Australian Tourism Growth Drives New Zealand’s Strong Visitor Surge

There’s a certain buzz in the air around New Zealand’s tourism scene, the kind that comes when a country finally sees momentum building after years of uncertainty. As travellers return and long-quiet airport terminals feel busy again, New Zealand is experiencing an encouraging shift. What’s particularly interesting is not just that visitor numbers are rising, but how consistently they’re climbing and who is responsible for most of that growth. It is a story that blends genuine excitement, government effort, industry teamwork and a wave of Australians who seem more than ready to hop across the Tasman.

Aussies Lead the Way in Tourism Growth

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has welcomed the latest official data, describing it as a strong sign that New Zealand’s tourism sector is well on its way back to full strength. And the biggest boost? Australians who continue to be the country’s most reliable visitors.

According to Stats NZ, visitor arrivals from Australia reached 1.48 million in the September 2025 year, a jump from 1.33 million the year before. That is an impressive 12% rise or 153,500 additional visitors. For September-year figures, 2025 now stands as the second-highest year on record, only behind the pre-pandemic surge of 2019.

Minister Upston points to several reasons for this strong turnout, including increased trans-Tasman flights and the success of Tourism New Zealand’s lively ‘Everyone Must Go’ campaign, a message Australians have embraced wholeheartedly.

Lift in International Arrivals

While the Aussie numbers stand out, they’re not the only figures showing promise.

Overall, New Zealand welcomed 248,600 international visitors in September 2025, marking an increase of 21,700 compared with September 2024.

As of September 2025 , these were the noticed increase:

Australia — up 153,000 to 1.48 million

United States — up 21,000 to 381,000

United Kingdom — up 20,000 to 190,000

Japan — up 10,000 to 74,000

China — steady at 246,100, compared previously 245,800

These numbers show New Zealand’s appeal to remain strong across several key markets, with growth spread across both traditional and emerging visitor sources.

Strong Regional Tourism Signals

The positive trend is also showing up in regional data. International arrivals into Queenstown and Christchurch have hit record highs for this time of year, offering a confidence boost to local operators.

Accommodation demand is rising sharply too. Auckland is gearing up for full occupancy next week, with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited expecting 80–85% occupancy levels across the summer period. For a sector that thrives on consistency, these are encouraging signs.

Government Efforts Paying Off

Minister Upston highlights that this momentum isn’t by chance. The Government has been rolling out targeted initiatives throughout the year to re-energise tourism and support industry partners.

Key actions include:

• A Tourism Boost package launched at the start of the year with industry collaboration

• A £70 million events and tourism investment package announced in September

Welcoming the Michelin Guide to New Zealand — an exciting move designed to elevate the country’s global culinary reputation

Together, these efforts form part of a wider plan: doubling the value of international tourism by 2034. The Minister emphasised that a thriving, resilient tourism sector is essential to New Zealand’s economic success and something she remains personally committed to.