Australia’s summer travel season is shaping up as a strong one for the caravan and camping sector, with new data showing holiday demand remains high and short domestic trips driving activity through the peak December–February period. Summer caravan holidays in Australia are particularly popular during this time.
Fresh figures from the Tourism & Transport Forum’s (TTF) Summer Travel Survey 2025/26 show 74% of Australians plan to take a holiday between 1 December 2025 and 28 February 2026, despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures. For summer caravan holidays, the findings point to a market driven by short, flexible breaks and a continued preference for regional travel, which perfectly aligns with summer caravan holidays in Australia.
For caravan parks, regional destinations and RV operators across Australia, the data suggests peak-season demand will remain strong — but increasingly concentrated in short, drive-based trips rather than extended touring holidays. This comes as the sector continues to adjust following the post-COVID surge outlined in our analysis of the caravan industry after the pandemic boom.
Summer Holiday Intent Remains High
The TTF survey suggests the majority of summer travel will remain domestic. For those planning their upcoming summer caravan holidays in Australia during the peak season:
- 34% intend to travel within their own state or territory
- 25% plan interstate travel
- 15% plan to travel overseas
Summer holiday plans (2025–26)
Share of Australians planning to travel between 1 Dec 2025 and 28 Feb 2026.
Note: “No holiday travel” is 26%.
Short Breaks Dominate Summer Holiday Planning
The data shows that short breaks are now shaping summer travel behaviour. When asked how long they plan to be away for their main upcoming holiday:
- 54% expect trips of 2–7 days
- 31% plan 8–14 days
- 8% plan 15–21 days
- 6% plan trips of more than 21 days
Planned length of main summer holiday
Most Australians plan short holidays of under a week.
News insight: This pattern strongly suits caravanning, which allows travellers to take quick departures, manage costs and access regional destinations without committing to long touring holidays. For a broader, year-round view of this behaviour, see our breakdown of see our breakdown of why short caravan getaways are rising in 2025. These trends highlight why summer caravan holidays in Australia continue to gain traction.
Cost Pressures Are Shortening Trips — Not Cancelling Them
More than half of respondents (54%) said cost-of-living pressures had affected their summer travel plans. However, the data shows Australians are adjusting how they travel, rather than abandoning holidays altogether.
The most common impacts include:
- Taking a shorter trip (25%)
- Waiting for last-minute deals (13%)
- Shifting from overseas to domestic travel (10%)
A further 20% said they cannot afford to travel this summer.
How cost pressures are changing summer travel
Australians are adjusting trip length and timing rather than dropping travel completely.
Holidays Remain a Top Spending Priority
Even with rising costs, the survey shows holidays remain a major priority. When asked which non-essential expense they would continue to prioritise even if cost pressures increase, holidays and travel ranked #1 at 27%.
Industry implication: For the caravan sector, that’s a strong signal that summer demand remains resilient — but more likely to show up as shorter, value-driven trips which encapsulate the appeal of summer caravan holidays in Australia.
What This Means for the Caravan Industry This Summer
| The summer 2025–26 travel picture is clear: |
|---|
| Holiday intent remains high |
| Short trips dominate planning |
| Domestic and regional travel lead demand |
| Cost pressures are reshaping trip length, not stopping travel |
For caravan park operators, RV manufacturers and travellers alike, the strongest growth signal this summer is the continued strength of short domestic breaks — now the core demand driver for the caravanning sector during the peak holiday season. Many are likely to choose summer caravan holidays in Australia to fulfill these travel desires.
Data note
All statistics in this article are from the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Summer Travel Survey 2025/26, conducted by Pureprofile (n=1,510; surveyed 27 November–1 December 2025).
