Golden Gap Year

February 2026

As Australians rethink mid-life and extended travel, new research reveals a generation ready to make up for lost time. 

Four in five Australians aged 55+ never took a traditional travel gap year, of which one in five feel it’s a decision they still regret.  

According to new research from Intrepid Travel, older Australians were the least likely generation to take extended time out to travel, with 80 per cent of those aged 55+ missing out entirely, compared to just half (50 per cent) of Australians aged under 55. Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of Australians aged 55+ say they would take 12-months off to travel if given the chance, and 67 per cent have considered “making up for lost time”, pointing to a growing desire for extended travel later in life.   

In response to this growing demand, Intrepid Travel is searching for one lucky, adventurous Aussie to live out the gap year they never had. Perhaps they spent their 20s raising children or building careers but are now ready to fulfill their dreams and travel on their own terms. This winning Australian aged 55+ will score a once in a lifetime opportunity - 12 months of Intrepid adventures valued at up to $100,000, plus $25,000 to cover flights. 

“There’s a whole generation of Aussies that never had the chance to take a gap year, and while many are ready to make up for lost time, the reality of planning extended of travel can be a real barrier for people,” said Erica Kritikides, General Manager Global Experiences at Intrepid Travel.  

“With small groups, immersive experiences, expert local leaders and hundreds of itineraries, our trips give travellers the courage and confidence to take the leap.” 

To help more Australians bring their extended travel dreams to life, Intrepid is also launching a Golden Gap Year hotline, with trained specialists available to help travellers design the gap year they never had.  

The data also revealed that while financial pressures (23 per cent) and study commitments (40 per cent) were key barriers for younger Australians not taking a gap year, older Australians were more likely to skip a gap year because they jumped straight into work (53 per cent) or because extended travel after schooling simply wasn’t the norm at the time (43 per cent). 

The data also challenges outdated assumptions about what older travellers want. While visiting friends and family remains a priority for the majority (65 per cent) of Australians aged 55+, cultural travel (36 per cent) and adventure travel (28 per cent) are also key drawcards to travel. 

Forty per cent of Australians aged 55+ say they have a deeper appreciation for different cultures now than they did in their 20s, while 32 per cent say they feel more confident and open to new experiences when travelling today compared to their young adult years. 

Applications for Intrepid’s Golden Gap Year open today. To enter, Australians aged 55 and over are invited to submit a written application or video that shares why they missed out on a gap year, why now is the right moment to finally take one and why they are a worthy winner of this extraordinary opportunity. The winner will work one-on-one with an Intrepid Adventure Consultant to design a personalised year of travel that suits their interests, pace and priorities. With thousands of immersive experiences across more than 100 countries, there’s an Intrepid trip to suit every traveller.  

Entries close at 11:59pm on 15 March 2026, with the winner announced Monday 30 March 2026. For more information or to enter, visit intrepidtravel.com/golden-gap-year.