Australian holidaymakers looking to nab a good flight deal should generally look at departing within the first two weeks of December this year, according to Compare the Market research.
Ahead of another peak holiday season, the travel insurance comparison experts found flying earlier is generally better in December – with price differences in the hundreds, if not thousands, by not shopping around for flights on the same day.
Aussie travellers could score direct services from as low as $53 (Sydney to Melbourne) or spend more than $2,500 (Melbourne to Adelaide) per person one-way based on the flights studied.
Quoted flight ticket prices generally peaked in the week of Christmas, before settling down towards the start of the new year.
The price of one-way direct flights each day were quoted between 1 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to eight key destinations.
Cheapest and priciest flights from Brisbane
| Brisbane departing to | Cheapest day/s | Cheapest price | Most expensive day/s | Most expensive price |
| Sydney | 2, 17 Dec | $76 | 12 Dec | $1,019 |
| Melbourne | 1, 8, 11-14, 16, 31 Dec | $96 | 25 Dec | $1,329 |
| Hobart | 2, 9-10 Dec | $122 | 27 Dec | $1,077 |
| Adelaide | 1-4, 7, 9 Dec | $136 | 20 Dec | $2,328 |
| Perth | 5, 7 Dec | $254 | 20, 24 Dec | $1,970 |
| Cairns | 3 Dec | $85 | 28 Dec | $742 |
| Wellington | 3, 5 Dec | $345 | 22 Dec | $1,104 |
| Christchurch | 3 Dec | $319 | 20 Dec | $1,060 |
Source: Compare the Market
Cheapest and priciest flights from Sydney
| Sydney departing to | Cheapest day/s | Cheapest price | Most expensive day/s | Most expensive price |
| Brisbane | 1 Dec | $75 | 4 Dec | $2,401 |
| Melbourne | 9 Dec | $53 | 9 Dec | $2,540 |
| Hobart | 1, 5, 15 Dec | $83 | 27 Dec | $626 |
| Adelaide | 2-4, 9 Dec | $116 | 16 Dec | $943 |
| Perth* | ||||
| Cairns | 1-7, 9-12 Dec | $104 | 27 Dec, 1 Jan | $917 |
| Wellington | 1-6, 8-13 Dec | $312 | 23 Dec | $1,163 |
| Christchurch | 9-11 Dec | $298 | 20 Dec | $1,170 |
Source: Compare the Market
*There were no direct services serving Sydney to Perth
Cheapest and priciest flights from Melbourne
| Melbourne departing to | Cheapest day/s | Cheapest price | Most expensive day/s | Most expensive price |
| Brisbane | 10 Dec | $93 | 7, 12 Dec | $2,553 |
| Sydney | 2 Dec | $57 | 11 Dec | $2,493 |
| Hobart | 2 Dec | $69 | 27 Dec | $574 |
| Adelaide | 4 Dec | $74 | 17 Dec | $2,504 |
| Perth | 11 Dec | $242 | 21 Dec | $1,958 |
| Cairns | 11 Dec | $242 | 21 Dec | $1,958 |
| Wellington | 3 Dec | $351 | 17 Dec | $1,223 |
| Christchurch | 3 Dec | $252 | 28 Dec | $1,053 |
Source: Compare the Market
Compared to 2024 and 2023, the cheapest flights on average in December mostly remained steady this year.
However, flights from Brisbane to Hobart and Perth, Sydney to Hobart, Adelaide and Cairns, and Melbourne to Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns experienced ticket increases on average year-on-year.
Compare the Market’s travel expert Catriona Rowntree said the findings highlighted that there were still ways to travel on a budget this holiday period.
“Travelling in the Christmas and New Year peak can be more expensive, but choosing to fly earlier rather than later in December generally means you could score a better deal on a ticket,” Ms Rowntree said.
“For example, the cheapest flights from Sydney to Cairns is $104 in the first seven days of December or $455 on the 27th of December just as the holidays start. That’s a shocking 77% difference!
“If you’re set on a date, Compare the Market found notable ticket price differences for flights on the same day depending on the time of day and airline. That’s why it’s really worth shopping around.
“Airports are stressful at this time of the year. Remember that to be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is ‘holy cow we’ve missed the plane’.
“Anything from cancelled flights to lost luggage are likely, too. That’s why it’s really important to have travel insurance before you head on any domestic or international holiday.”
Cheapest flight price changes in December 2025
| Brisbane departing to | Average cheapest price in December 2025 | Average cheapest price in December 2024 | Average cheapest price in December 2023 |
| Sydney | $117.84 | $120.35 | $113.35 |
| Melbourne | $135.35 | $142.32 | $163.84 |
| Hobart | $240.97 | $187.06 | $218.13 |
| Adelaide | $194.32 | $226.32 | $206.74 |
| Perth | $317.29 | $302.94 | $364.81 |
| Cairns | $149.35 | $155.10 | $164.42 |
| Wellington* | $494.81 | ||
| Christchurch* | $452.45 |
Source: Compare the Market
*Flight prices were not analysed for Wellington and Christchurch in 2023
| Sydney departing to | Average cheapest price in December 2025 | Average cheapest price in December 2024 | Average cheapest price in December 2023 |
| Brisbane | $123.26 | $143.10 | $118.35 |
| Melbourne | $96.48 | $79.74 | $84.00 |
| Hobart | $140.39 | $127.52 | $169.84 |
| Adelaide | $185.10 | $149.35 | $158.52 |
| Perth | N/A | $304.55 | $343.90 |
| Cairns | $194.13 | $176.84 | $218.00 |
| Wellington* | $403.42 | ||
| Christchurch* | $450.65 |
Source: Compare the Market
*Flight prices were not analysed for Wellington and Christchurch in 2023
| Melbourne departing to | Average cheapest price in December 2025 | Average cheapest price in December 2024 | Average cheapest price in December 2023 |
| Brisbane | $145.32 | $145.32 | $171.97 |
| Sydney | $119.23 | $95.13 | $99.10 |
| Hobart | $118.97 | $108.45 | $131.35 |
| Adelaide | $124.13 | $111.65 | $132.26 |
| Perth | $337.58 | $278.84 | $343.00 |
| Cairns | $336.10 | $163.81 | $219.26 |
| Wellington* | $627.58 | ||
| Christchurch* | $452.45 |
Source: Compare the Market
*Flight prices were not analysed for Wellington and Christchurch in 2023
When referencing this research, please attribute: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/travel-insurance/
Disclaimers
Prices for a single one-way ticket were gathered from Skyscanner in October 2025 for flights departing from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne direct to eight destinations each day between 1 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 inclusive.
Quoted prices on Skyscanner were estimated prices only, and are subject to change.
Prices for flights from Melbourne include any of its three airports. Only direct flights were analysed. There were no direct services serving Sydney to Perth as at the time of research.
Always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) to check for the inclusions, exclusions and restrictions before purchasing and determine if the policy is suitable for you.
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