A month into spring, Australians are already clearly looking ahead to summer with data from one of the biggest booking sites showing holiday homes are already being snapped up for the year’s busiest period.

The trend actually began in the grey days at the end of winter, with Ipsos data revealing the audience looking for tourism information jumped 6.5 per cent in August from July.

Holiday planning research appears to be top of mind. Booking.com’s website and app audience leapt 3 per cent in the month – from 6.8 million to more than 7 million. The audience for rival Trip.com was up almost 8 per cent from 2.6 to 2.8 million.

Ipsos found the average Australian spent more than an hour (61.5 minutes) a month browsing travel websites and apps.

On Monday, bookings website Stayz said more than half of the homes in some of the country’s favourite destinations – including Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Queensland’s Sunshine and Gold coasts  – had already been rented for the busy summer holiday period.

Other popular holiday spots where December and January dates are already filling fast include Shoalhaven and Byron Bay in NSW, the Whitsundays in Queensland, Geelong in Victoria and South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island is another destination where holiday lets are being booked fast. Photo: Getty

“The classic Australian summer holiday is still very much centred around gathering family and friends, and splitting the cost of a holiday home by the coast,” Stayz travel expert Sarah King said.

“We’re already seeing strong demand across many of Australia’s favourite beach destinations, with holiday homes filling up ahead of the peak summer period.”

But fear not if you’re one of many people yet to even think about a summer getaway. There are still plenty of good options – and some tips and tricks to help secure the right place in the sun.

Stayz – which lists more than 50,000 properties across Australia – suggests that being flexible about dates can be very helpful. It identifies the last week of January is shaping up as one of the best-value periods of the summer season – with holiday homes on average up to 45 per cent less than Christmas week, while the crowds are also smaller.

“Holiday homes are a little different to hotels. Once a property is booked, it’s no longer available to other travellers, so booking ahead can mean more choice,” King said.

“For those with flexibility, travelling later in January can also offer better value and greater availability.”

Looking away from the coast, such as charming Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands, may reveal more options.

Stayz also suggests looking beyond traditional coastal hot spots to find a place.

Inland destinations where plenty of holiday rentals are still available include the NSW Southern Highlands, SA’s Barossa Valley, and the Yarra Valley in Victoria. Another holiday spot that offers plenty away from the sea is the Tweed Valley, in northern NSW – just last week it was the only Australian destination to make travel publisher Lonely Planet’s coveted “best in travel 2027” list.

When booking early is possible, it can also mean significant savings. Stayz says many of its properties offer discounts for reservations made at least 60 days ahead. Some properties also offer weekly and monthly discounts.