As we hope for a brighter year ahead for transtasman travel, Tourism Australia has identified through its ongoing Consumer Demand Project (CDP) some key trends to look out for when considering your next trip across the Ditch. Here are four of the hottest Aussie holidays to plan for this year.
Astro-tourism
TA's recent CDP findings show nature and wildlife experiences are the second biggest driver for travellers planning a holiday. Australia's vast landscapes and clear skies mean there are multiple opportunities for astro-tourism across the country, including Dark Sky Reserves, Aboriginal astronomy tours, and dome accommodation for safely sleeping under the stars. Highlights include Broome's Ngurrangga Tours (ngurrangga.com.au), South Australia's River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve (rivermurraydarkskyreserve.org), and Bubbletent Australia in NSW's Blue Mountains (bubbletentaustralia.com)
Travel to unplug
The CDP also found travellers were looking to get away from the stresses and strains of everyday life, with remote retreats and tiny-home stays top of the list for many of those surveyed. Some of the newest to look out for include South Australia's Eco Eyre eco-pods on the Eyre Peninsula (ecoeyre.com.au), Byron Bay's Unyoked tiny homes (unyoked.co) and the newly opened Ettrick Rocks on Tasmania's King Island (ettrickrocks.com.au).