Australian’s interest in travelling to Game of Thrones destinations spiked dramatically as the show’s fourth series aired in April to June 2014, according to new research.

There was a 39 per cent increase in Aussie’s thinking about travel to Malta and Iceland when the program was showing in April 2014, while searches to the destinations dropped by 11 per cent and 14 per cent once it was off air in July, shows data from flight and hotel search engine Skyscanner.

Recognise the stunning Azure Window in Malta? It was a setting for a wedding in Series One. Photo: Getty.

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The forbidden grotto affair between Jon Snow and Ygritte was filmed on location in Iceland while Malta was the setting for many Game of Thrones scenes, including The Red Keep and the Great Sept of Baelor.

The figures are expected to be repeated as Game of Thrones series five gets underway around the world on Sunday and Monday prompting Australians to take their obsession with the popular program past just enjoying it in the comfort of their homes.

Flight searches to Croatia, where slaves were set lining the walls of Meereen or where King’s Landing (the Capital of the Seven Kingdoms) is filmed, increased by 16 per cent while the show was on in 2014, and then dipped by 38 per cent once it went off air in July.

Lesser travelled destinations like Northern Ireland and Morocco also received more search attention thanks to the hugely popular program, with traffic to these destinations on Skyscanner rising by 19 per cent and 18 per cent.

None of these destinations feature on the Australian Bureau of Statistics Top 5 holiday locations for 2013 – 2014, illustrating how the show might be introducing and influencing new holiday ideas to travellers from Australia.