BYRON Bay is the most expensive holiday destination in Australia, according to a new survey by an online travel magazine.

TravelMag.com analysed 20 of the country's most popular tourist destinations based on their cost of lodging during December - typically the most expensive month.

It found Byron Bay visitors had to spend an average of $176 each night for the least expensive double rooms on offer.

Only hotels with ratings of three stars or higher within city centres, with positive client evaluations, were included in the survey.

Byron was $40 more expensive each night than the next most costly city, with visitors to Sydney forking out about $136.

Hobart rounded out the third slot on the ladder with an average of $131 a night for the least expensive double rooms this December.

North Queensland tourist mecca Cairns was named the cheapest destination in Australia, with an average accommodation rate of only $60 per night.

Melbourne and Perth also fell outside the top 10 most expensive list with prices of less than $100 a night.

10 MOST EXPENSIVE TOURIST DESTINATIONS

Byron Bay - $176 a night

Sydney - $136

Hobart - $131

Port Macquarie - $127

Canberra - $124

Noosaville - $120

Port Stephens - $113

Brisbane - $110

Surfers Paradise - $109

Adelaide - $103

SOURCE: TravelMag.com survey

BYRON TOURISM STATS 2013

Annual expenditure - $415 million

Employment - 2500 full-time jobs

Domestic overnight visitors - 44% from Queensland

International visitors - 30% from the UK

Total domestic overnight visitors - 526,000

Total international overnight visitors - 160,000

Total visitor nights last year - three million