Turning strangers into friends and travel buddies.

WanderBuddies is Australia's first AI-powered app combining social matching, dating, and full-service travel and experience booking in one platform. It's designed for solo travellers, expats and locals to connect in real life through curated events, meaningful experiences and epic trips across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and beyond. Founded in Sydney in July 2024, it has served 1,000+ happy customers, delivered 200+ events and trips last year, and built a 13,000-strong community. It offers 45,000+ bookable and discounted tours, activities, experiences, curated events, vehicle rentals, accommodation and travel packages in 110 countries, and won the 2025 Adventure Tourism Award for Australia and New Zealand.

Create a free profile, verified by your mobile number, and our AI matches you with people based on where you live or where you're headed, your personality, interests and hobbies, travel style, budget and other preferences. Connect with like-minded people by message or video call to verify the vibe, then browse and book from 45,000+ experiences together — all in one place.

You can create an event or a trip and invite others to join, or join other people's events and trips anywhere in the world. See who's nearby with our geolocation feature, who you're matching with, and who from our community is attending an event or trip before you book. Check live availability, see discounted travel deals, and book straight away in the app, with automated split payment links when you need them. One session. Done.

1 in 3 Australian adults feel lonely. 65% of solo travellers go alone because they have nobody to go with. 55% of expats worldwide struggle to make local friends in a new country. Fewer than 2% of dating app matches lead to a real-life meeting.

Today, locals, expats and solo travellers juggle multiple apps and booking platforms just to find their people and do something meaningful together. None of them talk to each other, none of them are safe, and not one lets you connect, book and split the cost in one place.

Nobody has built the infrastructure between digital connection and shared real-world experience — until now.

WanderBuddies is for solo travellers, expats and locals who feel lonely, are sick of app fatigue, and want to meet people in real life through curated events, meaningful experiences and epic trips across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and beyond. WanderBuddies lets you match and book — all in one place.

The WanderBuddies app launches in October 2026 on iOS and Android. Join the early access waitlist now and you'll get 10% off all curated events, tours, activities and travel packages you book in the first month after launch. Whatever you book can be used any time within the following 12 months.

Yes. Creating a profile, getting matched, and browsing members, events and trips are all free. Plenty of our events are free to attend too.

You only pay when you choose to book something — and you pay the price of the tour, activity or travel package itself, often below retail. We don't add a booking fee on top, and there's no subscription to use WanderBuddies today.

Solo travellers and backpackers, working holiday makers, expats who've just moved to a new city, digital nomads, business travellers, and locals whose friends have got busy. Most members are between 20 and 45, with some in their late forties and fifties too. You don't need to be travelling to join — we run local events as well.

Tours and trips can be booked in 110 countries, with the strongest coverage across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Events run every week in Sydney, with Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Cairns and Adelaide opening as each city reaches 100 members. Travel desks operate inside Sydney hostels and hotels.

Dating and social apps match people but can't book anything. Travel and experience booking sites sell trips but can't tell you who else is going or match you with like-minded people. Facebook groups do neither safely. WanderBuddies matches you, then lets you book the event or trip together without leaving the app. One profile covers friends, travel buddies and dating — or all three at once.

Yes. WanderBuddies is a registered Australian company (ABN 19 679 231 880, ACN 679 231 880) founded in Sydney in July 2024. It has served 1,000+ happy customers, delivered 200+ events and trips last year, and built a 13,000-strong community. It won the 2025 Adventure Tourism Award for Australia and New Zealand.

We run travel desks inside Sydney hostels and hotels, host events in public venues every week, and book tours, activities, vehicle rentals, accommodation and travel packages through 10 years of direct relationships with suppliers. Every member profile is verified by mobile number, and every booking is confirmed by the supplier running it.

You can see our events, members and trips on Instagram and TikTok, or email us any time at hello@wanderbuddies.com.au.

Our AI matches you on personality, interests, hobbies, travel style, budget, dates, preferences and where you live or are headed — plus the trips and events you'd actually enjoy. It's not just a photo and a swipe. Because the matching weighs overlapping availability, location and your other preferences, the people you see are people who could realistically do something with you.

WanderBuddies is an Australian platform built specifically for this. It matches solo travellers, backpackers, working holiday makers, expats and locals on location, overlapping dates, budget, interests and travel style, then lets you browse and book member trips or WanderBuddies tours, activities, campervan rentals, accommodation and travel packages together.

It covers the East Coast, Uluru and the Red Centre, the Top End with Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, the West Coast, Tasmania and the Great Ocean Road, with travel desks inside Sydney hostels and hotels and social events running in Sydney most days. Founded in Sydney in 2024, it has served more than 1,000 paying customers.

WanderBuddies matches you with members planning New Zealand trips on the same dates — a North and South Island road trip, Queenstown, a campervan loop or a group tour. You can book campervan hire through WanderBuddies at some of the best rates available, split the cost, and go explore New Zealand together. Easy as that.

WanderBuddies members book trips across Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, China, India and more — surf camps, cruises, island hopping, snorkelling and diving trips, cultural experiences, cooking classes and multi-week packages. You're matched with members heading to the same destinations on overlapping dates, and you can tag along on their trips or book group tours together through the WanderBuddies app. Asia trips are bookable now — browse the deals we have in store.

Not primarily. WanderBuddies is a social and travel-buddy platform. Most members join to find people to travel with, or to meet friends through local events and experiences. If something more develops from there, that's a happy accident rather than the point.

We do run singles mixers, and we label and promote them clearly as such — in the app and on social media — so nobody turns up to a social event expecting a dating night, or the reverse.

When you create your profile you choose whether you're open to travel buddies, new friends, dating, or all three. You can change it at any time, and you're only matched for what you've selected.

WanderBuddies is for adults aged 18 and over. We ask every member to behave respectfully and in good faith, and our Community Guidelines set out what that means in practice. You can report any member or any behaviour directly in the app. We review every report we receive, and where our Guidelines have been breached we may suspend or permanently remove an account.

Every profile is verified with a one-time code sent by text to the member's mobile number. We don't currently run criminal background checks or third-party ID verification, and we can't verify what anyone tells you about themselves. Meeting new people always carries some risk. Meet in public, tell a friend where you're going, and trust your instincts. Read our safety guidance, and if you ever feel unsafe or threatened, contact local police on 000.

Set your preferences to friends and travel buddies only. You'll never be matched with anyone for dating, and other members can't see which options you've selected. You can change this any time.

The easiest way to meet new friends is to come along to a WanderBuddies social meetup — most people come on their own, and every event has a host to introduce you. You can book social meetups, free events and volunteering events in the app. Singles mixers are always clearly labelled, so you'll never end up at one by accident. See upcoming events.

The easiest way to make new friends in Sydney is to download the WanderBuddies app and create a free, phone-verified profile. See who's nearby and who you're matching with, and connect with like-minded travellers, expats and locals. Book WanderBuddies curated events, trips and experiences together in the app, or post your own plans so people can join you for a coffee, a walk, a beach hang, drinks or a gig.

You can also join a WanderBuddies event. We run social meetups in Sydney every week — social padel, tennis and pickleball, surfing, yoga, coastal walks like Bondi to Coogee, hikes, paint and sip sessions, hidden bar tours, street food tours, Sydney Harbour cruises, wine tastings, self-development workshops, weekends away and trips — plus free community and volunteering events.

Most people come on their own, so it's one of the easiest ways to meet people as a newcomer, expat, backpacker or local whose friends have got busy. Every event has a host on the door, runs in a public venue, and has a group chat beforehand so nobody walks in cold. Most events cost between $30 and $70. See upcoming Sydney events.

The easiest way to make new friends in Melbourne is to download the WanderBuddies app and create a free, phone-verified profile. Match with members already in Melbourne on your interests, personality and hobbies, see who's nearby, and connect with like-minded travellers, expats and locals. Create your own plan — a laneway coffee, a walk along the Yarra, a gig, a game, an exhibition — for others to join.

You can also book Melbourne tours together in the app with members heading the same way — the Great Ocean Road, the Phillip Island penguin parade, Grampians National Park, Wilsons Promontory and the Yarra Valley.

WanderBuddies events currently run every week in Sydney, and Melbourne is next. Once 100 people sign up for a city, we start running weekly events there. Join the waitlist and choose Melbourne so we know you're there.

Download the WanderBuddies app and create a free, phone-verified profile to see who's nearby and connect with like-minded travellers, expats and locals. Book experiences together in the app — a Brisbane river cruise or a trip up the coast to Noosa or K'gari (Fraser Island), a Rottnest Island day trip from Perth, Barossa wine tasting from Adelaide, the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, Kakadu from Darwin, or Waiheke Island from Auckland.

Want WanderBuddies to run curated events, social meetups and singles mixers in your city? Join the waitlist for your city. Once 100 people sign up for a city, we start running weekly WanderBuddies events there — social sports, walks, drinks, paint and sip sessions, day trips and multi-day trips — just like we do in Sydney.

That's how friendships start. Four of our customers met at a WanderBuddies event in Sydney, got along so well they travelled the East Coast together, then road-tripped around New Zealand. Friends for life!

No. Many of our members are locals and expats who live in the city, or travellers and backpackers staying a while. They use WanderBuddies to meet new people in real life, join local events, and find someone to do cool things with — on weekdays and weekends.

Match with people nearby who share your interests, post your own plans for others to join, or book social meetups, singles mixers, free events and volunteering events in the app. And when you do fancy a trip, your new friends are already there to plan it with.

WanderBuddies runs social meetups, singles mixers, free events and volunteering events. These include padel, tennis and pickleball, yoga, coastal walks and hikes, paint and sip sessions, hidden bar tours, street food tours, canyoning, abseiling, skydiving, open-air cinema sessions, golf, harbour cruises, salsa and bachata singles mixers, wine tastings, surf camps, stargazing dinners, self-development workshops, beach clean-ups, weekends away and trips.

Most events cost between $30 and $70, unless they're extreme sports or multi-day experiences. We also run free community and volunteering events, so cost never decides who can take part.

Most people do, so don't be shy — come and join us! Every WanderBuddies event has a host on the door, runs in a public venue, and has a group chat beforehand so nobody walks in cold. You're also welcome to bring a friend or your partner.

WanderBuddies runs in-person singles mixers in Sydney built around doing something together, not sitting across a table — salsa and bachata singles nights, padel singles mixers, and other active, social formats. Meeting people through a shared activity takes the pressure off, and conversation comes naturally.

Every singles event is clearly labelled as one, in the app and on social media, so everyone in the room is there for the same reason. Events are hosted, held in public venues, and have a group chat beforehand. Most cost between $30 and $70, and most people come on their own.

Prefer to meet someone more organically? Our social events, trips and group tours are where plenty of members meet too — and in the app you choose whether you're open to dating, friends, travel buddies or all three. See upcoming events.

Yes. In the app you can join WanderBuddies events, other members' events, or create your own — a walk, a drink, a gig, a game, a picnic in the park, a beach hangout, a museum visit, whatever you're into — and share it so others can join you.

More than 45,000 tours, activities, experiences, accommodation options, campervan, 4WD and car rentals, bus passes and multi-day travel packages across 110 countries — including the East Coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and the Red Centre, the West Coast, the Top End with Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, India, China, Japan, and more across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

You can also book WanderBuddies curated events, social meetups, singles mixers, free events and volunteering events in the WanderBuddies app.

Yes. Every trip, tour, activity, accommodation option, campervan rental, hop-on hop-off bus pass and travel package can be booked on its own at any time — solo, with friends, with your partner or with your family. Finding someone to go with is an option, not a requirement.

Group tours are WanderBuddies tours or small-group tours from our supplier partners, typically with 10–20 people.

Buddy tours let you browse member profiles for free, tag along on someone's trip, and explore together.

On travel packages and vehicle rentals, yes. Our rates come from 10 years of direct supplier relationships, so we sell below retail rather than passing through aggregator pricing. Find a comparable offer cheaper elsewhere, email hello@wanderbuddies.com.au and we'll beat it — not just match it.

Each person can book the tour, activity, accommodation option, campervan or car rental, or travel package they want directly and pay individually.

Alternatively, we can email you a split payment link so everyone pays their share, and the booking is only confirmed once everyone has paid — so nobody fronts the whole amount and nobody chases anyone afterwards. It's why a campervan trip or a hotel room that's expensive alone becomes affordable.

Yes. On the website or in the app, choose “Build your own Australia package” or “Build your own East Coast package”. Tell us where you want to go, when, for how long, your budget, and the activities you want to do or places you want to see.

A real travel consultant will build your itinerary — tours, activities, accommodation, transfers and vehicle hire — and come back with a quote and the best deals we can find. There's no obligation.

Yes. You can hire campervans, 4WDs, cars and motorhomes from rental partners across Australia, New Zealand and other countries, including one-way hire between cities. Book on the WanderBuddies website or app on your own, with friends or family, or ask us to match you with a member on the same route and dates to share the cost.

We work with rental companies including Apollo, Britz, Mighty, Cheapa Campa, Jucy, Spaceships and Campervan Village. As a preferred partner, we can offer lower rates than you'll see on their own websites — so request a quote from us, or book directly through the WanderBuddies website or app.

Safety is built into every step. Every member verifies their mobile number before they can create a profile, be matched or message anyone, and WanderBuddies is for adults aged 18 and over only.

Before you meet: chat in the app and jump on a video call to check the vibe first. You control who can see your profile and what you're open to — friends, travel buddies, dating or all three.

At events: every WanderBuddies event runs in a public venue, with a WanderBuddies host on the door and a group chat beforehand, so you know who's coming and nobody walks in alone. Singles mixers are clearly labelled and promoted as such — in the app and on social media — so nobody turns up to a social event expecting a dating night, or the reverse.

On WanderBuddies trips, tours and activities: every tour, activity, accommodation and vehicle rental is run by an established, licensed supplier we've worked with directly, and every booking is confirmed in writing. Every WanderBuddies tour and activity you book through our website or app is led by a professional guide or instructor.

If something's not right: report it to us in the app or at hello@wanderbuddies.com.au. A real person reviews every report within one business day, and members who breach our Community Guidelines are suspended or permanently removed.

We don't currently run criminal background checks, so meet in public, tell a friend where you're going, and trust your instincts. Read our safety guidance. If you ever feel unsafe, call 000 in Australia or 111 in New Zealand.

Talk to your host straight away. Every WanderBuddies event has a host on the door from start to finish — find them in person or message us in the event group chat, and we'll step in, whether it's someone making you uncomfortable, a problem with the venue, or you just need a hand.

After the event: report anything in the app or write to hello@wanderbuddies.com.au. A real person reviews every report within one business day. Reports are confidential — the member you report isn't told who made it — and anyone who breaches our Community Guidelines is suspended or permanently removed.

If you ever feel unsafe: leave, tell the host, and call 000 in Australia or 111 in New Zealand. Your safety always comes before the event.

Email our partnerships team at hello@wanderbuddies.com.au with your business name, what you run and where, your website and social media handles. We'll carefully review your application.

Tour, activity, accommodation, vehicle rental and travel package suppliers: we work with operators across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and 110 countries worldwide. Once you're approved and listed, we sell your products on the WanderBuddies website and app, promote them to our 13,000-strong community on social media, feature them at our travel desks inside hostels and hotels, and put them in front of matched members planning trips on your route. Because our members book together, bookings often come in pairs or small groups rather than one seat at a time.

Event organisers: list your social events, singles events, workshops, classes, sports sessions or experiences on WanderBuddies and reach members who are actively looking for things to do and people to do them with — locals, expats and travellers in your city. We can also co-host events with you and promote them to our community.

Hostels, hotels and venues: we improve your guest experience at no cost to you. We run free travel presentations, help your guests plan and book trips across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and 110 countries worldwide, and can run an in-house travel desk for you if you're interested. Venues can host WanderBuddies events and welcome new groups every week. Guests who make friends stay longer and leave better reviews.

Ambassadors earn commission on every event ticket and travel package booked through their link, paid monthly. Ambassadors who host a WanderBuddies event or trip attend free or at a heavy discount.

Keen to take the initiative, do what you're passionate about, run your own events, and grow and lead a community? We'll empower you to do it. Ambassadors host their own WanderBuddies events, get amazing perks, and make a lot of new friends along the way! Apply to become an ambassador.