This was published 9 years ago
Surge in Australians travelling to Game of Thrones filming locations
Ever wanted to ride through the gates of King's Landing on horseback, follow Khaleesi and the Dothraki's tracks through the desert or patrol the mysterious mountainside beyond The Wall?
You can.
The majestic landscapes shot in Game of Thrones are becoming the travel destination dreams of many Aussie fans.
Mussenden Temple, Northern Ireland.
There was a surge in Australians hunting for trips to these locations when season four aired last year, data from global travel search engine Skyscanner reveals.
There was also a serious drop off directly after.
Flight searches to Malta for instance, the backdrop to Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo's wedding, spiked 39 per cent between April and June last year.
They then fell by 14 per cent in July after the season wrapped up.
Searches for trips to Iceland, home of the wildlings north of The Wall, also spiked 39 per cent for that period before plummeting 11 per cent in July.
It makes sense.
Who wouldn't want to grab a special someone and re-enact a certain steamy scene in Jon Snow and Ygritte's love nest, aka, the thermal spring cave near Lake Myvatn in north-east Iceland?
Travel research for Morocco, home to Yunkai, the slave city liberated by the Mother of Dragons, jumped 19 per cent between April and June 2014.
It then decreased 14 per cent in July, when Australians went back to their mundane lives.
And flight searches for Croatia, aka the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, aka Dubrovnik, jumped 16 per cent.
There was then a 28 per cent drop in searches to this destination in July, after the show stopped airing.
But with the forthcoming fifth season just days away, thousands of Throners are tipped to embark on their own fantasy vacation in Northern Ireland.
Magheramorne Quarry has helped recreate both Castle Black, the headquarters of the Night's Watch, and another location, near the lake, which has served as the set for HardHome.
Here one of the highlights of the upcoming season occurs.
Get ready to pack your imaginary bags.
AAP
Sign up for the Traveller newsletter
The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.