New research has suggested that British holidaymakers are increasingly looking to far-flung destinations for their breaks.

Figures from online hotel reservation service HolidayCity.com show that while hotel bookings by UK travellers increased by 42.5 per cent between January and March this year, reservations at lodgings in Auckland soared by 57.5 per cent, reports TravelDailyNews.

"New Zealand is clearly a favourite country destination with another of its major [cities], Christchurch, occupying the sixth position in the same list," said HolidayCity.com.

Other long-haul destinations near the top of the list include Sydney and Singapore, with London, Glasgow and Cardiff ranking highly for those travelling within the UK.

Long-haul flights across the Atlantic are expected to boom from next year as a result of the recent signing of the open skies pact between the EU and the USA, with airlines such as bmi and Virgin Atlantic reportedly signalling their intentions to launch new transatlantic services in the past week.

• Geneva popular with Birmingham flyers
• Stansted welcomes new European flights
• Newcastle-Stavanger flights begin
• Busy week for Aer Arann
• T5 move for long-haul flights confirmed
• New lounge opens at Inverness Airport
• Birmingham-Hamburg flights take off
• New Aer Lingus routes welcomed
• Flyers keep returning to Silverjet
• Best European airlines revealed