Travel Insurance for Australia
Australia has an interesting history and is known for being a place of adventure. Even its name conjures thoughts of the outback, the rainforest, and the Great Barrier Reef. Here is some important information and travel ideas for your next trip to Australia.
Emergency Contact Information
Australia’s general emergency number is 000. It will connect you with the police, fire brigade, and emergency medical services. Travelers with hearing or speech impairments can call the emergency number 106 from their teletypewriter or textphone to be put through the same services. For non-emergencies, such as theft, you can contact the police on 131 444.
Travel Safety Tips
Australia is considered to be a safe country to travel to, but you should still purchase travel insurance when you book your vacation so that you’re prepared for every unforeseen situation.
You should keep an eye on your personal property at all times to prevent theft. However, if your passport, visa, or driver’s licence is lost or stolen while you are in Australia, you can have them replaced by contacting the British High Commission in Canberra or one of the consulates in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, or Sydney.
Australia is known more for its natural threats, such as bushfires, dust storms, and rip tides. Keep an eye on the news and look for whether updates online. While you may want to get close enough to the wild animals in Australia to take photos, you should keep your distance and try not to disturb them.
If you’re planning on driving or bushwalking in remote areas, you should bring a first aid kit, plenty of food and water for several days, sun protection, a shelter, and spare tires for your vehicle. You should always wear sun cream and stay hydrated, since Australia is known for its hot and sunny weather.
For more information on safety and security, entry requirements, and health, check out the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for Australia.
Places to Visit in Australia
The Land Down Under is unlike anywhere else in the world. You can bushwalk in the outback, shop in the city, and relax with a tinny at the beach. If you’re not sure where you should have your next Australian adventure, here are our top places for you to visit in Australia.
Sydney
Walk along the Sydney Harbour Bridge for stunning views of Sydney Harbour and wander over to the Sydney Opera House to see a show or eat at the Bennelong Restaurant. If you’re interested in Australian art, you should go to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Spend your afternoons swimming, snorkelling, surfing, and sunbathing at Bondi Beach. Make sure you stay between the red and yellow flags when you get in the water. Afterwards, you can have lunch and shop at the nearby shopping centre, Pacific Bondi Beach.
If you want to get out of the city, you can travel north to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park or to the west to the Blue Mountains National Park, where you can go mountain biking, bushwalking, and fishing.
Cairns
Most people travel to Cairns for the opportunity to go snorkelling and diving at the Great Barrier Reef. Those who would rather not don a wetsuit can still see the fish and sharks at the Cairns Aquarium. You can enjoy a leisurely day at Palm Cove Beach and sample the seafood at one of the local restaurants. Cairnes has plenty of bars and clubs, and the Cairns Night Markets are popular with locals and tourists alike.
If you visit Cairns, you should go to the Wet Tropics of Queensland. The best ways to get unique views of the rainforest are to hop on a train on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and to take cable car on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. There are also many tours that can take you from Cairns into the Australian outback and Gulf Savannah.
Perth
Perth is a popular place for wildlife spotting. You can head to Perth Zoo and the Caversham Wildlife Park, catch a ferry to Penguin Island to see the fairy penguins, or cycle across the Swan River causeway to Heirisson Island to see the kangroos.
Kings Park is the home of bushlands, a botanic garden, a children’s play area, and it offers treetop views on the Lotterywest Federation Walkway. You can learn about Aboriginal culture in the Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery.
Melbourne
If you’re travelling to Melbourne, the first thing you should do is go to a café for some aromatic Melbourne coffee. The Block Arcade, a Victorian-era shopping centre in the central business district, has some interesting shops and eateries, and the Royal Botanic Gardens make for a fun family day out.
If you’re looking to do something out of the ordinary, there are tours of the Old Melbourne Gaol, where you can learn about its history and former inmates. You can also ride the roller coasters and play the carnival games at Luna Park, Melbourne’s 100-year-old amusement park.
Walk along one of the many coastal trails near the Great Ocean Road or stop by the Dandenong Ranges. There’s much to see and do there, and you can take a tour by hiking, cycling, driving, or getting a steam train.
Adelaide
Acquire a taste for Aussie food at the Adelaide Central Market. There are so many merchants and vendors, you’ll have a hard time choosing where to eat! There are many wineries in the Adelaide Hills wine region, and most offer wine tasting opportunities and vineyard tours.
The Migration Museum is the perfect place to delve into South Australia’s culture. Outdoorspeople can trek from Waterfall Gully to the Cleland Wildlife Park. Morialta Conservation Park is popular with hikers, rock climbers, birdwatchers.
Brisbane
The Kangaroo Point Cliffs are a hotspot for climbers and abseilers. Hike and bike along the Mount Coot-tha trails and snap some Instagram-worthy pics at Mount Coot-tha Lookout. You will also get great views along the Brisbane Riverwalk or you can kayak along the Brisbane River. Get up close and personal with the koalas, birds, snakes, and dingoes at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
Before booking any sports or activities, read your policy wording to make sure they are covered by your travel insurance policy. If you’re planning to bring your phone or digital camera with you on your excursions, make sure they’re covered for loss and damage with travel gadget cover.
