Aussies are known to be keen globetrotters, and new research shows they’re not afraid of a bit of solitude.

A report by hotel distribution and revenue platform SiteMinder revealed Australian travellers were the most likely of nationalities surveyed to travel alone next year.

Gen Z led the charge, with almost one-in-four planning to go solo on their next trip.

Brisbane-based publicist Natalie Boultbee-Tew, 23, joined young Aussies singing the praises of solo travel after recently returning from a three-week solo trip to Thailand.

She told TND she decided to take the plunge after getting sick of waiting for her loved ones to have the same travel preferences and budgets needed to go on a trip together.

Boultbee-Tew “cheated” by starting the trip with a Contiki tour, which helped her make fast friends, but soon ventured off to explore the country on her own.

Solo travel came with freedom, along with a chance to make new friends. Photo: Natalie Boultbee-Tew

Despite battling moments of loneliness and the learning curve of being self-reliant, she said her first solo experience changed her for the better.

“There’s something about being alone that … you can see a lot of what’s going on a little bit more clearly, and it was so fascinating to appreciate people’s kindness in a new light,” she said.

“They had no reason to talk to me or help me out, but so many strangers were always doing nice things for me, and I just think it’s a really rewarding experience to go alone … leave everything behind and see the world in a new light.”

“[Since] I came back, there’s been a lot of little things, [where] I’ve been like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I can do that.’ And then I’ll be like, ‘I already proved a million times over I can do everything without a single person.’

“[You come] back with such a sense of confidence in your own self.”

Asking more from accomodation

SiteMinder regional vice-president of Asia Pacific Bradley Haines said this year had seen the rise of the ‘everything traveller’ – a new type of traveller who demands both cutting-edge technology and authentic human connection in their travel experiences.

“While they seek fair pricing, they’re willing to fork out for standout events and unique perks,” he said.

“Gen Z, in particular, is transforming the travel landscape, pushing hotels to be more transparent, accessible online and intentional in how they deliver meaningful experiences.”

SiteMinder’s research found Australian Gen Z travellers were looking for and building experiences in new ways, particularly regarding where they stayed.

The majority of the young travellers said they were willing to pay more for eco-friendly accommodation.

Many also said they intended to spend a lot of their time at their accomodation, therefore favouring onsite experience offerings from live music to cooking classes.

Boultbee-Tew shared similar priorities, and apart from safety and central location, prioritised staying in places that felt fun and would not require her to be constantly outside exploring to have a good time.

She said choice of accomodation also heavily affected social prospects.

Although one of the perks of solo travel was the freedom of getting do what she wanted, there were times she wanted company – and struggled to find it.

“For a little bit, I decided I was going to go stay at a luxury resort that was on this private island. It was only families and older couples there, and I was so lonely and couldn’t make any friends,” she said.

“It felt like no one talked to me for three days.

“As soon as I went back into mainland Phuket and started hanging around the hostels … I was chatting with people all night long. So … there’s a reason why so many solo travellers do hostels, and it’s because when you’re in those areas, it’s so easy to make friends.”

Thailand was one of the most popular destinations for Aussies planning solo trips, along with the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, according to SiteMinder’s research.

The most popular domestic destinations were Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.