Best Travel Insurance for Australia
Planning an international adventure to the Land Down Under? Between dodging Kangaroos, chasing sunsets along the Great Ocean Road, and debating the edibility of Vegemite, the last thing on your mind would be travel mishaps (but then again, Australiaâs diverse array of poisonous and venomous flora and fauna beg to differ).
Couple your trip with a solid travel insurance covering medical emergencies, personal accidents (e.g. flight accidents), trip disruptions and flight cancellations, to damaged or lost baggageâand your Aussie adventure is as good as gold. So whether youâre braving the outback or city-hopping across Melbourne and Sydney, the best travel insurance for Australia is one that provides the right coverage limits, benefits, and claims support.
Couple your trip with a solid travel insurance covering medical emergencies, personal accidents (e.g. flight accidents), trip disruptions and flight cancellations, to damaged or lost baggageâand your Aussie adventure is as good as gold. So whether youâre braving the outback or city-hopping across Melbourne and Sydney, the best travel insurance for Australia is one that provides the right coverage limits, benefits, and claims support.
Best Australia Travel Insurance Plans in 2025
Budget Travel
FWD Premium, Business, First plans
Overall good budget
Bubblegum plan
Extreme sports & flight disruptions
Tiq Entry, Savvy, Luxury plans
Pre-existing conditions (Esp. for elderly)
MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex Standard, Elite, Premier plans
Overseas medical expenses
SingLife Travel Prestige
For pregnancy and families
Allianz Travel Basic, Silver, Platinum plans
Natural disasters
Singlife Travel Lite, Plus, and Prestige plans
Covid-19 coverage
Starr TraveLead Comprehensive Bronze, Silver, Gold plans
Best Seasons to Visit Australia
When planning Australia international travel, it helps to know that although it experiences 4 distinct seasons, its weather is relatively stable and more predictable compared to other temperate climates. While regionally differences do exist, summers are generally hot and dry while winters are mildâparticularly in coastal cities like Sydney and Perth.
Meanwhile, southern states like the Adelaide Hills, Tasmania, and Melbourneâs vineyard regions come alive with stunning golden foliage and crisp, cool airâperfect for scenic drives, food festivals, and indulging on wine tours.
Spring đ¸
From September to November, spring time beckons less rainfall and milder temperatures in most regions of Australia. While days arenât as long as summer, they remain summer and warm with cool nights. During this time, wearing light jackets and breezy clothing should do the trick.Autumn đ
From March to May, Australia transitions from intense summer to cooler temperatures, accompanied by occasional autumn rains. While northern regions, like Queensland, might experience increased humidity and the tail end of the tropical storm season, popular attractions like the Great Barrier Reef remain largely unaffected and open to visitors.Meanwhile, southern states like the Adelaide Hills, Tasmania, and Melbourneâs vineyard regions come alive with stunning golden foliage and crisp, cool airâperfect for scenic drives, food festivals, and indulging on wine tours.
Floriade Festival in Canberra đş
Springtime explodes into colour at the Floriade Festival, featuring over 1 million gorgeous blooms. You can expect educational hands-on workshops, talks, and fun for the whole family.
đ Free entry at Commonwealth Park, Canberra â held Sept to Oct each year.
Darwin Street Art Festival đ¨
Consider yourself an art connoisseur and canât resist a good photo-op?
This 3-week street art festival turns Darwin into a living canvas every May and June. It celebrates the creativity and amazing artistry of incredible graffiti artists by showcasing over 129 large-scale art murals.
Grampians National Park in Victoria â°ď¸
Want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and retreat into the peace and quiet of nature?
The rugged beauty of the Grampians National Park is a spectacle to behold where waterfalls, spring wildflowers, and native wildlife await you while you trail along Victoriaâs breathtaking mountainous landscape.
Hot air ballooning in New South Wales âď¸
Take to the skies with Australiaâs array of hot air ballooning tours. Youâll be drifting above vineyards, valleys, or golden plans. Most rides even include vineyard breakfast in their package.
Itâs a perfect sunrise or sunset activity to celebrate special occasions or simply capture a magical moment with loved ones.
Beachside sculpture parks in Sydney đď¸
We all know and love Australiaâs beaches, but did you know that each Spring, the Bondi to Tamarama Coastal walk transforms into an open-air art trail with 100+ beachside sculptures along clifftops?
This beachside sculpture park is heralded as the worldâs largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition.
Aboriginal cultural tours in Western Australia đި
What better way to pay homage to Australiaâs aboriginal culture than go on an educational cultural tour?
Connect with Australiaâs oldest living culture by immersing yourself in tours led by indigenous guides. From ancient rock art to storytelling ceremonies, itâs a journey through history, land, and spirit of the aboriginal tribe.
Travel Requirements to Enter Australia
Since reopening its borders, Australia international travel has rebounded significantly, with tourist numbers projected to climb by 41% over the next 5 years. As both domestic (already) and international tourism rebound beyond pre-pandemic levels, hereâs what to expect for travel requirements to enter Australia:
Vaccination and travel insurance
While purchasing travel insurance for Australia is not mandatory, itâs still strongly recommended to be covered with Covid-19 travel insurance, regardless of whether youâre visiting Australia for leisure or business. This becomes even more crucial if youâre venturing into Australiaâs remote outback or regional areas, where healthcare access is limited and emergency evacuation costs can be steep.
So far, the only vaccination required to enter Australia is for yellow fever if youâre travelling from a country listed as a transmission risk. Besides this, other recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A & B, and rabiesâespecially to protect against Australiaâs wildlife.
So far, the only vaccination required to enter Australia is for yellow fever if youâre travelling from a country listed as a transmission risk. Besides this, other recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A & B, and rabiesâespecially to protect against Australiaâs wildlife.
Visa application
Unless youâre from New Zealand which is the only country on a visa waiver agreement with Australia, youâll have to apply for a visa via the Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system to travel to Australia as a tourist.
There are a total of 17 types of visa you can apply for, but if youâre just going there for leisure or business, here are the 5 different visas to consider.
There are a total of 17 types of visa you can apply for, but if youâre just going there for leisure or business, here are the 5 different visas to consider.
| Visa Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Tourist Stream Visa | Visit friends or family, take a cruise, or travel for tourism (non-business/non-medical). Valid for up to 12 months. Application fee starts from AUD$195. |
| eVisitor Visa | Visit for tourism, business activities, short-term study or training (up to 3 months). Valid for 3 months per visit. Free of charge. Only available to certain nationalities. |
| Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) | Similar to eVisitor but requires an AUD$20 application fee. Also valid for 3 months per visit. Available only to passport holders from eligible countries. |
| Transit Visa | Allows transit through Australia for up to 72 hours. Also permits joining a ship crew (with Maritime Crew Visa subclass 988) within 5 days of arrival. Free of charge. |
| First Working Holiday Visa | For individuals aged 18â35 from eligible countries. Allows work and travel in Australia. May be extended to a Second and Third Working Holiday visa if eligibility is met. |
| Business Visitor Stream Visa | Attend business meetings, explore opportunities, negotiate contracts, or join conferences. Valid for up to 3 months. Application fee starts from AUD$195. |
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How to Choose Travel Insurance for Your Australia Trip?
There are many more things to consider now as compared to buying travel insurance prior to the pandemic such as overseas hospital allowance, flight delays, or trip cancellations due to unexpected personal accidents, or even severe illness diagnosis.
Here are 5 steps to get you started:
Here are 5 steps to get you started:
Step 1
Check extent of medical coverage
While premium prices are important, the benefits and reimbursement limits for travel insurance claims like medical expenses, trip cancellations, flight delays, and baggage theft and/or damage, are equally essential as well.
Step 2
Ensure any pre-existing conditions are covered
With select travel insurers covering injuries or illnesses sustained during the trip stemming from pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. pregnancy), you can manage unexpected health issues with greater ease and financial protection.
Such benefits include in-patient hospitalisation expenses overseas that allows you to claim for medical, surgical, nursing or hospital charges, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.
Step 3
Compare policy premiums
The amount that you need to fork out for your travel insurance costs really depends on your destination and length of stay. Most travel insurance companies have 2 to 3 tiers of plans at different price points, with varying comprehensiveness and reimbursement limits.
Step 4
Add coverage for specialised activities
Australia is jam-packed with adventuresâfrom surfing at Bondi Beach to scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef to skydiving over the Gold Coast, itâs truly a mecca for all things extreme sports and adrenaline-inducing activities. But high thrills come with high risks, so itâs essential to ensure your travel insurance includes specialised coverage beyond the basics, to stay protected if things go awry.
Step 5
Cover travel disruptions and baggage damage/loss
Even in laid-back Australia, travel delays, disruptions, and baggage damage or loss can happenâeven on domestic routes. Besides medical emergencies, personal accidents, and death, make sure your travel insurance covers travel hiccups and personal items.
How Does Travel Insurance Cover Me in the Event of Natural Disasters or Unforeseen Events?
Baggage & Personal Belongings Coverage
Many travel insurance plans might not cover trip disruptions caused by natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or events beyond human control (Acts of God). However, some insurers, like Etiqa and DirectAsia, provide reimbursements for baggage damage or loss even if your trip to the UAE gets disrupted. Notably, there are reimbursement limits per article, a set of items, a laptop or other types of personal effects and the limits differ from insurer to insurer.
Trip Curtailment, Cancellation, or Travel Delay Coverage
If your trip to Australia gets cut short (curtailed) or cancelled due to a delay, reimbursements are usually for irrecoverable unused pre-paid transport and accommodation expenses (excluding admin charges or fee related), which were cancelled within 30 days before you were due to start the insured trip. Compensation for travel delays are often limited to a certain maximum claim amount per person or per family, depending on the travel insurance plan's policy terms and conditions.
Worldwide Medical Costs Coverage
If you sustained an accidental injury due to a natural disaster, some travel insurance plans provide coverage depending on its tier (e.g. basic, premium). Reimbursement from certain plans like Etiqa and DirectAsia might include: Payment to medical facilities where you received treatment (overseas or in Singapore), or to your designated beneficiaries. There's usually a timeframe for starting treatment after returning to Singapore, and coverage amounts are capped based on your chosen plan. It's crucial to discuss these details with your insurer.
Donât Let Covid-19 Crash Your Holiday Plans!
As of 20 May 2025, Covid-19 cases are on the rise once again. Safeguard yourself and your loved ones with these top-rated travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage on MoneySmart.
What is the Average Cost of Travel Insurance to Australia?
There are so many travel insurance plans out there in the market that it can get rather overwhelming trying to compare each and every one of them before deciding on one.
To get you started, weâll use an example to illustrate. Letâs say that youâre planning to go for a 1-week trip to Australia and need a single trip insurance plan.
As you compare across the 7 travel insurersâ benefits and premiums, the average cost of a travel insurance plan starts from $34, assuming that we take the lowest-tier plan offered by each travel insurance provider.
Estimated average cost of a travel insurance plan:
$25.60 + $26.80 + $41.40 + $37.35 + $54.40 + $26.60 + $25.45 = $237.60
$237.60 á 7 = $34
Bubblegum, Starr TraveLead, and FWD may be more suitable if youâre looking at more cost-efficient options. Moreover, the medical expenses coverages by FWD and Starr are fairly comprehensive at up to $1 million, which are considered the average among these 7 travel insurances.
If youâre looking for even more comprehensive coverage for medical expenses in the situation that you get diagnosed with an unexpected severe illness or injury, Singlife and AIG are quite extensive with unlimited coverage and $2.5 million respectively. However, when it comes to claiming benefits for trip cancellation if youâre down with an unexpected severe illness or injury, As for claiming benefits for trip cancellation, Singlife provides the highest coverage of up to $20,000.
To get you started, weâll use an example to illustrate. Letâs say that youâre planning to go for a 1-week trip to Australia and need a single trip insurance plan.
| Insurer | Overseas Medical Expenses | Baggage Damage/Loss | Trip Disruptions/Cancellations | Total Premiums |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWD | Up to $1 million | Up to $7,500 | Up to $15,000 | From $25.60 |
| Starr TraveLead | Up to $1 million | Up to $7,500 | Up to $15,000 | From $26.80 |
| Singlife | Unlimited | Up to $8,000 | Up to $20,000 | From $41.40 |
| Bubblegum | Up to $150,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | From $37.35 |
| AIG | Up to $2.5 million | Up to $10,000 | Up to $15,000 | From $54.40 |
| Allianz Travel | Up to $1 million | Up to $5,000 | Up to $10,000 | From $26.60 |
| Tiq by Etiqa | Up to $1 million | Up to $3,000 | Up to $10,000 | From $25.45 |
| *Above estimated premium rates are based on the highest tier of each insurance provider's plans for a 1-week single trip to Australia, updated as of 26 May 2025. All premium rates are subject to change without prior notice at each insurance company's sole discretion. | ||||
As you compare across the 7 travel insurersâ benefits and premiums, the average cost of a travel insurance plan starts from $34, assuming that we take the lowest-tier plan offered by each travel insurance provider.
Estimated average cost of a travel insurance plan:
$25.60 + $26.80 + $41.40 + $37.35 + $54.40 + $26.60 + $25.45 = $237.60
$237.60 á 7 = $34
Bubblegum, Starr TraveLead, and FWD may be more suitable if youâre looking at more cost-efficient options. Moreover, the medical expenses coverages by FWD and Starr are fairly comprehensive at up to $1 million, which are considered the average among these 7 travel insurances.
If youâre looking for even more comprehensive coverage for medical expenses in the situation that you get diagnosed with an unexpected severe illness or injury, Singlife and AIG are quite extensive with unlimited coverage and $2.5 million respectively. However, when it comes to claiming benefits for trip cancellation if youâre down with an unexpected severe illness or injury, As for claiming benefits for trip cancellation, Singlife provides the highest coverage of up to $20,000.
About the Author
Once a clueless Z-llennial herself, Emma understands (and relates) all too well the struggle of juggling savings, credit cards, and everything in between. Having since garnered over 3 years of writing experience in the personal finance space, she now helps others sieve through the noise and break down money matters into clear, bite-sized insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to purchase travel insurance for my Australia trip?
- You can purchase travel insurance for Australia international travel through our MoneySmart comparison page to get the best coverage at unbeatable prices. By now, most plans now include Covid-19 coverage too or as an add-on benefit.
How much does travel insurance for Australia cost?
- As seen from our calculation above, the average travel insurance plan for a 1-week single trip to Australia costs from $34.
Does travel insurance cover adventure sports in Australia?
- Yes, certain travel insurance providers include adventure sports coverage, albeit the extent differs.
Remember that since adventure sports are considered high-risk, coverage is often conditional. Itâs important to review your policy details carefully to understand the full scope of your protection. Does Australia snow? Will Australia snow this year?
- Although the main metropolitan cities in Australia rarely snow, Australia does does snow in certain areas like the Australian Alpsâstretching across New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Snow season there usually spans from June to September.
To view the snow forecast in Australia, you may refer to the seasonal forecasts provided by the Bureau of Meteorology. Does Australia observe daylight savings?
- Yes, Australia does practise daylight savings. In the summer, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT will turn their clocks forward by 1 hour.
Daylight savings usually begins at 2am (AEST) on the first Sunday of October and ends at 3am (AEST) on the first Sunday of April the next year. Which travel insurance is the best in Singapore?
- There is no âbestâ travel insurance in Singapore, only the best-suited travel insurance for your travel needs and preferences. Feel free to compare the providers and travel insurance plans through our listings above.