Tasmanian Walking Company has made it more affordable for solo adventurers to take to the trail this year, cutting the single supplement fee on two of its popular Long Weekend walks in response to a growing demand from travellers who prefer not to share a room.

Two single occupancy rooms* on the Bay of Fires Long Weekend Walk and the Bruny Island Long Weekend Walk now attract a flat supplementary fee of $500, down from the previous 75% surcharge on the twin-share rate. This equates to a saving of almost $1000 for sole occupancy.

The change comes as TWC reports a 43% rise in solo travellers across its eight Australian trails in 2024.

“The data doesn't lie. Solo hiking isn't just for young, broke backpackers. Older generations are opting in,” said Kate Duffy, Chief Marketing Officer of Tasmanian Walking Company. “We've seen solo travel increase 43%, especially among those in their 40s to 70s.

“We operate small group, fully guided walking tours through spectacular wilderness. We've unlocked inventory where there's capacity and where it made financial sense,” she said.

Ms Duffy notes that solo female travellers are leading the trend with a 47% increase, from 909 walkers in 2023 to 1334 in 2024. “It's not just a female thing,” she adds, “There's been a 63% increase in male solo travellers as well.

“Our solo travellers tend to be time-rich, craving meaning and wanting to connect with like-minded travellers. With careers under their belts or retirement plans unlocked, many hope to front-load adventure while they are still healthy. Some are navigating life transitions, such as divorce, and using travel as a gift to themselves.

“They're done waiting for the perfect plus one. They want the perfect walk in the perfect destination. They also want it with creature comforts and the safety of a guided group.”

Tasmanian Walking Company (TWC) offers multi-day small-group guided tours, with overnight stays in premium lodges or exclusive safari tents. All walks are led by two guides who shift seamlessly between storyteller, navigator, and cook.

The reduced supplement lowers the barrier for solo travellers to join premium adventures. For example, the three-day Bay of Fires Long Weekend Walk, previously priced at $4016 for a solo room, is now $2795, which is $500 above the $2295 twin-share rate.  

Ms Duffy said only two rooms per departure are set aside for single use, making it a sought-after deal for independent travellers. “The upside is that many of our solo walkers meet lifelong friends and new travel companions,” said Ms Duffy.

TWC guide Frankie Lyall has seen the impact first-hand:

“Many of our solo guests are spirited adventurers in their 50s and beyond. They've always loved the outdoors, but can't carry the heavy packs they once did. They still want the adventure, now with a little more comfort.”

“We are also seeing more women in their forties choosing to walk solo – often just after the kids finish school. It's their time to reconnect with what they love. They turn off their phones, step away from family commitments and step into nature. They come alone, but they love the safety of a like-minded group. They're doing the walk on their own terms.”

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For more information, contact

Shelley Winkel

Shelley.winkel@taswalkingco.com.au

*The flat rate single supplementary is available for two rooms only on each of the walk.

Bay of Fires Walk: Arguably the most varied of all TWC's walks the journey includes two nights in the architecturally designed Bay Of Fires Lodge offering front-row ocean views over Australia's Best Beach (named February 2025) IMAGES 
Bruny Island Long Weekend Walk: Arrive by private boat for a Bruny Island coastal walk, fresh foraged produce (more than 90 percent of the produce in all meals is sourced directly from the island, and off-grid glamping. IMAGES 
 

MACRO TRENDS:

• Australia's crop of new retirees is the first to benefit from a lifetime of compulsory superannuation contributions. (Source: APRA)
• Many retirees now consider holidays to be a rite of passage, with 71% using retirement savings for travel (Source: Equip Super)
• Many older Australians are expected to be the beneficiaries of the largest ever (AUD$3.5 trillion) intergenerational wealth transfer now underway. (Source: Productivity Commission).
• The adventure tourism sector is forecast to grow to AUD$33.51 billion in revenue by 2027 (Allied Analytics, 2021). A Tourism Australia survey found that 37% of Australian travellers showed an interest in hiking and walking (Tourism Australia, 2022, p. 101), and many are seeking nature-based tourism offerings to escape mass tourism (Tourism Australia, 2022).
• Globally, solo travellers represent a 2024 market value of $480bn dollars and an average growth rate of 14% per annum. Led predominantly by younger generations, the market is expected to be worth a trillion dollars by 2030. (Source: here). Almost one million Australians over the age of 66 are travelling solo or want to travel solo. (Source: Prime Time)
   

ABOUT TASMANIAN WALKING COMPANY

The Tasmanian Walking Company (TWC) creates opportunities for people of all fitness levels to connect deeply with nature through small-group, fully guided multiday walks that feature light-pack walking, restaurant-inspired meals and premium accommodation.

Founded in Tasmania nearly 40 years ago, TWC offers eight award-winning walks across Australia, and has the only private hut accommodation along the world-famous Overland Track through its Cradle Mountain Huts Walk and the only private lodges in the Tasman National Park through its Three Capes Walks. In 2023, TWC expanded its reach to a global scale through a partnership with Guided by Nature to craft extraordinary small-group hiking experiences to breathtaking destinations worldwide.

A recognised leader in sustainable, carbon-neutral travel, TWC operates the Tasmanian Walking Company Foundation. The company holds six of the 15 Great Walks of Australia and is a Qantas National Tourism Awards Hall of Fame inductee.