Travel insurance for Australia
Essential travel insurance tips when going down under
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With its crystal-clear water, tropical rainforests, and a burnt red Outback, Australia is a thrilling destination. Whether you’re road-tripping the Great Ocean Road, cycling around Uluru or snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, World Nomads Travel Insurance can have you covered.
- What am I covered for?
- What should I look out for when travelling to Australia?
- What’s not covered?
- Handy tips for travelling in Australia
What am I covered for?
World Nomads offers cover (up to the policy limits) for:
- Overseas medical expenses: if you become sick or injured during your trip.
- Medical evacuation and repatriation: if you need emergency transport home due to a serious illness or injury.
- Travel delays/interruption: if your trip is interrupted due to an insured event.
- Trip cancellation: if your trip is cancelled due to an insured event.
- Baggage and valuables: if your belongings are stolen, accidentally damaged, delayed or lost.
- Family plans: add your children and grandchildren to our policies at no extra cost.
- Activities cover: we cover more than 150 activities so you can have fun adventuring your way around Australia’s outback, coasts, cities and skies.
Note: our travel insurance plans are different. Cover will vary, depending on what you are claiming for, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy.
With World Nomads, you can buy travel insurance as soon as your trip to Australia is locked in or while you're travelling (waiting periods apply); it’s entirely up to you
What should I look out for when travelling to Australia?
When visiting your neighbours across the ditch, there are a few key things to consider. Our travel insurance could help if you land in Sydney, but your baggage doesn’t or if you suffer an injury hiking Cradle Mountain.
World Nomads offers two plans – Standard and Explorer. Each policy has different levels of cover depending on what your needs are. You may be covered if your bags are lost or stolen, if your transport is delayed, or if you suffer an injury that lands you in hospital.
- The Standard Plan – covers a range of benefits and certain adventure activities and has lower coverage limits.
- The Explorer plan – covers all the benefits of the Standard Plan, with larger coverage limits, more benefits and covers more sports and activities.
Essential travel cover options when you need them the most
Depending on the level of cover you choose, World Nomads offers coverage (up to the policy limits) for:
Lost, stolen or delayed baggage cover
If your luggage or personal items are stolen, lost or accidentally damaged, you may be able to claim to replace or repair the item. If your luggage is delayed for more than 12 hours, you may be able to claim for essential clothing and toiletries while you wait for your bag to be returned.
Medical insurance for accidents or injuries
If you become sick or injured in Australia, with anything from food poisoning to an injury whilst participating in an activity, our policies can cover you for medical treatment including hospitalisation, prescribed medicines and prescribed physiotherapy treatments.
Coronavirus cover for some events
If you catch COVID-19 while visiting Australia, we may cover you for medical expenses and hospital assistance, as well as repatriation. Our Explorer Plan offers extra cover for Coronavirus-related events such as cancellation, trip interruption expenses and some quarantine costs. You can check out our Coronavirus cover article which has all of the details, including terms and conditions, benefit limits and exclusions.
Adventure sports & activities cover
There’s no shortage of adventures and activities to do in Australia and depending on what plan you choose, you can be covered for hiking in Tasmania, road tripping along the East Coast, surfing at Bondi Beach, snorkelling with Whale Sharks on Ningaloo Reef and much more. You can find the full list of covered activities here.
Rental car coverage and road safety
Australia is the perfect place for a road trip. With such vast distances between destinations, it can be a good idea to make sure you are covered if something goes wrong when you’re on the road.
Available on our Explorer Plan, we may cover your rental vehicle insurance excess, or the cost of repairing the rental vehicle if you’re involved in a motor accident or your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen.
What’s not covered?
Our policies aren’t designed to cover everything and there are some important general exclusions you should be aware of, including:
- Existing medical conditions – see the Policy Document for details.
- Traveling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning issued by the New Zealand Government.
- Neglecting to observe applicable preventative measures for the travel region, as outlined by the World Health Organization, including obtaining relevant vaccinations and hygiene measures.
- Participation in a sport or activity not listed or failing to adhere to the terms of coverage for listed sports or activities.
- Our policy doesn’t replace the need for you to purchase rental vehicle insurance through the rental vehicle company covering physical damage and theft of the rental vehicle and your liability to third parties for injury or property damage while the rental vehicle is in your care or control.
- Being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
Be sure to read the Policy Document and General Exclusions for other scenarios and expenses we don’t cover so there’ll be no surprises if you need to use your cover.
Australia Travel Tips
- If you’re planning a road trip, be aware of the distances involved between destinations. Sometimes it can be hundreds of kilometres between towns and petrol stations.
- The sun is very strong in Australia so be sure to wear sunblock, even on a cloudy day. Temperatures in Outback areas can be very high.
- Pick your season – the weather can vary tremendously in parts of Australia even in the same season.
- Swim between the flags at the beach. They show the safest point on the beach for swimming and can help you avoid dangerous rips.
Are you looking for more travel inspiration for Australia? World Nomads has various articles that cover a range of fun topics in Australia, here are just a few:
- How to Get a Working Holiday Visa for Australia
- Australia Hikes: 6 Spectacular Tracks All Around the Country
- Where to Stay in Australia: Accommodation Travel Tips
- 10 Ancient Natural Wonders Around Australia
You can also check out our articles if you need the latest safety travel alerts.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.
Traveller tip 1: don't forget when travelling overseas, some countries may require your New Zealand passport to be valid for at least six months before it's expiry date as a condition of entry
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Overseas
Take the pain out of medical costs.
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transport
We'll get you to hospital in a flash
- Explorer Plan: Unlimited
- Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Overseas Medical Expenses
- Emergency dental treatment
- 24 hour assistance
- Emergency medical transport & repatriation
- Cancellation costs
- Trip interruption costs
- Compassionate emergency visit home
- Resumption of trip
- Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
- Baggage delay over 12 hours
- Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
- Personal liability
24/7 emergency assistance
If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
From New Zealand & Overseas:
+61 2 8263 0470 or
+61 2 8292 1470
(reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)
Within Australia (Free call): 1800 611 210
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.