Kiddipedia
With Australia’s borders reopened, many families are excited about the possibility of creating new holiday memories together. As the weather has warmed up, it’s the perfect time to venture outdoors after spending so much time inside over the last 20 months. According to Brett Mitchell, Managing Director at Intrepid Travel, there has been a surge of interest in active trips since the end of lockdowns last year.
“We usually experience a rise in people booking active holidays in the warmer months, and that has certainly been more prevalent with travel finally back on the cards. After being stuck inside for over a year, Aussies are excited to get out and explore the unfamiliar, and active holidays definitely fit the bill for that,” he says. “Trips that incorporate walking and cycling are a fantastic opportunity for families to experience Australia in a completely different way, while getting exercise and fresh air,”
For those looking to get off the beaten path, here are the top reasons to consider an active holiday for your family’s next adventure.
Get out of the city:
After spending so much time stuck in our cities this year, people are looking to visit smaller towns rather than holidaying in metro areas. Not only do we want to slow down, but staying in more remote towns makes it easier to practise social distancing, with the pandemic risk still not gone. If you’re stuck on ideas for where to go, Intrepid has a range of active holidays in Australia to help people discover places in rural areas. Whichever state you’re in, there are walking and cycling tracks of varying difficulty to suit any family with kids above the age of 14.
Stay safe outdoors:
Since the very beginning of the pandemic, we saw a rise in active commuting across cities with more of us walking, cycling or scooting around to avoid public transport. We expect this to continue while people practise social distancing when they travel. Particularly for those visiting regional areas, getting on a bike or going for a hike means you can take in the scenery while you get some fresh air, rather than being stuck on a bus or in a taxi.
Support local tourism:
Over the last two years, there has been a greater emphasis and need for Australians to support local businesses, initially in light of the bushfires and now COVID-19. One of the most effective ways to do this is through domestic travel, which provides a boost for the local economy. In 2019 Australians spent about $65 billion on overseas travel. With more of us travelling locally and exploring our own backyard, this can be injected into the domestic tourism market, helping support regional communities.
Being outdoors makes you happier and healthier:
There has been extensive research showing the benefits of being outdoors and engaging in physical activity. A recent study of 20,000 people from the UK found that spending just two hours a week in green spaces substantially improved participants’ physical health and psychological wellbeing. This is particularly important for children, with research published in September 2021 highlighting that spending time in nature encouraged more physical activity in kids, and improved their mental health, helping them cope through the COVID-19 pandemic. Viewing awe inspiring imagery, such as beautiful landscapes, also releases endorphins in your body, so an active holiday with your family will be sure to leave everyone happy and rejuvenated.
Teach your teenagers to be ethical travellers:
With great travel comes great responsibility. In recent years we have seen more awareness of the negative impact that tourism can have, including stress on local land use, depletion of natural resources, pollution, waste and more. Active holidays encourage sustainable travel, with the aim of leaving the smallest footprint possible on your chosen destination. Walking and cycling tours are low-carbon alternatives to traditional holidays, so you can ensure you are being responsible on your trip, and also teaching your kids to be ethical travellers.
For more information visit www.intrepidtravel.com.au.
