F.Y.I.

Intrepid Travel rolls out ‘Golden Gap Year’ campaign for 55+ travellers

February 16, 2026 2:09

The campaign encourages Australians aged 55 and over to take an extended gap year, supported by a competition and personalised travel experiences.

The announcement:

Intrepid Travel has launched a new integrated campaign and competition, Golden Gap Year, targeting the fast-growing 55+ travel segment and tapping into a broader cultural shift towards extended travel later in life.

Developed in partnership with creative agency Alt/shift/, the integrated PR and marketing campaign is rolling out across earned, owned and paid channels, spanning broadcast, online and print media, digital and social. A hero video featuring a real Intrepid customer anchors the creative, using lived experience to reinforce the brand’s positioning around transformative travel.

The campaign is underpinned by its research revealing 80 per cent of Australians aged 55+ never took a traditional gap year, with one in five saying they still regret it.

Sarah Lindsay, head of ANZ PR at Intrepid Travel, said: “This campaign is about unlocking growth in a segment that has the time and means to travel, but often lacks the confidence to take that first step. Our research found that sixty-seven per cent of respondents that missed their gap year have considered ‘making up for lost time’, highlighting a significant opportunity in the extended travel market. With Golden Gap Year being led with a real customer story, we’re hoping to make that leap feel achievable.”

Intrepid is also offering one Australian aged 55+ the chance to win a 12-month Golden Gap Year, tailor-made travel experience valued at up to $100,000, plus $25,000 towards flights.

Erica Kritikides, general manager global experiences at Intrepid Travel, said: “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 travel can be a real barrier for people. With small groups, immersive experiences, expert local leaders and hundreds of itineraries, our trips give travellers the courage and confidence to take the leap.”

Beyond the competition, Intrepid has launched a dedicated Golden Gap Year hotline, connecting prospective travellers with specialists to design extended itineraries tailored to their pace and priorities, building a clear pathway from inspiration to conversion.

The research also reveals shifting motivations across generations. While younger Australians cited study commitments (40 per cent) and financial pressures (23 per cent) as key reasons for skipping a gap year, older respondents were more likely to have entered the workforce immediately (53 per cent) or said extended travel wasn’t the norm at the time (43 per cent).

Today’s 55+ travellers are seeking cultural (36 per cent) and adventure travel (28 per cent) experiences, aligning closely with Intrepid’s small group offering across more than 100 countries.

Applications open today at intrepidtravel.com/golden-gap-year, with entries closing 15 March 2026.

How 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.