Travel experiences in our own backyard are more popular since Covid put a halt to much overseas travel.
Research by Wotif highlights that although most Aussies have visited the major cities and beach towns within their state, many haven’t gone beyond the known hot spots, with only 12% of Australians enjoying the glory of ticking off every state and territory and one in 20 admitting they have never left their own state.
Demand for domestic travel continues to grow in 2022. Specifically, short breaks outside of the major capital cities will continue to be popular, with many wishing to head for the fresh air of a National Park and one in two saying a local island getaway is calling their name.
Bang for buck experiences are also on trend, with 90% of Aussies saying if the price was roughly the same, they would go to a few destinations rather than just one.
“From the red desert, to the reef, to the wildlife and wine regions, there are some incredible experiences to be had locally, often for a fraction of the price and travel time, allowing for the option of a few smaller trips throughout the year rather than one big overseas holiday,” according to Wotif.com Travel Expert, Amanda Behre
“Traditionally Aussies are renowned as extensive global travellers, with many admitting to feeling the need to travel further to get their cultural, adventure or relaxation fix, with two thirds of people admitting they’d prefer to travel as far afield as possible.”
Here we debunk the top 5 myths:
1. It’s cheaper to travel overseas
A third of Aussies believe it is cheaper to travel overseas than within Australia. However, Wotif has crunched the numbers and compared world-class attractions against similar Aussie experiences, with local travel up to 400% cheaper in some cases. For example, airfares to enjoy the rich culture and outback landscapes of Uluru (Ayres Rock Airport) are four times less than flights to see Britain’s ancient prehistoric monument, Stonehenge (London Airport). Despite this more Australians admit to having visited Stonehenge than Uluru.
2. I’ve been everywhere man
Just one in ten Australians have been to every state and territory, and the majority of the time it’s the major capital cities and beaches they’ve ticked off, with Sydney (82%), Melbourne (79%), Brisbane (71%), Gold Coast (71%) and Canberra (59%) the most popular. With 7.692 million kilometres to discover, there’s always somewhere new to check out locally. According to the research, some of the destinations we are internationally renowned for are the ones Aussies are least likely to have visited to date, including Freycinet National Park (17%), Kakadu National Park (16%), Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (16%), Kangaroo Island (14%), Norfolk Island (7%).
3. The culture overseas is more interesting
Seven in ten Aussies who travel overseas or further afield admit they do so to experience a different culture. Really?! Australia is filled with interesting culture and history. Visit the Daintree Rainforest in far North Queensland and not only will you get a tropical escape, you can also learn the stories of the Kuku Yalanji tribe who lived in small camps along the banks of the creeks and rivers. Or even in Sydney, only one in ten Aussies have jumped on the ferry out to Cockatoo Island, which has a fascinating history dating back to the 1800’s and is one of 10 inscribed convict sites in Australia on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
4. There is more adventure to be had overseas
Almost one in two Australians believe there is more adventure to be had overseas or further afield, even though people from around the world come to Australia for adrenalin raising experiences. From seeing crocodiles in the wild in Kakadu National Park, to hiking in the wilderness of Cradle Mountain Tasmania and swimming with the whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef, Australia is filled with action and adventure.
5. Australia is too big and time consuming to get around
Australia may be the world’s largest island, however as locals we have the advantage of it being our home base, meaning less travel time and more holiday time.
