This page is for Australians going overseas for sports and adventure activities.
Explore this page to learn about:
- what to think about before you go
- clothing and safety gear
- health and safety risks
- travel insurance for sports and adventure activities
- where to get help
What to think about before you go
- Check if you need to be certified before your activity. Or if you need any permits where you're going.
- Talk to your doctor before you go. Make sure you're medically fit. Most adventure sports are physically taxing.
- Find out if your activity is legal in your destination. Many extreme sports are either heavily regulated or illegal.
- Research your tour operator before choosing. Ensure they're licensed and have a good reputation.
Clothing and safety gear
- Dress for the climate and activity.
- Make sure your gear is in good condition and set up correctly.
- If you have your own gear, get it checked by a professional before you travel.
- If your tour operator provides the gear, check it before you use it. If you have doubts about the condition of the gear, don't use it. Raise it with the tour operator.
Snow sports
- Hypothermia and frostbite can set in quickly. Wear layers, and make sure your outer layer is waterproof.
- Wear eye protection to prevent snowblindness.
- Wear a helmet when snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding. Head injuries are common and can cause permanent damage.
Water sports
- Always wear a life jacket on a boat or jet ski. Even if you're a strong swimmer.
- Water can be cold, even when the air is warm. Consider a wetsuit or drysuit.
- Protect your feet from rocks and hazards under the water with suitable shoes.
Mountain sports
- Carry an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB).
- Wear appropriate clothing for the activity. This will help reduce your risk of exposure to severe weather and risk of injury.
- If hiking on an active volcano, protect yourself from toxic gas. Wear a proper respirator.
- Take oxygen, especially if going above 7000m.
Extreme sports
- Wear several layers of light, loose, water- and wind-resistant clothing for warmth and protection.
- Wear proper footwear that provides warmth, dryness, and ample ankle support.
- Wear the right protective gear, including goggles, helmets, gloves and padding.
Health and safety risks
Never take part in adventure sports alone. A minor injury can be life-threatening if you can't get back to help. Have a partner who can assist you or go for help if you get trapped or injured. Let your hotel, travel companions, or friends and family know where you're going and when you expect to return.
Weather
Severe weather can increase the risk that something will go wrong. Check the weather forecast before your activity. Listen to the advice of locals and your tour guide.
- If there's a winter storm forecast, wait until it passes. Never go out in a blizzard.
- Watch the weather upstream if you're doing a river activity. If there's heavy rain, flash flooding is more likely.
- Heavy rain or snow can cause avalanches, landslides and mudslides. Check the safety of mountainous areas with local authorities after bad weather.
Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness is a risk when you get 2500m or higher above sea level. It's also called mountain sickness. The air is thin at high altitudes. It can be hard to breathe. When your body can't get enough oxygen, it can make you sick.
Know the signs of altitude sickness. Watch for it in others. Signs include:
- headache
- cough
- trouble breathing
- a racing heartbeat.
Altitude sickness is a medical emergency. It can be fatal. If you feel unwell, tell your tour guide or companions. Get to a lower altitude to recover. Know your limits and when to turn back.
Visit HealthDirect to learn more about altitude sickness.
Off-piste skiing and snowboarding
Off-piste means going outside graded snow slopes made safe for skiers. It's also called backcountry skiing. It's riskier than skiing or snowboarding on-piste. Risks include:
- avalanches
- tree wells - deep pits beneath trees where there is less snowfall
- unmarked cliffs and outcroppings
- ice and frozen snow formations.
If you're going off-piste:
- pay attention to avalanche warning signs
- find a guide to take you, particularly if you're less experienced
- carry an emergency beacon with you.
Never go off-piste alone.
Travel insurance for sports and adventure activities
Most travel insurance policies don't include adventure activities and sports. They're usually an optional extra. Make sure you're covered. Even a minor injury can leave you with 1000s of dollars’ worth of medical bills.
You may need a specialised insurance policy. Riskier activities will be more expensive to cover.
Make sure your policy covers remote location rescues.
Learn more about travel insurance. Also, read the travel insurance buying guide (CHOICE).
Choosing a policy that covers your activity
Read the product disclosure statement (PDS) in detail before you buy the policy.
- Choose a policy that covers all the activities you're considering.
- Check their definitions. Sometimes, policies are ambiguous about what they define and how they describe activities.
- Tell your insurer about all activities before you do them, even if you just do something as a one-off.
- Know the conditions. Your policy may only cover your activity under certain conditions. For example, they may cover snowboarding in a resort but not off-piste. Check the PDS.
Common sports and adventure activity exclusions
Don't assume that when a policy covers one activity, it also covers a similar or related activity.
For example, some policies that cover canyoning exclude abseiling, even though the two often go together. Others may cover abseiling but not into a canyon. If in doubt, check the PDS.
Common reasons for a claim to be denied are:
- doing an activity in a country where it's illegal, even if you declared it to your insurer
- failing to follow safety advice, warning signs or instructions from your tour guide
- doing a declared activity under the influence of alcohol, drugs or some medications.
Where to get help
If you need help, first seek support locally and from friends, family and your travel insurer.
- Contact local emergency services. We publish local contact numbers in the travel advisory for each destination.
- See your hotel manager or tour guide. They may know what to do, where to go, and where you can get help from other locals.
- Talk to your travel companions. Also, help them if they're in need. Look after your mates.
- Contact your friends and family. They may not be able to help you on the ground. But they may be able to help change your travel plans and talk to your insurer.
- Contact your travel insurer. Most travel insurers have a 24-hour emergency hotline you can call from overseas. If you're covered, they may provide logistical and financial support.
In some circumstances, the Australian Government can help. In most cases, you must exhaust all other avenues before seeking consular help.
It's important to understand our limits. Read the Consular Services Charter.
Read more
- Read our travel advice for your destination.
- See our general advice about extreme winter weather. Also, see our general advice about natural disasters.
- Find our general advice on taking care of your health.
- Learn more about staying safe during your activity.
- Understand how and when we can help. Read the Consular Services Charter.
See also
- For emergency consular assistance overseas, contact your nearest Australian embassy or consulate.
- Read the CHOICE travel insurance buying guide insurance advice.
- The global authority on severe weather reporting is the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).