Originally published: Mi3, 16 February 2026
Gap years were once for the young and unencumbered. Intrepid Travel is now pitching them to Australians over 55, betting that time-rich, regret-tinged travellers will embrace long-haul adventure later in life, and spend accordingly.
Intrepid Travel has unveiled a new campaign named ‘Golden Gap Year’, specifically targeting Australians aged 55 and over. This initiative is designed to encourage older Australians to embark on extended travel experiences, a concept traditionally associated with younger generations.
The campaign has been developed in collaboration with creative agency Alt/shift/ and will be disseminated across various platforms including broadcast, online, print media, digital, and social channels. A central element of the campaign is a hero video featuring a real Intrepid customer, which aims to highlight the transformative potential of travel experiences.
Research conducted by Intrepid indicates that 80% of Australians aged 55 and above never took a traditional gap year, with 20% expressing regret over this missed opportunity. The campaign seeks to capitalise on what is described as a “cultural shift” towards extended travel later in life.
The research, conducted by Pureprofile, surveyed 2,019 Australians aged 18 and above between 8th and 19th September 2025. It revealed that older Australians missed out on gap years primarily due to immediate workforce entry (53%) or because extended travel was not a common practice at the time (43%).
