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Travel insurance for Australia

While travel insurance for Australia isn’t a legal requirement, it’s worth considering when you’re going so far from home.

If you’re ready to get started, you can compare quotes to find cover. Or, find out more about travelling in Australia.

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Reviewed by Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert 6 min read | Published 27/02/2024

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Important information

All insurance products exclude cover for known events. These are global events that can put you in danger and/or disrupt travel. The Covid-19 pandemic is an example of this. This exclusion applies if the event was declared as a ‘known event’ when you bought your insurance.

If you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice or fail to comply with your destination's entry requirements, you won't be covered by any travel insurance you buy.

There are no current travel advisories or restrictions for Australia*. So, you should be able to buy a travel insurance policy.

*Correct as of July 2024

Do I need travel insurance for Australia?

It isn’t a legal requirement to have travel insurance if you’re travelling to Australia, but it’s worth considering. For starters, getting there involves long-haul flights, often with multiple stops. This means there’s more opportunity for things to go wrong, such as flight cancellations, lost baggage or delays.

Having a policy in place means you’re protected if your holiday is affected by any of these and you need to make a claim on your travel insurance. It also means you’re likely to be covered if your trip is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Choosing the right policy for your trip

You need a worldwide travel insurance policy excluding Canada, the USA and Mexico if you’re heading to Australia.

Single trip travel insurance

This might be a cheaper option if you're only planning on taking one trip. It covers you for 1 trip to a single location and normally protects you for up to 31 days.

Explore single trip travel insurance

Multi trip travel insurance

If you're planning to take more than 1 trip in the year, an annual policy might be cheaper than buying individual policies each time you travel.

Explore multi-trip travel insurance

Backpacker travel insurance

If you're travelling to multiple countries in a single trip, you need a backpackers insurance policy. This normally covers 1 trip lasting between 1 and 18 months.

Explore backpacker travel insurance

What our travel insurance expert says

“Australia is vast and varied, so the cover you need from your travel insurance depends on what kind of trip you’ve planned. This could be skiing and snowboarding, scuba diving, city breaks or even remote outback retreats.

“Plan what you’re going to do and where you’re going to go on your trip, and make sure your chosen travel insurance policy covers it.”

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

What does Australia travel insurance cover?

Most travel insurance policies cover:

Medical expenses and repatriation. If you fall ill or have an accident, a travel insurance policy can cover these expenses.
Flight cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances. Some policies also include missed connections.
Lost, stolen or damaged luggage or passports. Travel insurance can help cover the cost of replacing clothes, toiletries and belongings.
Cancellation or curtailment. If your trip is delayed, cancelled or cut short unexpectedly, travel insurance should cover your costs.

Most travel insurance policies exclude:

Certain activities and sports. Dangerous or adventurous sports and activities are normally not covered.
Pre-existing medical conditions if you fail to declare them. Some conditions such as diabetes may need a specialist policy.
Natural disasters. Bushfires, cyclones and flooding aren’t unusual in Australia, but they’re often not covered by travel insurance.
Travelling against government advice. Travelling against FCDO advice normally means you can’t get travel insurance, or aren’t covered by existing policies.
Incidents related to drug or alcohol use. Incidents that occur when you're under the influence are not normally covered by insurers.

How much does travel insurance for Australia cost?

The price you pay depends on your personal circumstances and the type of policy you need. Here are a few examples of the costs of different policies:

Policy type	Price
Single trip travel insurance	£6.01¹
Couples travel insurance	£7.85²
Family travel insurance	£10.97³

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, including cancer or heart conditions, you could end up paying more. You might find your choice of insurers is more limited, and those who do cover you do so at an increased price. This is because pre-existing medical conditions put you at higher risk of requiring medical attention while you’re abroad.

¹Cheapest policy 1 week in Australia, 30 year old with no medical conditions - Confused.com data February 2024
²Cheapest policy for 1 week in Australia, 30 year old couple with no medical conditions - Confused.com data February 2024
³Cheapest policy for 1 week in Australia, family of 4 with no medical conditions - Confused.com data February 2024

Medical care in Australia

Thanks to the UK-Australia Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement, Brits travelling down under are entitled to subsidised healthcare via Medicare. This means that urgent or essential medical care is free.

However, there are exclusions. For example, ambulance journeys and medical evacuations aren’t covered, and these can be expensive. Your travel insurance should cover the cost of any fees you’re responsible for, including medical costs and repatriation if necessary.

Travel insurance for activities in Australia

It’s important to have the right level of insurance in place. It needs to be tailored towards the places you're going and what you plan on doing once you get there. These are likely to come at an additional cost though, so consider whether you actually need them before adding them to your policy.

Activity travel insurance covers any adventurous activities, like scuba diving, skydiving or hiking. These activities are not normally covered by a standard travel insurance policy, so if you’re planning on taking part in any it’s worth buying activity travel insurance.
Winter sports insurance, or ski insurance, covers activities like skiing or snowboarding. These policies cover piste closure due to lack of snow or bad weather.
Cruise travel insurance covers missed departures and excursions if you’re planning on cruising around Australia.
Group travel insurance covers multiple people on one policy. If you’re travelling with other people, this type of policy might be cheaper than buying individual policies. It’s worth comparing quotes to make sure though.

Do I need a visa for Australia?

Yes, if you’re a British citizen, you need a visa to enter Australia. This is normally an eVisitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). If you’re planning to stay in Australia on a working holiday, you need a working holiday visa.

You also need to hold a full British passport that’s valid for the duration of your trip.

Australia travel tips

Money: the currency is the Australian dollar. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted, but it’s best to take a combination of cash, credit cards and prepaid cards. Remember to contact your bank before you travel to avoid any restrictions or blocks while you’re away.
Safety: Australia can be affected by bushfires, severe floods, cyclones and dust storms, so pay attention to weather warnings. There are several dangerous animal and insect species to be aware of too.
British embassy: You can find British consulates in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Climate: Australia is a big country with many climates, including tropical in the north-east, desert in the west, and temperate in the south-west. Temperatures range from below 0c at night to anything above 30c in the day.
Driving in Australia: Make sure you have an international driving permit. It’s also important to keep plenty of water with you as there's often a great distance between towns. It’s also important to check road conditions and be aware of unsealed roads in remote areas.

Mobile phone coverage: This is normally good in cities and larger towns. However, it can be limited in certain areas, and completely non-existent in more remote regions.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. But people throughout the country speak a variety of indigenous languages.
Time difference: Australia has 3 time zones: Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), Australian Central Standard Time (ACST), and Australian Western Standard Time (AWST).
Other information: Australia has strict rules around what food, animal products and plant products - including anything wooden - you can bring into the country. Check the rules on the Australian Department of Agriculture before you take anything with you.

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