bali. We were last in Bali in April 2024, and are returning in March 2026.

Read our guide to a few days in Ubud.

New Caledonia

Best for: Those living in New South Wales or Queensland due to the availability of direct flights and shorter flight times than elsewhere in Australia.

When to go: September to November

Only two hours from Brisbane and three from Sydney, this slice of South Pacific paradise is much closer than many think. While spending just a weekend there may not get you over to the idyllic Ile de Pins (which is super high on our bucket list!), it’s the perfect amount of time to explore Noumea and its surrounds.

Where we’d go in New Caledonia for the weekend:

• Noumea: Get a unique combination of the South Pacific and France, relax on the beaches and snorkel nearby reefs.

🔜 We haven’t been here yet, but it’s on our list!

Closest destinations to Australia

From what’s on this list, New Caledonia and Vanuatu are the closest destinations at 1,490km and 1,770km, respectively, off the coast of Australia.

Thought New Zealand was closest? It’s just a touch further at 2,000km off our shores.

Most affordable overseas destinations that are close to Australia

Although a bit further, Bali is by far the cheapest destination on this list. Here, hotels can cost as little as $20-$30 per night and meals just a few dollars.

Long weekend dates for 2026

• Australia Day: 26 January falls on a Monday in 2026, giving you a 3-day weekend from 24-26 January.
• Royal Hobart Regatta (TAS): While not all of Tasmania gets this one, the second Monday in February is a public holiday for southern Tasmania, giving a 3-day weekend from 7-9 February.
• Labour Day (WA): Always falling on the first Monday in March, this gives those in Queensland a 3-day weekend from 28 February – 2 March.
• Easter: Good Friday is always on a Friday, and Easter Monday is always a public holiday, giving you a 4-day weekend. In 2026, it’s from 3-6 April
• Anzac Day (ACT, WA): Anzac Day is on a Saturday this year, giving those in the ACT and Western Australia a public holiday on Monday the 27th, giving a 3-day weekend from 25-27 April. (Unfortunately the rest of us only get a public holiday when Anzac Day is on a weekday.)
• Labour Day (QLD): Always falling on the first Monday in May, this gives those in Queensland a 3-day weekend from 2-4 May.
• Reconciliation Day (ACT): Always falling on the first Monday on or after 27 May, this gives those in the ACT a 3-day weekend from 30 May – 1 June this year.
• Western Australia Day (WA): Always falling on the first Monday in June, this gives those in WA a 3-day weekend from 30 May – 1 June.
• King’s Birthday (ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, VIC): Always falling on the second Monday in June, this gives a 3-day weekend from 6-8 June.
• Picnic Day (NT): Always falling on the first Monday in August, this gives those in the NT a 3-day weekend from 1-3 August.
• King’s Birthday (WA): Always falling on the fourth Monday in September, this gives a 3-day weekend from 26-28 September.
• King’s Birthday (QLD): Always falling on the first Monday in October, this gives a 3-day weekend from 3-5 October.
• Labour Day (ACT, NSW, SA): Always falling on the first Monday in October, this gives a 3-day weekend from 3-5 October.
• Recreation Day Day (TAS): Balancing out the day off for the regatta earlier in the year in the south, this always falling on the first Monday in November, this gives a 3-day weekend from 31 October – 2 November
• Christmas and Boxing Day: This year, Christmas and Boxing Day fall on a Friday and Saturday, this gives a 4-day weekend from 25-28 December.

Tips for making the most our of long weekends

• Fly early in the morning and late at night: The earlier you fly there, and the later you fly home meals you get more time in your destination. Your accommodation will more than likely be able to hold you bags before and after check-in/check-out so you don’t have to worry about dragging them around with you.
• Consider flying the evening before: Not only will this save you money, flying on a Friday evening means you’re not skipping a day of work and you get to enjoy the entirety of Saturday at your destination
• Book EARLY: Long weekends are coveted travel times, especially for those looking to miminise the amount of annual leave they take, so the lowest airfares and cheapest hotel rooms tend to book out early.

Where to go next…