Asia and Oceania

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

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There remains a general threat from terrorism in Australia.  Attacks cannot be ruled out and could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. On 4 August 2009 the Australian authorities arrested a number of suspects alleged to be planning an attack on an Australian military base. As a result of previous, unconnected investigations into terrorist networks, several people have been convicted of terrorism offences. See the Terrorism section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Over 670,000 British nationals visit Australia every year (Source: Tourism Australia). Australia is a vast country; you should plan your journeys carefully, particularly if travelling to remote areas, bushwalking or going swimming. Most visits to Australia are trouble–free. 394 British nationals required consular assistance in Australia in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (73 cases) and hospitalisations (49 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (120 cases) During this period lost or stolen passports were by far the most frequent problem encountered by British nationals in Australia (2,446 cases).
  
  
• British nationals are required to obtain visas for entry into Australia.  You should ensure that you have a return or onward air ticket.  See the Entry Requirements section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Take extra health precautions if travelling in the Northern Territory, parts of Western Australia, and parts of Queensland.   By April 2009 a seasonal outbreak of dengue fever in northern Queensland had resulted in over 900 confirmed cases and one death.  Much of Australia is experiencing the worst whooping cough (pertussis) outbreak in many years, with three reported deaths – the first in a decade.  See the Health section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• 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.  Heavy rain caused severe flooding in south east Queensland and Northern New South Wales between March and May 2009.  Bushfires are common in the summer months from November to February, but can happen unexpectedly at any time of year.  In early February 2009, Victoria suffered its worst ever bushfire outbreak.  See the Natural Disasters section of this advice and Tropical Cyclones for more details.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.