Australia

Is Australia safe to visit?

Yes. Australia had 0.85 homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary people in 2023 (UNODC), fewer than the United Kingdom, and the US State Department rates it Level 1, its lowest advisory. Street crime against tourists is uncommon outside late-night drinking areas.

The risks that hurt visitors are physical. Rip currents on beaches, sun and heat, bushfires, and fatigue on very long drives cause far more harm than crime. The terrorism picture also changed in December 2025, when an antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach killed 15 people. We score Australia 85, alongside Canada (84) and well above the United States (73).

Beaches, rips and drowning

Rip currents are the main hazard on Australian beaches, the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says, and they can pull out even strong swimmers. Royal Life Saving counted 357 drowning deaths in the year to June 2025, 27% above the 10-year average. Beaches, rivers and lakes all feature, and people born overseas make up a large share of the victims.

The rule that matters most is simple: swim between the red and yellow flags. Lifeguards patrol only that stretch, and many beaches are unpatrolled outside the summer holidays. If a rip takes you, float, raise one arm and wait for help rather than fighting the current. British tourists have also been injured diving into water that was too shallow.

In the tropical north, box jellyfish and Irukandji make swimming outside stinger nets risky from about October to May, and saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries and some beaches from Broome to Cairns. Never swim where a crocodile sign is posted.

Sun, heat and bushfires

Australia's UV levels are among the highest in the world, and sunburn can happen in under 15 minutes on a summer day. Use SPF 50, a hat and shade around midday, even when it is cloudy. Heatwaves regularly push inland temperatures past 40°C, and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary lists extreme heat as a serious risk.

Bushfire season in the south-east runs mainly from November to February. Fires can start close to towns and cities, change direction fast and fill cities with smoke. Before hiking or driving through bush areas in summer, check the daily fire danger rating and the state emergency app (Hazards Near Me in New South Wales, VicEmergency in Victoria). If the rating is "catastrophic", stay out of bush areas altogether. In the north, tropical cyclones and flooding peak from November to April.

Outback roads and long distances

BITRE counted 1,326 road deaths in the 12 months to July 2026, 4.8 per 100,000 people. That is safer than the US and similar to Canada, but the risk is concentrated on rural roads, where speeds are high and help is far away.

Visitors add their own risks: driving on the left, jet lag, and very long distances. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary warns against driving straight after a long-haul flight. Kangaroos cause crashes at dawn and dusk, road trains (trucks with several trailers) need a long gap to overtake, and many hire car policies do not cover unsealed roads. On K'gari (Fraser Island), beach speed limits are 80 km/h after a series of serious crashes. In the Northern Territory, police have told tourists to stay off remote unsealed tracks after motorists were stranded.

Crime and terrorism

Violent crime against visitors is uncommon. Most assaults involve alcohol, in late-night areas of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. Theft from cars and unattended bags on beaches is the usual petty crime. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary also notes a range of scams, from fake accommodation websites to romance scams.

The FCDO says terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Australia, in places visited by foreigners as well as locals. Besides the Bondi Beach attack, it lists a 2024 terrorist incident at a church in Wakeley, Sydney.

How to stay safe in Australia

• Swim between the red and yellow flags, and read every warning sign in the north.
• Wear SPF 50 and a hat in summer, and drink more water than you think you need.
• Install the state emergency app and check the fire danger rating before bushwalks.
• Do not drive on your first day after a long-haul flight; break long drives every two hours.
• In the outback, carry two spare tyres, extra water and fuel, and leave your route with someone.
• Dial 000 for police, fire or ambulance; 112 also works from a mobile.

How we scored it

Violent crime (95) is near the top of our scale, and health (88) is strong. Natural hazards (72) is the weakest factor, reflecting bushfires, cyclones, floods and heat. Conflict (80) is lower than for New Zealand because of the Bondi Beach attack and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary's assessment that further attacks are likely.