Best travel insurance in Australia (2026 comparison): what comprehensive policies cover and how major providers differ

Why travel insurance matters for Australian travellers

Planning a trip is usually about the fun parts: choosing destinations, booking flights, mapping out day trips and deciding what to pack. But travel also comes with risks that can be expensive and stressful if they happen at the wrong time. Travel insurance is designed to help protect you financially when unexpected events occur, including situations such as medical emergencies, lost baggage and cancellations.

For many Australians, the value of travel insurance is peace of mind—especially when travelling overseas. Costs that might be manageable at home can become far more difficult abroad, and even minor disruptions can cascade into larger problems. The practical challenge is that “travel insurance” is not one product. Cover varies by insurer, by plan level, and by the options and add-ons you choose.

This guide explains what travel insurance commonly covers, the role of exclusions and the Policy Disclosure Statement (PDS), and how several major travel insurers in Australia position their international comprehensive plans. It also outlines a separate, travel-adjacent consideration: how you pay while overseas, including a summary of features described for the Wise Travel Card.

What travel insurance typically covers (and why it differs between policies)

Travel insurance policies are not identical. What’s covered depends on the provider, the plan you select, and any optional extras you add. Some policies are built to be budget friendly, with lower fees and more basic protection. Others cost more but offer broader benefits and higher claim limits.

When people talk about “comprehensive” travel insurance, they generally mean a policy that aims to cover a wide range of common travel risks. While the exact inclusions and limits vary, comprehensive policies often bundle multiple types of protection under one plan.

In broad terms, comprehensive travel insurance commonly includes cover for travel-related disruptions and personal incidents that can occur before or during a trip. The underlying idea is to reduce out-of-pocket costs when something goes wrong unexpectedly.

Common add-ons: tailoring cover to your itinerary

Even comprehensive plans may not automatically include every activity or scenario. Many insurers offer add-ons that allow you to extend cover for specific types of travel. Examples mentioned across providers include add-ons for:

• Adventure activities
• Motorcycle riding
• Cruises
• Winter sports

If your trip includes any of these, it’s worth checking whether the activity is included by default, requires an add-on, or is excluded. Some insurers structure this differently—for instance, one provider may include an activity under certain conditions, while another may require you to purchase an upgrade.

Exclusions: what travel insurance usually won’t cover

Every travel insurance policy comes with exclusions—situations or categories of events that the insurer will not cover. The specific exclusions differ between providers, and they can also differ between plan tiers with the same provider.

This is why it’s not enough to compare prices alone. A lower premium might reflect narrower cover, lower benefit limits, or more exclusions. Conversely, a higher-priced policy may provide broader protection or higher limits, but it still won’t cover everything.

Why the PDS is essential before you buy

When choosing travel insurance, reading the terms and conditions carefully is a practical necessity. In Australia, the details are typically set out in the Policy Disclosure Statement (PDS). The PDS is where you’ll find the insurer’s definitions, benefit limits, conditions, and exclusions.

Skipping the PDS can lead to unpleasant surprises. If you need to make a claim and only then discover the event isn’t covered, you may end up paying out of pocket. Depending on the situation—particularly medical-related costs—those expenses can become very expensive.

How to compare travel insurance providers effectively

To find the best policy for your trip, it helps to compare multiple providers. A structured comparison can make it easier to see which policies align with your itinerary and risk tolerance.

When reviewing options, consider:

• Plan type: International vs domestic, and whether you need a single-trip policy or annual multi-trip cover.
• Coverage level: Basic vs comprehensive tiers, and what each tier includes or removes.
• Benefit limits: The maximum amounts payable for different categories of claims.
• Excess: The amount you contribute to a claim (and how choosing a different excess changes the premium).
• Add-ons and options: Whether your activities (such as cruises or winter sports) require additional cover.
• Policy structure: Whether you’re buying as a single traveller, duo, or family, and how limits apply per person.

It’s also important to keep comparisons consistent. One approach is to compare providers using their comprehensive international plan (where available) and similar excess settings. Even then, insurers may define benefits differently, so the PDS remains the final reference point.

Snapshot: major travel insurance providers and how their plans are structured

Below is an overview of several travel insurance providers operating in Australia and the plan structures described for their international travel insurance. This is not a ranking; it’s a practical summary of what’s available and how the options differ.

Allianz: domestic and international options, with two international plan levels

Allianz offers travel insurance policies for people travelling within Australia and overseas. For international travellers, two plans are available: a Comprehensive Plan and a Basic Plan. Benefit limits vary depending on whether the policy is purchased as a single, duo, or family policy.

In the comparison context described, pricing examples were based on an approximate quote for a 35-year-old taking a one-week holiday to popular destinations. (Exact prices vary by destination and policy settings.)

ahm: comprehensive vs medical-only cover, plus excess choices

ahm offers single-trip and annual multi-trip policies for Australians travelling domestically and abroad. For international travel, customers can choose between an International Comprehensive Plan and an International Medical Only Plan.

The International Medical Only Plan is positioned as covering medical-related expenses and personal liability, rather than broader travel-related benefits.

ahm also illustrates how excess selection can affect the premium. In the example provided, the quoted price was based on selecting a $250 excess, with options to choose $100 or $0 (which changes pricing).

Fast Cover: multiple plan types and optional add-on packs

Fast Cover offers six travel insurance plans: Comprehensive, Standard Saver, Basics, Snow Sports Plus, Domestic Plus and Frequent Traveller Saver. Policies can be purchased as single, duo or family. Benefit limits are described as being per person for duo policies and doubled for families.

After selecting a plan, cover can be expanded using optional add-on packs, although not all packs are available across all plans. In the pricing example referenced, quotes were based on a one-week trip with a $200 excess.

Bupa: international and domestic policies, with single-trip and annual options

Bupa sells International Plus and International Essentials travel insurance, available as single-trip or annual multi-trip policies. Bupa also offers domestic travel insurance with the same trip options.

As described, Bupa’s policies are underwritten by Zurich. In the example pricing scenario, a $250 excess was selected for a one-week overseas trip.

Cover-More: three international tiers from basic to higher-limit options

Cover-More offers three international policies with different levels of cover. The Basic Plan has lower limits and does not cover some travel-related expenses such as rental vehicle excess. The Comprehensive Plan provides more complete cover, while the Comprehensive+ Plan is positioned as the highest tier with perks such as higher benefit limits.

In the example provided, quotes for a one-week holiday to selected destinations were based on a $250 excess.

RAC: travel insurance alongside roadside assistance, with motorcycle cover included under conditions

RAC is known for car insurance and roadside assistance, and it also offers travel insurance. There are three international plans and three domestic plans, each with different levels of cover.

A notable structural point described is that a motorcycle and moped add-on does not need to be purchased separately; instead, it is included in the policy subject to applicable conditions.

Pricing examples referenced were for a non-member selecting a $250 excess for a one-week trip.

NIB: comprehensive vs essentials, and cruise cover via plan selection

NIB offers international travel insurance through a Comprehensive Plan and an Essentials Plan, along with an Annual Multi Trip option.

For travellers taking a cruise (either overseas or domestic), the structure described is that you don’t need to buy a cruise add-on. Instead, you can gain cruise cover by choosing one of the plans that includes it as standard.

Pricing examples were provided for a one-week trip abroad.

1Cover: multiple policy types, including cover for travellers already overseas

1Cover offers policies for international travel, domestic trips, frequent travellers, and people who are already overseas. One structural difference highlighted is that, unlike the other providers discussed, 1Cover does not offer an accidental death benefit with International Comprehensive insurance. However, the policy still covers many other incidents.

In the example comparison, 1Cover’s estimated price was described as one of the cheaper options across the destinations used.

Excess, pricing and the importance of comparing like-for-like

Across providers, the examples repeatedly show that the excess you choose can influence the premium. Some insurers allow multiple excess options (such as $250, $100, or $0), while others reference a standard excess amount in their quotes.

When comparing insurers, try to keep key settings consistent:

• Same trip length and destination
• Same traveller profile (for example, age)
• Same plan level (such as international comprehensive)
• Same excess selection, where possible

Even with consistent settings, differences in benefit limits and exclusions can be significant. That’s why the PDS is central to a fair comparison.

After insurance: managing spending overseas with a travel card

Once you’ve arranged travel insurance, another practical part of travel planning is working out how you’ll spend money overseas. The content provided also describes features of the Wise card as a way to manage international transactions.

As described, the Wise card is positioned as a way to save on international spending by using currency conversions at mid-market exchange rates (the rate you might see on Google). It is also described as having no foreign transaction fees and low, transparent pricing.

The Wise account is described as allowing you to hold and exchange 40+ currencies. You can spend in 150+ countries at the mid-market rate, either by spending directly from AUD with auto-conversion or by converting to your chosen currency in advance. The card can be ordered after creating an account and topping up AUD. The description also notes that a physical card can be used for chip-and-pin payments and that there are some free ATM withdrawals each month. Digital cards can be added to Google Pay or Apple Pay for instant use.

Important disclaimers are included in the provided material: the information is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs, and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. It also notes that fee and pricing information can change and that terms of use and product availability apply.

Putting it together: choosing the “best” travel insurance for your trip

There isn’t a single travel insurance policy that is best for every Australian traveller. The right choice depends on where you’re going, how long you’ll be away, what you’ll be doing, and how much risk you want to self-fund via an excess.

A practical way to decide is to start with your itinerary, then shortlist insurers whose plan structure matches your needs (for example, whether you want medical-only cover or comprehensive, whether cruise cover is built in, or whether you need a winter sports add-on). From there, compare benefit limits and exclusions in the PDS, and only then weigh up the premium.

Travel can be unpredictable. The goal of travel insurance is to reduce the financial shock of disruptions and emergencies—so it pays to choose a policy based on what it actually covers, not just the headline price.