Pinterest released its Midyear Trends Report last night. The report uncovers what’s capturing the attention of Kiwi’s right now, and one of the standout themes is the rise of Peak Travel – with Gen Z leading the way as they turn to nature and scenic escapes to disconnect, recharge, and plan their next big adventure. We wanted to offer Focus Magazine the travel exclusive.
Pinterest has become a powerful planning tool for this audience, not just a source of inspiration. Gen Z users are actively searching for travel outfits, remote destinations and trip ideas to visually map out their itineraries before they even book.
Searches like “mountain outfit” are up 73%, “Appalachian mountains aesthetic” has spiked 332%, and “aesthetic hiking pictures” are up 225%. Interest in “Kilimanjaro mountain” is up 221%, alongside spikes in “hiking outfit men” (+69%) and “outfits for mountain trip” (+39%) – highlighting a strong desire for scenic, high-altitude adventures.
Vanessa Jones, Travel Industry Manager at Pinterest, explains: “As winter sets in across Australia and New Zealand this week, wanderlust reaches its peak! Whether it’s escaping the chill, planning for the school holidays in July, or seeking snow and mountain top experiences, Pinterest becomes a travel-planning playground during the colder months.
Right now, we are seeing travel planners on Pinterest seeking everything from dreamy island escapes to inspiring mountain adventures. Searches for Santorini Island are up +158% YoY, Cook Islands +121%, and Euro Summer +50%. There’s also a clear surge in cold-weather wonderlands, with Queenstown up +30%, Tasmania +20%, and Kilimanjaro mountain up +221%.
The rise of Peak Travel comes as no surprise – it was one of the trends we forecast in our Pinterest Predicts report back in December. It captures a desire for adventure, stunning scenery and deeper connections with nature.”
You can see Pinterest’s Peak Travel Australia board here.
Brands are already embracing this trend – Tourism New Zealand is inspiring planners with stargazing spots and ski escapes, while Spirit of Tasmania has partnered with Pinterest on a co-branded Trend Badge campaign, aligning with demand for mountainous and scenic destinations.
