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: 

  • Wildlife encounters also saw a remarkable surge among Aussies in 2025, with aquarium and zoo experiences up +78.6%
  • 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.
  • Queensland destinations dominated the hotlist, securing 60% of the top 10 with Cairns, Port Douglas, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast all making the list.