Travel and positive community impact
How travel insurance can help have a positive impact on communities.
- As featured in:
As featured in:
- How does World Nomads travel insurance help communities abroad?
- Your travel insurance can help fund many projects
- Why should I consider travel insurance for my next holiday?
- How you can be a responsible traveler?
- FAQs for responsible travel
Travel can open our minds and teach us about destinations often far removed from our own. Just like you, as a team of global adventurers, the World Nomads team knows that as thrilling as a vacation abroad can be, our choices, if they are considered, can influence more than just ourselves.
How does World Nomads travel insurance help communities abroad?
As well as travel insurance, World Nomads offers travelers the opportunity to help fund community development projects via micro donations through the Footprints Network.
When purchasing a policy with us, you can choose to add a small donation to the price, with 100 percent of the funds raised going directly to more than 240 reputable charities and NGOs, including Save the Children, The Fred Hollows Foundation and SURFAID, to name just a few.
Since launching the initiative, the World Nomads Footprints program has raised AUD$5.8million, thanks to the generosity of over 1 million travelers.
Each of the projects we support has a focus on ending poverty, protecting the planet and/or making a global shift toward sustainability and resilience, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Your travel insurance can help fund many projects
By purchasing travel insurance, you can help support global communities through the World Nomads Footprints program in the following areas:
- Community development
- Wildlife protection
- Women's safety initiatives
- Global health projects
To contribute, simply get a travel insurance quote for your trip. When you get a travel insurance quote, you have the option to make a micro donation. Then all you need to do is enjoy your travels knowing you are making a difference. You can also keep in touch with us so you can see what project you have helped to fund.
Why should I consider travel insurance for my next holiday?*
You wouldn’t go on a vacation without taking your passport, right? You wouldn’t get very far. The same goes for travel insurance; it’s something you should consider when getting ready to go on a holiday overseas.
We all know that as organized as you might be, not everything always goes to plan when you’re venturing abroad – items get lost in transit, flights can be canceled and delayed, and injuries and illness can occur.
A travel insurance plan may be able to help, and if you’re a seasoned traveler you’ll know that not only is it inconvenient to have to deal with any of the above, these hiccups can prove costly, especially in another country.
At World Nomads, we offer different levels of cover depending on your country of residence and on the plan and options you select. It’s important you consider exactly what you’ll be doing, where you’ll be going, and what type of vacation you’re planning before choosing a plan, as there are differences.
* Travel insurance isn't designed to cover everything. Full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions do apply, so be sure to read your full policy wording to avoid surprises. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Simple and flexible travel insurance
You can buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world. With 150+ adventure activities covered and 24/7 emergency assistance.
Get a quoteHow you can be a responsible traveler?
If you are traveling soon and unsure what you can do to give back to the planet, here are just some ways you can make a difference:
- Social enterprise: while on your travels, seek out a social enterprise that assists the local community, for example, in Zambia the markets at Victoria Falls sell locally made goods, the money you spend goes back into the local community.
- Ethical eating: try to eat seasonal, local, organic wholefoods based around local traditions rather than ‘Western-style’. Ethical tours should also include plant-based meal options to encourage planet-friendly eating.
- Small groups: small group tours, with an average of 10 people, help us travel more responsibly. By interacting on a personal level with the people and places we visit, we’re more likely to understand the issues affecting these places and how we can help.
- Carbon offsets: have you considered whether your trip includes carbon offsets? Two global adventure tour companies now offering this option are World Expeditions and Intrepid Travel, which has also been carbon neutral since 2010.
- Be an infrequent flier, choose slow travel instead: flying less often is the best choice you can make. Could you travel using another mode of transport? And could you commit to using low-impact forms of transport once you reach your destination to offset the emissions from your flight?
How can I give back when I buy my travel insurance?
Learn more about how you can give back to the places you visit with a small donation by watching this video.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about responsible travel and travel insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
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Why should I consider travel insurance for an overseas trip?
Even well-planned trips can go sideways. Lost bags, cancelled flights, illness overseas—travel insurance may help you deal with the unexpected so you can keep exploring.
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Can I donate to Footprints when I buy a travel insurance plan?
Yes! Just tick the box to add a donation when purchasing. You'll be part of a global movement supporting causes that matter.
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What if I’m doing adventure activities and other sports?
If you’re into the more intense adventure activities, for example you plan to go skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking downhill, or rock climbing (outdoor), you’ll need to upgrade your cover and pay an additional premium. Please note that once you have purchased a particular level of cover, it can’t be altered mid-trip.
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Is my donation tax deductible?
Footprints donations are not tax deductible—but 100% of your donation goes to the charity project you’ve helped fund.
Teeth hit the ground
I put my foot in a funny way while I was walking quickly because it was raining. I fell unexpectedly to the floor, face first, so I put my arm out, broke the shoulder and my front teeth hit the ground breaking a tooth.
P.R. Italian Nomad.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Been made redundant?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact the teamTravel insurance for Australia
Essential travel insurance tips when going down under
- As featured in:
As featured in:
Spanning nearly 8 million km2 and with crystal-clear water, red deserts, tropical rainforests, and bustling cities, Australia is fascinatingly diverse. Whether you’re road-tripping the East Coast, hiking on Kangaroo Island or scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, World Nomads has you covered.
- What am I covered for?
- What should I look out for when travelling to Australia?
- What’s not covered?
- Handy tips for travelling in Australia
What am I covered for?
World Nomads offers cover (up to the policy limits) for:
- Overseas medical expenses: if you become sick or injured during your trip.
- Medical evacuation and repatriation: if you need emergency transport home due to a serious illness or injury.
- Travel delays/interruption: if your trip is interrupted due to an insured event.
- Trip cancellation: if your trip is cancelled due to an insured event.
- Baggage and valuables: if your belongings are stolen, accidentally damaged, delayed or lost.
- Family plans: add your children and grandchildren to our policies at no extra cost.
- Activities cover: we cover more than 150 activities so you can have fun adventuring your way around Australia’s outback, coasts, cities and skies.
Note: our travel insurance plans are different. Cover will vary, depending on your country of residence, what you are claiming for, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy.
With World Nomads, you can buy travel insurance as soon as your trip is locked in or while you're traveling (waiting periods apply); it’s entirely up to you.
What should I look out for when travelling to Australia?
There are a few key things to consider when visiting Australia. Our travel insurance may help if you land in Melbourne, but your baggage doesn’t, or you suffer an injury whilst hiking Cradle Mountain.
To make it easier for you to choose a plan that’s right for you we offer two plans – Standard and Explorer. Each one provides different levels of coverage depending on what you need and your country of residence:
- The Standard Plan –covers a range of benefits and certain adventure activities but has lower coverage limits.
- The Explorer Plan – covers all the benefits of the Standard plan, with larger coverage limits, more benefits and covers more sports and activities.
Essential travel cover options when you need them the most
Depending on the level of cover you choose and your country of residence, our policies may cover you for:
Lost, stolen or delayed baggage cover
If your luggage or personal items are stolen, lost or accidentally damaged, you may be able to claim to replace or repair the item. If your luggage is delayed for more than 24 hours, you may be able to claim for essential clothing and toiletries while you wait for your bag to be returned.
Travel insurance for accidents or injuries
If you become sick or injured in Australia with anything from food poisoning to an injury while participating in an activity, our policies may cover you for medical treatment including hospitalisation, prescribed medicines and prescribed physiotherapy treatments. Terms and conditions apply.
Coronavirus cover for some events
If you catch COVID-19 while travelling in Australia we may cover you for medical expenses and hospital assistance, as well as repatriation. Our Explorer Plan offers extra cover for Coronavirus-related events such as cancellation, trip interruption expenses and some quarantine costs. To find out what cover applies to you, read our Coronavirus cover article, which has all the details, including benefit limits, conditions, and exclusions.
Adventure sports & activities cover
There’s no shortage of adventures and activities to do in Australia and depending on what plan you choose and your country of residence, you can be covered for hiking adventures in the Snowy Mountains, road trips along the East Coast, surfing at Bondi Beach, snorkelling with Whale Sharks on Ningaloo Reef and much more. You can find the full list of covered activities in the Policy Wording.
Rental car coverage and road safety
Australia is the perfect place for a road trip. With such vast distances between destinations, it can be a good idea to make sure you are covered if something goes wrong when you’re on the road.
Available on our Explorer Plan, we may cover your rental vehicle insurance excess, or the cost of repairing the rental vehicle if you’re involved in a motor accident or your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen.
What’s not covered?
Our policies aren’t designed to cover everything and there are some important general exclusions you should be aware of, including:
- Pre-existing medical conditions – see the policy wording for details.
- Traveling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning issued by the U.S Department of State.
- Neglecting to observe applicable preventative measures for the travel region, as outlined by the World Health Organization, including obtaining relevant vaccinations and hygiene measures.
- Participation in a sport or activity not listed or failing to adhere to the terms of coverage for listed sports or activities.
- Our policy doesn’t replace the need for you to purchase rental vehicle insurance through the rental vehicle company covering physical damage and theft of the rental vehicle and your liability to third parties for injury or property damage while the rental vehicle is in your care or control.
- Being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
Be sure to read the Policy Wording and General Exclusions for other scenarios and expenses we don’t cover so there’ll be no surprises if you need to use your cover.
Handy tips for travelling in Australia
- If you’re planning a road trip, be aware of the distances involved between destinations. Sometimes it can be hundreds of kilometres between towns and petrol stations.
- The sun is very strong in Australia so be sure to wear sunblock, even on a cloudy day. Temperatures in Outback areas can be very high.
- Pick your season – the weather can vary tremendously in parts of Australia even in the same season.
- Swim between the flags at the beach. They show the safest point on the beach for swimming and can help you avoid dangerous rips.
Are you looking for more travel inspiration for Australia? World Nomads has various articles that cover a range of fun topics on Australia, here are just a few:
- How to Get a Working Holiday Visa for Australia
- Australia Hikes: 6 Spectacular Tracks All Around the Country
- Where to Stay in Australia: Accommodation Travel Tips
- 10 Ancient Natural Wonders Around Australia
You can also check out our articles if you need the latest safety travel alerts.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. If you are unsure about your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact the teamTravel insurance for Australia
Essential travel insurance tips when going down under
- As featured in:
As featured in:
With its crystal-clear water, tropical rainforests, and a burnt red Outback, Australia is a thrilling destination. Whether you’re road-tripping the Great Ocean Road, cycling around Uluru or snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, World Nomads Travel Insurance can have you covered.
- What am I covered for?
- What should I look out for when travelling to Australia?
- What’s not covered?
- Handy tips for travelling in Australia
What am I covered for?
World Nomads offers cover (up to the policy limits) for:
- Overseas medical expenses: if you become sick or injured during your trip.
- Medical evacuation and repatriation: if you need emergency transport home due to a serious illness or injury.
- Travel delays/interruption: if your trip is interrupted due to an insured event.
- Trip cancellation: if your trip is cancelled due to an insured event.
- Baggage and valuables: if your belongings are stolen, accidentally damaged, delayed or lost.
- Family plans: add your children and grandchildren to our policies at no extra cost.
- Activities cover: we cover more than 150 activities so you can have fun adventuring your way around Australia’s outback, coasts, cities and skies.
Note: our travel insurance plans are different. Cover will vary, depending on what you are claiming for, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy.
With World Nomads, you can buy travel insurance as soon as your trip to Australia is locked in or while you're travelling (waiting periods apply); it’s entirely up to you
What should I look out for when travelling to Australia?
When visiting your neighbours across the ditch, there are a few key things to consider. Our travel insurance could help if you land in Sydney, but your baggage doesn’t or if you suffer an injury hiking Cradle Mountain.
World Nomads offers two plans – Standard and Explorer. Each policy has different levels of cover depending on what your needs are. You may be covered if your bags are lost or stolen, if your transport is delayed, or if you suffer an injury that lands you in hospital.
- The Standard Plan – covers a range of benefits and certain adventure activities and has lower coverage limits.
- The Explorer plan – covers all the benefits of the Standard Plan, with larger coverage limits, more benefits and covers more sports and activities.
Essential travel cover options when you need them the most
Depending on the level of cover you choose, World Nomads offers coverage (up to the policy limits) for:
Lost, stolen or delayed baggage cover
If your luggage or personal items are stolen, lost or accidentally damaged, you may be able to claim to replace or repair the item. If your luggage is delayed for more than 12 hours, you may be able to claim for essential clothing and toiletries while you wait for your bag to be returned.
Medical insurance for accidents or injuries
If you become sick or injured in Australia, with anything from food poisoning to an injury whilst participating in an activity, our policies can cover you for medical treatment including hospitalisation, prescribed medicines and prescribed physiotherapy treatments.
Coronavirus cover for some events
If you catch COVID-19 while visiting Australia, we may cover you for medical expenses and hospital assistance, as well as repatriation. Our Explorer Plan offers extra cover for Coronavirus-related events such as cancellation, trip interruption expenses and some quarantine costs. You can check out our Coronavirus cover article which has all of the details, including terms and conditions, benefit limits and exclusions.
Adventure sports & activities cover
There’s no shortage of adventures and activities to do in Australia and depending on what plan you choose, you can be covered for hiking in Tasmania, road tripping along the East Coast, surfing at Bondi Beach, snorkelling with Whale Sharks on Ningaloo Reef and much more. You can find the full list of covered activities here.
Rental car coverage and road safety
Australia is the perfect place for a road trip. With such vast distances between destinations, it can be a good idea to make sure you are covered if something goes wrong when you’re on the road.
Available on our Explorer Plan, we may cover your rental vehicle insurance excess, or the cost of repairing the rental vehicle if you’re involved in a motor accident or your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen.
What’s not covered?
Our policies aren’t designed to cover everything and there are some important general exclusions you should be aware of, including:
- Existing medical conditions – see the Policy Document for details.
- Traveling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning issued by the New Zealand Government.
- Neglecting to observe applicable preventative measures for the travel region, as outlined by the World Health Organization, including obtaining relevant vaccinations and hygiene measures.
- Participation in a sport or activity not listed or failing to adhere to the terms of coverage for listed sports or activities.
- Our policy doesn’t replace the need for you to purchase rental vehicle insurance through the rental vehicle company covering physical damage and theft of the rental vehicle and your liability to third parties for injury or property damage while the rental vehicle is in your care or control.
- Being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
Be sure to read the Policy Document and General Exclusions for other scenarios and expenses we don’t cover so there’ll be no surprises if you need to use your cover.
Australia Travel Tips
- If you’re planning a road trip, be aware of the distances involved between destinations. Sometimes it can be hundreds of kilometres between towns and petrol stations.
- The sun is very strong in Australia so be sure to wear sunblock, even on a cloudy day. Temperatures in Outback areas can be very high.
- Pick your season – the weather can vary tremendously in parts of Australia even in the same season.
- Swim between the flags at the beach. They show the safest point on the beach for swimming and can help you avoid dangerous rips.
Are you looking for more travel inspiration for Australia? World Nomads has various articles that cover a range of fun topics in Australia, here are just a few:
- How to Get a Working Holiday Visa for Australia
- Australia Hikes: 6 Spectacular Tracks All Around the Country
- Where to Stay in Australia: Accommodation Travel Tips
- 10 Ancient Natural Wonders Around Australia
You can also check out our articles if you need the latest safety travel alerts.
This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.
Traveller tip 1: don't forget when travelling overseas, some countries may require your New Zealand passport to be valid for at least six months before it's expiry date as a condition of entry
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact the teamRichard on assignment in Mongolia
Our Mongolia scholarship trip took Travel Photography Scholarship mentor Richard I’Anson to the far reaches of the Gobi Desert and into the colorful pageantry of the Naadam festival.
Scholarship mentor Richard I’Anson shares the highlights of his journey with Discover Mongolia, his thoughts on the benefits of our scholarships, and his tips for budding photographers.
1. How did you become a World Nomads Scholarship mentor?
I was fortunate to be invited by the World Nomads team in 2016 to become only the second Travel Photography Scholarship mentor. I was told the people in charge were aware of my work and interest in sharing my knowledge through my Lonely Planet travel photography book.
2. What makes Mongolia such a unique destination?
It’s a huge country with spectacular and varied landscapes including deserts, mountains, and vast steppes. Once you’re out of the capital city everywhere feels remote, so the sense of adventure is strong and enhanced by the long drives and encounters with Mongolia’s famous nomadic culture.
3. What makes World Nomads Scholarships such a fantastic opportunity?
The opportunity to travel on a private photography tour is amazing. The trips are 100 percent focused on capturing great photos, so it’s a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in an intense photography experience with people whose job is to get you to the right place at the right time and assist in all aspects of image creation.
4. What were the highlights of the Mongolia trip?
Every day produced memorable experiences and photography opportunities, but all three locations in the Gobi Desert and the regional Naadam festival at Kharakorim were the standouts for me.
5. What were the challenges of the Mongolia trip?
Nothing out of the ordinary. We covered big distances so the drives were long, but that was more challenging for our driver from Discover Mongolia. The biggest photography challenge was the long days. Because it was summer, sunrise was around 5am and sunset around 9pm. Thankfully, there was plenty of time to nap in the car on the long drives between locations.
6. You run a lot of photo tours around the world. What is the most common mistake beginner travel photographers make?
Not fully understanding the technical aspects of photography (shutter speed, aperture, and ISO) and how they relate not just to correct exposure (which digital cameras can do well automatically) but how they relate to creative photography where the photographer is in control (not the camera) of the settings to achieve the look and feel in their images that they have in their mind’s eye.
7. What advice can you give someone who wants to break into the industry?
Learn the technical stuff (see above) so that using the camera becomes second nature, so that you can concentrate on the creative aspects of great photography, namely subject selection, composition, and light, so that you maximize the chance of capturing fleeting moments, which so often produce the best pictures.
Educate yourself on what quality photography looks like by studying the work of established photographers. Learn to step back from your own work and assess it dispassionately. This is harder than it sounds so seek the opinion and guidance of professionals and teachers where possible.
