TORONTO — For clients in search of a value-for-dollar destination, Australia is almost certainly not the first country that comes to mind.
There’s no getting around the airfare that comes with very long-haul flights. On the flip side, Canada’s exchange rate with the Australian dollar stacks up very well in Canada’s favour. Currently Cdn$1 is worth about AUD$1.10.
Tourism Australia knows all too well what Canadians find daunting about vacationing Down Under. “Time, cost and distance will always be our main barriers for Canadians,” says Chris Allison, VP, The Americas and New Zealand from Tourism Australia. “There is a common misconception that it takes days to arrive. [But] especially for those on the West Coast, Canadians can enjoy a choice of daily non stop flights from Vancouver to Sydney with Air Canada and Qantas and from Vancouver to Brisbane with Air Canada.”
All the truisms about shoulder season travel – flights are cheaper, hotels are cheaper, and everything is less crowded – hold true in Australia, and Canadians may find they can stretch their dollar by travelling in spring and fall.
In a trade-friendly touch, Tourism Australia also recommends Canadians “work with qualified Aussie Specialists who are experts in planning the holiday that works best.” Of course, booking bundled flights, tours, and experiences can also unlock savings.
As of July 2025, monthly visitation from Canada to Australia reached 9,433 travellers, up 10% on July 2024. In the 12 months to July 2025, Australia welcomed 167,224 Canadians which is an increase of 1.5% year-over-year.
Heart Reef in The Whitsundays
LUXURY TRAVELLERS LEADING THE WAY
What sort of travellers are booking Australia from Canada?
“Luxury travellers continue to lead the interest from Canada, with 61% considered high-yield travellers,” says Allison. “Ontario accounts for the largest share of travellers (41%), followed by Quebec (22%). Across the board, Canadians are motivated by safety, security, appealing climate and strong value for money.”
Allison tells Travelweek that travel advisors “are at the heart of how Canadians book travel to Australia. The travel advisor community remains integral to our success as a destination.”
Tourism Australia supports the trade with its Aussie Specialist Program, currently with 898 qualified advisors in Canada, including 887 Aussie Specialists and 11 Premier Aussie Specialists.
In addition to the course itself, the program has fam opportunities, namely G’day Australia (the next edition will take place in Darwin/Garamilla in October 2026), plus there’s the Travel Trade Hub, and representation in Canada with VoX International with account manager Paul Larcher. The tourism board also works directly with key consortia partners offering support advisor training and education as well as tailored fam programs. Tourism Australiaʻs wholesale partners in Canada include Goway, Kensington Tours and ACV.
LOOKING FOR MORE MAINSTREAM GROWTH
Goway’s Anthony Saba, VP South Paciifc, tells Travelweek that the Canadian market to Australia “has stabilized after a rocky few months earlier in the year, due to economic uncertainty and loss of asset value driven by some U.S. policies.”
Australia and New Zealand were Goway’s bread-and-butter for years before the tour operator, celebrating its 55th anniversary in 2025, branched out to Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and then the Americas and Europe. These days Goway offers 115 countries on all seven continents. While the company’s Australia bookings have not grown significantly in the past couple of years, says Saba, Down Under “is still a solid contributor and on an upward trend.”
With interest rates inching down and the economic outlook for many Canadians looking up, Saba adds that Goway is looking for more growth to Australia from the Canadian market, especially among mainstream travellers.
“Canadians seem more price conscious than ever, seeking good value, and are focusing on spending a little less on hotels and putting money into experiences in destination,” says Saba. While interest in self-drive vacations has dipped a bit, small group touring “is growing with many more options,” he adds.
ONCE IN A LIFETIME? NOT NECESSARILY
While long international flights take time and a lot of money, so many long-haul destinations, like Japan, are nevertheless seeing big numbers from Canada. Travelweek asked Saba for his take.
“Australia is not yet reaping that benefit, but will be interesting to see how it plays out,” he says. “It is a frustration but Goway and Australia will keep the message going. For some reason it is still seen as ‘far away,’ yet Asia is viewed as much closer. Hard to fathom. It is seen as a ‘big ticket’ destination, as is Africa, and so we notice the effects of economic slowdowns.”
Saba adds: “There is also the time factor. People think they need more time for an Australian visit than they do, seeing it as once in a lifetime. It is not. People always want to return.”
Canada’s snowbirds may be flocking less and less to traditional U.S. favourites like Florida and Arizona for the winter months ahead. Says Saba: “What may be an emerging trend is people using Australia as an alternate long-stay winter escape. It is well worth it for Canadians to consider that, and [to take advantage of] the opportunity to live like a local in Australia.”
VALUE TIPS FROM A DESTINATION SPECIALIST
As more Canadian travellers venture further afield in the world – while making every effort to get the most value out of their vacation – travel advisors can be ready with reasons why Australia might be just the ticket. Even if it’s for high-end travellers, who focus on value for dollar like everyone else.
Vincent Tong, one of Goway’s Destination Specialists, offers his money-saving tips for Down Under …
. “In Canada we’re all suffering from tip burnout – getting constantly prompted for gratuities. One of the best things about traveling to Australia (and the South Pacific as a whole) is that tipping is not ingrained in their culture. It’s just not an expectation. This can go a long way in terms of value when you don’t have to worry about tipping left, right and centre for hotel porters, housekeeping, bartenders, restaurant servers, tour guides/drivers, coffee baristas, etc. Also, when you’re looking at prices in Australia, the taxes are always included. That’s unlike in Canada, when it is only the base price with tax and tip on top.”
. “Pre-download offline Google maps to your phone for the areas you’ll be visiting. That way you can access Google Maps without WiFi or data connections and still get GPS locations so you know where you are, or how far you are from other landmarks. And some mobile network providers offer a ‘roam like home’ package where you can use your regular device in international countries for a nominal fee of $12-$15/day. It doesn’t seem like much but it adds up over time.”
. And looking at the flight time to Australia, “it can be helpful to contrast the total time it would take to fly direct to Australia vs. a connecting flight,” says Tong. “For example, Vancouver to Cancun, with a connection, could be a total of 10-12 hours. Vancouver to Brisbane is only 14.75 hours in comparison.”
For more information about Australia see Australia.com or the Travel Trade Hub. This article appears in the Sept. 25, 2025 edition of Travelweek; click here
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock
