Seniors embrace ‘grey gap year’

Australians over 50 are following in the footsteps of their children and grandchildren by taking slow, self-guided, and solo trips around the country and the world.

The phenomenon is being called the “grey gap year”, and it’s modelled on the trips that many young people take before starting work or full-time study.

A YouGov survey commissioned by Scoot airline found that about 30% of Australians aged over 50 have journeyed solo in the past five years, and 16% are considering it.

What’s driving this shift? Experts say that improved health, longer life expectancy, and a rejuvenated sense of self are empowering seniors to cast off preconceived notions of travel.

In an interview with News.com.au, Gabby Walters, an associate professor in behavioural economics at the University of Queensland, points to a growing “subjective age bias” – a phenomenon by which older adults feel younger than their chronological age. 

She says the wider availability of digital platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com that make self-planning far more accessible.

The survey shows that about one in three seniors have taken “slow trips”, preferring immersive experiences over rushed itineraries.

Multigenerational travel also emerged as a popular trend, with 40% of seniors saying they’ve travelled with younger family members.

But the report also points out, perhaps controversially, that a significant number of seniors are following a trend known as “SKI”: spending the kids’ inheritance.