Ultimate New Years resolutions for the mindful traveller
With a whole new year kicking off, now’s the best time to lock in all those travel plans and bucket-list trips. From what to do and where to stay, we've got the ultimate New Year’s resolutions to get you inspired (and excited) for a big year of adventures.
If 2026 is your year for better balance, more adventures and making new mates while on the road, consider this your ultimate set of New Year’s resolutions.
For adventurers who want to make the most of every trip, these resolutions factor in real budgets, mindful travel, and the kinds of experiences that leave you fulfilled, recharged, and dreaming of the next one.
Travel more (with the annual leave you already have)
Big trips that use up weeks of unpaid leave aren’t always realistic. While cost of living pressures are a real issue, that doesn’t mean travel must take a back seat. With a little planning (and a smart look at public holidays), you can stretch four weeks of annual leave into a full calendar of long weekends, mini escapes, and cheeky getaways that still feel like a proper break.
This is where YHA makes life easier. With flexible and affordable stays, there’s many properties on offer beyond the major cities. Whether it’s a Thredbo mountain biking adventure, a hike in the Blue Mountains or a bakery pie in Goulburn, you only need a few days to experience the best of regional towns, fresh produce, coastal drives, mountain hikes, and be home in time for another week of work.
Tip: The easiest way to travel more is to plan around public holidays, turning a single day of leave into a long weekend. If you want it to actually happen, aim for one trip a month, even if it’s only a one-night stay. By locking in the first one early, you’ll keep the momentum building. When you plan your leave upfront, you’ll stop delaying travel and experience it in smaller, bite-sized pieces.
Stay: Use YHA as your long-weekend network to keep things affordable. YHA Grampians Eco is a proper nature reset with hikes and spectacular views, while YHA Brisbane City makes sunny weekend breaks easy if you’re flying in and want a premium central base.
Work-life balance (but actually)
Why choose between work and a change of scenery, when you can have both? Working remotely ensures your lunch break doesn’t happen under fluorescent office lights. Open your laptop from a sunny terrace with a flat white, and follow your afternoon meeting with a swim. Your morning commute can be a barefoot coastal walk, with sea salt fresh on your skin.
If this is giving you “FOMO”, you might also consider finding a co-working space. They help you stay connected while on the road, letting you log on during the day, keeping the holiday vibes going in the afternoons and evenings. YHA’s network of co-working spaces come purpose-built with proper desks, reliable Wi-Fi and comfortable setups that make work feel genuinely doable, even when you’re far from home.
Tip: Ask ahead of time whether the space is suited for calls or Zoom meetings. Structure your day with three to four hours of focused work in the morning, then use afternoons like a holiday on purpose, whether it’s a surf lesson, a yoga class or a sunny spot in a park with a good book.
Stay: Base yourself somewhere that makes it easy to work efficiently before switching off afterwards. YHA Byron Bay and YHA Cape Byron are perfect for a work-then-swim routine with cafes close by, while YHA Sydney Harbour is ideal for a city-based remote week where you can explore after you log off.
Be present (not just busy)
A great holiday should never be about cramming everything in. Instead, give yourself time to explore properly, and just as much time to unwind. That balance is often the difference between a rushed getaway and a truly restorative break.
Whether it’s a waterfront stroll at YHA Hobart Central or a Chinatown or Thaitown food safari near YHA Sydney Central, the right base becomes part of the reset. It gives you permission to slow down, detox from your devices, and make time for the parts of a trip you should never schedule, like morning yoga, lazy breakfasts, and a sunset beach walk before dinner.
Tip: Keep your days deliberately loose by planning one main activity or experience and letting the rest unfold around it. Try having simple windows like “no screen time or social media until after breakfast”, which will also help you start the day slower.
Stay: Pick a base that makes slow travel easy. YHA Apollo Bay Eco is perfect for seeing the best of The Great Ocean Road, plus it’s close to some of Australia’s best surf beaches. YHA Cairns Central is on the doorstep of both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
Less screen time, more pool time
Leave your phone on charge while you recharge too. Swap blue light for sunshine, a deck chair and the good book you’ve been meaning to start for months. These are the best kinds of breaks, and ones that feel simple and easy. Plus it costs next to nothing.
YHA pools are made for holiday mode. Like mini-resorts, they’re social hubs where time disappears in the best way. You can float for hours, forgetting about your notifications, and turning casual chats with fellow travellers into brand new friendships. Bonus points for the properties where you can grab a poolside bevvy (or two).
Tip: If you’re going to be outdoors for an extended period, don’t forget about sun safety. Slip on a shirt, slop of SPF 50+ sunscreen, slap on a hat, slide on some sunglasses, and seek shade, especially during the middle of the day. Reapply sunscreen regularly (especially after swimming), and remember to refill your water bottle so you don’t become dehydrated.
Stay: For maximum pool time some good options are YHA Byron Bay, YHA Cape Byron, or YHA Coolangatta. They’re perfect to make the pool become the centre of the trip.
Go beyond the obvious
Some of the best travel experiences aren’t appearing on your social feed. Iconic landmarks in Sydney and Melbourne are always worth it, but often the quieter local spots become the real highlights.
Swap the pumping Gold Coast for laid-back Coolangatta, making the most of morning swims and enjoying fish and chips by the ocean for dinner. Trade busy Sydney for a tranquil Pittwater escape, where you can get a true sense of Australia’s natural beauty. Skip Perth’s centre for Fremantle’s hippie vibes, ideal for cultural explorers. You might just find a version of Australia most visitors miss.
Tip: Instead of searching “top things to do”, ask locals for their favourite beach, bakery, walk or sunset spot and then build out your day from there. Speaking with staff at YHA properties is also a great way to get local recommendations.
Stay: Stay somewhere that gets you closer to the local version of a place, not just the tourist centre. YHA Pittwater Eco or YHA Blue Mountains (Katoomba) is ideal for a nature-first escape near Sydney, while YHA Fremantle Prison gives you an unforgettable stay and puts you right in the heart of Freo’s markets, galleries and beaches.
Face your fears
If you’ve been putting off something out of fear, make 2026 the year to finally do the thing that gets your heart racing, whether it’s canyoning in the Blue Mountains, skydiving in Byron Bay or learning to surf in Newcastle.
It’s worth saying “yes” to these kinds of experiences, because while you’ll feel nervous, that’s the point. No matter how many doubts show up, now’s the time to be brave. You won’t regret it. So, what fear are you conquering?
Tip: If you’re nervous, choose an experience that’s thrilling but structured, because guided adventures and safety briefings make bravery feel more achievable. Sydney’s famous BridgeClimb, a surf lesson in Apollo Bay, or a bungy jump in Cairns are all good places to start.
Stay: Make the accommodation part of the challenge so the story starts the moment you arrive. A UNESCO World Hertiage site, YHA Fremantle Prison is unforgettable, a little bit eerie in the best way, and perfect for a year where you’re done playing it safe. You might even see a ghost!
Meet new travel mates to explore with
If you’re travelling solo, booking somewhere social to stay is one of the fastest (and easiest) ways to keep connected, make friends, and avoid feeling like you’re constantly “putting yourself out there”. After all, some of the best travel memories are the ones you share.
YHA stays are made for connection without pressure, with social events and low-effort moments that make friendships happen naturally, whether it’s trivia, rooftop bars, shared kitchens, games rooms, or organised group outings. The big perk about co-living stays is that conversation is built into the experience. Start cooking and see how long it takes before someone asks what you’re making. Pull out some playing cards in the lounge and you’ve suddenly got instant company. Say yes to one event and you’ve suddenly got people to explore with the next day.
Tip: When you check in, ask the YHA team what’s on that week. Staff will be across the full social schedule at that property (trivia nights, group outings, rooftop drinks, communal dinners) and can tell you which events are best for solo travellers. Pick one low-key activity for your first night and let it do the introductions for you. Simple openers like “what are you up to tomorrow?” or “where are you from” are easy ways to strike up meaningful conversations.
Stay: Choose a property with a built-in social atmosphere so meeting people feels effortless. YHA Sydney Harbour is lively and traveller-heavy, while YHA Byron Bay has an easygoing, outdoorsy vibe that makes it simple to find mates for beach walks and day trips.
Live greener (and travel more responsibly)
Sustainable travel doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It can be as simple as choosing eco-conscious places to visit, swapping short drives for train travel when you can, and building out your itinerary around low-impact experiences like walks, local tours and slower travel days that don’t require you to be constantly on the go.
Small switches like this really make a difference. And the best part is that you can still have a proper holiday, just with a lighter footprint. All YHA properties are now 100% EcoTourism Australia certified, which means that every stay supports better sustainability practices without you having to overthink it.
Tip: Start with two low-effort swaps like a reusable coffee cup or drink bottle, and plan one “no-car day” where you walk, take public transport, or join a local tour. You’ll often spend less, but still see the best things that a destination has to offer.
Stay: Eco-certified stays make it easier to travel with a lighter footprint while still having a proper holiday. YHA Apollo Bay Eco suits slow travel by the coast, while YHA Pittwater Eco is perfect for a low-impact nature escape that’s still close to Sydney.
Save your money (and still go)
What are you saving up for this year? A house? A car? A round-the-world ticket? Travel doesn’t have to stop for it to happen. In fact, those mini-holidays are often what keep you inspired while you’re saving, building and planning for what’s next.
No matter your budget, properties across the YHA network makes it possible to keep exploring new places without putting your bigger dreams on hold. And sometimes the most energising trips aren’t huge anyway. They’re the affordable little escapes that remind you what life is for. Because saving money shouldn’t mean pressing pause on your joy.
Tip: You don’t need to stop travelling to save money, but you do need to make it intentional, and a small weekly auto-transfer into a travel fund adds up faster than you think. Build your trip around free highlights like beaches, hikes, markets and galleries, then spend where it matters most, like one great meal or one memorable activity. When you base yourself centrally, you’ll also save a fortune by walking instead of relying on taxis or rideshares.
Stay: If you want value without sacrificing location, a central base does most of the budgeting for you. YHA Adelaide Central and YHA Melbourne Central are strong options because you can explore huge parts of each city on foot and keep transport costs low.
Say 'yes' more often
Travel rewards the people who say “yes”. Yes to the day trip. Yes to the coastal walk. Yes to the local recommendation. Yes to the pub trivia night. Yes to the sunrise alarm, even when it hurts. Yes to the spontaneous plan you didn’t budget for, but somehow becomes the best story of the whole trip.
If you want 2026 to feel different, don’t just travel more. Travel more openly, and embrace the moments and opportunities right in front of you. Be the kind of traveller who doesn’t overthink everything. Take the detour, talk to strangers, try the weird local snack. Join the group activity even if you feel awkward and don’t know anyone. That’s how the best memories happen.
Tip: Agree to at least one spontaneous plan per trip, even if it’s outside your comfort zone. If you’re unsure, ask yourself whether it will matter in a year’s time, because most of the time, it won’t. The more you practise saying “yes”, you’ll see more possibilities begin to emerge.
Stay: Stay somewhere with a social atmosphere and plenty happening nearby so it’s easy to join in. YHA Brisbane City is great for sunny, event-filled weekends, and YHA Sydney Harbour makes it simple to fall into plans with other travellers.
Words: Troy Nankervis
