Why you should travel during a ‘dead week’ (and when to do it)

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
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Avoid the crowds, save big and enjoy top holiday spots in peace – here’s why you should book your next trip during a ‘dead week.’

Picture this: fewer crowds, cheaper stays and a chance to experience Australia’s most popular destinations without the chaos of peak holiday seasons. Welcome to the magic of ‘dead weeks’ – those rare travel sweet spots when demand takes a dip and savvy travellers can cash in on great deals.

According to Stayz’ 2025 Holiday Planning Guide, timing your trips around these underrated periods could be the smartest way to secure your dream getaway without the usual stress.

So, what exactly is a dead week?

These are short, specific periods that immediately precede or follow peak travel times – when families are back at work and school, and the average nightly rates for accommodation take a welcome nosedive. Here’s how to plan your next break during a dead week and make the most of these golden windows of opportunity.

March: The pre-Easter escape

Aerial Drone Picture of the White Sand Hyams beach in New South Wales, Australia
Stay in Jervis Bay for your pre-Easter holiday. (Image: Getty Images/Roman Skorzus)

Easter is one of the most competitive travel periods of the year, with popular coastal spots like Noosa, Batemans Bay and Jervis Bay booking out well in advance. But if you can sneak in a break before the Easter madness, mid-March offers the perfect opportunity. Expect milder temperatures, quiet beaches and better rates on holiday homes.

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June: The calm before the winter rush

skiers Falls Creek
Falls Creek is the ideal winter destination.

Winter school holidays send skiers and snow lovers flocking to Jindabyne and Thredbo, but mid-June – before the school bells signal the start of the break – is an ideal time to book a last-minute winter escape. Whether you’re after crisp mountain air or a cosy beachside getaway, you’ll find better availability in winter hotspots like Coffs Harbour, Falls Creek, Surfers Paradise, Hervey Bay and Port Douglas, before the winter crowd settles in.

October: The secret spring getaway

First light on Shoal Bay, Port Stephens, located in the Hunter region of NSW
Discover Port Stephens in springtime. (Image: Getty Images/lovleah)

Spring school holidays see families heading to sunny spots across the country, but the magic of late October lies in its post-holiday lull. This is the perfect time to score discounted stays in coastal havens before summer prices start creeping up. Forster, Noosa and Port Stephens all offer incredible value at this time of year.

January: The summer dead week you should know about

Gold Coast Cityscape
Head to the Goldie when most people go back to work. (Image: Getty Images/Still Horizon Studio)

The post-New Year lull in mid-January is one of the best-kept secrets for scoring a summer getaway without the peak-season price tag. While the Christmas/New Year period sees a rush of travellers filling up Australia’s top holiday spots, demand starts to drop from the second week of January, making it the perfect time to secure a last-minute escape. Destinations like Jervis Bay, the Mornington Peninsula, Noosa and the Gold Coast often have better availability during this time, meaning you can still enjoy the height of summer without the peak-season crowds. Plus, with many families heading home for school and work, beaches, restaurants and attractions become far more relaxed.

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How to maximise your dead week travel

Cape Naturaliste coastline in South Western Australia
The Margaret River region is a holiday hotspot to book in advance. (Image: Getty Images/Paola Giannoni)

Flexibility is key when planning a trip, even during a dead week. Even shifting your stay by a day or two can unlock significant savings, as accommodation prices fluctuate based on demand. Look for discounts on holiday homes, as many offer reduced rates for longer stays or early bookings.

Booking in advance is still crucial – while dead weeks see lower occupancy, the best properties can still be snapped up quickly. Additionally, consider travelling mid-week rather than over weekends for even better deals. Airlines and hotels may also offer hidden perks, such as free upgrades or discounted add-ons, so it’s always worth asking. Finally, use price-tracking tools or sign up for travel deal alerts to ensure you’re getting the best possible rate.

If you really must travel in peak periods, here’s your deadline

Lighthouse beach seen from the lighthouse in Port Macquarie in the summer
Book your Port Macquarie trip soon to avoid disappointment. (Image: Getty Images/Stephane Debove)

Timing is everything when securing accommodation, especially during peak travel periods.

For the Easter long weekend (18–21 April 2025), availability is already tightening in popular destinations such as Forster, Port Macquarie, the Gold Coast and the Margaret River. Stayz data suggests that less than 50 per cent of properties will still be available by the end of February, with that number dropping to under 30 per cent by early March.

Planning ahead is even more critical for summer holidays, as the last week of December is expected to be the busiest travel period of the year. Demand for holiday homes in hotspots starts surging by mid-June, and availability continues to tighten through July and August, so securing your summer stay by 21 August is highly recommended.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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The road trips and trails you need to experience in Victoria now

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
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    Wind through fern tunnels, stop for a wine in a tram bar, or chase giant murals across the wheatbelt. These drives and rides prove Victoria’s best stories are found off the straight and narrow. 

    There’s something unmistakably Australian about a road trip: car packed, playlist on, landscapes shifting. Travelling down the highway toward Healesville, in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, the mountains rise, flanking me on both sides. I feel its embrace, a silent invitation to explore what lies beyond.  

    Moss-covered embankments rise on either side, and towering mountain ash trees form a green tunnel overhead. Road signs warn of wombats and cyclists but with giant ferns lining the roadside, the landscape feels prehistoric, as if a dinosaur might suddenly emerge. This, the Black Spur, is one of my favourite road trips. 

    The Black Spur 

    The Black Spur drive
    Through the forested canopy of The Black Spur drive that winds from Healesville to Narbethong. (Image: Neisha Breen)

    Location: Yarra Ranges
    Duration: 30 kilometres / 30 minutes 

    The Black Spur is short compared to other Victorian road trips, just 30 kilometres, stretching from Healesville to Narbethong. But what it lacks in distance, it makes up for in scenery. Just outside Healesville, Maroondah Dam offers bushwalks and scenic views. However, if pressed for time, Selover’s Lookout is an easy roadside stop offering uninterrupted views of the dam.  

    In Narbethong, close to the Marysville’s snowfield, is the Black Spur Inn, a charming double-storey brick hotel that’s been welcoming travellers since 1863. Here, diners cosy up by the roaring fire or gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows, imagining horse-drawn coaches carrying hopeful gold seekers to the eastern goldfields.   

    Victoria’s Silo Art Trail 

    Silo Art Trail
    The Silo Art Trail in the Wimmera Mallee region. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Location: Various towns across the Wimmera Mallee region
    Duration: More than 200 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days  

    What began as a way to draw travellers back into town bypassed by highways – places such as Nullawil, Sea Lake and Patchewollock – has grown into a celebrated outdoor art movement. The Silo Art Trail now includes 23 silos, each transformed with large-scale mural portraits sharing local stories, celebrating community heroes, Indigenous history, farming life, or regional identity.  

    The Nullawil silo, for example, is a portrait of a local farmer in a chequered flannelette shirt alongside his loyal kelpie, painted by artist Sam Bates (AKA Smug). And the silos at Albacutya in the Grampians, painted by artist Kitt Bennett, depict her joyful memories of growing up in the countryside. Many of the murals sit right in the heart of small towns, such as Rochester and St Arnaud, making them perfect spots to pause for a country pub meal or something sweet from a local bakery.   

    Metung to Mallacoota  

    Gippsland lakes
    Gippsland Lakes. (Image: Visit Victoria/Josie Withers)

    Location: Gippsland
    Duration: Approximately 220 kilometres / 4 hours  

    The Gippsland Lakes are a much-loved holiday spot in Victoria, but road-tripping further east reveals much more. Begin in Metung and time your visit with the monthly farmers’ market, or simply linger over lunch on the lawn of the Metung Hotel. Twenty minutes away is Lakes Entrance, where you can watch the fishing boats return with their catch. 

    Lakes Entrance
    Lakes Entrance. (Image: Visit Victoria/Iluminaire Pictures)

    Continue to Marlo, where the Snowy River spills into the sea, and Cape Conran for its many beaches and walks. If needing to stretch your legs, Croajingolong National Park is home to the historic Point Hicks Lighthouse and the Wilderness Coast Walk. Birdwatching and rainforest trails near Bemm River are worth a pit stop before arriving in Mallacoota, where the forest meets the sea. 

    Great Ocean Road 

    12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road
    The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    Location: South-west Victoria, from Torquay to Allansford
    Duration: Approximately 250 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days  

    Victoria’s most famous road trip delivers it all: world-class surf breaks, rainforest walks, clifftop lookouts and wildlife encounters. The journey begins in Torquay, the state’s surf capital, then hugs the coast past Anglesea and Lorne to Apollo Bay, before curving inland through the lush rainforest of the Otways. Stop at Cape Otway Lightstation or take to the treetops at Otway Fly.  

    Between Cape Otway and Port Campbell lies the most photographed stretch – seven of the Twelve Apostles still standing, alongside the golden cliffs of Loch Ard Gorge. Further west, Warrnambool is a winter whale-watching hotspot, before the road winds to Port Fairy, a charming fishing village of whalers’ cottages, walking trails and offshore seal colonies further along the coast. 

    Bellarine Taste Trail 

    Terindah Estate
    Terindah Estate. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

    Location: Bellarine Peninsula
    Duration: Approximately 80 kilometres / 2–3 hours  

    The Bellarine Taste Trail is a feast for the senses, winding through coastal towns, past boutique wineries and artisan producers. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure style trail – simply grab a map and build your own delicious journey.  

    You might wander historic, seafront Queenscliff, sip wine in a converted tram bar at Terindah Estate, sample a locally distilled whisky at The Whiskery in Drydale or pick up a jar of honey at Wattle Grove in Wallington. Seafood lovers can head to Portarlington, famous for its mussels. Eat them fresh at local restaurants or head out on the water with Portarlington Mussel Tours. 

    O’Keefe Rail Trail – Bendigo to Heathcote 

    Pink Cliffs Reserve
    Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

    Location: Central Victoria
    Duration: Approximately 50 kilometres / 4 hours cycling 

    Travellers first journeyed between Heathcote and Bendigo in 1888, when the railway line was built to link the towns. Trains stopped running in 1956, but today the route has a new life as the O’Keefe Rail Trail. The path is mostly level for easy riding, and along the way you’ll cycle past bushland, waterways and reserves. There are plenty of places to picnic, birdwatch, and if you’re lucky, spot a platypus.  

    The trail is well supported with water stations, bike repair points, shelters, and signage. Axedale makes a great halfway stop, with the pretty Campaspe River Reserve for a rest and local cafes for refuelling. Begin in Heathcote, known for its wineries and cafes, or in Bendigo, which is easily reached by train from Melbourne/Naarm. Shorter sections, such as Heathcote to Axedale, are also popular. 

    Goldfields Track – Ballarat to Bendigo 

    Location: Central Victoria
    Duration: Approximately 210 kilometres / 2–3 days cycling  

    The Goldfields Track traces a route once so rich in gold it made Melbourne one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Starting at Mt Buninyong, south of Ballarat, the trail leads mountain cyclists and walkers north through Creswick, Daylesford and Castlemaine before finishing in Bendigo. Along the way, you’ll encounter granite outcrops, eucalypt forests, rolling farmland and remnants of the region’s mining past.  

    As it passes through the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Wadawurrung people, the track shares gold rush history and Indigenous stories brought to life by interpretive signs. Walk or ride the full trail or choose from one of its three distinct sections. With cosy stays, cafes and pubs, it’s easy to mix wilderness with comfort.