December Uber Driving Hotspots: How to Earn More This Summer in Australia

December is one of the most profitable months of the year for Uber drivers in Australia. With school holidays, Christmas celebrations and the countdown to New Year’s Eve, rideshare demand rises sharply across all major cities. 

Whether you’re driving in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide or Canberra, this guide breaks down where to go, why these hotspots matter and how to maximise your earnings using Uber’s ride categories including Uber Electric, Comfort, XL, and Black (where available). 

Why December Is One of the Best Months to Drive Uber 

December consistently ranks as a high-demand month for rideshare, driven by: 

Holiday Travel & Tourism 

• Airports reach peak traffic as families and tourists travel for Christmas and summer holidays, meaning more airport trips, more luggage, and higher demand for Uber XL and Comfort.

Office Christmas Parties 

• Corporate end-of-year functions fill CBD restaurants and event venues, driving strong demand for premium ride options like Uber Black and Comfort.

Christmas Shopping Rush 

• Retail centres surge between 10 am–6 pm, creating short, high-turnover trips that favour UberX and Uber Electric.

Beach & Leisure Trips 

• Warm weather pushes riders toward beaches and foreshore suburbs, with families and groups choosing XL, while tourists lean toward Electric, Comfort, and X.

New Year’s Eve Build-Up 

• The final week of December brings early NYE visitors and festive activity, leading to consistent late-night rides and higher demand for premium and surge-zone trips.

Quick-Glance Summary: December Hotspots Across Australia 

City-by-City Hotspots, Key December Events & How to Make the Most of Them 

Sydney

• Why It’s Busy? Corporate Christmas parties, beach tourism, hotel traffic and early NYE visitors drive high trip volume. 

• How to Maximise Earnings? Focus on driving around hotspots from 4–8 pm for office functions, then 10 pm–2 am for nightlife and sit just outside CBD congestion for faster pick-up's. Also expect heavy airport demand Fri–Mon. 

Key December Events

• Carols in the Domain – Mid-December (typically the Saturday before Christmas) 

• Lady Gaga “The MAYHEM Ball” - Accor Stadium 12^th December 2025  

• Christmas at Martin Place & Pitt Street Mall – 1–24 December 

• The Rocks Christmas Markets – Every weekend in December 

• Sydney Kings NBL Home Games – Selected December dates 

• A-League Sydney FC Home Matches – December fixtures vary 

• NYE Fireworks Build-Up – 29–31 December 

Hotspots

• CBD, The Rocks, Barangaroo 

• Bondi, Coogee 

• Darling Harbour 

• Bondi Junction retail precinct

Best Categories & Why

• Uber Black: Popular for corporate Christmas parties and premium dinners. 

• Uber Comfort: Ideal for hotel guests and families heading to attractions. 

• Uber Electric: Strong uptake in the CBD and Eastern Suburbs from tourists and eco-conscious riders. 

Melbourne 

• Why It’s Busy? Christmas retail peaks, coastal suburbs heat up, and summer events ramp up across the city. 

• How to Maximise Earnings? Drive retail areas during the day and coastal areas in the evening , avoid mall congestion by using feeder roads and position yourself near Southbank after 8 pm for event let-outs.

Key December Dates

• Carols by Candlelight (Sidney Myer Music Bowl) – 24 December 

• Federation Square Christmas Festival – 1–24 December 

• Boxing Day Test – MCG – 26–30 December, One of Australia’s biggest sporting events; huge Uber activity. 

• BBL Melbourne Stars / Renegades – December home fixtures 

• A-League Matches – Dates vary 

Hotspots

• Chadstone & CBD 

• St Kilda, Port Melbourne 

• Southbank & Crown 

Best Categories & Why

• Uber XL: Shoppers, families and beach groups need space. 

• Uber Comfort: Eventgoers' prefer smoother rides for dinners and shows. 

• Uber Electric: Popular for shorter inner-city trips with sustainability-focused riders. 

Brisbane

• Why It’s Busy? Holiday travel, warm nights and strong nightlife activities make Brisbane a steady December market. 

• How to Maximise Earnings? Prioritise evenings trips from Thursday to Sunday, track airport schedules and position yourself near major holiday accommodation spots.

Key December Events

• Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols – Early December (first Saturday) 

• South Bank Christmas Cinema & Markets – Mid–late December 

• BBL Brisbane Heat Home Games at The Gabba – December fixtures vary 

• A-League Brisbane Roar Matches – Dates vary 

• South Bank NYE Fireworks – 31 December 

Hotspots

• South Bank 

• Fortitude Valley 

• Brisbane Airport 

Best Categories & Why

• UberX: High volume of short city trips. 

• UberXL: Families and airport travellers often need more room. 

• Uber Comfort: Sought after by diners and Christmas party groups. 

Gold Coast 

• Why It’s Busy? Tourism peaks with beaches, theme parks and nightlife driving full-day demand. 

• How to Maximise Earnings? Work around Surfers during mid-afternoon to late night and shift to Broadbeach for dinner and nightlife ride requests.

Key December Events

• Movie World White Christmas – Multiple nights (Thu–Sun all December) 

• Surfers Paradise Christmas Wonderland – Second week of December 

• Broadbeach Christmas Carols – Mid-December 

• Summer Surf Series at Burleigh & Snapper Rocks – December weekends 

Hotspots

• Surfers Paradise 

• Broadbeach 

• Theme parks corridor 

Best Categories & Why

• UberX: Tourists and beachgoers create high-volume short trips. 

• Uber XL: Ideal for families, theme park visitors and groups. 

Perth 

• Why It’s Busy? Beach weather and waterfront dining keep demand strong all afternoon and evening. 

• How to Maximise Earnings? Start your shift from 3 pm as beach crowds transition to dining, use feeder streets instead of busy coastal car parks and monitor airport demand from mid-December onwards.

Key December Events

• Perth Christmas Lights Trail – 1 December – early January 

• Carols by Candlelight (Langley Park) – Mid-December (usually 18–20 December) 

• Kings Park Outdoor Summer Concerts – Various December dates 

• BBL Perth Scorchers Home Games – December fixture dates vary 

• A-League Perth Glory Matches – December fixture dates vary 

• Elizabeth Quay NYE Events – 31 December 

Hotspots

• Cottesloe & Scarborough 

• Elizabeth Quay 

• Perth CBD  

Best Categories & Why

• UberX: Most beach, city and family trips fall here. 

• Uber Comfort: Popular for summer dining, events and cleaner ride expectations. 

Adelaide

• Why It’s Busy? Warm weather, Christmas shopping and beach days make December a consistently busy month. 

• How to Maximise Earnings? Focus on taking shifts from afternoons and early evenings and move between the city and coast depending on temperature.

Key December Events

• Adelaide Christmas Pageant – Early December (first weekend) 

• Elder Park Carols by Candlelight – Mid-December (often second weekend) 

• North Adelaide Christmas Lights – All December 

• BBL Adelaide Strikers Home Games – December fixtures vary 

• A-League Adelaide United Matches – December fixtures vary 

• Glenelg Summer Nights Festival – Late December weekends 

Hotspots

• Glenelg 

• Rundle Mall 

• Adelaide Airport 

Best Categories & Why

• UberX: Dominates shopping and coastal travel demand. 

• Uber Comfort: Favoured for dinners, Christmas outings and airport pickups. 

Canberra 

• Why It’s Busy? Air travel spikes, suburban Christmas lights attract families, and central precincts stay busy. 

• How to Maximise Earnings? Time your shifts around flight arrivals and drive evenings for light display trips.

Key December Events

• Canberra Christmas Markets (EPIC) – Mid-December (usually second weekend) 

• Christmas in the City – 1–24 December 

• Suburban Christmas Light Displays – All December (peak 10–23 December) 

• Stage 88 Summer Concerts – Various December dates 

• Manuka Oval BBL Summer Cricket Matches – December fixtures vary 

Hotspots

• Canberra Airport 

• Braddon 

• Kingston Foreshore 

Best Categories & Why

• UberX: Strong demand from airport runs and short central trips. 

• Uber Comfort: Preferred by business travellers, government workers and families. 

December is the perfect month to boost your Uber earnings. With smart planning, the right hours, and strategic use of ride categories, drivers can make December their most profitable month of the year. 

Make sure your vehicle is ready, plan your driving hours around key hotspots, and stay ahead with Splend’s support. 

Explore Splend’s Home Advantage resources to get summer-ready and maximise your earning potential.