Holiday & Travel Competitions Australia: Win Your Dream Trip

Holiday and travel prizes are the crown jewels of the Australian competition scene. A single win can be worth $5,000 to $30,000 or more, covering flights, accommodation, tours, and spending money for a trip you might never have been able to afford otherwise.

Travel competitions are run by airlines, tourism boards, travel agents, hotels, and consumer brands alike. They tend to attract fewer entries than cash or electronics giveaways -- many people assume they will not win something so big, or worry about T&C restrictions -- which actually improves your odds if you know what to look for.

This guide covers every type of travel prize, where to find them, what to check in the fine print, and tips to maximise your chances of winning a holiday.

Types of Travel Prizes

Australian Holidays

Queensland resorts, Great Barrier Reef trips, Uluru experiences, wine country escapes, Kimberley adventures, Tasmania road trips, and luxury lodge stays.

$1,000 - $10,000

International Trips

Europe, USA, Japan, Bali, Thailand, Fiji, Maldives -- dream destinations around the world. Usually includes return flights and accommodation for two.

$5,000 - $30,000+

Cruises

South Pacific cruises (Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia), Mediterranean adventures, Alaska, and round-the-world voyages. P&O, Royal Caribbean, and Princess Cruises all run giveaways.

$3,000 - $20,000+

Travel Vouchers

Flight Centre, Webjet, Booking.com, and airline vouchers -- choose your own adventure! The most flexible type of travel prize.

$1,000 - $15,000

Flights & Frequent Flyer Points

Free flights for a year, business class upgrades, or massive Qantas/Velocity points hauls. Airlines run these promotions regularly to attract new members.

$2,000 - $25,000+

Luxury Escapes

Five-star resorts, overwater bungalows, safari lodges, private islands. These are the ultimate prizes -- often valued at $15,000 or more and including premium experiences.

$10,000 - $50,000+

Where to Find Travel Competitions

Travel giveaways come from a wide range of sources. Here are the best places to find them.

Tourism Boards

Tourism Australia, along with state and territory tourism bodies like Visit Victoria, Tourism Queensland, Destination NSW, and Tourism Western Australia, regularly run competitions to promote domestic travel. International tourism boards (Visit Japan, Tourism Fiji, etc.) also target Australian travellers with trip giveaways.

Airlines

Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar run frequent promotional competitions, often tied to new route launches or loyalty program promotions. Qantas Frequent Flyer points giveaways can be worth thousands of dollars in flights. International airlines like Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Air New Zealand also target the Australian market.

Travel Agents & Booking Platforms

Flight Centre, Webjet, Luxury Escapes, TripADeal, and Booking.com all run regular travel giveaways. These companies use competitions to grow their email lists and social followings, so many are free to enter -- just subscribe to their newsletter or follow them on social media.

Accommodation Providers

Hotel chains (Marriott, Accor, IHG), resorts, and platforms like Airbnb give away stays. Boutique hotels and luxury lodges also run competitions, often with smaller entry pools since they promote to niche audiences.

Consumer Brands

Brands outside the travel industry frequently use holidays as prizes. Think supermarket promotions (Woolworths, Coles), beverage brands (Coca-Cola, Carlton), and FMCG companies. These are often purchase-to-enter but can have exceptional prizes -- a $20,000 Bali trip from a $5 bag of chips.

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What's Usually Included (and What's Not)

Usually Included

Return flights (economy class, sometimes upgradeable)
Accommodation (hotel, resort, or cruise cabin)
Airport transfers
Some meals (often breakfast, sometimes all-inclusive)
One or two key experiences or tours

Often NOT Included

Travel insurance (you will need your own)
Spending money for meals, drinks, shopping
Transport to/from your home airport
Passport and visa costs
Extra luggage or seat upgrades

What to Check in the T&Cs

Travel prize T&Cs are more complex than other competition types. Read them carefully before entering -- here are the key things to look for.

Travel Window

When must the trip be taken? Most prizes require travel within 12 months of winning. Some specify exact dates. Check if you can actually travel during the required period before entering.

Blackout Dates

School holidays, Christmas, Easter, and other peak periods are often excluded. This can significantly limit when you can travel, especially if you have children in school.

Companion Included?

Is the trip for one person or two? Some prizes are "for the winner and a companion" while others are just for the winner. If you need to bring a plus-one at your own expense, factor that into the real value.

Flights Included?

Not every "holiday" prize includes flights. Some accommodation-only prizes require you to get there yourself. For domestic prizes, check which departure city is included -- a "Queensland escape" departing from Sydney is less useful if you live in Perth.

Spending Money

Some prizes include spending money (a prepaid card or cash amount), which is a great bonus. Others do not, which means you will need your own funds for meals, activities, and souvenirs beyond what is included.

Cash Alternative?

Some travel competitions offer a cash alternative if you cannot take the trip. This is rare but worth checking -- it gives you an exit if the travel dates or destination do not work for you.

Tips for Winning Travel Prizes

Keep Your Passport Valid

Many international prizes require travel within 12 months. If your passport has less than 6 months validity, you may not be able to claim the prize. Renew it early -- an Australian passport takes 6 to 8 weeks to process, and you do not want to miss out because of paperwork.

Be Flexible with Dates

Travel prizes often have blackout dates and limited availability. The more flexible you can be with travel dates, the more likely you are to claim the prize on dates that work for both you and the promoter. If you have fixed commitments like school terms, check the T&Cs carefully before entering.

Enter Creative Competitions

Travel brands love storytelling. In 25 words or less (WOL) competitions, tell them why YOU deserve this trip. Be specific about the destination -- research it and show genuine enthusiasm. A well-crafted entry about why you have always dreamed of visiting the destination stands out from generic "I want to win" entries.

Do Not Overlook Purchase-to-Enter

Supermarket and FMCG promotions with holiday prizes often have enormous prize pools ($50,000+ trips) but relatively few entries compared to the number of products sold. Buying a $4 product you would buy anyway for a chance at a $20,000 holiday is a great return on investment.

Set Up Alerts

Follow airlines and travel agents on social media, subscribe to their newsletters, and set up alerts on Competitions.com.au for holiday and travel prizes. The best travel competitions can fill up quickly, so being first to know gives you an advantage.

Real Winner Story: Ann's Dream Trip

Want proof that travel competitions deliver? Read how Ann won an incredible travel prize through consistent entering and smart strategy. Her story shows that real people really do win these holidays.

Read Ann's Winner Story

Tax Note: Travel Prizes in Australia

Good news: travel prizes won through competitions are generally not taxable in Australia. The ATO treats prizes from games of chance as windfall gains, not income. However, there are exceptions if you enter competitions as a business or if you regularly profit from competition winnings.

For a detailed breakdown of how competition winnings are taxed in Australia, read our full guide: Competition Winnings & Tax in Australia.

Travel Competition Checklist

Keep passport up to date (6+ months validity)

Check travel dates and blackout periods

Confirm number of travellers included

Check if flights are included (and from where)

Note what is NOT included (insurance, spending money)

Check for cash alternative option

Follow airlines and travel agents on social media

Be flexible with travel dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take someone else on the trip instead of going myself?

Almost never. Travel prizes are awarded to the winner, and most T&Cs require the winner to be one of the travellers. You generally cannot transfer the trip to someone else. However, you usually get to choose your travel companion.

What happens if I can't travel during the required dates?

If you cannot travel within the specified window, you may forfeit the prize. Some promoters offer limited flexibility or a cash alternative, but many do not. This is why it is important to read the T&Cs before entering -- do not enter a competition for a trip you cannot actually take.

Do I need travel insurance for a prize trip?

Yes, absolutely. Travel insurance is almost never included in the prize and is your responsibility. Given that the trip itself is free, the cost of insurance is a small price to pay for protection against cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost luggage.

Are holiday prizes taxable in Australia?

Travel prizes are generally not taxable in Australia. The ATO treats competition winnings from games of chance as windfall gains rather than assessable income. However, if you enter competitions as part of a business or receive prizes regularly enough to be considered income, different rules may apply. Read our full tax guide for details.

Can I extend the trip at my own expense?

Sometimes. Some promoters will let you extend your stay or change your return flight at your own cost, but it depends on the booking arrangements. It is worth asking once you have won -- many winners successfully extend their prize trips by a few days.

What if the trip is cancelled due to unforeseen events?

Competition T&Cs usually include a clause about force majeure events. If a trip cannot go ahead, the promoter may offer alternative dates, a different destination, or a cash/voucher alternative. The exact arrangement depends on the promoter and the circumstances.

Holiday & Travel Competitions Australia: Win Your Dream Trip