AUSTRALIA BOOMS FOR GOLDEN GAP YEAR TRAVELLERS

IT’S known as the ‘Golden Gap Year’ – an extended holiday for those who are retired or who want to take a sabbatical out of daily life – and Australia is proving a popular destination for it.

According to research from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), four out of ten Baby Boomers are planning trips of about nine months, with 38 per cent fancying some time in Australia. Horseback-riding through the rainforest and scuba-diving at the Great Barrier Reef are among the things they would most like to experience.

For those who do not want to book an organised tour, a fly-drive or rail experience cruise is proving a popular option – with half of those surveyed saying that travel is a worthwhile use of their money, and 20 per cent saying they will take a cruise in the next two years.

NCL’s 12-day cruise on Norwegian Spirit from Auckland and taking in Melbourne and Sydney, from February 20 to March 4, 2023, costs from £3,303pp.

A similar 12-day cruise in January 2024 goes the other way, starting in Sydney and including an overnight stop in Melbourne and time in Auckland to take advantage of its beautiful beaches and coastal trails.

More details at ncl.com.