The "Do Nothing" Getaway

For years, the idea of a good holiday was built around movement – more flights, more landmarks, more experiences squeezed into fewer days. It was about seeing as much as possible, as efficiently as possible, and returning home with a camera roll full of proof that the trip was “worth it”.

But that mindset is beginning to shift, particularly among younger Australians, as a quieter form of travel gains traction, one defined less by what is packed into an itinerary, and more by what is intentionally left out, with 44% of Aussies now most drawn to “slow travel” and staying longer in one place.

Often described as the “do nothing” holiday, the trend reflects a move away from tightly-scheduled travel and towards slower, more open-ended experiences. Rather than early starts and back-to-back sightseeing, travellers are prioritising unstructured days, long meals, slow drives and extended periods of rest.

Trading Packed Itineraries for Flexibility

Ben Whitmore, CMO of East Coast Car Rentals, says the shift is becoming increasingly visible in how Australians are planning their getaways.

“People are still travelling, but the way they define a ‘good trip’ has changed. 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.”

He noted the appeal is particularly strong for domestic travel, where road trips and regional stays naturally support a more relaxed approach.

“We’re definitely seeing more Australians choose short drives to coastal and regional destinations over highly-structured, multi-stop itineraries. There’s a clear preference for simplicity, fewer commitments, more breathing room.”

Why Younger Australians Are Embracing Slower Travel

The shift is closely tied to changing attitudes toward wellbeing. With burnout increasingly discussed in everyday working life, holidays are being reframed less as an opportunity to “see everything” and more as a chance to properly reset.

East Coast Car Rentals' recent research shows that 95% of Australians under 35 now see the primary purpose of a holiday as returning home mentally refreshed, rather than ticking off a list of sights or activities. Broader lifestyle changes are also reinforcing the trend; constant connectivity, hybrid work arrangements and the expectation of always being available have made uninterrupted downtime harder to achieve in daily life. As a result, holidays are carrying greater weight as one of the few remaining spaces for genuine disconnection.

Cost pressures and global uncertainty are also influencing travel decisions. Some Australians are opting for shorter domestic breaks over long-haul international travel, with simpler itineraries seen as both more manageable and more restorative.

Redefining What Makes a Holiday “Worth It”

Whitmore said this is translating into more spontaneous and flexible travel behaviour. “People are planning less rigidly. 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.”

What is emerging is a different way of defining value in travel. Rather than measuring a holiday by how much is done, younger Australians are judging it by how they feel when they return – less exhausted, more reset, and with more mental space than when they left.

It does not mean activity has disappeared from holidays altogether. Instead, activity is no longer the organising principle. A scenic drive might replace a tightly scheduled tour. A long lunch might replace a packed sightseeing agenda. Entire days may be left deliberately unplanned, without the pressure to fill them.

In many ways, the “do nothing” holiday reflects a broader recalibration in how Australians think about rest. Rather than something to be earned after burnout, downtime is increasingly being treated as something to be built into life more intentionally, including when travelling.