Did you miss out on a gap year in your 20s? If you answered yes, take comfort: you are in the overwhelming majority.
According to a fascinating new report from Intrepid Travel, a staggering 80 per cent of us over 55 never took that classic year off. We were too busy jumping straight into jobs, raising families, and building lives. But here is the good news: it is never too late for a do-over. In fact, right now is the best time to do it.
We are officially in the era of the “Golden Gap Year.”
I see this trend every day. Since becoming an empty nester, I’ve been travelling more than ever, sometimes solo, sometimes with family and friends. And I’m meeting incredible women who have realised that after decades of looking after everyone else, it’s finally their turn. And the data backs us up! The research shows that 32 per cent of us feel more confident and open to new experiences now than we did when we were younger.
I’m living proof of this. I recently found myself in Cambodia, riding on the back of a motorbike on an anti-poaching patrol. It was thrilling, wild, and made me feel 20 years old again. That’s the magic of travel at this age – we have a deeper appreciation for culture (40 per cent of us agree!) and a hunger to learn that we maybe didn’t have fresh out of school.
My own “Golden Gap” adventure is just around the corner. I’m heading to South America for a 10-day Intrepid Travel expedition through Brazil and Argentina. Hubby and I have hit our 30-year wedding milestone and together we’ll be tracking capybaras in the wetlands and meeting Indigenous communities at Iguazu Falls. We’ve chosen a small group tour because, let’s be honest, at this stage of life we want the adventure without the hassle. We want the “education and experience” of the journey, but with the safety and logistics handled by experts.
A few years ago, my girlfriends and I started a WhatsApp group called “Golden Gap Year.”
It is not a chat about retirement planning or downsizing; it is a dedicated forum where my girlfriends and I trade itineraries for treks in Patagonia, cultural deep dives in Japan, and safaris in Botswana. There’s a strong, almost defiant, revelling in finally being able to say, “It’s my turn.”
Robyn Foyster and Cathy Wagstaff on an anti-poaching patrol in Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia
Of course, I shared the details of a new “Golden Gap Year” competition from Intrepid Travel with the group and with my girlfriends at a 60th birthday party. You could hear the audible gasps when I told them the travel company is giving away a $125,000 year-long adventure to one lucky Aussie. Just the sheer possibility of winning the prize was enough to see the sudden spark light up in everyone’s eyes.
For me, the “gap year” is no longer just for school leavers. My generation has embraced it and for good reason: we finally have the time, the resources, and perhaps most importantly, the perspective to truly savour the experience.
So, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to book that ticket, this is it. Let’s make up for lost time!
The Golden Gap Year: By The Numbers
The Research
- 80% of Australians aged 55+ never took a traditional gap year.
- 67% have considered “making up for lost time” later in life.
- 62% say they would take 12 months off to travel if given the chance.
- 40% have a deeper appreciation for different cultures now than in their 20s.
The Competition Intrepid Travel is giving away a “Golden Gap Year” to one Australian aged 55+.
- The Prize: A 12-month adventure designed by you and an Intrepid Adventure Consultant.
- Value: Up to $100,000 in trips + $25,000 for flights.
- How to Enter: Submit a written application or video sharing why you missed out the first time and why you are ready now.
- Deadline: Entries close 11:59pm, 15 March 2026.
Enter here: intrepidtravel.com/golden-gap-year
