Ridin’ Solo? These are the most popular solo travel destinations in Australia

Fifteen years have flown by since Jason Derulo gifted us with his arguably greatest hit, ‘Ridin’ Solo’. Turns out, dancefloor Derulo was well ahead of his time, with new research revealing that solo adventures are one of the biggest travel trends for 2024. We reckon everyone should embark on an Eat, Pray, Love getaway at least once in their lifetime. Sure, you might need to muster up the courage to ask a total stranger to snap photos of you at the Eiffel Tower, but the freedom to do what you want, when you want, is totally worth it

According to online travel agency, Webjet, almost half of Aussies are set to embark on a solo trip in the next two years – and we’re not just talking about young and reckless backpackers. Boomers were particularly eager to jump on the solo travel bandwagon, with almost half (48 per cent) of those over 65 wanting to celebrate their retirement with a solo golden gap year. Meanwhile, Millennials are turning to solo travel as a remedy for burnout, with 45 per cent planning a solo escapade in the next 24 months. Unlike older generations who are keen to mix and mingle while travelling, Millennials are after some peace and quiet from their nine to five. 

When it comes to solo travel, Aussies have a ‘go big or go home’ attitude. Recent research found that Australians are the world’s biggest spenders when travelling overseas, with a quarter of Aussies surveyed by Webjet planning to spend more than $5,000 on their trip. Two-fifths of those solo travellers plan to visit three or more destinations in the one go, with half aiming to travel solo for three weeks or longer.

Looking to make friends while travelling solo? Bali tops the list as the most popular international destination for solo travellers in the coming year, followed by London, Auckland, Queensland and Manila. Only got budget to stay local? In Australia, the most popular solo travel spots for 2024 are Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, the Gold Coast and Adelaide.

Here are the top ten solo travel destinations in Australia:

1. Melbourne
2. Brisbane
3. Sydney
4. Gold Coast
5. Adelaide
6. Perth
7. Cairns
8. Darwin
9. Hobart
10. Maroochydore

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