MEDIA RELEASE

5 August 2025

New research from TravelInsurance.com.au reveals just how dependent Australians are on staying connected while travelling: with 18% admitting they start ‘twitching’ without Wi-Fi or mobile reception after just a few hours.

The survey found that a further 29% of Aussie travellers could only last a day without Wi-Fi or phone signal, while 22% said they’d manage 2–3 days.

Only 12% of Aussie travellers said they could handle a full week without connectivity.

TravelInsurance.com.au CEO, Shaun McGowan, says Aussies are still tethered to their tech even on holidays.

“Despite the allure of a digital detox, most Aussies are still glued to their devices when they travel, especially while in transit. And the more devices you pack, the greater the risk of loss, theft or damage. The irony is, we rely on those same devices to book transport and navigate unfamiliar places, so unplugging is quickly going the way of the dodo,” he says.

“Surprisingly, 19% of Aussie travellers said they’d actually enjoy a week or more off the grid. This suggests there’s still a real appetite for switching off, but probably only if the right conditions are in place.”

Gen Z can’t switch off: 1 in 3 say they’d ‘twitch’ without Wi-Fi on holiday

The survey found Gen Z are the most addicted to connectivity, with nearly a third (31%) saying they’d only last a few hours without Wi-Fi or phone signal — even on holiday.

Millennials are slightly more adaptable, with 39% saying they could go a full day without being connected. Gen X (26%) were the most comfortable going 2–3 days without access to Wi-Fi or phone signal.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Baby Boomers were the most relaxed about switching off — 18% said they’d be fine without connectivity for up to a week, while a third (33%) said they’d actually enjoy going completely off-grid.

ENDS

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Shaun McGowan, CEO, Travelinsurance.com.au