Extreme birdwatching among new trends fuelling Aussie wanderlust in 2025
We will also travel for authentic market experiences.
Australians dreamed of Asia and finding bargains on domestic flights in 2024, but in 2025 "extreme birdwatching" and local food markets are some of the trends to watch.
A Google report shows cheap domestic flights and visa-free travel in China topped our country's travel-related internet search queries in 2024.
In November, the Chinese Embassy in Canberra announced visa-free travel for Australian citizens would be extended to 30 days.
Our search queries showed we looked to escape domestically to King Island, Melbourne, Uluru and Port Headland throughout the year.
When our wanderlust fuelled our overseas search tastes, we looked for flights to Italy, Japan, Bangkok and Peru.
Google's top Australian travel-related search queries in 2024 were:
Travel - domestic
- Cheap flights to Gold Coast from Melbourne
- Flights to King Island
- Jetstar cheap flights to Melbourne
- Flights to Sydney from Ballina
- Cheap flights to Brisbane from Melbourne
- Flights to Surfers Paradise
- Flights to Port Hedland
- Flights to Karratha
- Flights to Launceston from Melbourne
- Flights to Uluru from Sydney
Travel - international
- Visa free travel to China
- Flights to Italy from Melbourne
- Flights to Bangkok from Melbourne
- Jetstar flights to Japan
- Jetstar flights to Phuket
- Flights to Philippines from Sydney
- Flights to Bali today
- Flights to Peru
- Flights to Kathmandu
- Flights to Vanuatu from Brisbane
Fast times, 'slow travel'
'Slow travel' will quicken our pulse in 2025, according to Lonely Planet's top 10 travel trends for 2025.
Taking it slow on journeys like the Indian Pacific Railway will help us become more present in the natural landscape, and escape the stress and worry of an always-on digital world, the publication said.
"From cross-continental epic voyages to slow travel branch lines, rail-based adventures are more popular than ever with contemporary travellers," Lonely Planet said.
Extreme birdwatching is also set to trend, as bird enthusiasts plan entire vacations around viewing their favourite feathered friends, such as the cassowary in northern Australia and the Takahe in NZ.
In addition, interest in local food and craft markets will continue to soar as travellers seek sensory ways to immerse themselves in local life, such as the Farm Gate Market in Launceston, Tasmania.
Experience-based travel will also continue to resonate with music-lovers in search of iconic venues around the world, including Melbourne's Forum theatre, which Lonely Planet rates number eight in the top music venues around the world.
My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me.
Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life.
My top travel tip is … Don’t plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what’s within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
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