Domestic
Domestic travel insurance
Vast national parks, iconic waterfront cities, serene beaches, untamed wilderness, world-class surfing – and all right here on our doorstep. If you’ve never got around to planning that dream staycation, now’s the time to discover all that Australia has to offer.
Whether you’re planning a weekend city break to Sydney or a coastal beach escape to the Gold Coast, you may want to consider covering yourself with domestic travel insurance while you’re away from home, so you can travel with peace of mind. From flight cancellations and delayed luggage to rental vehicle excess and unexpected illness, a domestic travel insurance policy can help protect your trip costs and your belongings, subject to policy terms and conditions.
If you're travelling as a family, we also cover your dependent children under 21 on your policy at no extra cost.
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Why do I need domestic travel insurance?
Even though you may be covered for medical events by Medicare, there are still other unexpected events that could derail your travel plans, even when you’re exploring your own back yard. Your flight or cruise could be cancelled, you may have to return home early if a family member is taken into hospital, or your rental car could be damaged.
A few things that can catch Australian travellers off guard:
Avoid budget airline surprises: Low-cost carriers like Jetstar and Rex have more limited passenger protections than full-service airlines. If your Jetstar flight is cancelled due to an operational issue rather than weather, your rights to accommodation and compensation can be limited through the airline.
Bushfires and severe weather can cancel your plans: Bushfires, cyclones and severe weather events are a reality of travelling in Australia. A flight cancelled because of a bushfire in the Northern Territory or a cyclone bearing down on Cairns may be covered, depending on the circumstances and subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.
Remote trips cost more when things go wrong: Remote and regional destinations for example; the Kimberley, Kakadu, Tasmania's wilderness and the Whitsundays, can involve significant non-refundable bookings. The further from a major city you are, the more a trip disruption can cost.
What does domestic travel insurance cover?
Our domestic travel insurance can provide cover for:
Cancel or change your trip before you leave: Cover for unused prepaid travel costs, such as flights, accommodation and tours, if an unexpected event means you need to cancel or change your trip before departure. Cover starts from the day you buy your policy, not the day you travel. The cover selected while purchasing the policy applies, subject to policy terms, conditions and sub-limits.
Changes to your journey once you're away: If an unexpected event disrupts your trip after you've left home, we can cover unused prepaid travel costs or the reasonable extra costs of rearranging your travel plans. Cover is available up to $50,000 per person, including if you need to cut your trip short and return home early.
Lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal items: Cover for lost, stolen or damaged belongings, including items such as phones, laptops and cameras, up to $15,000 per person. If your checked-in baggage is delayed by more than 12 hours after arriving at your destination, we'll also cover the reasonable cost of essential clothing and personal items while you wait, up to $1,000 per person.
Rental vehicle excess: If your rental vehicle is stolen or damaged during your trip due to an unexpected event, we can reimburse the rental vehicle excess you're liable to pay, up to $6,000 per person. No SCTI excess applies to this benefit.
Pet care costs if you're delayed getting home: If an unexpected event delays your return home, we can cover extra boarding costs for your pets at a registered kennel, cattery or other registered boarding facility. Cover is available up to $50 per day, to a maximum of $500 per person.
Childcare costs if you're delayed getting home: If an unexpected event delays your return home and you can't use pre-booked childcare, that's non-refundable, we can cover those costs up to $100 per day, to a maximum of $500 per person.
Personal liability: Covers your legal liability for accidental injury to others or damage to their property, up to $2,500,000 per person. No excess applies.
Optional cover you can add
You can customise your domestic travel insurance policy with optional cover depending on the type of trip you're taking.
Optional Cruise Travel Insurance for Australian Cruises: If your trip includes a cruise in Australian waters (like a Pacific cruise departing from Sydney or Melbourne), you'll need to add Cruise Cover when you buy your policy. The standard domestic policy doesn't cover cruise-related claims, bookings or costs unless you've selected this optional cover and paid the additional premium. Medical costs and medical evacuation are not covered while on a domestic cruise.
Planning activities on your trip? Our domestic travel insurance policy can cover a range of leisure and adventure activities, subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions. If you're planning a specific activity and want to check whether it's covered, please get in touch with us before you travel. We're here to help.
View our key benefits page for more detailed information on your level of cover. To fully understand what you’re covered for, including the terms of cover, sub limits, conditions and exclusions that apply, you should read Domestic Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement.
Does domestic travel insurance cover medical emergencies?
Our domestic travel insurance doesn’t cover medical expenses. To understand how you’re covered away from home for medical treatment and evacuation, contact Medicare or your private health insurer.
We will still ask that you disclose your pre-existing medical conditions (PECs) when you buy a domestic policy. This means that if you need to cancel or delay your trip due to a covered PEC, you’ll be covered for cancellation costs under your policy.
Family Travel Insurance for Australian Holidays
Whether you're travelling with young children or teenagers, our domestic travel insurance can help protect your family's trip costs if unexpected events affect your plans.
Domestic travel insurance FAQs
Is domestic travel insurance worth it in Australia?
It depends on your trip. If you've pre-paid for flights, accommodation, tours or activities that are non-refundable, domestic travel insurance is worth considering because the cost of an unexpected cancellation or disruption can easily outweigh the cost of a policy. If you're hiring a car or travelling with valuable belongings you may also benefit from cover for things like rental vehicle excess, luggage and travel disruption.
Can you get travel insurance for domestic travel in Australia?
Yes. Our domestic policy is specifically designed for trips within Australia. It includes cover for cancelling or changing your trip before you leave, travel interruption and journey changes once you're away, lost, stolen or damaged luggage, rental vehicle excess, personal liability and more, subject to policy terms, conditions and limits.
Should you get travel insurance for a domestic flight?
It's worth considering. If an unexpected event disrupts your travel plans before or during your trip, domestic travel insurance may help with non-refundable prepaid travel costs or the reasonable extra costs of rearranging your travel arrangements, subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions. Before travelling, it's always worth checking what assistance or refunds your airline may provide if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
Do you need travel insurance if you have Medicare in Australia?
Medicare can help cover eligible medical treatment in Australia, but it won't cover many of the travel-related expenses that can arise when a trip doesn't go to plan. For example, it won't cover non-refundable flights, prepaid accommodation or travel arrangements that need to change because of a covered unexpected event. Domestic travel insurance isn't a replacement for Medicare — it can complement it by helping protect your travel costs.
Does domestic travel insurance cover cancelled flights?
It can. If an unexpected event means you need to cancel or change your travel plans, you may be covered for unused prepaid travel costs or the reasonable extra costs of rearranging your trip, subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions. Airline refunds, credits and compensation are usually considered first when assessing a claim.
Does domestic travel insurance cover accommodation?
Yes, domestic travel insurance can cover prepaid accommodation costs you can't use because of a covered unexpected event. Cover may also apply to additional accommodation costs if you need to change your travel arrangements during your trip, subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions.
Does domestic travel insurance cover rental cars?
Domestic travel insurance can cover the rental vehicle excess charged by the rental company if your rental vehicle is stolen or damaged because of an unexpected event during your trip. Cover is available up to policy limits and conditions apply.
What is the difference between domestic and international travel insurance?
Domestic travel insurance is designed for travel within Australia and focuses on benefits such as trip cancellation, travel disruption, luggage, rental vehicle excess and personal liability. International travel insurance typically includes overseas medical and evacuation cover, which aren't covered under this domestic policy.
Can I buy domestic travel insurance after I've booked my trip?
Yes. Cover for cancelling or changing your trip before departure begins from the date you buy your policy, not the date you travel. The earlier you buy, the earlier you'll have cancellation cover in place.
What's not covered by domestic travel insurance?
Every policy has exclusions. For example, this policy doesn't cover medical treatment or medical evacuation costs within Australia, and conditions, exclusions and limits apply to all benefits. Always read the Product Disclosure Statement before purchasing cover.
Do I need travel insurance for Tasmania, Queensland or Western Australia?
Whether you're flying interstate, taking a road trip or booking prepaid accommodation and tours, domestic travel insurance can help protect your travel costs if an unexpected event affects your plans. The right level of cover depends on your trip and what you've paid for in advance.
Do I need travel insurance for a domestic holiday?
Many Australians assume travel insurance is only for overseas trips. However, if you've prepaid flights, accommodation, tours, a cruise or vehicle hire, domestic travel insurance may help protect those costs if your trip is disrupted by a covered unexpected event.