Asia-Pacific Hobby Hotspots
Young adults have been chasing after hobby-based travel in recent years, with more than 40% of 18-24-year-olds1 taking on activity-fueled holidays in the past two years. It is no secret that Australia is one of the go-to countries for anyone looking for an adventure. Alongside this, adventure-filled travel is growing in popularity across the Asian-Pacific region, but what areas are best for exploring your hobbies?
Whether you are an avid runner, a rock climbing fanatic, or a budding chef, the team at Bounce has you covered. Bounce has delved into the most popular destinations with travelers in both Australia and Asia-Pacific and looked at a number of hobby-related factors to give each destination an overall score out of 10.
By collating data on cycling routes, running trails, rock climbing routes, and more, this guide will reveal the top destinations for hobby travelers.
Top 10 Asian-Pacific cities for hobby enthusiasts
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1. Singapore, Singapore - overall score of 8.01 /10
The city-state of Singapore is revealed as the best place in the Asian-Pacific region for those interested in exploring hobbies, with an overall score of 8.01 out of 10. From landmarks like Merlion Park to its cultural diversity and unique food scene, Singapore is a perfect holiday destination for anyone, and hobbies are no exception.
More than 800 shops exist in Singapore, equating to an average of more than 11 per 10 sq km. Some of the most popular shopping experiences here include Jewel, an entertainment and retail complex in the heart of Changi Airport, and Clarke Quay Shopping Mall. In terms of the hobbies that people are searching for in Singapore, running events and rock climbing are among the most popular.
2. Auckland, New Zealand - overall score of 7.82 /10
The next destination on this ranking is Auckland, scoring 7.82 out of 10. With the lowest number of shopping centers per 10 sq km in these top three, New Zealand’s largest city may not be the place to be if you are a shopaholic. However, Auckland is home to almost 600 cycling routes that any biking enthusiast would have a great time visiting, including the waterfront cycle lane that loops from Kohimarama.
If rock climbing is more your thing, then Auckland is also the place for you. With almost 14 rock climbing/bouldering routes across the city per 10 sq km, you will have plenty of options—including Extreme Edge Panmure, New Zealand’s largest indoor climbing center. This city is also home to some fantastic bouldering events, such as Northern Rocks, which is being held in Auckland in the summer of 2025.
3. Gold Coast, Australia - overall score of 7.23 /10
If you are looking for a hobby-fueled holiday down under, look no further than Australia’s Gold Coast. With an overall score of 7.23 out of 10, this city completes the top three Asian-Pacific destinations for hobby-goers. While this city is best known for its sun-filed beaches and entertaining nightlife, the appeal doesn’t stop there.
Any shopaholic will likely be familiar with the Pacific Fair and Harbour Town shopping centers, just two of the 177 places to shop on the Gold Coast. Surfing may be more associated with this Australian city than cycling, but if bikes are your thing, then there are more than 270 routes that you can use to explore the coast. Some of the most popular cycle paths along the Gold Coast pass through the iconic ‘Surfers Paradise’ sign, which looks onto one of the city’s soft sandy beaches.
Top 10 Australian cities for hobby enthusiasts
1. Gold Coast, Queensland - overall score of 7.77 /10
After appearing in the top three list of hobby hotspots in the Asia-Pacific region, it may be no surprise that Queensland’s Gold Coast ranks top here. This city’s landscape is the perfect backdrop for any runner and hosts various running events. From the Border Bolt Run Festival in August to the Cut Ultra Marathon in October, this city encourages people to be active all year round.
Cooking is also popular if you want a less physical hobby to explore on the Gold Coast. Of the cities on this list, only Fremantle is home to more cooking classes per 10 sq km, and according to Tripadvisor, the Wildflower Distillery is one of the most popular cooking classes on the Gold Coast.
2. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory - overall score of 7.01 /10
Canberra appears next, with a score of 7.01 out of 10. Of all the entries in this top three, Canberra has more shopping-related Google searches than any other Australian city. Australia’s capital is famous for its market-style shops. From food at Fyshwick Fresh Food Market to handmade gifts at The Little Burley Market, there is something here for every shop enthusiast.
Canberra is also a cycle-friendly city, with many scenic routes and dedicated bike lanes. No matter what type of bike you prefer, there is a club for you here – with the Canberra Mountain Bikers and Canberra BMX Club, to name a few.
3. Cairns, Queensland - overall score of 6.79 /10
Cairns may not be famous as a bouldering destination, but there are many paths for climbers to try out. Beaten only by Albany regarding the number of rock climbing/ bouldering routes per 10 sq km, Cairns offers more than 1,100 opportunities to climb, surrounded by incredible views like rainforests and waterfalls.
Aside from rock climbing, people are most curious about shopping in this city, with this hobby garnering more than 100,000 Google searches in the last year. There are plenty of art galleries to explore and purchase from, including the Underart Gallery (home to paintings from the award-winning artist Starr), allowing you to have a beautiful reminder of the memories made in this city.
The best Asian-Pacific destinations for:
Running
New Delhi, India - 12.41 running trails per 10 sq km
Running in India has massively grown in popularity, and New Delhi is no exception. This destination has more running trails than any other area on our ranking, totaling 12.41 per 10 sq km.
If you are looking for a short run, Lodhi Garden is perfect. It offers ideal paved terrain and historic landmarks to keep you occupied. Conversely, the forest area of Sanjay Van is suited more towards long-distance and trail runners, with miles of partially paved (but shaded) tracks.
Cycling
Fremantle, Australia - 300 cycling routes per 10 sq km
Whether your ideal bike ride involves leisurely cycling along the waterfront and taking in the views or challenging yourself with a steep mountain bike trail, Fremantle in Australia has it all. There are 570 cycle routes to explore in this city, which is the equivalent of 300 per 10 sq km – the most significant proportion in the Asian-Pacific region.
You could even take it a step further and join one of the seven cycling clubs in the area. Clubs like VeloFit Australia Cycling Club are an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded people and hone in on your cycling skills.
Rock Climbing
Queenstown, New Zealand - 150.33 rock climbing/bouldering routes per 10 sq km
Queenstown and rock climbing are a match made in heaven. Surrounded by one-of-a-kind views and world-class bouldering facilities, anyone interested in rock climbing should visit this New Zealand city. With more than 1,300 routes in the region, there is an opportunity for rock climbers of any ability to have fun.
Popular outdoor crags in Queenstown include Wye Creek, home to hundreds of routes alone, and Coronet Crag, which encompasses beginner-friendly routes anyone can try.
Cooking
Hoi An, Vietnam - 25.5 cooking classes per 10 sq km
In some areas, cooking classes are few and far between – but not Hoi An. Whether you want to sink your teeth into crab fishing and cooking or learn some of Vietnamese residents' traditional methods, this city has it all. Hoi An has 25.5 cooking classes per 10 sq km, giving you more opportunities to immerse yourself in the cuisine of the Asian-Pacific region than any other.
Shopping
Hoi An, Vietnam - 121.50 shopping centers per 10 sq km
If you are looking to take home a piece of Asian culture, then Hoi An is the perfect place to visit. Most famous for tailoring shops, this Vietnamese city is home to hundreds of buying opportunities, occupying the most shopping centers per 10 sq km on our list.
The charming Hoi An Night Market is one of the city’s most well-known shopping destinations. Here, you can purchase all kinds of goods from more than 50 local vendors, surrounded by vibrant lanterns and quaint architecture.
Cody Candee, CEO and Founder of Bounce, comments on hobby-based vacations:
“Holidays are all about centering your travel on doing what you love. Whether it's your mental or physical health, hobby-based travel is a great way to enjoy new places while not missing out on your favorite pastime.
The Asian-Pacific region is a perfect place to explore new cultures and experience your go-to hobby in a different environment. Singapore is a great all-round destination for hobbies based on its world-class infrastructure, accessibility, and diverse range of activities that help cater to a variety of interests.
If your hobby involves being physically active, the climate is important to consider. If you are looking to go on a running or cycling holiday, then the country's cooler months are best for you to make the most of your time away from home—particularly in the tropical climates of Southeast Asia. On the other hand, shopping and food-based travel are less dependent on weather and should be planned based on a location's seasonal sales, markets, and shopping festivals.
The last thing you want to do when exploring your hobby in a new place is worry about leaving your luggage lying around. Luckily, luggage storage facilities can eliminate this worry, allowing you to focus on doing what you love most.”
Methodology
All data is accurate as of 02/05/2025.
Using a series of listicles, including Lonely Planet, Australian Sky, and the Travel Business, we listed popular holiday destinations across Asia-Pacific countries, noting their land area.
We used AllTrails to find the number of running trails for each destination.
We used Komoot to find the number of cycling routes for each destination.
We used the Crag to find each destination's number of rock climbing/ bouldering routes.
We used Tripadvisor to find the number of cooking classes and shopping centers in each destination.
We divided the number of running trails by the land area of each destination before multiplying this by 10 to find the number of running trails per 10 sq km. This calculation was repeated to see the number of cycling routes, rock climbing routes, cooking classes, and shopping centers per 10 sq km.
We used Google Ads Keyword Planner to find the total number of Google searches for the term 'hobby + destination' between December and January 2024.
We used the hobby-related factors (running trails per 10 sq km, Google searches for running events, cycling routes per 10 sq km, Google searches for cycling events, rock climbing routes per 10 sq km, Google searches for rock climbing, cooking classes per 10 sq km, Google searches for cooking classes, shopping centers per 10 sq km, and Google searches for shopping centers/ malls). We normalized each factor out of 10 before taking an average of those scores to get our overall score.
We used the same factors as above for the Australian-only rank, adding running events (sourced onRunning Calendar Australia) and cycle clubs (sourced onAus Cycling), which were calculated per 10 sq km. The Australian-only overall rank was calculated in the same way as above.
Reference: https://smithfieldagency.com/insights/the-rise-of-active-holidays-2/
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