{"id":11208,"date":"2025-10-15T19:57:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T19:57:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/aussies-to-embrace-slow-down-towns-in-2026-peaceful-escapes-replace-over-planned-itineraries\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T19:57:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T19:57:43","slug":"aussies-to-embrace-slow-down-towns-in-2026-peaceful-escapes-replace-over-planned-itineraries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/aussies-to-embrace-slow-down-towns-in-2026-peaceful-escapes-replace-over-planned-itineraries\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussies to embrace &#8220;Slow Down Towns&#8221; in 2026: peaceful escapes replace over-planned itineraries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Wotif reveals a shift toward calm, community-focused getaways in regional Australia, in annual <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>Unpack \u201926 <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>travel trends report.<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Oct. 16, 2025, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA \u2013<\/strong> Australians are trading hustle for harmony in 2026, with half (50%) planning to swap the stress of over-planned holidays for peaceful escapes in smaller towns.* According to Wotif\u2019s latest insights from the annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wotif.com.au\/unpack26\/?brandcid=WOTIF-AU.COMMS.PR.UNPACK26.GENERIC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Unpack \u201926<\/a> travel trend report,<em> <\/em>travellers are increasingly drawn to destinations that offer a gentler pace and fewer crowds (80%) and proximity to everything they need (78%).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTravellers are telling us they want to feel restored, not rushed,\u201d said Darren Karshagen, Senior Director at Expedia Group. \u201cThe rise of \u2018Slow Down Towns\u2019 reflects a growing desire to connect with local communities and embrace the simplicity of slower travel. It\u2019s not just about where you go \u2014 it\u2019s about how you feel when you get there.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trend is rooted in a broader movement toward more mindful travel, with 72% of Aussies expressing a desire to support local communities while they unwind. When visiting smaller, slower-paced towns, travellers report feeling more relaxed (67%), less stressed (54%), and truly recharged (52%) after their holiday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wotif\u2019s Top Destinations for 2026 \u2018Slow Down Towns\u2019 include:*<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/Nagambie-Hotels.d6047089.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Nagambie, VIC<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Lakeside serenity and boutique wineries&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/Trinity-Beach-Cairns-Hotels.0-n12091-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Trinity Beach, QLD<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Tropical calm near Cairns&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/Huskisson-Hotels.d6058865.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Huskisson, NSW<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Coastal charm in Jervis Bay&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/Robe-Hotels.d55528.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Robe, SA<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Heritage-rich seaside escape&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/Mollymook-Ulladulla-Hotels.0-n553248635942569419-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Mollymook, NSW<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Laid-back luxury on the South Coast&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These destinations offer the perfect blend of tranquility, accessibility, and community connection \u2014 ideal for travellers seeking meaningful, restorative experiences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>*Third-Party Methodology<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>Third-party research was conducted by market research partner OnePoll in accordance with the Market Research Society\u2019s Code of Conduct. The Study was conducted online among 24,000 adult respondents across 18 countries, who are planning domestic or international travel in the next three years. Gen Z respondents are defined as those aged 18 to 24, while the combined Gen Z and Millennial group includes all respondents aged 18 to 44.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>*Wotif\u2019s Slow Down Towns:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on year-on-year growth in traveller interest for destinations with populations under 5,000, with accommodation quality and quantity also considered.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Unpack \u201926<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What is Unpack \u201926?<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202f<em>Unpack \u201926<\/em>\u202fis the\u202f<strong>annual global travel insights report<\/strong>\u202ffrom Expedia Group, building on years of trend forecasting and traveller behavior analysis. It draws on\u202f<strong>first-party data<\/strong>\u202ffrom Expedia, Wotif and Stayz, along with insights from\u202f<strong>24,000 travellers across 18 countries<\/strong>, making it one of the most comprehensive travel trend reports in the industry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What makes Unpack \u201926 a credible source for travel trends?<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202fThe report combines\u202f<strong>real-time platform data<\/strong>\u202ffrom millions of users with\u202f<strong>third-party research<\/strong>\u202fconducted by OnePoll, following the Market Research Society\u2019s Code of Conduct. Its findings are backed by behavioral insights, booking patterns, and cultural signals, making it a trusted resource for media, industry leaders, and travellers alike.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: Where can I access the full Unpack \u201926 report and assets?<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202fVisit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom<\/a> for the full\u202fUnpack \u201926\u202freport, downloadable assets, and brand-specific insights from Expedia, Wotif and Stayz.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Australians are trading hustle for harmony in 2026, with half (50%) planning to swap the stress of over-planned holidays for peaceful escapes in smaller towns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":11176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[183],"tags":[],"companies":[137],"locations":[72],"class_list":["post-11208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-trends-2","companies-wotif","locations-sydney","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11208"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11208\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11208"},{"taxonomy":"companies","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/companies?post=11208"},{"taxonomy":"locations","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/locations?post=11208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}