Auckland vs Melbourne

Auckland leads Melbourne by 2 points on the TRAIL Index, 72 to 70. Auckland grades better on 8 measures, Melbourne on 8; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Auckland 72, Melbourne 70
• OECD: Auckland 69, Melbourne 69
• UN Tourism: Auckland 71, Melbourne 71
• UNDRR: Auckland 62, Melbourne 69

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Auckland 54, Melbourne 70
• Economy and jobs: Auckland 75, Melbourne 100
• Climate and hazards: Auckland 70, Melbourne 60
• Water and environment: Auckland 69, Melbourne 63
• Community and housing: Auckland 94, Melbourne 25
• Access and continuity: Auckland 75, Melbourne 88

Where Auckland is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 60.8 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Auckland Council / Auckland Economic Monitor (Accommodation Data Programme / MBIE), YE March 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 0 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Country disaster risk: 1.6 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 141 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Auckland Council, Waste Minimisation and Management Plan 2024, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 4.1 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (Auckland Council / Auckland Economic Monitor & Stats NZ, YE March 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: -1 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (Infometrics / MBIE Tenancy Bond Database, Regional Economic Profile, Year to March 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• Short-let density: 0.9 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (region figure) (AirDNA & Stats NZ 2023 Census, August 2026). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.

Where Melbourne is stronger

• Average length of stay: 15.2 nights per visitor (Tourism Research Australia via City of Melbourne / id.economy, 2024/25). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 5.7 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 4.1 % of the labour force (Australian Bureau of Statistics & Department of Employment (via economy.id Melbourne), March 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 71,934 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Economic diversity: 81.3 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (City of Melbourne / economy.id (NIEIR National Accounts regional econometric model), 2024/25). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (metro figure) (Melbourne Water, Annual Report / Sewerage System Accounts, 2022–2023). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Victoria State Government, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, 'Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan', 2021–2024). Grade 3/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (State Revenue Office Victoria, Short Stay Levy Act 2024, 2025). Grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• New Zealand: #25 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Australia: #4 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Auckland in full · Melbourne in full

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