Why more senior Australians are spending their kids' inheritance to fund travel

More retirees are making the most of their golden years through travel, with some even choosing to "Spend the Kids' Inheritance", known as the SKI trend, to do so.

Catherine DeVrye celebrated her 60th birthday trekking beyond Everest Base Camp. Since then, she has hang glided and abseiled in Rio, motor-biked and zip lined in Pakistan, flown in a helicopter in Congo, and ridden horses in Kyrgyzstan.

"I like living on the edge," Ms DeVrye, now in her 70s, told Explore. "I feel more alive when I'm outside my comfort zone."

Australian Seniors' Grey Gap Year Report 2025 shows older Australians are revisiting the idea of a "gap year", common among uni and school graduates, later in life. The survey reveals over-50s are more engaged in travel than ever before, with nearly two in five saying they had their last "big" holiday in the past year.

A chance to relax, enjoy quality time with family and learn about the world are the top motivations for holidaying. To fund these experiences, more than 80 per cent of survey respondents are willing to cut back on other expenses, including impulse purchases and dining out.

Almost 65 per cent feel comfortable using their retirement savings for travel, and almost 70 per cent rely on savings as their primary funding source.

University of Queensland travel expert, Gabby Walter, said cruise holidays and slow travel are becoming increasingly popular with seniors. There is also a trend towards solo travel with almost 30 per cent of respondents taking a solo trip in the past five years.

"This is suggesting that today's seniors are feeling more confident within themselves to move away from the 'one stop shop' package tour and plan their own itineraries," Ms Walter said.

For Ms DeVrye, travel has always been a part of her life. She is currently working on a book about her travels and heads off overseas in regular three-month stints.

In the over-55s village where she resides in the northern beaches of Sydney, residents swap travel stories and share their experiences in WhatsApp groups.

Though Ms DeVrye doesn't have children, she often jokes that she's "spending the kids' inheritance".

"Most of my assets will go to charity. I've volunteered with street kids in Vietnam, and the royalties from my next book are going to Medecins Sans Frontieres," she said.

Reflections Holidays CEO Nick Baker said the SKI trend is growing.

"Instead of preserving wealth for the next generation, more boomers are choosing to invest in experiences that bring adventure, connection and lasting memories," he said.

"With home ownership so far out of reach for many young people - even a helping hand from the Bank of Mum and Dad doesn't always make much difference - older generations have even more reason to enjoy the here and now."

For those who choose to holiday in Australia, this can mean packing up the camper trailer and hitting the road for weeks or even months at a time.

Unlike the rushed backpacking trips of their 20s, often on shoestring budgets and overnight buses, this new wave of travel is about "comfort, choice and living well on the road", Mr Baker said.

"They might stay a week in one town, set up near a beach or river to fish and unwind, or head inland for hiking and stargazing, before moving on," he said. "The freedom of not being tied to schedules or return flights makes it extra appealing."

Communities are even springing up around over-60s travel, with many travellers meeting new friends along the way.

"You'll see it in the camp kitchens, where travellers swap tips or share a meal, or out on verandas, where neighbours become mates over a glass of wine," Mr Baker said.

He continued: "There's something about sharing space, swapping stories, and laughing with people you've only just met that makes the journey as rewarding as the destinations themselves.

"At the heart of it, this is a generation saying, 'we've worked hard, the kids are independent, now it's our time'."