Asia and Oceania

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Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

 

• There is an underlining threat from terrorism. Attacks cannot be ruled out and could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See Safety and Security - Terrorism .
  
  
• Over 664,000 British nationals visit Australia every year (Source: Tourism Australia). Most visits to Australia are trouble–free. See General - Consular Assistance Statistics. Australia is a vast country; you should plan your journeys carefully, particularly if travelling to remote areas, bushwalking or going swimming.
  
  
• British nationals are required to obtain visas for entry into Australia. You should ensure that you have a return or onward air ticket. Beware of scam adverts offering to sell information claiming to help you extend a working holiday visa; several British (and other foreign) nationals have had their visas cancelled as a result. See Entry Requirements.
  
  
• Take extra health precautions if travelling in the Northern Territory, parts of Western Australia, parts of South Australia and parts of Queensland. There were a number of deaths and serious illnesses from Murray Valley Encephalitis in several States/Territories in 2011. Pertussis (whooping cough) is a large and growing problem across Australia. There was an increase in cases of measles in New South Wales in 2011. There were several cases of hendra virus in Queensland and New South Wales in 2011. See Health.
  
  
• Australia is prone to seasonal natural disasters including tropical cyclones, flash flooding, dust storms and bushfires (forest fires). The Cyclone Season normally runs from November to April. Travellers in affected areas should keep up-to-date with advice from local media and emergency services. See Natural Disasters - Tropical Cyclones.  
  
  
• There was heavy rain and flooding throughout Australia in early 2011. Queensland suffered the worst floods, with an area the size of France and Germany inundated, three-quarters of Queensland declared a disaster zone, 200,000 people affected, and a number of deaths across the State.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is an underlining threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. 

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

In December 2010, a Supreme Court jury convicted three men resident in Melbourne of conspiring to plan a terrorist attack. They had been arrested in 2009, while plotting to attack the Holsworthy army barracks in Sydney with firearms.

Safety and Security - Crime
Make two copies of your passport’s personal details page and leave one with friends at home. Take one copy with you, or upload it onto a secure online data storage site; this will help a speedier turnaround if your passport is lost or stolen.

• Be particularly careful with personal possessions and travel documents in cities and other popular tourist destinations. Avoid carrying everything in one bag.
• Do not leave bags unattended in internet cafes, pubs or clubs.
• Luggage and other personal items left in unattended vehicles and identifiable hire cars and camper-vans may also be targeted, including at theme park car parks.
• Take particular care when walking at night in some of the busy tourist areas of Sydney, such as Kings Cross, down town George Street, Hyde Park and Centennial Park.
• There were several late-night attacks on foreign tourists and backpackers in Noosa in late 2011; one involved a British backpacker.
  
• Take care in the town centre of Alice Springs at night; there have been a number of recent incidents of harassment, robberies and attacks (including sexual assault) on foreign tourists and backpackers. 
• Be alert when withdrawing cash from cash machines. Check that a card-reading device has not been attached, and ensure that no-one can see you enter your PIN number.
• Theft from safe deposit boxes is common in the cheaper hotels and hostels.  
  Beware of online lettings scams in which prospective tenants are asked to transfer a deposit to an overseas bank account in return for keys to a rental property in Australia. A number of British and other foreign travellers have fallen victim to such scams.
• Beware of unsolicited emails claiming you have won a lottery or have an unexpected employment offer. As elsewhere, these and other online scams are quite common. Further guidance is available on the Scamwatch and Metropolitan Police website.  
  

The level of crime is no higher than in the UK. Proof of age cards are available at little cost from Roads & Traffic Authority (RTA) offices in Australia and are an accepted form of ID for many everyday services, such as opening bank accounts or entering licensed premises. By obtaining such a card soon after you arrive, you will not need to carry your passport with you unless travelling – thereby greatly reducing the risk, and cost, of it being lost or stolen. Further guidance is available on the Australian Government website.

If your passport is lost or stolen, there are no facilities to issue full validity UK passports in Australia; applications are processed at our Regional Passport Processing Centre in New Zealand, and passports are printed and despatched from the UK. There is also no facility outside the UK to fast track full validity UK passports.

If your need to travel falls within the minimum passport processing time of four weeks, you should call your nearest British Consulate and they will do their best to help you. You may be eligible for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). We make every effort to ensure compassionate cases are processed quickly.

See our victims of crime abroad page.

Be aware that alcohol and drugs can lead to you being less alert, less in control and less aware of your environment. If you are going to drink, know your limit. Remember that drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK. There have been cases of serious sexual offences against British nationals in Australia. For more guidance about this see rape and sexual assault abroad.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
Australia is a huge country. You should take regular rest breaks when driving long distances - there are many rest stops provided. There are extremely remote outback areas, which can present unexpected hazards. If you intend travelling to such areas you should plan your trip with care and seek and follow local advice on what precautions to take. In addition, when travelling to remote tourist areas of the outback, it is essential to leave your route details and expected time of return with the relevant local tourist authorities or police, your hotel/hostel, or with friends and relatives. Ensure that you also notify them if your travel plans change and when you finally return. Many tourists are reported missing, only to be found safe and well at their next destination. If you are hiring a car immediately on arrive, be extra careful - you will be jetlagged and tired from your flight.

If you intend bushwalking in or exploring national parks you must be aware that the majority of these are in remote areas and it can take hours to reach help. This has resulted in a number of deaths. The terrain and intense heat can have a severe impact in reducing your capabilities. Take plenty of water with you and a means of rigging up a shelter from the sun. The NSW Police Force website provides further advice on bush safety, most of which applies throughout Australia.

Australia is home to a number of dangerous animal species, from crocodiles, jellyfish and sharks to poisonous insects and snakes. The West Tropics Management Authority website has information on dangerous marine life and dangerous animals.

The Tourism Australia website has extensive information on travelling around the continent. The Australian Government’s National Visitor Safety Handbook also contains comprehensive travel safety advice on Australia.

Safety and Security - Beach safety
Rip currents are the leading surf hazard for all beach users. They can occur at any beach, and can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. Rip currents are directly responsible for 20 coastal drowning deaths and over 15,000 rescues in Australia each year (source: Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA)). There are more British victims than any other foreign nationality, with as many as 400 British nationals rescued and up to four drowning each year.

Take the following simple precautions:

• Always swim between the red and yellow flags - these indicate it is a supervised location where a lifesaving service is currently on duty.
• Do not swim at unsupervised locations.
• Read the safety signs - they indicate current and typical hazards for that location.
• Ask a lifeguard for advice - they are there to provide safety advice and make your experience safe and enjoyable. 
• Always swim with a friend; never alone.
• If you get into trouble, stay calm and attract attention by calling and waving your arm above your head.
• Never swim after consuming alcohol or drugs – they impair your ability and judgement in the water.

Further guidance on beach safety is available on the SLS website.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Swimming Safety
Be aware of your own limitations in terms of your physical health and swimming ability in the given conditions.

Take care when swimming in, or crossing, rivers and pools as these can be subject to sudden flash flooding as a result of heavy rain elsewhere in the area. There have been cases of British nationals being injured by diving into water, which was too shallow. Make sure that there is sufficient depth of water before diving, and always follow warning signs if present.

See our river and sea safety page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
In 2010, there were 1,366 road deaths in Australia (source: DfT). This equates to 6.0 road deaths per 100,000 of population compared to the UK average of 3.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2010.

As a visitor, you may drive in Australia on a valid UK driving licence, which covers the class of vehicle you use. You must carry your licence when driving, in addition to a valid passport. An international driving permit is not sufficient and must be accompanied by a separate valid driving licence. There is an on-the-spot fine for not having your licence with you. Ensure that you are adequately covered for insurance purposes, including if you borrow a car from a friend or relative.

If you intend to stay in Australia and you hold a permanent visa, you are no longer considered a visitor. You are allowed to drive on a current overseas licence for a maximum of three months, after which you must apply for a local licence. The local authorities will only accept your UK driving licence if the names match exactly those in your passport; if they do not, you should obtain a replacement licence from the DVLA before applying. If you plan on driving in Western Australia, or are applying to do so, and you suffer from a permanent or long term injury or illness that is likely to impair your ability to drive a motor vehicle, you are required by law to report this to the Western Australia Department of Transport. For information on what you need to report, and how, see the Western Australia Department of Transport website. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is illegal. The penalties can be severe.

Seat belts must be worn at all times while driving in Australia. Weather hazards can seriously impair driving as road conditions can change rapidly. Sudden storms and strong winds can make driving difficult. Take particular care when driving on unmetalled roads, 4WD tracks and desert/beach roads. In July 2010, Northern Territory Police issued a warning for tourists to stay off unsealed tracks in remote areas of Central Australia following several reports of stranded motorists.

Following two deaths (one of whom was British) and 18 injuries (seven of them British) in two 4WD accidents, from 1 July 2010 all vehicles on Fraser Island must observe a maximum speed of 80km/h on beaches and 30km/h in towns. All 4WD vehicles must carry no more than eight occupants (including the driver) and all luggage must be carried inside the vehicle. Drivers should avoid driving at night and be aware of beach hazards such as ditches created by the surf. Fraser Island is unique but remote, and emergency services can take many hours to reach someone who is injured. Visitors should carry a well-stocked first-aid kit and personal medication as there is no pharmacy on the island. For further advice, and current driving conditions, visit www.derm.qld.gov.au/fraser.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 have also been implemented in Australia. For more details about this please see DfT Airline Security.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Australia Country Profile

The Australian authorities will take action against anyone who imports or is found to be trafficking illegal substances. Prosecution can lead to a lengthy jail sentence and non-Australian nationals are usually deported at the end of their sentence. Deportation may lead to a ban on returning to Australia for several years. Laws, and the penalties for breaking them, can differ from state to state.
 
Australia has an established tradition of tolerance towards homosexuality; however there are still isolated incidents of homophobic related crimes. Gay and lesbian travellers should be aware of local sensitivities particularly when visiting rural communities.
 
Travellers spending a gap year in Australia (or elsewhere) may like to view our gap year page.

Local Laws and Customs - Quarantine Procedures
Australian authorities are rigorous in their efforts to keep out any pests and diseases that could affect plant, animal and human health. All luggage is x-rayed on arrival, whether arriving by plane with visitors or by mail. Any items of quarantine concern are further inspected, treated and, if necessary, confiscated and destroyed.
 
You will be given an incoming passenger card on the plane, on which you must declare any food or goods of plant or animal origin. These goods include nuts, dried fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices, biscuits, cakes and confectionery, teas, coffees and milk-based drinks and sporting equipment (including camping gear), amongst others. A full list of items which must be declared, as well as prohibited goods, can be found on the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service website. Breaches of quarantine regulations can result in large fines.

You must also declare on the passenger card if you have 'visited a rural area, or been in contact with, or near, farm animals outside Australia in the past 30 days'. As a result of these quarantine procedures, you should expect some delay on arrival. See our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
Visas are required for all travel to Australia. British citizens can obtain the following types of electronic visitor visa:

• eVisitor visa direct from the Department of Immigration & Citizenship. There is no visa application charge or service fee for this;
• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via their travel agent or airline. There is no visa application charge, but a service fee of A$20 applies

Information on all other types of visa is available from the Department of Immigration & Citizenship, or from the Australian High Commission in London.

In certain circumstances you may be asked to undergo a health examination before a visa can be granted. If you are aged 75 years or older and applying for a Visitor visa, you will need to undergo a medical examination or an Aged Visitors Health Check. These must be completed by a Panel doctor nominated by the Australian Government. You will have to pay for the costs of the examinations. Please factor in extra time for these examinations when applying for a visa.

For more information on health requirements, please click here.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity

You must hold a valid passport to enter Australia. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. But if you intend onward travel to other countries in the region, please note you are advised that entry into some countries may be refused, and airlines may not carry you, if your passport has less than six months validity. This also affects passengers transiting some countries en route to/from Australia (i.e. if they pass through immigration and enter the transit country), such as Singapore. See the Travel Advice for Singapore. For further information on entry requirements you should check with the Embassy or High Commission in London of the country you intend to visit/transit.  It is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Staying in, and leaving Australia
Ensure that you hold sufficient funds for the whole of your stay in Australia, and have access to emergency funds in case you do run out of money. Ensure that you have a return or onward air ticket (this is in any case mandatory for certain Australian visa categories). Do not rely on obtaining money from sources such as tax refunds to fund a return flight.

Beware of scam adverts offering to sell information claiming to help you extend a working holiday visa. Second year working holiday visas are available if you have worked in a rural area (e.g. fruit-picking) for three months during the first year of your working holiday. Some British (and other foreign) nationals have falsely claimed to have worked on farms using information/documents bought from scam advertisers. As a result, they have had their visas cancelled and been excluded from returning to Australia for three years.

There have been confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) in Australia. You can check for updates on the situation in Australia by calling Australia’s Swine Flu Hotline on 1802 007, or by visiting the Australian Government’s Health Emergency website. 

Reciprocal healthcare arrangements exist between Australia and the UK. Under these, British citizens resident in the UK and travelling on a British passport are entitled to limited subsidised health services from Medicare Australia for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia. This does not cover pre-existing conditions, or treatment that does not require prompt attention. These provisions do not apply to non-visitors, for example those who are studying in Australia. You should check Medicare Australia for further details.

Other exclusions under the reciprocal agreement include pharmaceuticals when not a hospital in-patient, use of ambulance services and medical evacuations. The latter, in particular, are very expensive - with reported cases exceeding £100,000 for medical evacuations to the UK. You should take out comprehensive medical insurance before you travel to Australia as, if you are not covered under the reciprocal arrangements, costs for treatment can be high.

Dengue, Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE) and Ross River Fever (RRF) occur periodically in northern parts of Australia (the Northern Territory, North Queensland and northern Western Australia) and in parts of South Australia. All three viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes. There is no vaccination against them, but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website.

A Canadian tourist died in May 2011, shortly after returning to Canada from a two-week holiday in the Northern Territory. Higher than average rainfall during the first half of 2011 increased the risk of MVE in the Northern Territory. Other MVE fatalities in 2011 occurred in South Australia and Western Australia, with a further eight cases confirmed across Western Australia. The Department of Health extended its advice to people living or travelling anywhere north or east of Perth to take extra care against mosquito bites.

From December 2010 to May 2011, there were nearly 1,200 confirmed cases of RRF, Barmah Forest Virus and MVE in South Australia, more than five times the 206 cases over the same period a year earlier.

The dengue season officially begins each February. An outbreak in northern Queensland in 2009 led to over 900 confirmed cases in and around Cairns and Townsville. A further 629 dengue cases were reported in Australia from January-October 2010. 38 cases of local transmission have been reported in and around Townsville since July 2010, and a further 35 cases in Innisfail since January 2011. The Queensland Government advises that as dengue-carrying mosquitoes usually breed in urban areas, the usual tourist activities in North Queensland - such as reef and rainforest trips - carry a low risk.

There were 77 confirmed cases of Whitmore disease (melioidosis) in the Northern Territory in mid-2010, mainly in greater Darwin, but with cases reported in the Katherine and East Arnhem regions too. One case occurred as far south as Tennant Creek. Since 1 October 2011, 24 people have been diagnosed (mainly in the greater Darwin area), with two related deaths. Heavy rains increase the risk of a melioidosis outbreak, as the bacteria that cause it are found in surface water and mud, and may become airborne. Those most at risk are those with underlying conditions that impair the immune system such as diabetes. Please visit the NT Department of Health and Families website for more information.

Since 2009, much of Australia has experienced the worst whooping cough (pertussis) outbreak in many years. Babies are the main victims of the potentially fatal and highly infectious disease, because they are too young to be (fully) immunized. Three young children died from the disease in 2009, the first fatalities in a decade. In 2011 there were 36,641 confirmed cases across Australia, a 5% increase on 2010. The majority of cases occurred in New South Wales (12,626 cases, up 35%), Queensland (8,514, up 4%), Victoria (8,263 cases, up 17%) and Western Australia (3,529 cases, up 143%).

Since June 2011, there have been several cases of Hendra virus in Queensland and New South Wales. Spread by fruit bats or flying foxes, hendra virus is very harmful to horses, and if transmitted from them to humans it can cause respiratory illness, and in some cases death. In the current outbreak, several horses have died and at least 30 people have been infected. Biosecurity Queensland have quarantined infected properties – including a tourist adventure destination west of Cairns - and are tracing and testing people who may been exposed to infected horses. For more information, visit the QLD Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries website.

There were 66 confirmed cases of measles in NSW in 2011, compared to 26 during 2010.

There were 38 confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis in Queensland in 2011, including one death in Townsville in July 2011.

The Northern Territory has seen an increase in cases of cryptosporidiosis: 27 cases were reported in December 2011, and at least eight more cases in January 2012.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 18,000 adults aged 15 or over in Australia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.2% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

Seek medical advice before travelling to Australia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre NaTHNaC or NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health and Eat and Drink Safely pages and the UK Department of Health website.

Natural Disasters – Flooding
There was heavy rain and flooding throughout Australia in early 2011, including in northern Western Australia, northern New South Wales, northern Tasmania, and western and northern Victoria. Queensland suffered the worst floods, with an area the size of France and Germany inundated, three-quarters of Queensland declared a disaster zone, 200,000 people affected, and a number of deaths across the State.

Natural Disasters - Tropical Cyclones
Tropical Cyclones occur in some parts of Australia, mainly Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. The Cyclone season normally runs from November to April. Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi crossed the North Queensland coast around midnight on 2-3 February 2011. It was the strongest Cyclone ever to hit Australia, causing significant damage to large areas.

Monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). You can also access the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website for updates. For further information see Tropical Cyclones.

Natural Disasters - Dust Storms
Dust storms occur regularly in Australia, but usually only in outback areas.

Natural Disasters - Bushfires
Be aware of the risk of bushfires, especially at the height of the Australian summer (November to February), but they can happen unexpectedly at any time of year if there are (unseasonable) high temperatures and strong winds. In early February 2009, Victoria suffered its worst ever bushfire outbreak, with 173 people confirmed dead, up to 500 injured and nearly 2000 homes destroyed. You should check with local State authorities for current bushfire information: Victoria; South Australia and New South Wales.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You are advised to consider taking out separate medical insurance. It is also advisable to have cover for unexpected losses such as cancelled flights, stolen cash, cards, passport or luggage. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Mobile phones
The mobile phone network generally works well in cities and large towns but coverage on the edge of built-up and  rural areas can be very limited or non-existent. You can use your UK mobile phone in Australia if global roaming has been activated, but making and receiving calls can be expensive. Many visitors prefer to buy an Australian SIM card on arrival. Australian SIM cards are available at some Australian airports, and at convenience stores and supermarkets.

General - Consular Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
Over 664,000 British nationals visit Australia every year (Source: Tourism Australia). Most visits to Australia are trouble-free. 378 British nationals required consular assistance in Australia in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, including for the following types of incident: 89 deaths; 39 hospitalisations; and 125 arrests, for a variety of offences.