Sunshine state of mind: the sun-soaked hotspots dominating summer holiday travel

Aussies are voting with their feet this summer and it's official: Queensland is the new "it" holiday state.

Travel booking platform Expedia's Summer Travel Outlook report reveals hotspots and travel tips for the holiday season and domestically, Queensland's Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast dominate the top-10 popular destinations.

Surfers Paradise is the top holiday destination in Australia for December and January based on accommodation searches on Expedia.com.au, followed by Broadbeach, Southport, Main Beach and Mermaid Beach. Rounding out the top 10 are Burleigh Heads, Maroochydore, Coolangatta, Noosa and Caloundra.

If you want to join the throng (and the party) and head north, Expedia travel expert Sarah King says it isn't too late - but you'll have to be flexible and look beyond the hotspots.

"It's technically the wet season in tropical north Queensland over summer, which means accommodation rates are generally less, attractions can be quieter, and it's one of the best times to see the waterfalls, wildlife and lush rainforests," Ms King told Explore.

"Cairns and Townsville are top picks for a last-minute Queensland summer escape, with average accommodation rates around $250 a night."

Of course, Queensland isn't the only state to spend the hotter months and ring-in the new year. Expedia data shows most of the top-trending summer destinations are elsewhere this year.

The Yarra Valley in Victoria has come in at number one with an 85 per cent rise in accommodation searches on Expedia.com.au for travel in December and January, compared to the same period the previous year. Ms King said the lotus flower season from late December contributed to this.

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Jindabyne, typically a winter ski destination, has taken the number two spot with a 65 per cent rise in interest.

Ms King said the Snowy Mountains town was "increasingly becoming a popular year-round destination" with outdoor adventure activities galore including "kayaking, hiking trails, crystal-clear waters for fishing or wildlife spotting".

Shenzhen in China is the top-trending destination with a 145 per cent jump in accommodation searches compared to the same period last year, followed by Sopporo in Japan and Helsinki in Finland.

If grabbing a bargain is important to you, Expedia has also calculated the best time to travel over the summer months.

If you're travelling within Australia, the last week of January is predicted to be 80 less busy and travellers can save up to 30 per cent on accommodation. THis is compared to the peak week leading up to Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Internationally, your best bet is to go during the two weeks from January 19 and 31, which Expedia reckons will be 45 per less busy and you can save up to 60 per cent on airfares, compared to the week before and during Christmas.