Camping comeback: 2.6 million Aussies swap hotels for tents to beat rising costs
Millions of Australians are trading hotel rooms for tents as travel costs push holidaymakers to cheaper, no-frills escapes, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,006 respondents revealed 12% of Australians – equivalent to 2.6 million people – have gone camping in the past two years to save on accommodation costs.
Almost a third (27%) of Australians say they haven't been on a holiday in more than 2 years.
Taylor Blackburn, personal finance specialist at Finder, said many Australians are being priced out of traditional holidays.
"Plenty of people are skipping flights and fancy resorts altogether as the cost-of-living crunch reshapes the way we holiday.
"For a growing number of households, the choice isn't between Bali or Byron anymore – it's camping or your own couch.
"Camping has long been a rite of passage for families, with many generations learning to connect with nature and one another without breaking the bank.
"Many are now rediscovering that tradition out of necessity."
Blackburn said rising costs mean many Australians are going years without a proper break.
"Camping offers something many families are craving right now – a genuine escape that's affordable, flexible and doesn't come with a four-figure accommodation bill."
Finder's research shows 1 in 5 (19%) Australians have gone camping just for fun in the last 2 years.
Blackburn encouraged households to plan holidays by setting a realistic budget early and to choose options that don't derail their savings goals.
"Opt for holidays you can afford upfront, not ones that add pressure to already tight budgets or put you into debt."
Previous Finder research found 5% of Aussies have gone into debt to take a holiday they couldn't afford.
Have you gone camping in the last 2 years to save money on accommodation costs?
| Yes | 12% |
| No, but I have been camping for fun | 19% |
| No, I haven't been on a holiday in the last 2 years | 27% |
| No, I haven't been camping in the past 2 years | 42% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,006 respondents, December 2025 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,006 respondents from December 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Sources
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