Is Australia safe, and is Australia safe to travel to?
by Cristóbal Manjón | July 22, 2019
Australia is a developed country with a good quality of life and infrastructure. But is Australia safe? Is Australia safe in terms of wildlife? Here you will find all the security advice you need to explore the island safely.
Is Australia safe in terms of wildlife?
One of the most important risks to measure how safe is Australia is exposure to UV rays throughout the country. SPF protection higher than 30 should be worn constantly.
The beaches are very beautiful, but with strong waves and rapid marine currents which can be deadly. You should always look at the flag and check the official Beach Safe website to be sure that it is safe.
As for the fauna, there are sharks and crocodiles occasionally, which can lead to undesirable encounters. It is advisable that you avoid swimming in estuaries and deep-water lakes or mangroves, and that you pay attention to warning signs.
From October to May, special precautions must be taken because of the box jellyfish that can cause the Irukandji syndrome. They arrive by the thousands and cannot be seen because they are small and translucent. You have to wear clothes that cover you well to bathe in the sea, stay within the area protected by nets and be aware of the warnings that are given on public beaches. You must not touch any kind of jellyfish or any of its parts if you see them in the sand.
Some types of octopus, snails, spiders, snakes, amphibians and reptiles can also be dangerous, so you should avoid approaching or touching them. Get to know some of them in our travel tips for Australia.
Personal risks
Australia is a fairly safe country with a very low crime rate and is ranked 10th out of 162 countries in terms of safety. The biggest danger is pickpocketing. However, it’s rarely an issue. You must take the minimum precautions, such as not walking alone at night, not leaving belongings unattended and not placing your wallet or mobile in your back pocket.
It is also not advisable to go to some undesirable areas in the large cities in Australia. These are Redland Islands in Brisbane, Dandenong in Melbourne, Cooloongup in Perth, Bradbury-Wedderburn in Sydney and Montrose-Rosetta in Hobart.
As for the scams, they are also rare, but you have to be careful with unsolicited help and unusual offers.
Is Sydney Australia safe?
Yes, Sydney is one of the safest cities in the country although, like we said, you should avoid Bradbury-Wedderburn. Having said that, exploring all the things to do in Sydney Australia won't entail any particular dangers besides the common ones for all the cities in the world.
Is Melbourne Australia safe?
The second-largest city in Australia (following Sydney) is also incredibly safe despite being a very modern and populated city. Just keep your belongings safe and your eyes open and you will be fine!
Australia travel tips: Taking trips in nature
Going into unpopulated areas can be very dangerous. They are very large places where there are no petrol stations, water supply points or mobile phone networks. These trips should be greatly planned, and at least one person and the police should be alerted of where you are going and when you plan to return.
Another threat is the sadly famous fires that occur in summer. You must be informed if there are any before going hiking or camping.
Lastly, although the roads and public transport are safe, you can find wild animals on the road, especially kangaroos during the twilight hours or at dawn.
I do commercial tourism and when time and money allow it, I escape to lesser-known places and to be totally unknown. Document processor at Visagov.com, where I have been working for 2 years. I love traveling, discovering new places and above all, soaking up the musical culture of the countries I travel to, as well as being a content creator and mobile photographer in my spare time.
