Adventure tourism rises as Australians seek out adrenaline and memories

More people are searching for adrenaline-raising experiences.

Skydiving.

By Sarah Falson

Updated July 3 2025 - 12:39pm, first published 11:16am

Adventure tourism is growing as Australians seek "story-worthy" experiences and escapism.

This is according to Big Red Group's Seasonal Experiences Index: Autumn 2025 which shows close to a fifth of all experiences served in Autumn fell under the adventure category.

Big Red Group CEO David Anderson said water sports were one of the fastest growing categories for Australians, with a 280 per cent growth in bookings during Autumn compared to the same period in 2025.

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Bookings for adrenaline-based activities including helicopter flights were 92.9 per cent higher, for both domestic and international travellers.

Mr Anderson said: "The growth can be attributed to increased appetite among Aussies and inbound tourists for high-impact, story-worthy experiences that offer more than just escapism, but allow guests to share stories and memories that last beyond the moment."

He said travellers were willing to pay for "quality over quantity", so long as it feels "unforgettable".

"We're seeing a real swing toward experiences that offer something meaningful, exciting, or novel - and adventure tourism offers exactly that."

Theme parks.

For the report, Big Red Group analysed close to 200,000 experiences served across RedBalloon, Adrenaline, and Experience Oz.

The most popular experiences during the season were theme parks, however hot air ballooning, and sightseeing and cultural tours also rose.

According to Allied Market Research, the Australian adventure tourism market is estimated to grow more than 21 per cent between 2021 and 2027.

Water activities.

They define adventure tourism as travelling outside a person's regular environment, for exploration or travel to remote exotic areas, as well as participating in challenging and unique experiences during the holiday.

Recent travel trends from Skyscanner found 2025 is all about Aussies seeking shared experiences through travel, rather than simply ticking off locations.

Words bySarah Falson

Sarah is ACM’s travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.

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.