Us Aussies are lucky to live on an incredibly beautiful and diverse island and right now with international travel off the cards, it’s an ideal time to explore more of our own backyard. As the world’s sixth-largest country by area, we are sure to be spoiled for choice when planning a domestic holiday. In fact, if you visited one new beach in Australia every day, it would take over 27 years to see them all!
But where can you travel at the moment? Which states are open to visitors and how can you get there? What can you expect at state borders if travelling overland? The situation today may look totally different from next month, and with everything so up in the air and prone to sudden change, I think we can all agree that anything that can give peace of mind when you’re travelling would be worth considering. Despite usually being unable to cover incidents related to COVID, domestic travel insurance can still be of use once normal domestic travel resumes for reducing your risk in other ways (which is why we always recommend reading the PDS).
Let’s take a closer look at what you should consider when travelling domestically in this ever-changing environment.
Consider Whether You Will (Or Can!) Go Out Of State
Unfortunately, a staycation might mean staying not just in Australia but also in your state, as most states require people from out of state to self-isolate for 14 days. This also depends on where you are travelling to and coming from within Australia.
Let’s take Western Australia, for example. At the time of writing, WA has strict border restrictions requiring everyone entering the state to have an approved Good to Go pass and self-isolate for 14 days unless you are exempt. Travellers who have been in Victoria or New South Wales in the preceding fortnight won’t be allowed to enter as this article is being written.
Consider Your Mode Of Transport
Just hopping on a plane and jetting off to the other side of the country was something we could do so easily pre-COVID19. Now, not so much. If you have to scratch that travel itch this year, a good old-fashioned road trip within your state is probably the best bet. And now is the time to consider caravanning, camping or campervanning, so you can be completely self-sufficient.
Consider What Will Be Open When You Travel
Currently, in all states except for Victoria, entertainments venues, libraries and museums are open, with social distancing measures in place. If these experiences and activities are an important part of your domestic trip, then it’s probably a good idea to consider booking ahead of time. That way, you don’t spend part of your precious vacation time queuing up or losing out because venues are filling up due to having less capacity than usual. It’s also important to remember that if you book in advance, you should check the day before, or the day you are due to visit the venue, to ensure they are still open, and to ask about the COVID19 guidelines they have put in place. If you don’t want to deal with these added stresses, maybe now is the time to consider a more active, or rural holiday, like a hiking or camping trip, to get better connected with nature.
Consider Your Safety And Personal Protective Equipment
Right now, as things stand in August, you shouldn’t be leaving the house without being armed with a hand sanitiser and a face mask, and if you are going on a staycation, this is no different. Plan ahead and bring enough face masks and sanitiser for everyone for the duration of your trip. Reusable, washable masks are an excellent investment and will also reduce your environmental impact, but make sure you have enough other masks to wear whilst you’re washing the others.
Get Out And Enjoy Your Local Area!
These are some of the things to consider when planning a perfect staycation in Australia during the current situation. Take some time to do more research and study up on the sights and activities your home state has to offer. By preparing yourself and planning ahead, there is no reason you can’t have an enjoyable and relaxing domestic holiday.
