Forget FOMO, go solo

Reflections records a 21% leap in sole traveller bookings and confirms top five “hot spots”

Reflections Holidays – the largest holiday park group in New South Wales – has recorded a 21% rise in bookings from sole travellers in the past financial year, with many of its holiday parks noting a swing toward lone adventurers.

Reflections, a Crown Land manager which operates 40 holidays parks in coastal and inland New South Wales, said its bookings from solo travellers increased 21% in the 12 months to June 30, 2025, compared to the previous financial year - a trend that confirms industry forecasts of the rise of the solo traveller, with women leading the way.

In order of popularity, the top five Reflections parks for solo travellers are:

• Reflections Ballina
• Reflections Urunga
• Reflections Lake Burrendong
• Reflections Burrinjuck Waters
• Reflections Eden.

Reflections CEO Nick Baker said he was not surprised that Reflections parks were attracting more solo travellers because they offered not just affordable camping but also a ready-made and safe community of like-minded travellers.

“Our holiday parks have everything from grass camping sites to chic tiny homes for solo travellers, so there is something to suit every budget, but more importantly our parks offer a built-in community for those who choose to travel alone,” he said.

“Those who travel solo to a Reflections park know how easy it is to strike up a conversation with fellow travellers, whether that’s when they are checking in or more likely at the camp kitchen or community fire pit, or maybe while just standing watching the sunrise at the beach viewing platform.

“It’s these little moments that can lead to life-changing conversations and even lifelong friendships or shared travel plans, and these moments simply don’t happen if you are closed up in a hotel room.

“Camping is a natural connector: many of our guests stay at the same parks regularly year in, year out, and have made lasting friendships with others during their holidays.”

Minister for Lands and Property and Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper says it’s great to see the Reflections Holidays successfully using Crown land to provide safe and affordable accommodation for those travelling alone in NSW.

“Reflections Holidays investment in holiday park infrastructure and well-designed accommodation options for nature-based holidays has opened the doors to solo travellers, supporting more people to explore NSW,” Mr Kamper said.

“Solo travelling can give people greater freedom to choose what they want to do and when, giving them greater autonomy and flexibility with their holidays while building independence and confidence.”

Mr Baker said women in their 40s and 50s were a rising solo travel demographic, noting that Reflections offers a small discount to females who belonged to private women’s adventure groups.