Safety in Australia: what overland travellers should know

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 27 January 2026.

Safety

Outback needs a guide — There are serious risks for travellers heading on their own outside the urban areas of Queensland and the Northern Territory, and unguided trips into those territories are ruled out entirely — the distances are immense and conditions unpredictable, above all between October and May — unless you move in a group or with authorised local guides. A high number of tourists go missing in the national parks of Queensland and the Northern Territory: always tell park authorities when you leave and when you expect to be back, go with an authorised guide, and do not wander off into isolated trails or rivers.
Desert: convoy and supplies — For desert trips the ministry strongly advises going through specialised agencies so you travel in a caravan of vehicles with adequate reserves of water, fuel and food plus a satellite phone. Prepare any excursion carefully with ample food, water, fuel and spare parts, and tell the police station your intended route before setting off, particularly for remote areas with no reception. Check mobile coverage in advance, especially if you are heading for the Northern Territory or the Uluru (Ayers Rock) area.
Restricted areas and permits — In the area of over 100,000 km² in South Australia used for nuclear tests in the 1950s you must stay strictly on the Adelaide–Alice Springs road. Some Aboriginal reserves can only be entered with a special permit from local authorities. Recurring tensions with the Aboriginal population are reported in the town of Alice Springs.
Bushfires — In the hot season, November to February, drought and high heat bring fire risk across the country, dangerous for how vast and fast the fires are, and not only in woodland or bush but also close to towns. Follow the state emergency services and check for road closures before moving; the national emergency number is 000. When smoke reaches the cities, authorities advise keeping outings to a minimum, using P2 or N95 masks, avoiding outdoor exercise, keeping doors and windows shut and not running air conditioning that draws in outside air without a HEPA filter.
Cyclones and floods — The north-east of Australia normally gets heavy rain and cyclones between November and April. There is also flood risk in the rural regions of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, so keep checking the Bureau of Meteorology and expect disruption to phone lines, power and transport.
Wildlife and water — Dangerous animals and insects come with the territory, and local warnings are enough to stay clear of them if you follow them. Avoid isolated beaches or ones without lifeguards: jellyfish whose sting can be lethal are present in the hottest months, December to March, especially in the tropical Northern Territory and Western Australia but also in central and southern areas, sharks are found along the whole coast and above all in Queensland, and crocodiles on the beaches of North Queensland and the Northern Territory. Ocean currents around the entire coast carry a drowning risk, and the ministry also suggests not camping overnight for safety reasons.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 27 January 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Australia before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 27 January 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.