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Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

COVID-19 and travel

Find out about travel requirements and steps you can take to stay safe.

Domestic travel within Australia

Domestic travel requirements are determined by state and territory governments. Check the websites of local health departments for information about travel to:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia .

Travelling overseas

The Australian Government does not currently have any COVID-19 requirements in place for travellers entering and departing Australia.

COVID-19 however continues to pose a health risk in Australia and overseas. We strongly encourage wearing masks and being vaccinated while travelling internationally. You should practice good cough and hand hygiene, and physically distance from others where possible.

Some countries, airlines and vessel operators may have COVID-19 travel requirements in place. Check the requirements of any:

• countries you are travelling to, or transiting through
• airlines or vessel operators.
• Smartraveller website
• Australian Government – international travel information .

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is important if you become sick with COVID-19 overseas. Make sure your insurance includes:

• transit destinations
• inclusions for COVID-19
• other add-ons like cruise specific insurance.

Some destinations also require travellers to hold travel insurance as a condition of entry.

Cruise travel

Check with your cruise provider or travel agent for up-to-date travel requirements for your ship and destination/s. You can also contact the relevant state or territory government to find out if any requirements apply for your destination.

Outbreaks onboard a cruise

Cruise ships carry a higher risk for spreading disease compared to other types of travel. COVID-19, influenza, and other infectious diseases spread easily between people living and socialising in close quarters.

If an outbreak of COVID-19 occurs on your cruise, you may need to:

• quarantine on the ship
• disembark and follow the local rules in the state or territory or country you are in.

Before you travel, check the  Smartraveller advice on cruises . Contact your travel agent or cruise operator for specific information on their COVID-19 safety protocols.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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About Australia

Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and one of the strongest performing economies in the world.

Australia in Brief publication

This is the 52nd edition of Australia in Brief, revised and updated in February 2021

Travel advice

To help Australians avoid difficulties overseas, we maintain travel advisories for more than 170 destinations.

• Smartraveller – travel advice

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Prove your COVID-19 vaccinations when you travel overseas.

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• Getting help overseas
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24-hour emergency consular support

If you're an Australian citizen and you have serious concerns about your welfare or that of another Australian overseas, contact your local Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, or call our 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on

• 1300 555 135 within Australia
• +61 2 6261 3305 from anywhere in the world.

Read more about getting help overseas on Smartraveller.

We maintain travel advisories on Smartraveller for over 175 destinations, assigning an overall advice level to each. The advice levels reflect the risks for Australian travellers in each destination. We also provide general advice on a range of travel topics.

Visit Smartraveller to explore our travel advice for all destinations .

We continually review and update our travel advice based on credible information. Stay up to date with any changes by subscribing for updates .

Visit the Australian Passport Office for more about passports.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not issue visas for overseas travel or visiting Australia and can’t provide specific information on visas.

Read about visas for Australians travelling overseas .

Find out about visas to visit Australia .

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Is Australia Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

• Australia : Safety by City

The famous “land down under”, Australia, is known for its natural wonders, wide-open spaces (filled with new, sometimes scary species of insects), its beaches and deserts, and its size.

Australia is the 6th largest country in the world and its characteristics are unseen anywhere else in the world is what makes it such an appealing destination for tourists.

Namely, Australia is extremely popular among tourists: in 2015, over 7.5 million people visited the country.

Of course, everyone knows, it’s not all about the natural wonders, species, spaces, deserts, and beaches in Australia.

No, it is actually one of the world’s most highly urbanized countries, and popular for its contemporary establishments and attractions in its main cities: Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.

Given that it is so developed and so stable, it’s no wonder that it is completely safe for tourists to travel to.

• Warnings & Dangers in Australia

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Australia is, generally, very safe to travel to. Apart from some natural threats to watch out for, you should have no worries about your safety. Crime rates are low and few precaution rules should go a long way.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Transportation in Australia is generally very safe and reliable, but driving can be complicated because of wild animals jumping in the middle of open roads and drunk drivers.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There is almost no pickpocketing in Australia, but you should still remain vigilant in big cities such as Sydney or Melbourne.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH

Natural threats are probably the only risks for you in Australia. There is a variety of threats, from dangerous animal species, to dangerous waters and currents, UV exposure and riptides. Follow the signs at beaches, roads or any other natural spaces and the advice of authorities.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Mugging and kidnapping is also a very rare occurrence in Australia, so it shouldn't be on your list of worries. Still, avoid poorly lit and deserted streets and areas and if you find yourself in such a situation, hand over your belongings immediately and do not resist.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Although there haven't been any terrorist attacks in Australia's recent history, they shouldn't be ruled out so remain aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Even though Australia is not known for scams, in tourist destinations you should always be cautious when receiving change, negotiating rides or any kinds of services, and also never pay for anything upfront.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Australia is very safe for women traveling solo, and women usually travel here with no problems whatsoever. Just apply few basic precaution rules and use your common sense and your trip should go smoothly.

• So... How Safe Is Australia Really?

Australia is very safe to visit!

Major threats that Australia is known for are coming from dangerous flora and fauna species, riptides, reptiles, and natural disasters, and they can be fatal so it is important that you follow the advice of authorities and every sign on the streets or in front of natural reserves or other spaces.

First of all, you should be careful in Australia’s waters.

They’re home to several nasty jellyfish species such as the box jellyfish and bluebottles.

If you are told or you see a sign telling you to get out of the water because they have been spotted, do so immediately.

In the Northern Territory, you can encounter another danger: crocodiles.

One of the most dangerous is the saltwater or estuarine crocodile.

Do not underestimate riptides and strong currents at many of the East Coast beaches.

Tamarama Beach near Sydney is especially dangerous.

Another issue in Australia is the, now infamous, scary land creatures.

Australia is home to some of the world’s most dangerous snakes.

Get familiar with how these poisonous snakes look like before you encounter one and do not touch them or get in their way.

Other dangerous Aussie species are the, very well known, spiders that vary in size as well as in how poisonous they are, and in this country, there are actually several species of spiders that are considered to be world’s most fatal.

Funnel spiders are particularly dangerous and come out after periods of rains.

They tend to hide in things such as shoes.

You can get killed from a single sting if you don’t receive the antidote quickly enough.

If you think you’ve been bitten by a spider or a snake, take a picture, and immediately go to the closest medical center.

• How Does Australia Compare?
• Useful Information

All countries except New Zealand require a visa before entering Australia. In order to check which visa you need (electronic or not) and how much it costs, visit the official site of Australian government. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

Australian dollar is the official currency in Australia. ATMs are widely available in larger cities and towns, and credit cards are accepted in most establishments such as hotels, restaurants and shopping centers.

Since it's such a large country, Australia has several different climate zones and the weather varies depending on the specific area. The northern section of Australia has a more tropical climate, characterized by hot and humid summers, and warm and dry winters, while the southern parts are cooler with mild summers and cool and rainy winters.

Sydney Airport is the busiest airport in Australia. It is located 8 km (5 mi) south of Sydney city centre. Other busy airports in Australia are located in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Australia, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems, but also theft and loss of valuables.

Australia Weather Averages (Temperatures)

• Average High/Low Temperature

Australia - Safety by City

Explore australia.

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• Festive Down Under: Celebrate the Holidays in Style With a December Trip to Australia
• 12 Best Beaches in Australia
• 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Australia
• 13 Best Zoos and Aquariums in Australia
• 10 Most Beautiful Castles in Australia
• Are There Sharks in Australia?
• Are There Alligators in Australia?
• 10 Best Flea Markets in Australia
• 6 Safest Cities in Australia
• 16 Pros and Cons of Living in Australia
• Gay Travel in Australia: A Guide of Handy Tips, Festivals and More
• Australia Road Trip: Stops Between Melbourne and Sydney
• Where to Next?

38 Reviews on Australia

Australia a safe "nanny" state.

Avoid travelling on country roads at night and especially at dusk and dawn, even close to major towns and cities due to wildlife on the roads. I do not agree with lack of safety on roads, especially drunk or drugged drivers as this is strictly patrolled with Random Breath Testing and drug testing with heavy penalties. Australia has major distortions, mainly lack of public transport and rail transport for goods and passengers, recreational motorcyclists being responsible for 40% of the death and injury stats, very high vehicle ownership and mileage travelled, and remote areas have 3 times the rates of MVAs.

As an Australian resident, I think you need to update this article. Down ‘south’ we are in the midst of a heatwave with a record number of days of 40+ temperatures. I regularly bushwalk and in all my 56 years I have only ever seen a snake out of captivity about three times. The only wild animals that may appear in front of your car is a kangaroo, and yes, this occurs at dusk. I have never yet hit one but roadkill is a regular sight. Temperatures vary greatly so really do your research in terms of when and where you are travelling and bring appropriate clothing.

Be cautious of animals

Sorry but I must say this hasn’t been my experience. I live in Brisbane and have travelled between here, Darwin, Sydney and Broken Hill areas. Animals that I encountered infront of my car – kangaroos, wild goats and pigs, domestic camels, emus and the odd domestic cow. I live near a creek and regularly encounter red bellies. On my rural property there are eastern browns ive seen a few times. Though they’re not nearly as aggressive as many would believe!

Safest humans on the planet, but bewarned of the nature!

Australia is the safest country I have lived in as far as the people go. People (for the most part) are extremely generous and friendly. Australia is probably safer than where you live now, with crime rates as low, if not lower (per 100,000) than Northern Europe. Even Iceland has a higher murder rate (per 100,000) than Australia, so rest assured you are very unlikely to come across any issues.

The nature and climate on the other hand… That’s another story. Driving at night out of the city and on gravel requires experience and skills most European drivers just won’t have. Animals often meet there doom on the roads, and many of our roads are not paved, remote, and with 0 reception.

Animal deaths are almost non-existent with close to 2 deaths from snake per year, however with diligence and precautions such as compression bandages you will be safe. Our sun is super strong, so protection is required always.

More than anything don’t take risks alone!!! Whilst the Australian health system is on of the most advanced on the planet, the remoteness of our barren country is what will get you in the end, so do your research in areas and take notice. Or just ask an Australian and they will happily tell you 🙂

Nice people. Boring landscapes.

Been to Australia with a 6 months visa. The landscape is super boring. So, if you don’t like the ocean and beaches (which are great) Australia will probably bore you to death. All just brushland, eucalyptus and nuclear wasteland.

Concerning the Australian people…..they are nice and friendly and everything but environmentalism isn’t their strength. In the suburbs of Brisbane (although all of Brisbane seems like a huge suburb) people pump the drain water from their dish washers and washing machines right into their own garden. No connection to the sewage or whatsoever!!!! Third world mentality in a first world country.

Third world country? Fair go!!

You have to be joking! Brisbane people made those arrangements in the midst of a terrible drought. Many families used bath water to flush toilets, too. When I came back to America, after being back home during that period, I did the same thing for several months.

Boring landscape? Australia is the 6th largest country in the world, and has almost every type of landscape and climate on it somewhere, from snow capped mountain ski resorts to red sandy deserts, cool temperate rolling hills, Mediterranean climates with vineyards and olive groves, to tropical rainforests. As far as environmentalism and the water re-use – did it ever occur to you that it was actually a MORE environmentally conscious choice people made? Look up grey water re-use or recycling. It’s not that there wasn’t a sewage connection, it’s that the decision was made to use that water to irrigate gardens instead of wasting it.

Go...or don't.

I cycled solo from Perth to Ceduna a few years ago. The people were great to this Yank, and some seemed apologetic about the lack of scenery. Around Perth, and east to Northam is very scenic, in my opinion. But I was also fascinated by the landscape and small towns as I traveled east, as well. I camped at Fraser Range Station and took their bus tour through the place, saw kangaroos by the thousands, watched a beautiful sunset from atop a hill, and slept under a sky where you could actually see the stars – which was repeated night after night on my trip, camping alone in the bush. As I rode along, the birds constantly calling out (they make some odd noises) kept me company. If you’re sure that you don’t like the desert and isolation, aren’t adventurous, or are normally a malcontent, depressed, whatever – don’t go.

I encountered lots of snakes and lizards – all dead on the highway (along with many dead kangaroos). I saw one live snake up ahead on the pavement, but he was long gone before I caught up. One night after I set up my tent, I saw a spider attached to the netting on the outside, and when I slept in a room at a roadhouse one night a huge spider ran from beneath the bed, which startled me for a while but I got over it.

Australia is wonderful. On average the people are wonderful, too.

Incredible feat!

You cycled from Perth to Ceduna? That’s amazing!

Intelligent Water Usage

It’s known as Grey Water Recycling. It’s a choice that many Australians make to improve their water consumption. How much water is used in a typical load of laundry? Attaching a hose to the back of the machine and sending into the garden instead of down the drain is a great way to reduce water use for the house, less need to water the plants/lawn. In a country with droughts it is actually very intelligent, not a ‘Third world mentality’. I’m an Australian who has lived in Los Angeles since 2015. I’m constantly surprised at the lack of water conservation in this dry desert city.

We actually use our dish water and washing water very wisely, Water is a very precious commodity in our country, and shortages are common, so using waste water on gardens is helping the environment, rather than wasting it in the sewer. And BTW of course we have sewers, and appliances are connected, we just choose to divert it for the environment. You must come from a wet country where water is not a precious thing.

Australia can be drought prone

I don’t live in Brisbane but I imagine the dish water onto the garden is due Australia’s great need to conserve water with the ever present risk of drought. As long as detergents used in washing are environmentally friendly, it’s a really good idea. It’s referred to as grey water. Sewage is for toilet water and of course exists. In some more rural areas there would be septic tanks for sewage treatment

Literally never seen anyone dump drain water into the garden… it is all plumbed.

About Detergent Water....

The water dumping is by people using low alkaloid ecologically safe detergent and it the rinse water, it is recommended to do this in Australia. Sewage water or the detergent cycle goes down the drain like all other advanced nations.

best country ever

Australia is the best country ever I have been here my whole life. we have got good universities, good public transport and a wide range of climates to suit all types of holidays. the locals are very nice. even though you would have heard that Australia has lots of deadly snakes that is true but I have only seen 1 in the wild and I have lived in the country most of my life.

I live in suburban Brisbane and go for walks at dusk daily and regularly see snakes (usually average about 4 a week during the warmer half of the year) on the walking tracks. Its extremely rare to see a poisonous one but they should still be avoided as their bite is painful.

Swim between the flags.

Sadly, many local and visiting people drown in Australian waters every year. Australia’s surf beaches are particularly dangerous. Unless you are a very strong swimmer, do not swim at Australian surf beaches unless it is patrolled by lifeguards. Otherwise, enjoy your stay in Australia and don’t worry about all the stories regarding dangerous critters, it’s a myth.

An Absolutely Wonderful Country!

I was born in Australia and having lived here for three decades, I can guarantee you it is a wonderful country. Because of the well trained and efficient police force, there is no need to fear for your safety. Just act normally as you are walking down the streets and if the cops notice you, smile and keep walking to your destination. Your stay in this country is sure to be a pleasant one. Trust me, mate! Australia definitely deserves a safety index of more than 86! Cheers to all Australians.

A Safe Haven.

Australia is a very safe country to visit, study, work and live in. You can be assured of your safety, day or night. The people here are friendly and helpful. I have lived here for 11 years and have not encountered any problems with my personal safety and security. Law enforcement is at a high level, so you can always count on the boys in blue to keep you safe.

It's ok if you're White

Aussies are quite racist.. on several occasions o have witnessed terrible behaviour toward foreigners of darker skin. This has ruined my view of this country.. most Australians I asked agreed.

Bloody wogs eh ?

Which Aussies are you talking about. We are one of the most diverse country’s in the world. Just because I call my Italian mate a wog doesn’t mean I’m racist. I think a lot of what we say and our slang is misinterpreted as racist.

Seriously….

Quite racist, you are kidding right. There will always be some racists. I’ve travelled through many countries, the US being one. I witnessed hate towards blacks, Asian’s and Latinos, yet I would never make a comment…yanks are racists

Very accepting

That’s strange. I’ve lived all over this country for over 45 years and am married to an Aboriginal woman. Australia’s so multicultural that we accept anyone- Asian, Arabic, African, Polynesian… I’ve witnessed very little racism and trust me, I’m in the circles where I would see it. I’ve lived rural, in Arabic suburbs and Asian to name a few. As a rule, we’re extremely tolerant. I’m truly sorry you happened to catch an exception to the rule. I agree with a lot of the other comments in that there is a bit of fearmongering going on about the natural hazards. They’re nowhere near as dangerous as described. Just be sensible, especially on the beach and it’ll be fine.

Silly and false generalisation

Jason, you need a thorough education. Australia is NOT a racist nation; unlike the USA we have NEVER had a Klu Klux Klan or other aggressive white supremacist groups so often seen in America! Yes, there are individual racists in our nation of every colour, but Australia remains one of the most tolerant, diverse and multicultural nations on the planet! Have you even BEEN to Australia? Your ignorant attack on our country shows a complete lack of understanding of our cultural diversity and widely known tolerance of other cultures and religions! Our country has strict laws in relation to racial discrimination and a huge sense of social justice. Furthermore, the huge majority of Australians are more than prepared to call out racial discrimination and injustice wherever they see it!

I love this country and I am only too happy to be Australian. It’s fantastic!

It's safer than you think.

A racist country? What nonsense! Like the others have said it’s a wonderful country, very safe and the people are friendly. As long as you don’t try anything stupid no one will bother you and you’ll be fine. Please come down to Australia when COVID-19 is over!

Is Australia safe in terms of crime, yes, very much, you can roam around freely without issues. But I don’t need to get started on it’s climate and animals…

A tolerant country.

I find it interesting when Americans call Australia a racist country. The same America where so recently , people were run down in the street in Charlottesville. By a far right supporter. A country where there are always race tensions. I’ve lived , known & worked with people from every corner of the globe in Australia. Like most Australians, got on well with all of them. Not saying that Australia doesn’t have its problems & couldn’t be even better in many ways. Still, so could most countries in the world. Australian’s are a tolerant, giving & kind people.

OMG I know right. They (Americans) just have it out for other countries that aren’t their own.

The country is drowned in drugs, especially meth. Any town with more than 10% of Aborigines is plain dangerous: Broome, Alice Springs, Tenant Creek, etc.

Everything is overpriced; accommodation, airfares, food, etc.

Locals are shallow, fake, judgemental and racist, particularly outside metro areas.

You sound like a horrid person! Australians treat people as they find them! If you come into our nation with a big chip on your shoulder, you won’t be welcomed. Don’t come back, we won’t miss you!

(Aborigines) this word is considered a slur in Australia please consider this in future.

Disclaimer for autistic travellers

I am a proud Australian citizen in Victoria and I would rate Australia 5 stars, but 90% of the population has very little knowledge on the autism spectrum.

Are roads going from Brisbane to Coffs Harbour safe? Is it paved or dirt? Is it two lanes or four? Will there be alot of wild animals along that route? Are poisonous spiders in doors like at the resorts? Are women safe traveling alone on that roads?

Reply to question

Brisbane to Coffs is an easy drive down a highway. Perfect roads, can be busy at times. You wont see a lot of wildlife along the highway. But once in Coffs you can do day trips inland a bit and you will see Kangaroos until you are sick of them 🤣Koalas a very hard to spot. Without a ranger, you probably wont see any. Australia is a very safe country for women to travel alone. To put it delicately, there can be some concerns from “new Australians” who come from from regions that are not so safe for females. But even then, those people are in the minority. I am currently in Tweed Heads which is exactly halfway along the trip to Coffs. The weather is perfect and the people very friendly and trustworthy.

Love Love Love Australia

Australia is the safest country in the entire world.

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8 things to know before visiting Australia

Australia will once again welcome foreign tourists and other visa holders this month as its borders reopen after almost two years .

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

From Feb. 21, 2022, vaccinated travelers will be allowed to enter Australia with relatively few restrictions, provided that they have proof of full vaccination.

At present in Australia , citizens, permanent residents and their families, international students, backpackers and migrant workers are all allowed entry into the country provided they have received two doses of an approved vaccine. This rule will now be extended to tourists too, with an exception if you qualify for a medical exemption which must be applied for should you have a medical reason for not receiving your full COVID-19 inoculation.

Australia had imposed strict caps on entry numbers during the pandemic because of the high cost of running hotel quarantine (even where the traveler pays the bulk of the cost) but those caps have now been removed as the hotel quarantine has ended for fully vaccinated arrivals (with the exception of Western Australia, which we'll discuss below).

The COVID-19 situation in Australia has changed dramatically in the past six months because of the omicron variant .

While this Europe-base, Australian author is very excited to hear Australia is finally reopening after two years, there are some important factors to consider before traveling there.

Australia currently has a high number of active cases

For much of the pandemic, Australia, along with other countries such as New Zealand and Singapore was considered one of the gold standards when it came to the management of COVID-19.

Their strict border controls, including mandatory hotel quarantine for all arrivals, meant community cases were very low for months at a time. Some major cities would not see a single new case outside of managed hotel quarantine for six months and would lock down an entire city if just a single untracked case was found to return numbers to zero.

The omicron variant dramatically changed this strategy. As major states like Victoria and New South Wales (home to Melbourne and Sydney , respectively) relaxed restrictions following rapid vaccination programs to combat the delta variant, the new omicron variant surged through the community.

Rather than plunging cities back into lockdowns, most of Australia opted instead to "live with [COVID-19]" — one month ago Australia was experiencing more than 100,000 new cases every day, which for a country of only 25 million people was a higher per capita rate of new infection than just about anywhere in the world, including the United Kingdom.

The number of new daily cases has reduced in the past three weeks but there are still tens of thousands of new cases recorded each day.

Deaths from COVID-19 continue to below as they have been in Australia the entire pandemic.

If you are planning to visit Australia because you had admired their successful management of the pandemic, it is certainly not the COVID-19-free zone it was 12 months ago.

Western Australia has very different rules

Before diving into the rules and requirements for the rest of the country, it is worth noting that Western Australia (with its capital city of Perth) has very different rules from the rest of the country. This is because while the rest of Australia has opened up, Western Australia, or WA, has remained stubbornly (or smartly) closed.

International arrivals to Western Australia must apply for an entry permit and then:

• Undertake 14 days of mandatory quarantine including seven days in hotel quarantine and seven days of self-quarantine at suitable premises, if eligible.
• If the traveler is eligible to leave the hotel quarantine after seven days and goes into suitable premises, any other household members are also required to quarantine for the remainder of the traveler's quarantine period.
• They must also present a PCR test on days one, six, nine and 12 while in quarantine.

Visitors arriving from interstate to Western Australia must apply for an entry permit, and then:

• Undertake 14 days of self-quarantine at suitable premises (seven days for a health worker), with the same requirements for household members at the self-quarantine premises.
• Present a PCR testing within 48 hours of arrival and on Day 12 of self-quarantine (Day 6 for health workers), and household members will also be required to do a PCR test on the traveler's 12th day.

Unless you have close family connections, work requirements or medical requirements in Western Australia it is unlikely you'll be granted access even if you are willing to undertake these testing and quarantine requirements on entry.

Unvaccinated visitors must still apply for an entry exemption

If you are not fully vaccinated (with a recognized vaccine), you must apply for an entry permit from the Australian Government and you will most likely have to undertake mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine on arrival. This is at your own cost: You should expect to pay around $2,298 (£1,700) for a single adult.

As each state and territory in Australia is free to make its own entry requirements, further restrictions may apply for unvaccinated visitors. For example, the Northern Territory currently bans all unvaccinated visitors regardless of test results or quarantine.

You will need multiple tests depending on where you visit

Fully vaccinated visitors to Australia will need to provide the following:

• Evidence of a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or other Nucleic Acid Amplification Test taken within three days of your flight's scheduled departure to Australia (unless you are exempt).
• A medical certificate as evidence of a negative Rapid Antigen Test taken under medical supervision within 24 hours before your flight's scheduled departure to Australia.

Children under the age of 4 are exempt from this requirement.

If your flight is delayed, you will still be considered to have met the predeparture testing requirements. You will not need a new test.

Excluding Western Australia, as described above, depending on which Australian state or territory you arrive in you will need to undertake a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival and isolate until they receive a negative result. This test can be a lateral flow or antigen test though you should check each state or territories entry requirements as these can differ from state to state.

Be aware of transit requirements

You'll need to be aware of any transit requirements a connecting airline or airport may set which could be different to those required for Australia.

Related: Qantas is operating a test flight nonstop from London to Sydney today

If you have a long layover, some countries will not allow you to enter the country during your layover, even if it's just to go straight to a hotel and rest. You may have to remain airside at the airport your entire transit.

If this transit is longer than, say, 12 hours and there is no airside hotel available, that is a long and uncomfortable wait at the gate or in an airport lounge.

As much as I love some of the finest airport lounges in the world, I would not want to spend 24 hours in one.

You will still need to quarantine on entry, but only briefly

While fully vaccinated visitors no longer need to undertake mandatory hotel quarantine, you will still need to obtain a test within 24 hours of arriving, and isolate until you receive a negative result (excluding Western Australia). As you can use a lateral flow test for this purpose and results can be as fast as 15 minutes, your on-arrival quarantine could be very brief.

Lateral flow tests are not free in Australia for tourists. And if you cannot find or take a lateral flow test, you must take a PCR test and the result can take many hours, or even days to be processed.

Entry and testing requirements change regularly

While the situation is more stable than it was before Christmas, entry rules (including testing requirements) can and do change regularly in Australia. You can check the federal government's website which has links to each state and territories individual rules.

Hopefully, with case counts dropping and relaxed testing requirements, the rules will not change at the rapid pace we saw over the holiday period, when states switched from PCR to lateral flow tests because they could not process the volume of PCR tests being taken to comply with the extensive testing rules for traveling.

Still, you should check the entry requirements regularly between now and the time to travel to Australia as these can, and do change.

Masks and vaccine certificates are commonplace

With thousands of active cases across the country right now, you can expect to have to show your vaccination pass to be seated at indoor hospitality venues as well as attend major sporting events. You'll also probably be expected to wear a mask.

Masks were not commonplace in Australia for much of the pandemic as there were so few community cases. Like the United States, the Australian states and territories can set their own social distancing measures though most require masks and vaccination certificates for crowded public places due to a large number of active cases in the community.

You may also be required to 'check in' to venues using contract tracing apps. These will be specific to each state and territory so read up on any requirements before arrival and download any required apps.

Visits to aged care homes may be restricted.

Bottom line

The COVID-19 situation in Australia continues to evolve. The country has lurched from one extreme to another — six months ago some states had not seen community transmissions for months and other than closed borders it was as if the pandemic did not exist. (Melbourne was an exception, becoming the most locked-down city in the world.)

When the omicron variant arrived, other than Western Australia there was a dramatic shift from zero covid to 'living with the virus' and much of the country saw their highest ever new cases over the Christmas and New Year period.

Reopening to foreign tourists for the first time in two years from Feb. 21 is another step towards the new 'living with COVID-19' strategy. If you are looking for a coronavirus-free destination, Australia is not it.

You can expect strict testing requirements for travel, though quarantine on arrival has been greatly reduced in most states and territories. Compared with a month ago the situation is relatively stable, though do check entry and testing requirements regularly before you head down under as they can and do change regularly.

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‘Fortress Australia’ Has a New Message: Come Back

For nearly two years, the country projected a harsh message of rigidity and “rules are rules.” Will long-haul travelers bet on the easygoing, inviting image it is sending out now?

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By Tacey Rychter and Isabella Kwai

Moments after the Australian government announced that it would reopen the country’s borders to international travelers later this month, Emily Barrett locked in a fare for a flight to Sydney. The 32-year-old nanny from Palo Alto, Calif., spent three days researching and talking to Australian friends before she decided to book her trip to the island continent, which for two years had some of the world’s strictest border controls and longest lockdowns aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus.

“They all said, ‘if we go back into a lockdown now, people will go into the streets,’” she said. Her two-week trip is scheduled to start a few days after the border opens on Feb. 21.

Potential travelers and tourism operators alike are cautiously optimistic about the reopening of “Fortress Australia,” but many wonder if the isolated nation’s ongoing Covid restrictions — such as vaccine and testing requirements, as well as mask mandates — will make the return of international travel more of a trickle than a splash. Australia’s reputation for rigidity and reclusiveness during the pandemic — at odds with the inviting, easygoing nature portrayed by the country’s tourism boards — may also be a hurdle to overcome.

“There is no doubt that a full recovery will take time, but we are confident that the demand for Australia is strong,” said Phillipa Harrison, the managing director of Tourism Australia, the country’s tourism board.

Tourism was one of the fastest growing sectors in Australia’s economy before the pandemic, contributing 45 billion Australian dollars in 2019, or $32 billion.

Australia is among the world’s most immunized countries for Covid-19, with 94 percent of people over 16 fully vaccinated. Through 2020 and 2021, the country pursued a tough “zero Covid” strategy that closed national and state borders; restricted Australians from returning home and even leaving; enforced monthslong lockdowns and required its few visitors to undergo expensive hotel quarantines . Surging cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in January, which persist, but have since declined , tipped most of the country into a new ‘living with the virus’ phase .

“It’s about coming back so the virus is under our control, whereas we felt that the virus was controlling us,” said Catherine Bennett, an epidemiologist at Deakin University in Melbourne, adding that opening the borders represented a turning point. “This is saying: We’re ready for this.”

Australia’s walls come down

Australia’s grand reopening comes with a few ground rules. Travelers entering the country must be fully vaccinated to avoid a costly hotel quarantine, and must test before arrival — somewhat common requirements for travel now.

But it will take a little more time for Australia’s welcome mat to roll out all the way. The entire state of Western Australia — a third of Australia’s vast land mass, but home to just 10 percent of the population — has essentially been closed to both international travelers and even vaccinated Australian citizens for most of the pandemic. It plans to reopen to vaccinated travelers on March 3, with testing rules on arrival. The state, which has reported about 2,900 total cases and 10 deaths since the pandemic began, is home to Perth — one of the world’s most remote major cities — more than 7,000 miles of coastline, the Kimberley region’s dramatic sandstone gorges and wine destinations like Margaret River. While the federal government can open the nation’s borders, the states can still set their own Covid restrictions, including entry rules.

“We desperately want people to come back,” said Graeme Skeggs, a general manager at Adam’s Pinnacle Tours , one of Western Australia’s larger tour companies, which, until the pandemic, operated luxury tours of the state’s renowned coastlines and landscapes. Much of their business evaporated after Covid struck, and some smaller operators the company worked with have closed. “Two years is a lot longer than any of us thought,” Mr. Skeggs said.

While many operators who rely on foreign tourists are hopeful, it’s clear that there is no simple return to prepandemic times.

China overtook New Zealand as Australia’s largest foreign tourist market for the first time in 2017, and 1.3 million visitors from mainland China spent more than $12 billion Australian dollars , or nearly $9 billion, in 2019, about 27 percent of the year’s international visitor spend.

With China still severely limiting outbound travel, that leaves a gaping hole in Australia’s tourism economy.

Michelle Chen opened the Apollo Surfcoast Chinese Restaurant in 2012 along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road — one of the state’s major scenic attractions, about a 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne — to cater to the hundreds of Chinese day-trippers who would stream off buses each day on their way to view the Twelve Apostles, a limestone rock formation farther down the coast.

When Australia closed to Chinese travelers on Feb. 1, 2020, she lost “nearly a hundred percent” of her business. In another stroke of misfortune, the restaurant burned down in April of last year. She reopened in December a few doors down. But Ms. Chen is not expecting her core customers to return for a long time.

She’s even revamped her menu, which used to feature dishes like Sichuan chile chicken that appealed to mainland Chinese visitors. Now the menu is “80 percent Australian-Chinese,” Ms. Chen said, with milder offerings like Mongolian beef. “I find I can’t sell the Chinese-Chinese dishes.”

Another thing desperately she’s looking forward to with the return of international travel: more workers. “Everywhere is shortage of labor,” she said.

The Djokovic drama

In January, the Australian Open — one of the country’s biggest sporting events, which draws hundreds of millions of viewers annually — became a media circus when Novak Djokovic, the world’s number one men’s tennis player, who is not vaccinated, was detained and finally deported from Melbourne because of his risk for “civil unrest.” The drama, which stretched on for 10 days, triggered protests in Australia from groups who believed the battle was the latest example of Covid-related mandates trampling public freedoms.

“Strong borders are fundamental to the Australian way of life,” the country’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, said after the decision to cancel the tennis star’s visa.

Australia’s fixation with border security is highly contentious within the country, particularly its harsh treatment of asylum seekers , but ultimately plays well with voters. But how would Mr. Djokovic’s unceremonious booting fit into Australia’s new “come on in” narrative?

“From our view, it really highlights the strength of Australia’s border policies,” said Chris Allison, Tourism Australia’s acting manager of the Americas. While Mr. Djokovic’s treatment was divisive, he said, it showed that “Australia has zero tolerance in terms of requiring vaccinations to come into the country,” and affirms the message of “how we’re trying to reopen our borders safely and protect the health of the nation.”

But time — and bookings — will tell if long-haul travelers are willing to bet on Australia’s reopening.

Some prefer to wait and see. Australia was where “everyone wanted to go” before the pandemic, said Samantha Carranza, a manager at Sky Tours , a travel agency in downtown Los Angeles. But “there isn’t much demand right now,” she said, adding that Australia’s protectiveness has made her clients cautious to travel there. “No one’s sure if it’s really open or not. Will it close again, will they get stuck there?”

The data shows that interest in travel to Australia is already on the rise: Flight bookings were up 200 percent following the border-opening announcement compared to the week before, according to Forward Keys, a travel analytics company.

“While the immediate jump in bookings is encouraging, the overall booking volume compared to the equivalent week in 2019 is modest,” said Olivier Ponti, the firm’s vice president of insights.

“I imagine there will be more and more confidence over the course of the year,” said Christie Hudson, a senior public relations manager at Expedia, the major online travel agency. “People are really ready to start thinking about these bucket-list trips again. I think for a lot of Americans, Australia is a bucket-list-type trip.”

Opening Aboriginal Australia to the world, cautiously

Cultural experiences led by Australia’s diverse Indigenous groups will be a focus of marketing to overseas travelers, according to Tourism Australia. But in the Northern Territory, the region with the highest proportion of Indigenous people, many remote communities are barred to outsiders until at least March 3 in an effort to protect the residents there from infection.

International visitors are key for the region’s Indigenous tourism sector: Before the pandemic, nearly 70 percent of overseas visitors to the Northern Territory engaged in Aboriginal tourism activities, compared to 16 percent of Australian tourists.

Victor Cooper, who owns and operates Ayal Aboriginal Tours in Kakadu National Park, said he used to welcome visitors from Europe and the United States to his “grandmother’s country,” where he taught them about bush tucker (native foods) and told traditional stories of the land.

“I had a really, really good thing in the overseas market, it took a long time to get that,” Mr. Cooper said. He has not had any overseas bookings since the reopening announcement, and worries things may be “complicated” for a while yet. “I don’t think I’m going to get the clients I used to have back in 2019.”

Other tourism operators are already seeing signs of recovery, which gives them hope for a better year ahead.

“It’s good to see people again,” said Dave Gordon, an employee at Wake Up Bondi , a hostel on Sydney’s famous beach, of the limited number of travelers who have been filtering back in recent months. “It’s exciting.”

Since the news of the border reopening, booking numbers for later in the year have risen, he said.

The first year of the pandemic was “quite a struggle,” he said. To survive, the hostel, which is on Bondi Beach’s main thoroughfare, slashed its rates and accepted longer-term lodgers, and even closed for a period.

But the border opening removes a major hurdle for him and other operators across the country, who want to convey a clear message for would-be tourists thinking of Australia: “Come!” he said. “This is the time to travel.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places for a Changed World for 2022.

Tacey Rychter is the social editor for the Travel section. More about Tacey Rychter

Isabella Kwai is a breaking news reporter in the London bureau. She joined The Times in 2017 as part of the Australia bureau. More about Isabella Kwai

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Most visitors from Australia, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Australia.

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Unvaccinated visitors from Australia can enter Australia without restrictions.

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Travellers from Australia are not required to quarantine.

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Restaurants in Australia are open. Bars in Australia are .

As COVID Omicron variant spreads, which of Australia's top 10 international travel destinations can you fly to right now?

Many Australians are champing at the bit to travel overseas again, after nearly two years of closed borders and lockdowns.

International borders opened for fully vaccinated Aussies at the beginning of this month , with travel exemptions to leave the country no longer required.

But as the arrival of Omicron — a  new variant of concern first detected in South Africa over the weekend — shows, we are still far from slipping back into our pre-pandemic travel habits.

In response to the World Health Organization declaration , Australia closed its borders to nine southern African countries, forcing arrivals back into 14 days of mandatory quarantine. New South Wales and Victoria have also reinstated 72 hours of mandatory isolation for all other overseas arrivals. 

On Monday night, the federal government also deferred Wednesday's planned easing of border restrictions for international students and other eligible visa holders until December 15.

Even taking Omicron out of the equation, international travel is  completely different  during the pandemic. With airlines hurrying to restart suspended routes, competing border and quarantine policies and varying risks of COVID-19 around the world, there's more to consider than simply putting your out of office on.

We've had a look at the requirements for the top 10 travel destinations from Australia in 2019. Information is current for November 29, but double-check before you book. 

• New Zealand
• United States
• United Kingdom

Can Australians travel to NZ without quarantine?

Not right now. While New Zealand was the first international destination open to Australians as part of a trans-Tasman travel bubble earlier this year, the arrangement was suspended  when the Delta variant took hold along Australia's east coast.

From January 16, fully vaccinated New Zealand residents and other eligible travellers will be able to travel between the countries without quarantining .

But foreign travellers will have to wait until at least April 30 to enter the country, as part of a staged reopening.

The government has not announced whether these plans will change due to Omicron, which has so far not been detected in the country. 

Which airlines are flying Australia to NZ?

Air New Zealand was forced to cancel thousands of trans-Tasman flights this week due to continuing border uncertainty — but, the airline has continued to operate a reduced flight schedule between Sydney and Melbourne for New Zealanders trying to get home.

As of last month, Qantas said flights to New Zealand were scheduled to recommence from mid-December, while Virgin Australia plans to resume flights to New Zealand from early 2022.

What's the COVID situation like at the moment?

A lot like Australia, a few weeks ago.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that the three-and-a-half-month lockdown in Auckland would end next month as the country transitions away from its long-held "COVID zero" approach .

Like Australia, New Zealand employed strict lockdowns, rigorous contract tracing and hard border closures to keep the virus out. As a result, the country of five million has recorded just over 40 deaths from the virus.

But the Delta variant has forced the government to change tack. "The hard truth is that Delta is here and not going away," Ms Ardern said last week. At the moment, daily case numbers are hovering around the 200 mark.

Do we have a reciprocal healthcare agreement?

Yes. The agreement covers hospital care and pharmaceuticals if Australians in New Zealand require urgent medical care that cannot wait until they return home. It doesn't cover GP appointments or other primary care providers.

To access treatment under the agreement, you must be able to show your Australian passport and a current Medicare card.

Can people visit Australia from NZ?

Yes, and they don't have to quarantine. From November 1, a one-way travel bubble was re-established for fully vaccinated New Zealand travellers who return a negative COVID-19 test.

Can Australians travel to Indonesia without quarantine?

Not quite. Vaccinated international travellers are required to complete seven days of quarantine in a hotel and undergo COVID-19 testing on arrival in Indonesia.

The duration of quarantine for all international arrivals was increased from three days in the wake of the Omicron designation. Travellers from eight African countries have also been banned from entering Indonesia. 

But a Bintang on the beach might not be far off, with the country's President Joko Widodo eager to get Australians back to Bali. Meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the G20 Leaders' summit, Widodo reportedly proposed a "vaccination travel lane" between the two countries, that would allow fully vaccinated people to travel without quarantine requirements.

Indonesia has also suspended visa-free and visa-on-arrival arrangements. In order to enter the country, travellers must now apply for a tourist visa in advance.

Which airlines are flying from Australia to Indonesia?

Indonesia's Garuda Airlines has cancelled most of its Australia routes during the pandemic, maintaining just one weekly flight between Sydney and Jakarta.

And there are currently no airlines flying direct to Bali from Australia.

Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin have all said they plan to resume flights to Bali from early next year.

Over the past week, Indonesia has recorded daily case numbers in the low-to-mid hundreds. This is down from a peak in July, when more than 50,000 cases were being detected each day in the archipelago nation of more than 273 million.

The Smart Traveller advice level for Indonesia is currently "exercise a high degree of caution", partially due to COVID-19 which remains "present throughout Indonesia". There are also limited testing and infection control facilities in the country.

"Critical care for Australians who become seriously ill, including in Bali, is significantly below the standard available in Australia," Smart Traveller says.

Some COVID-19 restrictions also remain in place and differ according to jurisdiction. These include capacity limits, time limits for eating out, and business curfews.

But Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno has stressed Bali is ready to welcome back tourists . "We have instituted social restrictions programs that have, thank god, worked very well at bringing down COVID case numbers," he said last month.

No. Indonesia has also made travel insurance that covers COVID-19 medical expenses up to $US100,000 mandatory for incoming travellers.

Can Indonesians visit Australia?

Only fully vaccinated people with eligible visas will be able to enter Australia from December  15 at this stage. There is so far no travel bubble arrangement for Indonesian tourists.

Can Australians travel to the US without quarantine?

Yes, fully vaccinated travellers are free to enter the United States without quarantining as long as they return a negative COVID-19 test no more than three days before boarding the flight or can prove they have recovered from the virus in the past 90 days.

All vaccines currently available in Australia are accepted.

Foreign nationals who have recently been in eight southern African countries are banned from entering the country. 

Which airlines are flying from Australia to the US?

Good news for people hoping to get over to the US this year, Qantas is already operating direct flights to Los Angeles from Sydney four times a week.

United and Delta Airlines have also continued their direct Sydney-Los Angeles services throughout the pandemic.

Earlier this month, Air New Zealand brought back its Sydney to Los Angeles route, flying via Auckland, with plans to ramp up the number of services from December 1.

Qantas also plans to resume flights between Sydney and Honolulu from December 20, and Sydney and Dallas Fort Worth from February 15 next year.

COVID-19 is still running rampant in the US — which has been hit harder by the virus than any other country — with Smart Traveller describing it as a "serious risk". Case numbers of almost 100,000 a day are regularly being reported.

There are also fears the Thanksgiving holiday period will lead to another surge in cases , as people travel around the country to be with their families. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) says community transmission remains high in most states.

Across the country, some social distancing rules and restrictions remain in place — varying between states and even cities.

Health officials in the US have warned it is inevitable that Omicron would make its way into the country. 

"It clearly is giving an indication that it has the capability of transmitting rapidly. That's the thing that's causing us now to be concerned," top infectious disease official Anthony Fauci told NBC.

There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between the US and Australia, and tourists may be required to pay costs upfront if they can't show proof of insurance.

According to Smart Traveller, medical care in the US can be expensive. "A visit to a doctor for a minor issue can cost hundreds of dollars, not including tests or medication costs," the website says.

Can Americans visit Australia?

There is no travel bubble for US citizens hoping to come to Australia. Only travellers with an approved visa will be able to enter Australia from December 15.

Can Australians travel to the UK without quarantine?

Australians who are fully vaccinated no longer need to show a negative COVID-19 test result before departing for the UK, unless they're travelling from a "red list" country.

But fully vaccinated travellers from Australia must still:

• Book and pay for PCR test to be taken on arrival before departing
• Take a PCR test on arrival and isolate until a negative result is returned
• Complete a passenger locator form  any time in the 48 hours before arrival in England.

Australians who are not fully vaccinated must comply with additional pre-departure testing requirements and complete 10 days quarantine at home or wherever they're staying on arrival.

Travellers arriving from "red list" countries — which include southern African countries where Omicron has been detected — are required to undertake quarantine in a managed hotel. 

Which airlines are flying to the UK?

Travellers are in luck here: there are more airlines flying to the UK than many other countries. Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, and Malaysia Airlines all have services from Australia.

The Delta variant was detected in the UK earlier than many other countries, triggering a swift rise in COVID cases in May — but it also prompted an acceleration of its vaccination rollout, which was praised as "world-leading".

But four months since Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted just about all of England's COVID restrictions, the country is again logging weekly increases in case numbers, with more than 40,000 new cases a day and about a thousand deaths each week.

Experts are now worried about hospitals' capacity to cope with a likely spike in cases in coming months, when colder weather is expected to fuel infections and protection from vaccines wanes.

In response to the threat of Omicron, Johnson reinstated rules making face masks mandatory in shops and on public transport in England. Three cases of the variant have been detected in the UK.

Meanwhile, the death toll from COVID-19 across Europe is likely to hit two million people by March next year, the World Health Organisation said this week, with Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge warning the region is facing a "challenging winter".

COVID is now the number one cause of death across Europe, the agency said, with almost 4,200 new deaths a day — double the rate at the end of September.

Despite calls for the government to reimpose some restrictions, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland remain mostly open. Shops, hotels, restaurants, museums, theme parks, theatres, nightclubs and other venues are able to operate as normal, though some enforce density limits, use of face masks and proof of vaccination status.

In London, the hospitality sector is rebounding and it's not unusual to see packed pubs, restaurants and music venues across the city. Large crowds are back at tourist hotspots like Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Oxford Street, as the UK's borders are again open to most countries.

Many locals are also returning to the office, so expect buses and trains to be quite busy — especially in rush hour.

The government recommends face masks be worn in crowded places, including on public transport.

Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement with the UK, which may cover some medical costs in the public health system. You'll need to ask for care as an NHS patient and be able to show your passport and Medicare card. But not everything is covered, so check before you go.

Can UK citizens visit Australia?

Currently, only travellers who are exempt or have been granted an individual exemption can come to Australia — so long as they hold a valid visa. Exempt categories include Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents. 

From December 15, travel exemptions will no longer be imposed on fully vaccinated eligible visa holders including students, skilled workers, and those on humanitarian, working holiday and family visas, the government announced this week .

Can Australians visit China without quarantine?

No. Unlike some other countries in Asia which are cautiously reopening internal borders, China's borders remain tightly controlled under the country's strict "COVID zero" policy.

Travellers with valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion may be able to enter China without applying for new visas, but multiple testing requirements are in place and hotel quarantine on arrival is mandatory — and arduous.

In some Chinese cities, travellers face a month-long quarantine during which they're tested seven times and only allowed to open their hotel room doors to accept food deliveries.

There are currently no plans to tighten border restrictions in response to Omicron. 

Which airlines are flying to China?

Direct flights between China and Australia are limited, and China has suspended all visas on arrival, including transit visas.

Nearly two years after the coronavirus emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, China is enforcing a "zero COVID" strategy of widespread lockdowns and testing in a bid to contain outbreaks in more than a dozen provinces.

Though many of its neighbours in the Asia-Pacific have abandoned COVID elimination strategies, China's borders have mostly remained shut to stop the virus from being imported with overseas travellers ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.

And if its low COVID death rate — 62 times better than Australia's — is accurate , the policy could be seen as a success.

Until recently, life in China has mostly continued this year "as normal" — full restaurants, open shops and theatres, domestic travel — because of the country's efforts to control the spread of the virus.

Authorities take swift and drastic action to contain outbreaks when they emerge, sometimes sending hundreds of COVID cases and contacts into quarantine and carrying out mass testing.

While many Chinese are supportive of the approach, others — including some in Australia — say they've suffered from not being able to travel freely to visit relatives and friends.

And it's unclear how long the COVID-zero policy will be maintained. Though 80 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated, questions have been raised about the efficacy of its locally produced vaccines, which could create problems when the country opens up.

"There is a view that China's COVID-zero policy is likely to continue to the end of the Winter Olympics," La Trobe University Professor Chaojie Liu said last month.

"It's difficult for any country or government to really abandon the elimination strategy because people have got used to living in that kind of environment."

Australia does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with China, which means that if you need medical assistance, travellers or their insurer must pay the full cost of treatment.

Can Chinese passport holders visit Australia?

Again, flights between China and Australia are currently limited. Only travellers who are exempt or have been granted an individual exemption can come to Australia — so long as they hold a valid visa. Exempt categories include Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents. 

At this stage, from December 15, travel exemptions will no longer be imposed on fully vaccinated eligible visa holders.

Can Australians travel to Thailand without quarantine?

Thailand has approved tourists from 63 countries for quarantine-free travel from November 1 — and Australia is on the list.

To be eligible visitors must be double-vaxxed and show two negative COVID-19 tests: one PCR test taken before departure and one rapid-antigen test taken on arrival.

Australian passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Thailand but must now apply for a Thailand Pass.

Travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be banned from December. 

Which airlines are flying from Australia to Thailand?

Qantas Airways and Thai Airways are due to resume flights to Thailand from this month with other airlines, including Jetstar, to begin flights from next year.

After an August peak of more than 20,000 cases a day in Thailand, daily infection rates have fallen to just under 6,000 cases per day. But with under 50 per cent of the population vaccinated, the situation remains precarious.

COVID restrictions are in place in high-risk provinces around the country, including curfews, limits on visitor numbers at some sites and mask mandates.

No. Travellers must prove that they have insurance with COVID-19 cover to $50,000.

Can people from this country visit Australia?

There is no travel bubble with Thailand yet, so Thai nationals have similar conditions to others, with the exemption process removed for Australia visa holders from December 15.

Can Australians travel to Japan without quarantine?

If you have been dreaming of a ski trip or a holiday slurping ramen in Tokyo, then you'll have to dream some more.

On Monday it was announced Japan would close its borders to all foreign travellers in response to the Omicron variant, with authorities describing the step as an "emergency precaution". 

There is some hope group tourism may return in time for cherry blossom season in March 2022 — Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told The Japan Times that while sightseers are not currently accepted, tourism groups may be able to return once the practicality of monitoring their movements is worked out.

Which airlines are flying from Australia to Japan?

Japan's ANA — which kept flying throughout the pandemic – is operating between Australia and Japan and so is Japan Airlines. Qantas is due to begin flights to Japan shortly. Singapore Airlines is also flying from Sydney to Tokyo via Singapore.

Flights are limited to 100 passengers and keep in mind that if you are approved for travel, you will not be able to use public transport on arrival and must arrange a private car service to your accommodation. 

With COVID affecting flight schedules at short notice, it's possible travellers may be faced with cancelled flights and an expiring visa. Extensions must be made in person at an immigration Services Agency.

After a huge spike in COVID cases over the Japanese summer – peaking at more than 24,000 cases per day – national infection rates have now fallen to their lowest point since June 2020 with cases jumping around from about 40 to 150 a day over the past week. 

In Tokyo figures have dropped to the lowest numbers since May last year. 

Just over 75 per cent of Japan's population is now vaccinated. No cases of the Omicron variant have been reported. 

No. Australians in Japan are liable for medical and associated costs and must hold travel or health insurance. Australians who live in Japan for more than three months can register for Japan's national health insurance scheme.

Everything was due to change on December 1 with vaccinated tourists and visa holders from Japan and South Korea welcomed back to Australia for quarantine-free travel . But with the emergence of the Omicron variant, the federal government has delayed the easing until December 15.

Can Australians travel to India without quarantine?

India closed its borders to foreign tourists in March 2020 but has now tentatively reopened, with tourists welcomed back from November 15.

New guidelines issued over the weekend require arrivals from at-risk countries to undergo a PCR test on arrival. If the result is negative, travellers will be required to quarantine at home for a week and take a second test on the eighth day. 

The list of at-risk countries includes parts of Europe, the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel. 

Other tourists must upload a declaration to the Air Suvidha Portal and show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival. If you are fully vaccinated then there is no requirement to quarantine.

If not, self-isolation is required for two weeks.

Which airlines are flying from Australia to India?

Qantas will resume three flights a week to Delhi via Darwin on December 6 with plans to offer a daily connection from next year.

Air India has also resumed flights between Australia and India following a pandemic pause.

India is one of the countries worst affected by COVID-19, with more than 34 million infections and more than 500,000 registered deaths.

But after a peak of more than 400,000 cases a day in May, India is now recording just under 10,000 daily infections .

There are signs a new COVID-19 wave may be beginning and travellers are urged to undertake extreme caution.

Australia does not have a healthcare agreement with India. Insurance is required for travel here, but tourists should be aware that if another COVID wave takes off the hospital system may be unable to cope with the influx of patients —  whether you hold health insurance or not.

At this stage, from December 15 vaccinated Indian visa holders are allowed to travel.

Can Australians travel here without quarantine?

Yes, fully vaccinated Australian travellers have been able to enter Singapore without quarantining since November 8 — as long as they return a negative COVID-19 test.

Travellers are required to take a PCR within 48 hours prior to departure, and a second test on arrival at Changi airport. They then must self-isolate until they return a negative result.

Like many other countries, Singapore has moved to restrict travel for people who have visited seven African countries in the past 14 days.

Which airlines are flying to Singapore from Australia?

Qantas is flying direct to Singapore from Melbourne and Sydney, while Jetstar will commence Darwin and Melbourne routes to Singapore from mid-December.

Singapore Airlines is also operating daily direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne. Scoot, Singapore Airlines' budget subsidiary, will also run a daily Melbourne-Singapore flight and four weekly Sydney-Singapore routes.

After a long period of suppression, COVID-19 cases are on the rise. Last month, case numbers peaked at more than 5,000 a day before dropping down to under 2,000 a day last week.

Authorities say they are tracking the Omicron variant very closely and have warned they may be forced to scale back opening up plans. 

"We are not sure yet, but we may well be forced to take a few steps back, before we can take more steps forward," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reportedly told Channel News Asia on Sunday. 

"But despite all this, I am confident that we will find our way to living with the virus, and safely resume all the things we love to do."

Earlier this month, the country made headlines when they announced unvaccinated COVID-19 patients would have to pay their own medical bills from December 8 amid the growing outbreak.

Previously the Ministry of Health said they had covered the COVID-19 health care costs of all Singaporeans, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders.

There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and Singapore.

While the standard of health care is on par with Australia, Smart Traveller warns the "cost of medical services is much higher" and many providers will want upfront payments or proof of insurance before treatment.

Can Singaporeans visit Australia?

Fully vaccinated Singaporeans are free to travel to NSW and Victoria without quarantining, following the federal government's announcement of a travel bubble earlier this month. Travellers will need to return a negative test result within 72 hours of boarding the plane.

"This is another significant milestone in our step by step approach to safely reopening to the world that we outlined in the National Plan," Morrison said announcing the arrangement.

Can Australians travel to Fiji without quarantine?

Yes, from December 1, fully vaccinated Australians can skip quarantine when they arrive in Fiji .

You must present evidence of a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before departure and take a rapid antigen test during your first 48 hours in Fiji. You'll also need travel insurance with international coverage for COVID-19.

Restrictions for travellers arriving from "red-list" countries have been stepped up in response to Omicron, with people arriving from those countries required to quarantine on arrival for 14 days. 

“We’re monitoring the Omicron variant closely as it has been shown to carry significant mutations that could spell higher rates of transmissibility and virulence," Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services James Fong said. 

Domestic quarantine may still be required for travel to some islands in Fiji with low vaccination coverage.

Which airlines are flying from Australia to Fiji?

The first Fiji Airways commercial flight from Australia to Fiji since March 2020 leaves Sydney on December 1. The airline will have 14 flights a week from Sydney and daily flights from Melbourne and Brisbane.

Qantas flights from Sydney are due to restart in December.

After hitting a peak of more than 1,000 cases a day during July and August, the COVID situation has stabilised in the country with just a handful of cases most days. Around 700 Fijians have died from the virus.

The vaccination rate has picked up with nearly 70 per cent of the population double dosed.

Mask wearing is still mandatory in all indoor public venues, on public transport and in crowded settings like markets and shopping malls.

The country has prioritised getting ready for tourists to come back and is one of the first to throw open its borders.

"Fiji is a pioneer of COVID-safe international travel; our entire working population is on track to be fully vaccinated by November," Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen said.

There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and Fiji.

Smart Traveller says medical care standards in Fiji aren't as high as in Australia, and that in emergencies evacuation to Australia may be required, which can be very expensive.

Visits to Australia for tourism aren't allowed yet, but eligible fully vaccinated visa holders may enter from December 15 at this stage.

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Australia travel advice

Latest updates: Natural disasters and climate – removed information on Tropical Cyclone Megan

Last updated: April 10, 2024 05:31 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, australia - take normal security precautions.

Take normal security precautions in Australia.

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Violent crime is low.

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, occurs mostly in larger cities. Vehicle break-ins are common.

Robberies of safe-deposit facilities are common at inexpensive hotels and hostels.

• Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Never leave personal belongings, such as money, credit cards, cell phones and other electronics, unattended
• Exercise caution in popular tourist areas

Online scam

Scammers have duped tourists into transferring money to an overseas bank account in exchange for renting accommodation in Australia.

When renting accommodation, beware of online scams.

Overseas fraud

Demonstrations

Demonstrations may occur. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

More about mass gatherings (large-scale events)

There is a threat of terrorism. The Government of Australia maintains a national terrorism threat advisory system. Individuals or groups have developed both the intent and capability to conduct a terrorist attack in Australia. Terrorist attacks could occur at any time.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Australian National Security – Government of Australia

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances, as they may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Water activities

Coastal waters can be dangerous. Riptides are common and can be dangerous. Several drownings occur each year.

In certain areas, sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish and other wildlife pose a risk to swimmers.

• Avoid unsupervised beaches
• Follow the instructions and warnings of lifeguards
• Respect the flag warning system, which provides notice of water conditions and safety risks on beaches

Beach safety – Government of Australia

Diving and snorkelling

You must provide a medical declaration for diving or snorkelling.

Follow the instructions and warnings of local authorities.

Safety information for divers and snorkellers – Government of Australia

Trekking and mountaineering

Weather conditions may be dry during the summer. You should be prepared for hot weather.

If you intend on trekking or mountaineering:

• never do so alone and always hire an experienced guide from a reputable company
• buy travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation
• ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity
• ensure that you’re properly equipped and well informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard
• inform a family member or friend of your itinerary, including when you expect to be back to camp
• obtain detailed information on trekking routes before setting out and do not venture off marked trails or slopes

Remote areas

Some regions in Australia’s interior are very isolated and have small populations. Services are scarce.

You may have difficulty getting adequate mobile phone coverage if you travel there by car.

• Avoid travelling alone
• Inform relatives of your itinerary

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety are very good throughout the country. Exercise caution when driving in rural areas at night. Drivers often drive at excessive speeds. Roaming animals and road trains pose further hazards.

Access to some remote locations may be impossible during severe weather conditions. Due to the great distances between settlements and the isolation of many outback areas:

• avoid travelling in extreme heat conditions
• plan your overland route carefully
• provide a friend or relative with your itinerary, and ensure that your vehicle is in good repair
• carry a first-aid kit and personal medication
• carry sufficient fuel, water, and food supplies
• bring a satellite phone or an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Australian authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid on the day of entry into the country.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days Business visa: required Student visa: required

Canadians entering Australia without a visa need to get an electronic travel authority (ETA) to visit Australia. Ensure that you travel with the same passport used to apply for your ETA.

A health examination might be necessary to obtain certain visas.

• Electronic Travel Authority – Government of Australia
• Department of Home Affairs – Government of Australia

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country   where yellow fever occurs.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.
• Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
• Contact a designated  Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre  well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that can cause swelling of the brain.  It is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Risk is very low for most travellers. Travellers at relatively higher risk may want to consider vaccination for JE prior to travelling.

Travellers are at higher risk if they will be:

• travelling long term (e.g. more than 30 days)
• making multiple trips to endemic areas
• staying for extended periods in rural areas
• visiting an area suffering a JE outbreak
• engaging in activities involving high contact with mosquitos (e.g., entomologists)

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

In this destination, rabies  may be present in some wildlife species, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. 

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who will be working directly with wildlife. 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

• In this country, risk of  dengue  is sporadic. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue fever.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Health care is excellent. Service is available throughout the country.

Payment is expected at time of service.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Canada and Australia are signatories to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in Australia to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Australian authorities. This process can take a long time and there is no guarantee that the transfer will be approved by either or both sides.

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Imports and exports

There are very strict rules and quarantine measures regarding the importation of food and animal products. Information about items which you can and cannot bring to Australia is available from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs.

Immigration and Citizenship – Government of Australia

Traffic drives on the left.

Local authorities accept your overseas driving licence if the names on your licence match exactly those in your passport.

You must apply for a local licence if you intend to stay in Australia longer than 3 months.

Permits are required when travelling on Aboriginal territory.

You should carry an international driving permit.

• Driving with an overseas licence – Government of Australia
• More about the International Driving Permit

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Australia.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Australia, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and Australia.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Australia, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Australian court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Australia to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• The Hague Convention - Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

The currency of Australia is the Australian dollar (AUD).

Bush and forest fires

Bush and forest fires are common between October and April, particularly in areas covered by bushes, long grass or coastal scrub. Elevated fire danger ratings and alert levels may be applied to affected areas. The air quality in areas near active fires may deteriorate due to heavy smoke.

In case of a major fire:

• stay away from the affected area, particularly if you suffer from respiratory ailments
• be prepared to modify your travel arrangements or even evacuate the area on short notice
• follow the instructions of local emergency services personnel
• monitor local media for up-to-date information on the situation

For current information, consult the relevant state or territory authorities.

Fire services

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia

Rainy season

The rainy season extends from November to April. Severe flooding occurs annually, especially in the inland parts of the following states: 

Seasonal flooding can hamper overland travel and reduce the provision of essential services. Roads may become impassable and bridges damaged. 

• Monitor local news and weather reports
• Follow the instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders

Australia Rainfall and river conditions – Bureau of meteorology, Australian government

Cyclones usually occur from November to April. They may occur along the coastal areas of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

During this period, even small storms can quickly develop into major cyclones. These severe storms can put you at risk and hamper the provision of essential services.

If you decide to travel to Australia during the cyclone season:

• know that you expose yourself to serious safety risks
• be prepared to change your travel plans on short notice, including cutting short or cancelling your trip
• stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator
• follow the advice and instructions of local authorities
• Bureau of Meteorology – Government of Australia
• Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons
• Large-scale emergencies abroad

Seismic activity

Australia is located in a seismic zone. Earthquakes may occur.

Local services

Dial 000 for emergency assistance.

Consular assistance

Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Northern Marianas, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory

For emergency consular assistance, call the High Commission of Canada in Australia, in Canberra, or the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

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Australia Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

• Packing List

After Your Trip

There are no notices currently in effect for Australia.

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Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Australia. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Australia.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is mainly a concern in the Murray River, and the Outer Torres Strait Islands area.

Recommended for travelers who

• Are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live
• Spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis
• Frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis

Consider vaccination for travelers

• Spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets
• Going to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be there

Not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or traveling at times outside of the Japanese encephalitis season.

Japanese encephalitis (CDC Yellow Book)

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine for US Children

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Australia is free of dog rabies. However, rabies may still be present in wildlife species, particularly bats. CDC recommends rabies vaccination before travel only for people working directly with wildlife. These people may include veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers working with specimens from mammalian species.

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Yellow Fever

Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1 Travelers arriving from the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador are exempt from this requirement.

Yellow Fever - CDC Yellow Book

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil

Clinical Guidance

Avoid bug bites.

• Mosquito bite

Dengue outbreaks in Australia have only occurred in north and central Queensland.

• Avoid Bug Bites

Ross River virus disease

Ross River fever

Airborne & droplet

• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Australia, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the  Department of State Country Information Pages  for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Although Australia is an industrialized country, bug bites here can still spread diseases. Just as you would in the United States, try to avoid bug bites while spending time outside or in wooded areas.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Consider using permethrin-treated clothing and gear if spending a lot of time outside. Do not use permethrin directly on skin.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in Australia include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip:

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in the heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if you are driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately.  Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance for things your regular insurance will not cover.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medicines you take.
• Bring copies of your prescriptions for medicine and for eye glasses and contact lenses.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Australia’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Make sure there are seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in Australia, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Traffic flows on the left side of the road in Australia.

• Always pay close attention to the flow of traffic, especially when crossing the street.
• LOOK RIGHT for approaching traffic.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Australia for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

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Is Australia Safe to Travel Alone? 15 Dangers to Beware

You dream of a solo journey to the Land Down Under. But you’ve heard about the perils – the snakes, the spiders, the heat, the bushfires. Now you’re a little worried and wondering: is Australia safe to travel alone?

The simple answer is, yes. Australia is a safe place to travel alone. 

As an Australian and a solo traveller, I am yet to meet anyone who felt unsafe whilst travelling around Oz. But don’t just take my word for it…

In this article, I’ll break down the statistics that answer the question: is Australia safe to travel alone? You’ll see that only a tiny number of female or male tourists ever experience safety concerns whilst travelling solo in Australia.

I’ll also list the 15 dangers that every tourist should be aware of when travelling alone around Australia. Plus, I’ll share my top 5 safety tips for solo travel in Australia.

Take the stress out of planning – see my full guide to solo travel in Australia !

Is Australia safe for solo female travellers?

Is australia safe for solo male travellers, 15 dangers of travelling alone in australia.

• 5 solo travel safety tips for Australia
• More solo travel guides and tips

Is Australia Safe to Travel Alone?

Australia is one of the safest countries in the world to travel alone. Out of the 9 million people that visit Australia each year, more than 97.5% of tourists never witness or experience intimidation, harassment, assault, robbery or theft ( source ). And 99.99% of tourists to Australia return home alive ( source ). 

Numerous factors make Australia a safe destination for solo travel:

• Low levels of crime.
• Few health risks, diseases and viruses.
• Modern amenities, infrastructure and transport links.
• Modern emergency services including police, ambulance and fire.
• Modern surveillance technology.
• Political stability and civil order.
• Generally friendly and helpful people.
• Public and private healthcare services.
• Strict criminal laws and gun bans.

Whilst it is safe to travel alone in Australia, you still need to remain aware of the dangers below and follow these solo travel safety tips . 

Solo travel deaths in Australia

On average, about 350-450 tourists die each year (0.01%) in Australia ( source ). 

Most health-related deaths occur amongst older tourists (e.g. heart disease). Contrastingly, most accidental deaths occur amongst younger tourists (e.g. transport accidents and drowning).

Very few deaths (about 0.9 per million short-term tourists) are caused by an unlawful assault (i.e. murder or manslaughter).

As such, it is statistically very safe to travel alone in Australia, particularly if you are in good health and aware of the dangers (see below).

Crimes against solo travellers in Australia

According to this government study , 97.7% of tourists in Australia never experience or witness crime or harassment. 

Of that 2.3% that do experience or witness these incidents:

• 1% witness intimidation, harassment or abuse
• 0.2% witness assault
• 0.2% witness robbery
• 0.8% witness theft.

The most likely places for tourists to witness these crimes in Australia are in accommodation (31%) or on footpaths or streets (25%). Generally, public transport, outdoor recreation areas and commercial/licensed premises were safe.

Tourists mostly witness theft and robbery during the daytime (between 9 am and 3 pm). However, intimidation, harassment and abuse crimes can occur in equal measures during both day and night.

About 5% of tourists aged 15 to 24 report being victims of crime or harassment whilst travelling around Australia. Comparatively, only 1.6% of tourists aged 25 or above report being victims of crime or harassment. This means that it is safer for older tourists to solo travel in Australia.

As such, you are statistically very safe from experiencing crime or harassment whilst travelling alone in Australia.

Australia is safe for solo female travellers. It is one of the most visited destinations in the world for women travelling alone.

Less than 1.5% of female travellers in Australia report witnessing or experiencing harassment, abuse or assault during their stay (according to the data above). 

However, young females travelling alone in Australia should take extra precautions. Most of the female tourists that do report harassment are aged between 15 and 24.  

I suggest buddying up with other female solo travellers from your hostel and walking home as a group after nights out. Most hostels also offer female-only dorms, further reducing safety risks.

Australia is a safe destination for male solo travellers. Again, it is one of the most visited destinations in the world for men travelling alone. 

Less than 2.5% of male travellers in Australia report witnessing or experiencing abuse or crime during their stay (according to the data above).

However, young male tourists are more likely to be victims of homicide than other tourist demographics. Young males (aged between 15 and 24) are also more likely to witness or experience abuse or crime.

As such, young males travelling should take extra precautions. Avoid excessive drinking and walk away from altercations. Never drive when intoxicated and stick to the road rules. When returning to your accommodation at night, try to walk in a group.

For 20 more tips and personal tales, see my article on traveling alone as a man .

Related Post

1. Wildlife

The biggest safety concern for anyone about to travel alone around Australia? The creepy crawlies and the deadly wildlife!

When travelling alone in Australia, you need to be aware of the following animals and the threats that they pose:

• Snakes: Snakes are active in Australia from Spring to Autumn. It is highly unlikely that you will come across a snake during your solo travels. Try to avoid them by making noise, wearing covered footwear and sticking to well-used trails when bushwalking. If you do come across a snake, back away without taking your eyes off it.
• Spiders: Spiders are a concern in Australia throughout the year. You will likely come across spiders during your solo travels. Avoid spiders by shaking out your shoes and clothing before putting them on. Never reach into piles of foliage, pipes, holes or places where spiders may live.
• Crocodiles: In the north of Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia), you need to be aware of crocodiles. Never swim at the beach or in fresh water sources unless there is signage indicating that it is safe to do so. Avoid approaching or camping near the edge of the water and keep your distance from crocodile slide marks.
• Jellyfish: You also need to be aware of jellyfish in the north of Australia (particularly Queensland). The peak season for jellyfish is November to May. Never swim at the beach unless there is signage indicating that it is safe to do so. When visiting the Great Barrier Reef, you may want to hire a protective stinger suit.
• Sharks: Sharks are rarely a danger to swimmers in Australia. However, you can reduce your risk of encountering a shark by swimming close to the shore and between the flags at patrolled beaches. Avoid swimming at dusk or dawn. If you do see a shark, leave the water as quickly and calmly as possible.
• Mosquitos: Mosquitos are a health risk and can spread disease in Australia (particularly in northern Queensland). Protect yourself when travelling alone by covering up with long-sleeve tops and pants when outside. Apply repellent to exposed skin. Mosquitoes are worst at dusk and dawn. 
• Kangaroos, emus and cassowaries: Many solo travellers enjoy visiting zoos in Australia and getting up close to kangaroos and emus. However, you should avoid approaching these animals in the wild, as they have been known to attack by using their long claws.
• Dingoes: Wild dingoes roam around some popular tourist destinations in Australia, including the Outback and Fraser (K’gari) Island. Generally, they will avoid humans but they can become aggressive and attack. Never feed a dingo. If a dingo does approach you, stand tall and back away slowly (never run).  

2. Heat and sun

During summer, temperatures in Australia can reach more than 45℃ (113℉). 

You must stay well hydrated to avoid heat stroke. Try to drink about 2.5L (0.5 gals) of water per day whilst you travel alone.

Australia also has some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world. Your skin can burn in as little as ten minutes if you don’t properly protect yourself from the sun. 

Always wear sunscreen when spending more than half an hour outside. On particularly hot days, try to cover up with a hat and long sleeves. 

3. Wild weather events

Extreme weather events are a common and dangerous occurrence in Australia. 

Besides the heat (see above), solo travellers also need to be aware of fires, floods, storms and cyclones

Upon arrival, download the Bureau of Meteorology app on your smartphone. This will keep you up to date with weather forecasts and warnings, helping you to stay safe whilst travelling alone in Australia.

4. Adventure sports

There are a heap of adventure sports for solo travellers to get involved in whilst travelling Australia. 

Some of the most popular adventure sports in Oz include scuba diving, snorkelling, hiking, paragliding, surfing, parachuting, bungee, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, caving, horse riding and white water rafting.

However, accidents can and do happen. Unfortunately, numerous tourists are injured or die each year whilst participating in adventure sports.

Always use a professional guide and a trusted operator when participating in adventure sports. Read online reviews on Google and TripAdvisor before booking.

Be aware, some activities that seem relatively easy (e.g. hiking, golf or tennis) can turn deadly in Australia due to extreme heat (see above).

5. Swimming

One of the biggest dangers to tourists in Australia is drowning whilst swimming. 

Whilst Australia’s beaches are beautiful, the surf is powerful and strong currents can drag swimmers out to sea. 

Only go swimming in Australia if you are a confident swimmer. And only swim on beaches that are patrolled by lifeguards, staying between the red and yellow flags. 

As mentioned above, you also need to be cautious of crocodiles, jellyfish and sharks when swimming in Australia. Always read the safety signage.

The biggest danger to tourists in Australia is driving and road safety. Drivers often become tired because of the long distances between destinations.

If you plan on driving whilst travelling alone in Australia, break long journeys into small chunks. Stop for a day or two in the regional towns between the major destinations.

Also, ensure that you have filled your car with enough fuel for the journey. Fuel stations can be few and far between in Australia, particularly in the Outback.

Never drink and drive. Australia has very strict drink driving laws and drivers are regularly breath tested by police. You will be criminally prosecuted and deported from the country if caught by police.

There are not many diseases or illnesses that solo travellers need to worry about in Australia. 

Generally, it is recommended that solo travellers receive their routine vaccines (e.g. flu, chickenpox, MMR, Diphtheria, Tetanus, etc.) before travelling to Australia (as recommended by the CDC ).

You can drink tap water in Australia. However, avoid drinking from outdoor taps unless they are designated for drinking.

Be aware of mosquitos when travelling alone in the tropics or rural areas. See above for advice on avoiding mosquito bites.

8. Sexually Transmitted Infections

More than 75% of backpackers and solo travellers have sex during their trip (and more than 30% hook up with more than one partner). But with so many travellers getting frisky during their adventures, you have to be cautious of STIs.

Some of the most common STIs in Australia that solo travellers need to be aware of include:

• Hepatitis B and C
• HPV and genital warts.

To reduce your risk of an STI or unintended pregnancy, use contraceptives or abstain from sex altogether. 

Men should include condoms on their solo travel packing list for males . Women should also include male or female contraceptives on their solo travel packing list for females .

9. Mental health

Solo travel can be sad and lonely at times, particularly if you are predisposed to mental health issues.

There are numerous helplines and services that solo travellers in Australia can use if they are struggling with their mental health.

If you are concerned about your mental health whilst travelling alone, see my article on solo travel depression . 

You may also be interested in knowing:

• How to travel alone and not be lonely
• Is it weird to travel alone?

10. Drunken behaviour

Australia is known for having a drinking culture. So, it is no surprise that many solo travellers (particularly youngsters) find themselves drinking and partying most nights whilst travelling alone around Australia.

However, excessive drinking presents short-term and long-term risks to your safety and well-being. When drunk, you are more likely to take risks (e.g. drive drunk, go swimming at night or get involved in altercations).

Numerous solo travellers have gone missing in Australia after a night of drinking. 

If you are going to drink, avoid becoming overly intoxicated. Try to buddy up with other travellers from your accommodation and stay in groups when partying.

Female solo travellers also need to be cautious of drink spiking. Statistics suggest that 4 out of 5 victims of spiking in Australia are female (many aged under 24). Always buy your own drinks, watch them being poured, never leave them unattended and throw it out if you think it tastes weird.

11. Fights and arguments

In Australia, almost 5% of people experience threatened or physical assault each year. As such, there is a chance that solo travellers may witness or be involved in an argument or fight during their stay in Australia.

However, most assaults occur in suburban or disadvantaged areas, where tourists do not generally visit.

Young people (aged 15-29) who are travelling alone need to be particularly cautious and avoid getting involved in arguments. 

Arguments and fights can occur during the day or night, but they mostly stem from drunken behaviour. Avoid interacting with drunken individuals in public.

12. Sexual harassment

Generally, females do not have to worry about intimidation, harassment or abuse when travelling alone in Australia. Less than 1% of tourists report witnessing or experiencing harassment during their stay.

Of those female tourists that do report harassment, however, most are aged between 15 and 24. Therefore, young females travelling alone should take extra precautions. 

As suggested above, buddy up with other female solo travellers from your hostel and walk home as a group after nights out. Most hostels also offer female-only dorms, further reducing safety risks.

If you do feel harassed, ask people around you for help if possible. Most Australians are friendly people and will help you immediately.

If there is no one else around or the situation is serious, do not hesitate to call the police on Australia’s emergency hotline – 000.

13. Theft and pickpocketing

Only 1% of tourists in Australia witness or experience theft or robbery during their stay. Theft and pickpocketing are very rare thanks to modern surveillance systems and strong policing.

However, it is still worthwhile keeping an eye on your belongings when visiting touristy areas.

When visiting busy beaches (e.g. Bondi Beach), try to avoid leaving your belongings alone on the sand whilst swimming. Take a buddy with you from your hostel, so that they can sit with your belongings whilst you swim. If you don’t have a buddy with you, try to keep your belongings close to the water’s edge and watch them from the water.

Thanks to the strict criminal laws and strong police presence in Australia, tourists rarely have to worry about being scammed.

However, there are some scams that solo travellers should be aware of in Australia:

• Taxi overcharging: It is preferable to use Uber over taxis. If you do have to use a taxi, make sure that the metre is switched on and check how long the trip should take on Google Maps.
• Text message and phone scams: If you are using a local SIM card whilst travelling in Australia, you may receive text or phone scams. Ignore or hang up on any numbers you don’t recognise.
• Train fares: Some scammers stand at train stations or bus stops and tell you that their bag was stolen (or a similar story). They will ask you to give them money for their return ticket home.
• Overcharging: In tourist areas, some businesses may try to overcharge you for goods or services. Whilst not technically a scam, you can use my guide to solo travel in Australia to get an idea for budgeting and general costs.

If you think you have been scammed, contact the Australian police and your bank to find out if there is any way to fix the situation.

15. Laws and airport customs

As you may have seen on shows like Nothing to Declare, Australia takes its criminal laws and airport customs very seriously.

As a solo tourist, you want to avoid breaking the law whilst visiting Australia. Doing so could see you criminally punished and deported from the country. 

The most common criminal laws that you need to be aware of when travelling alone in Australia include:

• Drug laws: Illicit drugs are illegal in Australia (including cannabis, cocaine, heroin, shrooms, LSD and amphetamines). If you are caught in possession of these drugs, you will almost definitely be arrested and prosecuted.
• Drink and drug driving: The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for fully licensed drivers in Australia is 0.05. If you are caught driving whilst intoxicated or under the effect of drugs in Australia, you will be arrested and prosecuted.
• Assault: I have seen many tourists in Australia arrested, prosecuted and deported due to their involvement in physical fights. Avoid altercations at all costs.

You also need to be aware of Australia’s import customs . When you arrive by plane, you will be asked if you are carrying food, animal products, tobacco, alcohol, medicines, drugs, plants, seeds, weapons or other miscellaneous items.

You may have to dispose of some of these items if they are banned in Australia. If you are caught trying to enter Australia with these items without declaring them, you may be fined or criminally prosecuted.

Solo Travel Safety Tips for Australia

Here are my top 5 safety tips for people travelling alone around Australia. But if you want more advice, be sure to check out all 35 of my solo travel safety tips .

• Save emergency contacts in your phone

The emergency assistance number in Australia is 000. Call this number if you ever need emergency assistance from the police, fire service or an ambulance.

Save the emergency assistance number as a contact in your phone. This will save you from having to Google it in an emergency.

However, only use this number in real emergencies. Calling it for improper use may be considered a criminal offence.

On your smartphone, you should also set a family member or trusted friend as an emergency SOS contact ( iOS and Android ).

• Catch public transport instead of driving

Driving and road accidents are one of the main causes of tourist deaths in Australia. To minimise your chances of being in an accident, avoid driving and catch public transport instead. 

Understandably, some solo travellers will want to drive or ride around Australia. In some cases, you need your own vehicle to access remote regions.

But if you do choose to drive whilst travelling alone in Australia, remember:

• Drive on the left side of the road.
• Take breaks when travelling long distances.
• Never drink and drive.
• Always carry enough petrol (particularly in the Outback).
• Avoid driving at dusk, dawn or night (this is when kangaroos and cattle are most often on the road).
• Don’t hitchhike 

Hitchhiking is not popular in Australia. 

If you try to hitchhike, you will likely be waiting for a long time before someone eventually picks you up. Standing on the side of a busy road or highway is extremely dangerous.

Also, you cannot guarantee that the driver is trustworthy. The victims in some of Australia’s most notorious murder cases were backpackers and solo travellers who were hitchhiking.

• Avoid these dangerous spots at night

Like every country in the world, there are places in Australia that can be dangerous for tourists to visit alone (particularly at night). 

The large cities and towns in Australia are generally safe to wander both day and night. Much of the crime occurs in the outer suburbs and in disadvantaged areas that tourists never visit.

However, in terms of crime, the most dangerous places to visit in Australia include:

• Alice Springs

As a local that has travelled all around Australia, I would avoid exploring these places at night. Whilst it might be fine to walk from your accommodation to a nearby bar or restaurant, you should avoid the backstreets and housing areas.

• Get a local SIM Card

For your safety, it is important that you stay connected whilst travelling alone around Australia. I recommend getting a local SIM card, which is usually more affordable and provides better coverage than data roaming.

There are three main mobile providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Personally, I use Telstra because they provide the widest coverage – important if you are travelling alone in the Outback.

All three providers have stalls in most of the international airports around Australia. Purchase a SIM upon arrival and have the staff set it up for you.

Summary: Is Australia Safe to Travel Alone?

Despite its dangers, Australia is still a very safe place to travel alone. This applies to everyone, including women and men, young and old.

Based on the statistics, there is an almost 99% chance that your solo journey in Australia will be trouble-free. 

If you use your common sense and follow safety advice, you will be one of the 9 million tourists that enjoy travelling to Australia each year.

It’s time to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, watch the sunrise over Uluru and relax on the sands of Bondi Beach – see my full guide to solo travel in Australia !

Related Posts

Australia Solo Travel Guide and Adventure Itinerary (2023)

New Zealand Solo Travel – Adventure Itinerary & Guide (2023)

New Zealand Solo Trip Cost (2023)

More solo travel guides and tips on nomadic yak.

Nomadic Yak helps solo travellers to plan journeys that are adventurous and authentic.

Every article is written by me, Harry . I’ve travelled to 40+ countries over the last 5 years – alone.

For even more information about solo travel in Australia, see our solo travel tips .

We also have destination guides to help you plan solo travel in nearby countries such as New Zealand.

Creator of Nomadic Yak

At age 22, I had never travelled overseas. Six years later, I have travelled alone through 35 countries and work wherever I like as a freelance writer.

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For those who were left totally wanting more after last week’s eclipse, it’s not too early to start thinking about trips to Europe, African and Australia — which will all see total solar eclipses over the next four years.

On Aug. 12, 2026, the moon will black out the sun over Reykjavík, Iceland and just outside of Barcelona, Spain.

A year later — on Aug. 2, 2027 — the zone of totality will be above Luxor, Egypt and the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Spain and Morocco.

And on July 22, 2028, a total solar eclipse will intersect the Australian continent, with the zone of totality above Sydney, the nation’s largest city.

People who follow eclipses are called umbraphiles — meaning shadow lovers — and if they plan early enough, they can avoid paying out-of-this-world prices for Airbnbs, hotels and flights .

Emily Beatty, 32, bought tickets from Los Angeles to Albany eight months in advance to watch the eclipse in the Adirondacks last week, and said her flights were “not too bad” because of her planning.

“I knew about the eclipse like four years ago, and I knew I was going to come out and see it,” said Beatty, a video game producer.

Airline tickets are normally only made available for purchase a year in advance, and a quick check of the travel site Priceline found that roundtrip flights could be had in the days around Aug.12 of this year from New York to either Reykjavík and Barcelona for under $700.

Emily Regan, 30, was visiting Iceland two weeks ago and just returned to her Ovid, New York home to see the eclipse, which she missed because of cloud cover on Seneca Lake in the zone of totality.

“We went out, tried to find a spot on the lake that we thought would have a total view of totality, and the clouds rolled in about an hour and a half before, so that was really disappointing.”

Although she was “super disappointed” that she wasn’t able to see the eclipse, she enjoyed Reykjavík so much that she would go back in two years to catch the next astronomical event.

“The whole scenery and everything about that area is so beautiful, and seeing it in the summer, when sun goes for — I think it’s like up to 20-something hours in the peak of summer, would be especially cool for the solar eclipse,” said Regan, a school nurse in the South Seneca district.

“Especially because the country is so relatively small that you can get out of the major city center and experience like truly immersed in nature … I’m sure you could find a place just 40 minutes of the city center where you could have some isolation if you really were looking for it.”

Many hotels could be had in the Icelandic capitol this August for between $200 and $250 a night. Lodging was cheaper in Barcelona — by about $100.

With clear skies in eastern New York last Monday, Beatty said the celestial event “100%” exceeded her already high expectations, and said she would love to hop the pond to see another one.

“I think I would I would definitely be interested in seeing it either in Reykjavik or Gibraltar, like that would be really pretty rad,” she said.

Roundtrip flights to Lisbon, Portugal, near Gibraltar, could be snagged for about $950 in August, while flights to Cairo were about $1,000.

The Egyptian capital will not be in the zone of totality in 2027 however, so eclipse-hunters may be better off spending $1,500 to fly to Luxor, where they could enjoy highly rated hotel rooms for as little as $10 a night, according to the travel site.

The event will also be seen from Africa’s Algeria and Libya as well as Saudi Arabia and Yemen in Asia.

The most expensive — and longest — eclipse trek, by far, would be Down Under. Flights from New York to Sydney in July start at $2,100, but hotels are more reasonable, with many in the $100 to $200 range.

The event will also be visible from southern New Zealand.

For umbraphiles like Beatty, it is hard to put a price tag on the experience.

“I was really excited to see it but I just did not expect it to affect me in the way it did. It was very physiological, you know what I mean?” she said.

“Like I got really excited. Not freaking out, but definitely very like, in the moment. It was pretty unbelievable.”

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Your last-minute guide to Monday's total solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday , offering millions a rare opportunity to see afternoon skies temporarily darken as the moon blocks the face of the sun.

Tune into NBC News NOW as Lester Holt hosts a two-hour special at 2 p.m. ET Monday from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The eclipse's path fortuitously cuts across Mexico, 15 U.S. states and a small part of eastern Canada. In all other states in the continental U.S., viewers will be treated to a partial solar eclipse, with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun and obscuring part of its light.

Here’s everything you need to know about the rare celestial event.

What is a solar eclipse?

Solar eclipses occur when the sun, moon and Earth align. The moon passes between Earth and sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light and casting a shadow on Earth.

A total solar eclipse is when the moon fully obscures the sun, whereas a partial solar eclipse means it blocks just a portion of the sun’s face.

Solar eclipses occur only with the new moon. Because the moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted, the three bodies don’t always line up in a way that creates an eclipse.

“Imagine if the moon’s orbit were in the plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun — if that were the case, then every new moon, you’d have a total solar eclipse and every full moon, you’d have a lunar eclipse,” Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, told NBC News. “So, because things don’t always align, it lends to the rarity of the event and the specialness of the event.”

Where and when will the eclipse be visible?

This year’s eclipse will follow a slightly wider path over more populated areas of the continental U.S. than other total solar eclipses have in the recent past.

NASA estimates that 31.6 million people live within what’s known as the path of totality, where the total solar eclipse will be visible. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path, according to the agency.

The path travels through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Tiny parts of Michigan and Tennessee will also be able to witness totality if conditions are clear.

After the eclipse crosses into Canada, it will pass over southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.

Those outside the path of totality can still take part in the astronomical event by viewing a partial solar eclipse — visible throughout all 48 states of the contiguous U.S. — or a NASA livestream.

The timing, including how long totality lasts, depends on the location, but some spots will see the moon fully cover the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

Below is a list of timings for some cities along the path of totality, as  provided by NASA . A number of other resources, including NationalEclipse.com  and  TimeandDate.com , can also help people plan.

• Dallas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m. CT and totality at 1:40 p.m.
• Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:33 p.m. CT and totality at 1:51 p.m.
• Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and totality at 3:13 p.m.
• Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m. ET and totality at 3:18 p.m.
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse begins at 2:16 p.m. ET and totality at 3:27 p.m.

How to safely view a solar eclipse

It is never safe to gaze directly at the sun, even when it is partly or mostly covered by the moon. Special eclipse glasses or  pinhole projectors  are required to safely view solar eclipses and prevent eye damage. Failing to take the proper precautions can result in severe eye injury,  according to NASA .

Eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than normal sunglasses and specially made to enable wearers to look at the sun during these kinds of celestial events.

Sky-watchers should also never view any part of the sun through binoculars, telescopes or camera lenses unless they have specific solar filters attached. Eclipse glasses should not be used with these devices, as they will not provide adequate protection.

However, during the few minutes of totality, when the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to look with the naked eye.

Beware of fake eclipse glasses. On legitimate pairs, the lenses should have a silver appearance on the front and be black on the inside. The manufacturer’s name and address should be clearly labeled, and they should not be torn or punctured. Check, as well, for the ISO logo and the code “IS 12312-2” printed on the inside.

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can make a homemade pinhole projector, which lets sunlight in through a small hole, focuses it and projects it onto a piece of paper, wall or other surface to create an image of the sun that is safe to look at. 

All you need is two pieces of white cardboard or plain white paper, aluminum foil and a pin or thumbtack. Cut a 1- to 2-inch square or rectangle out of the center of a piece of white paper or cardboard. Tape aluminum foil over that cut-out shape, then use a pin or thumbtack to poke a tiny hole in the foil.

During the eclipse, place a second piece of white paper or cardboard on the ground as a screen and hold the projector with the foil facing up and your back to the sun. Adjusting how far you hold the projector from the second piece of paper will alter the size of the image on the makeshift screen.

What to look for while viewing the total solar eclipse

For people along the path of totality, there are some fun milestones to keep track of as the total solar eclipse unfolds.

As the eclipse progresses and the sun gets thinner in the sky, it will start to get eerily dark, according to Tyson.

When the last beams of sunlight are about to become obscured, look out for the “diamond ring effect”: The sun’s atmosphere will appear as an illuminated halo, and the last light still visible will look like the diamond of a giant ring.

As the sunlight decreases even further, an effect known as Baily’s beads will be created by the moon’s rugged terrain. Tiny “beads” of light will be visible for only a few seconds around the dark moon, as the last bits of sunlight peer through the moon’s mountains and valleys.

When the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to remove eclipse glasses and look at the total solar eclipse with the naked eye.

Some lucky sky-watchers may even catch a glimpse of a comet .

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks — nicknamed the “ devil comet ” because an eruption last year left it with two distinct trails of gas and ice in the shape of devil horns — is currently visible from the Northern Hemisphere as it swings through the inner solar system.

The comet can be seen in the early evenings by gazing toward the west-northwest horizon. During the eclipse, when skies darken during totality, it may be possible to see the comet near Jupiter, but its visibility will depend on whether it’s in the middle of an outburst and thus brighter than normal.

Most likely, all eyes will be on the alignment of the moon and sun.

“Most people won’t even notice,” Tyson said. “But if you know to look, it’s there.”

When is the next solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse will be in 2026, but it will mostly pass over the Arctic Ocean, with some visibility in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and northern Spain. In 2027, a total solar eclipse will be visible in Spain and a swath of northern Africa.

The next total solar eclipse visible from North America will be in 2033, but only over Alaska. Then in 2044, a total solar eclipse will cross Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, parts of Canada and Greenland.

The next total solar eclipse to cross the continental U.S. coast-to-coast in will occur in 2045. The path of totality for that eclipse will cut through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.

Lucas Thompson is a content producer for the NBC News Climate Unit.

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This illegal Hawaii hike has caused controversy for years, now it's being removed for good

Starting this month, one of Hawaii’s most dangerous and controversial hikes will be permanently removed.

Oahu’s Stairway to Heaven trail, comprising 3,922 slick steel steps that ascend the narrow ridges of the Koolau Mountain Range, has been illegal to hike since 1987. Although trespassing cost hikers a $1,000 citation, thousands still attempted the trek for an Edenic view of the island. Social media helped propel the trail, also known as Haiku Stairs, into popularity. 

The process of dismantling the “aging, narrow metal stair structure” will begin with the removal of over 600 stair modules, according to a press release by the City and County of Honolulu. The entire project is expected to take six months.

During the Wednesday announcement, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said the removal is “long overdue.” 

“This decision that was made was predicated upon our respect for the people who live in and around the entrance to the stairs, our respect for our aina (land), and our respect for both the future and the past history of the culture of the Haiku community,” he added.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

The City and County of Honolulu unanimously passed Resolution 21-154 in 2021 to remove the stairs as an effort to increase the quality of life for the nearby residents, improve public safety and preserve the natural beauty of the lush Haiku Valley. 

Be a better tourist to Hawaii: Volunteer to help leave the islands better than when you arrived

Honolulu City Council Vice Chair Esther Kiaaina, who introduced the resolution, called the project “a new chapter for Haiku Valley” and the collective decision to eradicate the stairs is “for the good of the community” during the press conference , according to Hawaii New Now. 

"After decades of the community asking the government for relief, we had an obligation to make a decision and a decision that I knew would displease some people but at the end I had to look at a lot of variable factors," Kiaaina, who has been involved in discussions around land management for Haiku Stairs for over two decades, told USA TODAY. She called it "a hard decision."

For decades, residents who live near the stairs have been complaining of disturbances by hikers, who often hopped fences and trespassed onto private property during the middle of the night to catch the sunrise. Some hikers blocked people’s driveways and vandalized or urinated on people’s property, the resolution said. 

Between August 2017 and March 2020, police officers turned away 11,427 people attempting to hike the stairs by passing through the surrounding neighborhoods, according to the resolution. 

With its steep cliffs and unpredictable weather conditions, the trail is highly dangerous. Any mistake can result in a helicopter rescue, although there have not been any fatalities on record. Between 2010 and 2022, more than 188 people were rescued from the hike – paid for by taxpayers. With helicopter rescues costing thousands of dollars, a bill was introduced last year to make people pay for their own rescues, but it has not passed .    

Along with deconstructing the stairs, the project also includes the restoration of native plants in impacted areas. The project will also preserve some of the structure to honor the stair’s historical significance as a World War II military access route. 

"The wonderment is still there, that's the natural beauty of the mauna (mountain) and Haiku Valley," Kiaaina said. "The stairs itself served a purpose for U.S. national security purposes and that purpose is done. Separate from what people think, I feel part of the healing is for the mauna (mountain) and for the valley itself."

The city stressed that the stairs will become even more perilous during construction and “present an immediate safety threat” to anyone who may try to sneak in a final hike. 

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

Money latest: Prepayment meters now have cheapest default tariff - should you switch?

The default tariff for prepayment meters is now cheaper than other types of meter - so should you switch? You can read this and our other weekend features, and leave a comment, below - and check back on Monday for hourly updates on consumer and personal finance news.

Sunday 14 April 2024 12:25, UK

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Ask a question or make a comment

The default tariff for prepayment meters is now cheaper than other types of meter.

It follows the energy price cap update to unit rates and standing charges from 1 April.

Uswitch data shows 56% of households don't know about the change.

What do you need to know?

Prepayment meters have traditionally been a more expensive way of paying for energy - but now prepayment standing charges have been lowered to match those for direct debit customers.

Because prepay units are cheaper, people with these meters should pay around £47 less a year than those on direct debits (£1,643 versus £1,690).

Customers who pay when they get a bill are forking out the most - around 5.8p more per day on the standing charge than those with direct debits.

Should we all get prepayment meters?

As energy costs come down, suppliers like EDF Energy have now started offering fixed deals lower than the price cap - and as things stand these are the cheapest options for many.

Eon Next's Pledge tariff promises to be 3% below whatever the price cap is for a year.

There can be catches if you want to leave these fixed deals (though Octopus doesn't charge them) - so make sure you do your research.

How many people have prepay meters?

The number of prepayment meters has fallen almost 8% from the peak in 2019, but there's still more than seven million gas and electricity units in action.

In total, 195,503 prepayment meters were installed in 2023.

Are people swapping?

Uswitch has some research that says young people (18 to 34) are far more likely to go for prepay meters - 51% would consider it, compared with 5% of over-55s.

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch, said: "Prepayment meters have got a bad reputation among some households, but changes to the price cap mean that their default tariffs are now cheaper than standard credit meters.

"With prepayment meters, you pay for your energy before you use it, and while there are emergency provisions, it does mean it is possible to be cut off if you have not put enough money into your account. 

"This means that younger consumers and vulnerable people are at greater risk of disconnecting themselves from their energy supply when money is tight.

"Direct debits also allow consumers to spread out their costs evenly throughout the year, meaning bills won't rise significantly in the winter when energy usage is highest."

By Brad Young, Money team

Earning up to £60,000 a year for letting Stormzy film a music video in your kitchen or Paloma Faith play with Lego in the living room might sound farfetched to homeowners unfamiliar with the shoot locations industry. 

But every star, studio or big brand that wants to film in a residential property needs someone willing to offer up their home for the day - and they'll pay between £700 and £3,000 for the privilege.

Homeowners and shooting agencies have spoken with the Money team about the promises and pitfalls of working with the likes of Disney, Netflix and ITV to take advantage of this niche income stream. 

Among them was Ed Reeve, a photographer from Hackney, who has had stars such as David Attenborough, Stormzy and Jim Broadbent walk through his doors in the 17 years he's been renting out his home. 

"It has been a really positive experience on the whole for us. Generally, the shoot crews are really lovely people and they're very respectful of your home," said Mr Reeve, who is registered with location agency 1st Option.

He hosts between 12 and 20 productions a year. Most bring in £1,000 for a one-day shoot, but some earn him up to £3,000 per day or last multiple days.

"We've met lots of interesting people," said Mr Reeve, including Gillian Anderson, who stars in Sex Education, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Claire Foy (The Crown).

After Stormzy filmed a music video, Mr Reeves said that "every grime artist wanted to shoot here".

David Attenborough once turned up early for a BBC shoot, resulting in the pair sitting down for a cup of tea and Mr Reeve introducing his three-day old daughter to the presenter.

"He held her and looked at her with delight... it was a really special moment," said Mr Reeve. 

Shoots can result in scratches around the interior, but Mr Reeve said he uses some of the money to redecorate – or in one case, let a Delux advert do it for him. 

'It's never free money'

Less enthusiastic about the industry was Emer Stamp, 48, a children's author from London, who has hosted for two years.

"You think, 'Oh yeah, my house is going to be rocking', and everyone comes round and goes 'Your house will be perfect', but for whatever reason, it's not.

"My takeout is it's not as easy to make money as you think."

Ms Stamp said her home had been chosen for three productions, including a Dell shoot and a Lego advert starring Paloma Faith, earning her approximately £6,000. 

Hosting also puts your schedule at the mercy of production companies – and sometimes they may not show up, said Ms Stamp.

"Like anything, you think it's free money but it's never free money."

So what does make a location popular? 

Becky Butler, managing director at agency Location Collective, said there is demand for average-sized family homes with a 60s/70s vibe and unusual features. 

And while a lot of the homes listed by location agencies look expensive, that was far from a deal-breaker. 

"All the practical side of things are as important, if not more so, than the aesthetics of the location," said Ms Butler.

Parking, easy-going neighbours and having one large room for equipment goes a long way with clients.

Getting the combination right can create "a fantastic additional income stream", said Jennifer Marshall, of Shootfactory, which has connected homeowners with everyone from Little Mix to Killing Eve. 

"We have properties that through our company have earned anywhere between £20,000 and £60,000 a year."

Much of the industry is based in London but, between them, the three agencies contacted by the Money team have organised filming in Manchester, Birmingham, the Midlands, the Home Counties and coastal areas.

Both Ms Marshall and the team at Location Collective said having a neighbour willing to get in on the action can be a real selling point.

This might mean a second house on the same street for a TV show, or simply somewhere to house the production team.

"Being able to let them pretty much take over is quite key. Sometimes they might have demands like painting or moving furniture," said Lily Gonnissen, head of business development at Location Collective. 

Being quick to respond to questions, contactable during the working day, and able to accommodate viewings at short notice was a top priority, said Ms Gonnissen. 

"Be friendly and welcoming - brands remember a good owner," said a spokesperson for 1st Option: "And make sure the house is clean and clutter free before any shoots."

We've had a mixed mailbag of comments this week - with readers getting in touch about pensions, tipping and divorce among other things.

Following this feature on divorce costs last weekend...

...we had dozens of comments...

So many people must be trapped in abusive relationships. A loan has helped me get away - covering legal costs, paying the bills/mortgage on marital home whilst being unable to stay and finding thousands for a rental. Costs so far about £8k - only one year in and at decree nisi. H

Since broken families are ever more common why isn't the government doing something to help divorcees get back on the housing ladder like first-time buyers are? Countless thousands, despite having the income, are doomed to rent expensive family homes. Men especially! Twice Divorced Of Surrey

Trust me, it costs a whole lot more than £30k, stay away from solicitors, work through it yourself. Toby

When one party will not communicate with the other, this makes the process much more expensive. Around £80k in solicitors and barrister fees. Vbkinguk

Another story that cut through was London restaurant chain Ping Pong scrapping tips - months before new legislation will require restaurateurs to give staff 100%.

Readers don't seem impressed...

Best thing employees and customers can do is boycott them. Just goes to show what they actually think of their staff. Dave

I don't want to eat somewhere that doesn't look after its employees. Jack

I'm sure patrons and staff will vote with their feet! How disgraceful to remove tips, probably as the owners aren't getting any cut of their staff's hard work! Elijah

We've reported extensively on the rise to the state pension this month - including how, due to frozen income tax thresholds, more pensioners will be dragged into paying income tax. Chris seems to be one of those impacted...

I deferred taking my state pension for five years to hopefully boost my pension, because I happened to be the last group of people to get the old state pension. Unfortunately because of the tax band freeze any benefit from the pension uplift is being eroded every year, is this fair? Chris

And finally, on Monday we suggested a cheaper way to buy herbs and spices in the supermarket - by using the world food aisle...

We had this comment...

Best money-saving practice for herbs and spices is to source them at Asian stores - not supermarkets! Pip

Spain is planning to scrap a "golden visa" scheme that grants residency rights to foreigners who make large investments in real estate.

Ending the scheme would help make access to affordable housing "a right instead of a speculative business", Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

The programme awards non-EU citizens investing at least €500,000 (around £429,000) in Spanish real estate - without taking out a mortgage - a special permit, allowing them to live and work in the country for three years.

In better news for Britons who hope to live abroad, Italy is allowing non-EU citizens who can work remotely to apply for a year-long "digital nomad" visa.

There's a few salary/reference based criteria to meet - read about them here...

Labour this week tried to address questions over how it would pay for key pledges  after the Tories used their idea of scrapping the non-dom status to fund a national insurance cut.

Labour had been committed to abolishing non-dom status for years - upon gaining power they planned to use the money to fund breakfast clubs for primary school children and additional appointments in the NHS.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves this week announced the party's plan to raise £5bn a year by the end of the next parliament...

• Labour said it would raise £2.6bn by closing "loopholes" in the government's non-doms plan - after certain exemptions were kept in place by Jeremy Hunt;
• Labour said the "tax gap" - the difference between the amount of money HMRC is owed and the amount it receives - had widened to £36bn in 2021-22 - £5bn more than it had been the previous year;
• To close the gap, Labour said it would invest up to £555m a year in boosting the number of compliance officers at HMRC, increasing productivity and improving the organisation's "dire" customer service;
• It would also consider requiring more tax schemes to be registered with HMRC to ensure they are legitimate, and renew the focus on offshore tax compliance.

The government responded by saying: "The Conservatives have introduced over 200 measures to clamp down on tax non-compliance and we are sticking to the plan to strengthen the economy so we can cut taxes, putting £900 in the pockets of the average worker and helping families to build a brighter future."

Shell is weighing up quitting the London Stock Exchange (LSE) for a move to New York over concerns its listing is currently "undervalued".

Chief executive Wael Sawan  told Bloomberg  that he was mulling "all options".

The British oil and gas giant is currently the largest company in the FTSE 100 index, and its departure from the LSE would be a significant blow to the UK stock market that is fighting to stay relevant.

There's been a run of bad news for the LSE over the past year or so. The world's largest building products manufacturer, CRH, moved to New York, while travel company Tui moved to Frankfurt. And despite the lobbying of numerous prime ministers, UK-based chip company Arm chose the NYSE.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

UK lenders have seen a rise in defaults on mortgages and credit cards - with the trend expected to continue in the coming months, according to a survey.

A poll of banks and building societies by the Bank of England reveals lenders reported higher default rates on secured loans and unsecured lending in the three months to the end of February.

The rates for mortgages, credit cards and other loans, as well as loans to small to medium businesses, are all expected to rise in the next quarter.

The BoE carries out the survey every quarter as part of its role to maintain financial stability.

It also revealed increased demand for borrowing, with this also expected to climb during the three months to the end of May.

Karim Haji, global and UK head of financial services at KPMG, said the latest BoE data suggests "a more positive economic outlook hasn't fed through to household finances yet".

"Defaults across all unsecured lending increasing over the same three-month period indicates many people are still struggling to meet their day-to-day costs. Lenders will need to be vigilant and continue to offer support for borrowers in the interim," he said.

By  Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Poor software and bias toward making only small, sequential changes is one of the reasons economic forecasters at the Bank of England failed to predict and prepare for the cost of living crisis, brought about by high inflation, according to a "once in a generation" review.

The review announced last year was undertaken by the former head of the US central bank, known as the Fed, and said the quality of the Bank's economic expectations "deteriorated significantly in the past few years" due to out of date software and "excessive incrementalism".

Though the "unusually large forecasting errors" were said to be "probably inevitable", according to the review, conducted by Dr Ben Bernanke.

The problem was not unique to the Bank, rather something all central banks and private forecasters suffered from, it said.

Read the full story here...

After the UK airports with the worst delays were revealed earlier today (see post at 1.15pm), we've been looking at your rights.

If you're unlucky enough to get stuck at an airport due to a flight delay, you may wonder if you're entitled to any compensation.

The good news is you may be - in certain circumstances.

First, it's important to know what flights are covered by consumer law. These are: 

• Any flight leaving a UK airport
• Flights operated by a UK/EU airline arriving at a UK airport
• Flights operated by a UK airline only arriving at an EU airport

When will I be entitled to help? 

You'll qualify for support if a short-haul flight under 932 miles (1,500km) is pushed back by two hours. 

This rises to three hours for journeys up to 2,175 miles (3,500km).

For long-haul flights going any further than this, four hours or longer counts as a significant delay.

What support will I get?

Under UK law, airlines must give passengers who are affected by a delay of at least two hours:

• A reasonable amount of food and drink (usually provided in the form of vouchers)
• Refunds for the cost of two free phone calls, faxes or emails
• Accommodation for passengers stranded overnight (usually in a nearby hotel)
• Transport to a hotel - or their home

Will I get compensation?

Usually, airlines have to provide compensation if a person's flight arrives more than three hours late.

The exception to this is when there are air traffic control problems or extreme weather, as these issues aren't their fault.

If you agree to travel on a later flight, the airline is no longer obliged to offer food, drink or accommodation while you wait.

Thankfully, you are entitled to a full refund if you decide to abandon your journey after five hours of delays.

The length of your flight affects how much you are entitled to:

• Short-haul flight - £220
• Medium-haul flight - £350
• Long-haul flight - £520 if the flight arrived more than four hours late, £260 for a delay of between three to four hours

What if I'm about to travel?

Transfer passengers who end up missing a connecting flight because their first plane was delayed are entitled to a service back to their original departure point.

But things get a little more complicated for passengers on package holidays - especially if they decide not to travel on a delayed outbound flight.

The CAA's guidance says: "You may lose your holiday too, so we recommend you contact your package organiser or the airline for further information.

"If you still want to travel then your airline must get you to your destination. You might have to be patient while they rearrange transport and rebook passengers, but the law says they must get you there."

What if my flight is cancelled? 

You're entitled to a refund or replacement flight if yours is cancelled. Your rights to assistance are the same as if your flight is delayed.

If the reason for the cancellation was within the airline's control, and it was made with no more than 14 days' notice, then depending on the timings of the new flight offered you could also be entitled to compensation.

You'll be able to claim £110 and £520 depending on the length of the route and timings of the new flight.

Drivers are still feeling the strain of rising insurance premiums - but there are signs of a slowdown, according to one index.

New figures from insights firm Consumer Intelligence suggest the average quoted price of car insurance rose by 56.4% in the year to February.

This was the third-highest annual increase since its records began in 2012 - but in slightly better news for motorists, it marked a lower annual rise than the 67.2% recorded in November.

And there was only a slight rise of 0.5% when looking at the three months to February - the lowest quarterly increased since November 2021.

Drivers most commonly received a quote between £500 and £749 in February, Consumer Intelligence said. It analysed the average of the five cheapest offers from price comparison websites.

Max Thompson, the firm's insurance insight manager, said big insurance brands made "competitive movements" to reduce premiums at the start of the year.

"However, some of this was unwound in February indicating it may have been more of a tactical move than a long-term trend," he added.

Jonathan Fong, manager of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers, said insurers were "aware of the financial challenges customers are facing" and were working to keep prices affordable.

"Our motor premium tracker is the only collection based on the price customers pay for their policy, rather than quotes, and shows that the average motor premium increased by 25% last year to £543.

"This was largely driven by above inflation increases in the cost of repairs, thefts and replacement cars."

The Abu Dhabi-backed vehicle that had been on the brink of buying The Daily Telegraph is in detailed talks with Whitehall officials about the structure of an onward sale of the newspaper. 

Sky News has learnt that RedBird IMI is negotiating with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about whether it can convert a call option which constitutes the right to take ownership of the Telegraph and Spectator into shares in the assets prior to their purchase by a new owner.

Read the exclusive story by our City editor Mark Kleinman ...

The telecoms entrepreneur who turned Daisy Group into one of the industry's most successful private companies is closing in on the latest in a string of significant takeover deals.

Matthew Riley, Daisy's chairman, has orchestrated a £215m deal to acquire 4Com , a provider of cloud communications services to more than 17,000 corporate customers, Sky News understands.

City sources said the deal was expected to be signed within days and was likely to hand 4Com founder Daron Hutt a windfall worth more than £100m.

Read the full story here ...

The Financial Conduct Authority has told motor finance firms they need to put funds aside as it continues a probe into the sector.

The City regulator also said many firms are "struggling to promptly provide the data we need" for the investigation.

A review was launched by the FCA earlier this year into whether people could be owed compensation for being charged too much for car loans, following a high number of complaints on historic agreements.

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‘The old days are no more’: Hong Kong goes quiet as security laws tighten their grip

NGOs and bookshops are closing, media organisations are leaving and democracy activists are on trial

“I deas are bulletproof”. Three words , stamped out in multicolour tiles above a doorway, represented one of the last vestiges of Hong Kong’s once vibrant literary spaces. On 31 March, Mount Zero, a beloved independent bookstore in Hong Kong, closed its doors for the final time. Hundreds of Hongkongers came to say goodbye.

The bookshop, which opened in 2018, took its slogan from the 2005 film V for Vendetta; the eponymous antihero’s Guy Fawkes mask occasionally appeared during Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests.

Mount Zero’s closure, which was announced after what the owner said was repeated inspections from the authorities, came as Hongkongers are coming to terms with a new reality of life with not one but two national security laws, which critics say are being used to crush dissent.

“People are quickly adjusting to the idea that the old days of public expression are no more,” says Bao Pu, the founder of New Century Press, a publishing house.

The pro-democracy protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020 feel like an increasingly distant memory. Where 2 million people once flooded the streets to oppose the government’s plans to establish closer links with mainland China, an individual can now be jailed for wearing a “seditious” T-shirt.

The quietening is largely because of a national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in June 2020. Authorities say the law was necessary to restore stability; critics say the vaguely worded crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces effectively criminalise dissent.

Considering the millions of people who took to the streets in 2019 and 2020, relatively few people have actually been arrested under the law: 292 as of 31 January .

“That is intentional,” says Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a professor of Chinese history at the University of California, Irvine, and author of Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink. More than 800 people have been arrested for rioting, while nearly 300 people have been targeted using a colonial-era sedition law. Protesters have been targeted with more than 100 different types of offences. “It is hard for people to realise how much things have changed when you see these divided-up numbers,” Wasserstrom says.

And now the authorities have another tool in their arsenal: Article 23 , a homegrown national security law that covers newly defined acts of treason, espionage, theft of state secrets, sedition and foreign interference.

The government has been on the offensive in condemning what it calls “scaremongering” about the new legislation. A spokesperson said it “only targets an extremely small minority of people who endanger national security”.

The legislation has been decades in the making. It comes from a provision in Hong Kong’s 1997 Basic Law. But a previous attempt to implement it in 2003 prompted 500,000 people to protest, causing the bill to be shelved. In 2024, the streets were silent.

“The children of the [2003] protesters are now going to suffer through what their parents fought against,” says Mark Sabah, director of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.

Both of those generations have been swept up in a mass trial of pro-democracy figures who are waiting – most of them in jail cells – for judges hand-picked by the chief executive to decide their guilt or innocence. The prosecution of the Hong Kong 47, as they’ve come to be known, includes well-known figures such as Joshua Wong and Benny Tai and has been extensively criticised by foreign governments, human rights groups and the defendants’ lawyers.

First arrested in 2020, they were accused of plotting to bring down the government by holding informal pre-election primaries. The formal charge is “conspiracy to subvert state power”. The arrests themselves were labelled politically motivated.

The 10-month trial ended in December. A verdict would normally be expected within six months, but given the complexity and size of the proceedings – 16 of the 47 pleaded not guilty, with the remainder awaiting sentencing – many expect it to be delayed. The accused have already spent more than 1,000 days behind bars and face sentences of up to life in prison.

And while observers wait for that verdict, there are also concerns about the ongoing trial of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and former medial mogul who has been detained since December 2020. His trial for colluding with foreign forces is expected to end in May, having been plagued by accusations that it is politically motivated and that one of the witnesses was tortured. The 76-year-old faces spending the rest of his life in prison.

Outside the courts, the government is keen to give the impression that life continues as normal. There are dozens of major events planned for the first half of this year, a lineup the government says will attract locals and tourists to “participate and experience Hong Kong’s unique glamour”. More than 75,000 people attended this year’s Art Basel, according to its organisers, despite calls to boycott the art fair because of concerns about censorship.

And despite the widespread feeling among activists that Hong Kong is becoming like any other Chinese city, differences remain. The territory still has an open internet. It is still possible to buy materials that are banned in mainland China , although the number of vendors is dwindling. Bao’s New Century Press recently published a biography of a senior Chinese Communist party official who played an important role in the Cultural Revolution. A Chinese buyer despaired when the book was confiscated on three separate occasions as he tried to take it into the mainland.

“And so far nobody has kidnapped me,” Bao jokes. “Not yet.”

But the chipping away of civil society continues. On 10 April, a representative from the NGO Reporters Without Borders was detained for several hours at Hong Kong International airport and then deported, as she attempted to travel to the city to monitor Lai’s trial. In March, Radio Free Asia, a US-funded media outlet, closed its Hong Kong bureau , citing fears for staff safety because of Article 23. A journalist at the South China Morning Post went to Beijing in October for a defence conference and disappeared . At least 90 NGOs and 22 media groups have closed since the 2020 national security law, according to the Centre for Asian Law at Georgetown University.

“If we really want Hong Kong to go back to a prosperous, safe and free city, I think we need to have a rapprochement, a dialogue with some people,” says Emily Lau, a veteran pro-democracy politician and former legislator. “Most people here accept that we are part of China. They’re not going to use violence to overthrow the government, but they would like the freedom to express their views … like they have been doing for decades.”

On 11 April, Mount Zero posted photographs of its final day on Instagram. “People came one after another, a few young people asking each other, what exactly are we going to do?” the caption reads. “No one knew the specific answer.”

Additional research by Chi Hui Lin

• Asia Pacific
• Freedom of speech

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