New figures show Australians are increasingly viewing Germany as a major, long-stay destination on their European holidays.
For a long time, Germany lagged behind Great Britain, France and Italy as places that Australians wanted to visit when they make the continental trip.
But the new stats released by the German National Tourist Office show how quickly Germany - now the economic powerhouse of Europe - is catching up.
Overnight stays in Germany from the Oceania region (that is Australia and New Zealand) were 883,229 in 2015, up from 846,005 the year before.
That is a growth rate of 4.4 per cent, with 3.7 per cent of that coming directly from Australia.
In 2006, the growth rate for Australians visiting Germany was 30.9 per cent, although that astronomical figure would have largely been due to the Socceroos playing in the World Cup in Germany that year.
Since then, the growth figure has bounced all over the place, hitting another high point of 26.4 per cent in 2010.
In the last few years, growth has been far more incremental, although the figures are on an upward trend.
But arrivals from Oceania are slightly down on the previous figures, with 363,249 coming in 2015 as compared to 372,927 in 2014.
This could mean that while slightly less people are arriving, those who are are spending more time in the country and taking in more of the sights.
HOW AUSTRALIANS ARE VISITING GERMANY
Overnight stays from Australia/NZ/Oceania:
2014: 846,005
2015: 883.229
Growth: 4.4 per cent
Growth just from Australia: 3.7 per cent
Arrivals from Australia/NZ/Oceania:
2014: 372,927
2015: 363,249
(Source: German National Tourist Office)
* The writer was a guest of the German National Tourist Office.
