Kiwis took a huge 10 million road trips last year

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A study commissioned by Budget New Zealand has found a resurgence in the appreciation for the classic homegrown road trip, with an impressive 85% of New Zealanders hitting the road an average of three times in the past year. This amounts to a staggering total of 10 million trips across the country.

Amongst those embracing the allure of the open road, it was found that Gen Z (91%) and Millennials (92%) were the most enthusiastic participants. The report analysed the motivations and preferences of Kiwi road-trippers, revealing a preference for shorter, more frequent trips in 2022. A significant majority, 83%, favoured road trips lasting less than a week, while only 17% ventured out for a week or longer.

“The great Kiwi road trip remains as popular as ever,” said Tom Mooney, Managing Director of Avis Budget Group, Pacific. “However, the reasons behind Kiwis’ love for road trips are diverse and personal, ranging from seeking new experiences to exploring unfamiliar places and relishing the sense of freedom and adventure.”

Kiwis love a roadie, with 10 million trips across the country occuring in 2022.

Kiwis love a roadie, with 10 million trips across the country occuring in 2022.

Millennials emerged as key drivers of the road trip evolution in New Zealand. More than 92% of millennials embarked on journeys across the country last year. Remarkably, even after becoming parents, two in three millennial parents (68%) continued to enjoy road travel, choosing to share their experiences with their children, while only one in six opted for group trips with friends.

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The report also predicts that millennials will sustain their enthusiasm for road trips at a higher rate compared to other generations in the coming year. Over 93% of millennials plan to relish the freedom of the open road, in contrast to 88% of Gen X and 84% of baby boomers.

Regarding travel companions, two in three (68%) millennials intend to have their partners join them on road trips to partake in their preferred holiday experiences, including visiting iconic Kiwi landmarks (58%) and ski fields (25%).

On average, road trips are expected to span approximately five and a half days, with one in five travellers (20%) planning trips lasting at least a week, a slight increase from the previous year’s 17%. Most road trippers anticipate embarking on journeys with their partners (59%) or children (32%), while only 21% plan to travel with a group of friends.

When envisioning an ideal road trip, nearly half (48%) of Kiwis desire a combination of iconic Kiwi landmarks and quirky tourist attractions such as Ohakune’s giant carrot or Gore’s giant trout (28%). One in six (16%) head to the slopes for skiing adventures.

16% of those surveyed hit the slopes last year.

Simon Maude/Stuff

16% of those surveyed hit the slopes last year.

As a means of escaping the monotony of everyday life, rivers and lakes top the road trippers’ wish list at 48%, closely followed by white sand beaches (45%), small towns (41%), and vineyard experiences (23%).

Approximately 23% of road trippers aspire to travel sustainably, seeking out eco-friendly accommodations, while over one in five (21%) look for educational experiences that offer insights into the culture and community of the places they visit.

There are no signs of a slowdown in road trip popularity, as indicated by the report’s projections:

  • 89% of Kiwis plan to embark on road trips in the next 12 months, a slight increase from the past year’s 85%.
  • 65% of respondents intend to take more road trips within New Zealand in 2023 compared to 2022.
  • Nearly half (48%) of those who did not take a road trip in the past year express their likelihood of doing so in the next 12 months.

Highlighting the significance of the journey itself, 384,000 Kiwis plan to indulge their wanderlust by embarking on spontaneous road trips, without a predetermined destination in mind.

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