Australian’s top travel bucket list activities have been ranked for the first time in new research from iSelect.
The most desired holiday experience was a luxury beach resort stay, with over a third (36.4%) of Australians adding a night or two of pure indulgence to their ultimate holiday wish list.
Famous sites including Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal are “must visit” destinations for 32.6% of respondents while a similar number (32.3%) want to book a cruise holiday.
Rounding out the top five were cross-country road trips, safari adventures and famous hikes including the Camino Trail.
Sophie Ryan, iSelect comparison expert, said there was a clear preference for more laid-back or indulgent vacations, particularly among Gen X Australians aged 43-58.
“Mid-late career people with families just want to relax on their holidays, so we see a move away from thrill-seeking and risk taking in that group,” added Ms Ryan.
“Millennials and Gen Z were much more likely to have activities like scuba diving, hiking and safari adventures on the agenda.
“Meanwhile cruises were the top experience for Baby Boomers with as many as 41% of people in that demographic adding a nautical getaway to their wish list.”
With such diverse itineraries in the pipeline for 2026, Ms Ryan said it was crucial travellers compared travel insurance to find cover suited to their plans.
“High risk activities often call for a higher level of cover. Think of it this way: you’re much more likely to get injured skiing or snowboarding than you are walking down the Champs Elysse and insurers do need to account for that extra risk when it comes to policy features and premiums.
“Even popular activities like cruising require special cover because claims data tells us that people are more likely to get sick or injured while on board.
“That’s why it’s crucial that consumers do a little legwork and look for a policy that actually covers the things they have planned.
“We hear it all too often that people assume they’ve got cover through their credit card, but those bare-bones policies can really leave you in the lurch if they don’t cover what you need them to.”
Top bucket list activities
- Luxury resort stay (36.4%)
- Visiting the world wonders (32.6%)
- Cruise holiday (32.3%)
- Cross-country road trip (26.6%)
- Safari adventure (19.6%)
- Hiking a famous trail (15.7%)
- Scuba diving or snorkelling on a reef (14.2%)
- Cultural immersion such as cooking classes or local festivals (13%)
- Hot air balloon ride (11.3%)
- Skiing (11.3%)
- Snowboarding (10.9%)
- Surfing (8.6%)
- Bungee jumping (6.2%)
- Working holiday (6%)
- Sky diving (5.9%)
