As city light pollution, busy schedules, and too much screen time make truly dark skies harder to experience, more Australians are seeking places where they can slow down, step outside, and actually see the stars.

Forget the shopping centre scrum. Some of Australia’s best Christmas shopping can be found outdoors, where you can browse local stalls, eat something delicious and soak up the festive atmosphere while turning the journey into part of the holiday.

A New Zealand road trip sounds wonderfully simple: collect the keys, point the car towards a mountain or coastline, and decide where to stop along the way. The reality is usually less cinematic. Someone needs to find the accommodation, check the next fuel stop, share the route and work out whether the scenic detour is actually open. That does not mean the trip needs a rigid schedule. It means a little preparation can protect the freedom that makes a driving holiday appealing.

For many Australians, a trip to the snow means one thing before the skis come out: a long road trip. With almost two million people heading to the snow in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania each year, alpine getaways are a major part of the Australian winter.