From rollercoasters to reef encounters, Australia’s top travel experiences for 2025 weren’t just about ticking boxes – they were about thrills, flavours, and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
According to Big Red Group’s Annual Experiences Index: 2025, Theme parks topped the Experience Hotlist as the nation’s most popular tourism activity, followed by Culinary experiences (+5.1%).
And it’s not just Aussies who can’t get enough.
International tourists flocked down under this year to discover Australia’s nature offerings, with 70% of the most popular experiences among international travellers centring around wildlife encounters, reef cruises, bushwalking, and ecological attractions.
Other key findings from Big Red Groups: Annual Experiences Index: 2025:
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Wildlife encounters also saw a remarkable surge among Aussies in 2025, with aquarium and zoo experiences up +78.6%
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The Gold Coast topped Big Red Group’s destination hotlist for 2025, closely followed by Melbourne and Sydney – reflecting appetite for both beachside escapes and city-based experiences.
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Queensland destinations dominated the hotlist, securing 60% of the top 10 with Cairns, Port Douglas, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast all making the list.
Wondering if you would be interested in these findings for any end-of-year travel wraps or stories that explore Australia’s travel habits for 2025?
