New research* from Webjet, has revealed solo travel is officially hitting the mainstream, with half (48%) of Aussies planning a solo trip in the next two years, with a further quarter (25%) hoping to take one in the not too distant future. These travellers aren’t just seeking quick getaways; they’re planning extensive bucket list adventures. Two-fifths (43%) would like to visit three or more destinations, and half (50%) intend to travel solo for three weeks or more.
As mor people jump on the solo travel bandwagon, it’s safe to say solo travel isnt a young backpackers game anymore. Gen Z are now the least likely to say they fit in with other solo travellers, with just one in three (31%) feeling they belong, compared to half of Boomers (50%), Gen X (47%), and millennials (46%).
Boomers and Gen X lead the solo travel charge
The burgeoning interest in solo travel is being driven in part by Boomers and Gen X. Nearly half (48%) of over 65s are keen to mark their retirement with a solo trip, while a quarter (26%) of 45 to 54-year-olds are looking to quell their mid-life crises with an adventure for one. For these older generations, solo travel is an opportunity to meet new people (37%) and create new memories (36%).
Millennials embrace solo travel to beat burnout
Millennials, on the other hand, are turning to solo travel as an antidote to burnout. Nearly half (45%) are interested in solo trips to escape work-related stress and two-fifths (42%) see it as a chance for a longer career break.
Unlike older generations who are seeking new connections, Millennials are after some peace and quiet.
Two in five (41%) 35 to 44-year-olds want to travel solo for some solitude, with one in ten (11%)
admitting they’d like to travel independently to avoid annoying family members or friends. Interestingly, a quarter (28%) would consider a solo “divorce-cation” after a split from their partner.
Parenting commitments remain a significant barrier for this generation, with half (48%) citing these
responsibilities as a hindrance to booking solo trips. However, one in five (20%) of Australians aged 35 to 54 are eagerly awaiting solo adventures once their children leave home.
Solo travellers go big or go home
Australians are not just interested in solo travel; they’re ready to invest in it. Despite cost of living
pressures, Aussies are willing to splurge to make their solo travel dreams come true. A quarter (24%) plan to spend over $5,000 and one in twenty (5%) are ready to invest $10,000 or more on their next solo adventure. The desire to tick off bucket list destinations (47%), experience once-in-a-lifetime adventures (49%), and enjoy luxury accommodations (38%) is driving this higher spending. According to Webjet booking data*, the top international destinations for solo travellers in the next year are:
- Bali: 15%
- London: 10%
- Auckland: 6%
- Queenstown: 4%
- Manila: 3%
- Tokyo: 3%
- Bangkok: 3%
- Los Angeles: 3%
- Christchurch: 2%
- Athens: 2%
Yet, while the desire for Multi-City solo travel is strong, planning and booking these trips is still a
challenge. Almost half (44%) of respondents find booking a solo trip time-consuming and difficult, with
one in eight (12%) saying it deters them from travelling solo altogether.
Webjet surveyed 1,007 Australians aged 18+ from 3 to 7 June 2024. Research supplied by PureProfile.
*Top 20 international destinations booked by solo travellers via Webjet.com.au between 11 July 2023 -11 June 2024 for travel 11 June 2024 – 11 May 2025
