This is where Aussies are driving amid the great road trip resurgence

The humble road trip is having a resurgence as families, couples and even singles redefine what it means to holiday in 2025.

New NRMA Index research shows Aussies are choosing interstate travel (38 per cent) over overseas travel (20 per cent) as living expenses bite.

Almost 50 per cent of the 2000 respondents said high living expenses were prompting them to travel domestically, while around the same amount of people were driven by a desire to explore Australia.

Around a third said the ease of domestic travel was getting them interested in staying local.

Families, retirees, and people from the ACT were the most likely to have plans to hit the road during the next 12 months.

NRMA chief membership officer, Victoria Doidge, said Australians are looking for affordability and ease when it comes to travel, but they're also looking for adventure.

"We know that travel fosters connection between people and places and our research shows us that Australians need that now more than ever," Ms Doidge said.

Almost three-quarters of respondents said they feel like they need to take a holiday, as "Australians are struggling in more ways than one".

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Queensland is topping the list of destinations for sunny skies and warm temperatures, according to NRMA.

Separate research from Wotif also singled out the sunshine state, with the Gold Coast, Cairns and Sunshine Coast the most popular destinations this winter school holidays, with Newcastle in NSW also in the top five.

But it's not just the sun Aussies are seeking. Many are venturing beyond the beach to destinations offering country charm, wine and sporting and entertainment venues.

Wotif's top-trending destinations this winter, or those with the highest jump in interest compared to the same period last year, are Mildura and Carlton in Victoria, as well as Sydney Olympic Park in NSW.

Other popular spots include the Yarra Valley in Victoria, the Barossa Valley in South Australia, and Mudgee in NSW.

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Wotif travel expert Rebecca Hurley said travellers are after "unique and memorable experiences".

"Wotif's trending destinations, like Mildura, Carlton and Sydney Olympic Park, are turning up the heat with standout events and experiences that are drawing in the crowds from all over the country but also redefining what the winter holiday can look like in Australia," Ms Hurley said.

Top winter events people were travelling for were the Victoria's Trail of Lights at Mildura and the LEGO Star Wars exhibition in Carlton, as well as NSW's Disney on Ice at Sydney Olympic Park and Bondi Festival.

According to new data from ROLLiN' car insurance, the most-loved winter road trips in Australia are Victoria's perennial favourite the Great Ocean Road, Great Beach Drive and Great Barrier Reef Drive in Queensland, Gibb River Road in Western Australia and Red Centre Way in the Northern Territory.

Executive manager Brendan Griffiths said in winter, Aussies love "a mix of iconic coastal drives and adventurous inland trips".

He said beyond the ocean favourites, rugged outback routes like Gibb River Road and Red Centre Way were getting a lot of love during the winter, "which shows that many people want to explore Australia's wild side even when it's cooler.

"These rugged, remote trips usually aren't top of mind for winter travel, but the data shows a growing appetite for adventurous, off-the-beaten-track experiences, even when the weather is cooler," he said.

"And, given how scorching these regions can get in summer, winter can be the best time to explore them comfortably. It's great to see Aussies embracing these iconic but less traditional road trips. Tasmania's strong showing was also a highlight, proving smaller states can pack a punch when it comes to road trip appeal."

Other top road trip routes for winter were NSW's Grand Pacific Drive, SA's Epicurean Way and Explorer's Way, and the Great Eastern Drive in Tasmania.

But if you're planning ahead, ROLLiN also put together the data for summer when - in addition to the usual suspects like Great Ocean Road, Beach Beach Drive and Grand Pacific Drive - the Sydney to Melbourne road trip is sure to be popular, as well as Tasmania's Southern Edge and Western Wilds, WA's South West Edge and the Legendary Pacific Coast in NSW.