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.
