Revealed: What Australians really get up to on holidays (and who’s most likely to snog a stranger)

FROM snogging strangers to daring dining to white water rafting - a new report reveals what travellers are actually getting up to.

Holiday flings are among the travel experiences Aussies aren’t afraid to take up. Sleepin

AUSSIES like to think we’re an adventurous bunch on holidays, but when it comes to mixing it with the locals it seems that girls leave our guys in the shade.

While over half of Australians believe they become more outgoing when they head off on holidays, a new Expedia report reveals more women than men take the opportunity to open themselves to new experiences and cut loose when they travel overseas.

One in five, for example, have tried their luck in a local cooking class, while 10 per cent have enrolled in a dance class.

This compares to 13 per cent and 8 per cent respectively for men.

Overall though, Aussies like to go beyond their comfort zone by participating in local customs - 44 per cent - and socialising - 43 per cent - while 38 per cent like to try new sporting and leisure activities.

“While we discover new destinations and cultures on our travels, we are presented with the perfect opportunity to embrace the unknown and do something out-of-the-ordinary,” Expedia travel expert Kelly Cull said.

Almost two-thirds - 65 per cent - of travellers also like to try new food and drink.

This ranges from relatively run-of-the-mill fare such as paella in Spain or escargot in France to snake wine in Vietnam, fried tarantulas in Cambodia, horse steaks in China and bacon and chocolate milkshakes - a dubious Canadian speciality.

When not eating our way through around the world, Australians like to get physical, the report found.

More than a third - 38 per cent - believe trying new sporting activities is a “must do” when on holiday, with white water rafting - 15 per cent - skiing/snowboarding and scuba diving among the most popular.

While the desire to let loose is universal, holiday habits are split between states.

New South Welshman are the biggest daredevils, the report found, with 63 per cent saying they leave behind all their inhibitions in the departure lounge and 46 per cent likely to bed a fellow traveller.

More cerebral Croweaters are the most inclined to try new food and drink - 70 per cent - while one in five travellers from the Top End has snogged a stranger.

Yet despite evincing a cool, calm collection when abroad, we are not entirely carefree, the report found.

Australians’ top three travel worries are food and water safety (43 per cent), financial scams and getting lost in unfamiliar surroundings.