Key travel destinations looking hot once coronavirus restrictions lift

The Kimberleys, the Northern Territory and Tasmania will be top spots for Australians once COVID-19 travel bans lift.

The Bay of Fires walk in Tasmania

The Kimberleys, the Northern Territory and Tasmania will be the key travel destinations for Australians once COVID-19 inspired travel bans lift, and savvy tour companies are devising new itineraries centred on these areas.

Melbourne-based tour operator Intrepid Travel on Wednesday launched 10 new itineraries designed to appeal to Australian holidaymakers who will be all but forced to travel domestically over the next year or so.

“We are absolutely expecting more Aussie bookings because of COVID-19, that is why we have changed our product here in Australia to be shorter breaks and more focused on what an Australian would want when travelling in Australia,” Intrepid managing director Sarah Clark told The Australian. “Definitely come summer and Christmastime people will be wanting to get away.”

She said Australians typically travel overseas to immerse themselves in cultural activities such as food and wine experiences, or travel to Europe or Japan for skiing.

Food and wine experiences

But over the next year she reckons Australians will want to experience those activities here and will look to food and wine experiences in their own local regions as well as farm-to-table holidays.

“We predict a style of travel will emerge post-pandemic toward slow and grounded travel, where travellers will want to engage with local communities,” Ms Clark said.

Intrepid’s research of about 2000 past customers found 66 per cent sought hiking and nature walks, 49 per cent wanted food and wine experiences and 46 per cent wanted multi-day trips to new regions for their next travel experience.

The research by Intrepid also found that 49.7 per cent saw themselves travelling solo on their first domestic trip, and 39.7 per cent travelling with a partner.

The 10 new itineraries feature accommodation stays ranging from small boutique properties throughout Australia to glamping. Activities include hikes, as well as foraging and visiting wineries and farms.

Intrepid’s new itineraries include a four-day trip to the NSW Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands and a six-day West Kimberley itinerary with participants sleeping under the stars and crocodile spotting on a wildlife cruise through the Geikie Gorge or bushwalking to the Manning Falls.

“We are changing a lot of trips to be more domestic focused,” Ms Clark said.

Intrepid’s stance on domestic travel is backed up by new TTF research which reveals just 20 per cent of Australians expect to travel overseas over the next six months.

Nearly 40 per cent of Australians expect to travel within their own state or territory within the next two months, while about 20 per cent expect to travel interstate, as reported in Travel Daily.