If you haven’t booked your summer holiday accommodation yet, you may be about to miss out on popular properties.

Last year summer bookings with AA Traveller were up 30% on the previous year, and with a long hot summer forecast, and continued growth in international visitors, AA Traveller is expecting even more demand this summer period.

“Our research shows steady and significant increases in AA Traveller bookings from October onwards, peaking in January. If you’re planning to get your pick of holiday accommodation, now is the time to book it,” says AA Traveller Marketing Manager Jodie Fitzgerald.

Last summer Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula saw the highest number of holidaymakers, with 1.2 million overnight trips taken in Northland during December and January and more than a million overnight trips in the Coromandel during this period alone, numbers largely made up by Aucklanders.

In the South Island Cantabrians mainly moved around their own region taking more than 350,000 overnight trips in the area, making it one of the top destinations in the South Island, along with Nelson, which saw 345,000 overnight trips.

“We see a lot of places reach capacity over the November to February period, it’s not just over Christmas and New Year,” she says. “Some regions holding large events during summer are already fully booked.”

The good news is many of the AA’s 1.4 million Members tend to look for accommodation in less populated places, preferring to steer clear of the crowds.

In recent AA Traveller research 69% of AA Members surveyed listed great scenery as a key ingredient to a weekend getaway, with 52% looking for great food and 45% hoping to get away from the crowd.

Two places that tick many of these boxes are Fiordland and Clutha, which last year both made up less than 1% of the domestic tourism market.

“Fiordland is one of those places you won’t find many domestic travellers in the summer, but it offers up a truly memorable holiday experience - from incredible views through both Milford and Doubtful Sound, to numerous hiking tracks suited to all abilities,” says Ms Fitzgerald. “Not to mention the food and wine tours on offer.”

AA Traveller has been helping Kiwis travel around New Zealand for more than 100 years. Accommodation at over 1,800 properties can be booked on their website aatraveller.co.nz, available for AA Members and non-Members.