'My own thing': Why Jane is volunteering on a New Zealand flower farm at 62

Sixty-two-year-old Jane Penders is embarking on a trip to New Zealand but this time when she travels, she's doing it for herself.

Ms Penders doesn't have to ask anyone where they want to go, or for their accommodation preferences. That's because she's travelling alone.

Not only that, she's staying in a family's home and working at their lavender farm - something she has always dreamed of.

Ms Penders is one of a growing group of older Australian women embarking on adventures like these.

In fact, Australian budget travel platform Abroadly says they have had a 100 per cent increase in solo females over the age of 45 signing up over the past year to spend extended periods of time travelling by themselves.

Ms Penders said she decided to explore solo travel options after a relationship breakup, and the last of her four children moving out of home.

"I just thought, I want to see if I can travel by myself," Ms Penders said.

"I've done a lot of travel overseas, but I always go with other people, and I tend to fit in with other people's plans. So I thought, I just want to do my own thing."

On the farm, Ms Penders will be picking lavender, mulching, weeding and helping make lavender products.

"I love learning new things and doing things that are a bit different," Ms Penders said.

She will be working on the farm in exchange for accommodation and food.

When she comes back from NZ, she plans to follow another solo dream of hers - to teach underprivileged kids in Vietnam.

"I would love to go over there and volunteer to teach English to school children. I think you have to stay a minimum of a month, so I'll do that when I retire next year," she said.

"I also thought I might just travel for short periods, even like long weekends, close to me in Canberra, and through NSW."

Ms Penders found the NZ flower farm on Abroadly, which matches travellers with accommodation in people's homes.

The platform has seen a 60 per cent increase in female traveller sign-ups over the past two years and more female hosts are also signing up to offer rooms.

"We've long associated budget backpacker travel as being for a younger demographic but we've seen huge demand in the past 12 months from older females travelling on their own," said Abroadly co-founder Nikki de Weerd.

Smartraveller said while all travellers face risks while overseas, in certain countries or cultures, women face greater risks than men and may be more vulnerable.

They recommended booking ahead and avoiding sharing accommodation with strangers or people you have just met, including renting a spare room or couch.

"Guard the details of your travel plans. Don't advertise you're travelling alone," they said.

"Your social media posts can show your location. You might want to change how you post and increase your privacy settings while you're travelling.

Never leave your drink unattended or in the care of a stranger or new friend. Drink spiking is common around the world.

"When you're out, keep your bag close and on the opposite side of your body to the street to discourage bag snatchers."