Australians heading overseas are being urged to think beyond passports and sunscreen as extreme weather and natural disasters increasingly disrupt travel plans around the world.
Compare the Market has warned travellers to review their travel insurance well before departure following a series of recent events affecting popular holiday destinations, including record-breaking heatwaves across Europe, volcanic activity in Sicily and severe storms in New Zealand.
According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data, more than one million short-term resident returns were recorded in April 2026, reflecting continued strong demand for international travel.
Buy travel insurance early
Compare the Market spokesperson Sarah Orr said many travellers overlook how quickly conditions can change after booking their holidays.
“When Australians imagine their next overseas getaway, they’re thinking about sipping cocktails on a beach or ticking landmarks off the bucket list, not scrambling to rebook flights because of a heatwave, volcano or major storm,” Orr said.
She said travellers should consider purchasing travel insurance as soon as flights are booked, warning that once an event becomes a “known event”, insurers may no longer provide cover for claims arising from it.
Check policy inclusions carefully
Compare the Market is encouraging travellers to check whether their policy includes cover for natural disasters and weather-related disruptions, as coverage varies between insurers.
Potential benefits may include emergency medical treatment, trip cancellation, emergency accommodation, alternative transport, luggage cover and access to 24-hour emergency assistance services. However, exclusions may apply where travellers ignore government travel advice, take unnecessary risks or fail to contact their insurer before making alternative travel arrangements.
The comparison service also recommends monitoring Smartraveller advisories and local emergency updates before and during overseas trips, noting that travelling against official government warnings could affect the ability to make a claim.
