Slow travel may mean less distance and fewer sights ticked off, but you’re rewarded with a richer experience, writes Tatyana Leonov.

It’s been a slow kind of year for many of us. Less work, less planning, less travel … But while the nature of travel has changed dramatically over the course of 2020, for many Australians the opportunity to enjoy a holiday in their own region has remained relatively unscathed. Restrictions on overseas or interstate movement have encouraged us to explore our own backyards.

Angela Carrick, founder of short-term holiday rental company Air Design Australia, explains that the days of hectic flights and packed tour buses are likely to be a distant memory for some time to come.

“The new era of travel is for the slow traveller,” she says. “Slow travellers stay in one place for a while and they usually choose to rent holiday houses as these are equipped for people to just move in and start living.

“It’s a safer way to explore because guests are provided with local information, including the locations of the best medical clinics, hospitals and pharmacies in the neighbourhood.”

Having my first child a few years ago made me realise that travelling more deliberately can often reap rewards in terms of meaningful engagement. My husband, daughter and I travelled to the NSW South Coast the weekend before the March lockdown started, and the idea of dawdling wherever we stopped was already brewing. Although it look us longer to get anywhere, immersing ourselves in whatever caught our attention at the time added to our experience.

And it’s not just my family slowing down. Travel agents are reporting customers seeking longer-term stays, and travel companies are launching products that cater to this way of exploring, many deeming it safer

to host smaller groups and tailor itineraries specifically to their guests.

For example, in early October NRMA Insurance launched a pilot program – called Sloways – in NSW and Queensland. The scheme encourages drivers towing caravans to veer away from fast-paced freeways and onto friendlier routes.

“There’s been a huge revival in caravanning and we’re expecting to see an increase in caravans on our highways,” explains Chris Emerson, a road safety expert at NRMA Insurance. “The Sloways routes encourage caravan drivers to slow their journey down and enjoy some of the back roads while taking in all that the regional areas have to offer.”

Depending on how popular the program is, it may be rolled out to other states in the near future.

A slower pace also presents an opportunity for everyone involved to make the most of the experiences on offer. Travellers not rushing from one destination to another often have the time to linger longer, ask questions, and get a better feel for the area. Meeting more locals is often a consequence of having that additional time.

Carrick explains that immersion is a key component when talking about the slow travel process. “One of the pleasures is the slow and thorough exploration of the area,” she says. “You can become more involved in local activities, even take a cooking course.”

For those who can only get away in short bursts, it’s worth highlighting that slow travel doesn’t just apply to people with plenty of time on their hands, and can work just as well

over a weekend. Slow travel is simply the art of learning to not only take our time, but also to savour every moment of our holiday.