DO NOTHING HOLIDAYS RISE AS YOUNG AUSSIES EMBRACE SLOWER TRAVEL
- Brian Westlake
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
The era of the packed holiday itinerary may finally be losing its appeal, with more younger Australians now embracing “do nothing” holidays and slower, more flexible travel experiences.
Rather than racing between landmarks, squeezing in sightseeing schedules and returning home exhausted, many travellers are now prioritising rest, simplicity and unstructured time away.
According to new research from East Coast Car Rentals, 44 per cent of Australians are most drawn to “slow travel” and staying longer in one destination.
The growing popularity of the “do nothing” holiday reflects a broader shift in how people define the purpose of travel, particularly among younger generations, who are increasingly focused on well-being and mental resets
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Do nothing holidays prioritise rest over schedules
For years, holidays were often measured by how much could be packed into a single trip. More cities, more experiences and more carefully curated travel plans became part of the modern holiday mindset.
Now, that appears to be changing.
Ben Whitmore, CMO of East Coast Car Rentals, said travellers are increasingly seeking flexibility rather than rigid schedules.
“People are still travelling, but the way they define a ‘good trip’ has changed,” he said.
“We’re seeing more customers build holidays around flexibility, rather than fixed plans. The car becomes less about ticking off destinations and more about giving people the freedom to slow down and take the trip at their own pace.”
Whitmore said the trend is particularly visible in domestic travel, where regional escapes and coastal road trips naturally lend themselves to slower experiences.
“We’re definitely seeing more Australians choose short drives to coastal and regional destinations over highly structured, multi-stop itineraries,” he said.
“There’s a clear preference for simplicity, fewer commitments, more breathing room.”
Younger Australians are driving the slow travel trend
The rise of slower travel also reflects changing attitudes toward burnout, work-life balance and constant connectivity.
According to East Coast Car Rentals’ research, 95 per cent of Australians under 35 now view the main purpose of a holiday as returning home mentally refreshed, rather than simply ticking attractions off a list.
Hybrid work arrangements, endless notifications and the expectation of always being available have made genuine downtime increasingly difficult to achieve in everyday life.
For many younger Australians, holidays are becoming one of the few opportunities to properly disconnect.
Cost-of-living pressures are also reshaping travel behaviour.
Rather than committing to expensive overseas itineraries, some travellers are opting for shorter domestic breaks that feel simpler, more manageable and ultimately more restorative
Slow travel is redefining what makes a holiday worthwhile
The shift towards “do nothing” holidays is also changing how travellers judge whether a trip was actually worth taking.
Instead of measuring success by how many activities were completed, many Australians are now placing greater value on how rested they feel when they return home.
That does not necessarily mean holidays have become inactive. Scenic drives, long lunches, afternoons spent reading, and entire days without plans are increasingly replacing tightly scheduled sightseeing agendas.
Whitmore said flexibility itself has become part of the appeal.
“People are planning less rigidly,” he said.
“They’re still booking accommodation and transport, but there’s more openness in how the trip unfolds once they arrive. That flexibility is really what allows the ‘do nothing’ style of travel to work.”
In many ways, the rise of the “do nothing” holiday reflects a broader cultural recalibration around rest itself.
Rather than treating downtime as something earned only after burnout, more Australians are beginning to build it intentionally into the way they travel and live.
