Social needs of grey nomads travelling in Queensland

The focus of this paper is on ‘Grey Nomads’ visiting and travelling through a coastal Central Queensland community. Social issues for Grey Nomads during their journey to the coastal site were investigated. The Grey Nomads’ attitudes’ to their social activities and concerns whilst travelling also formed part of the research project. Other articles on Grey Nomads and their habits (Horneman, Carter, Wei and Ruys 2002; Onyx and Leonard 2005; Onyx and Leonard 2007a, 2007b), confirm that there has been little research to date on this rapidly increasing tourist group within Australia. As Australia, by all accounts, has a rapidly ageing population (ABS 1996; ABS 2000; Onyx and Leonard 2005; Cassidy 2008; Obst, Brayley and King 2008), this retired, semi-nomadic, cohort requires examination. Open ended in-depth interviews were undertaken with twenty two participants. Such research and the subsequent findings can only serve to inform and enhance the provision of services and the liveability of Grey Nomads.