Travel Advisory

Learn from your guides whilst you explore the Blue Mountains | Jannice Banks

Travel Advisory

Your well-being is our top priority

At Australian Walking Holidays, your safety is our first concern. Our specific protocols and safety analysis procedures, in conjunction with updates provided by our local partners and communities, allow us to carefully assess the stability of each region we visit and plan our operations accordingly. Our staff frequently review all aspects of our walking holidays to ensure we are providing you with the best possible travel experience.

For updates on specific events and regions, please see our most recent travel warnings and advice below.

CURRENT UPDATES

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 6 January 2022 – Omicron and Rapid Antigen Tests

Recently, there have been drastic changes to the state and federal governments restrictions that regulate the spread of COVID-19. Overall, they have resulted in more freedom of movement and fewer interstate travel restrictions, which is welcomed news for the tourism industry. As a result of these changes, we have reviewed and updated our COVID-19 safe procedures to continue to provide the safest trips possible for our passengers and guides.

Fortunately, all our trips continue to operate as scheduled with our updated COVID-19 travel policies and COVID-19 safe protocols in place.

We ask that all passengers keep updated with any state border restrictions or procedures for interstate travel.

View our COVID-19 Travel Policy for more information.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 15 June 2021

All of our trips and operating bases are now running as usual with our COVID-19 safe procedures in place. All passengers are required to complete a COVID-19 health declaration before joining one of our departures and we will conduct temperature checks at the arrival point of your chosen trip. Health declarations are provided to all passengers with their pre-departure information for completion. Together, we can be assured that we are protecting our travelers, guides and the many good people you’ll meet during your journey.

Any passengers who are directly impacted by a COVID-19 restrictions or public health directions will be contacted by your reservation consultant. We are also asking any of our travelers that are affected by COVID-19 restrictions or public health directions to contact us as soon as you are made aware, as you may have travelled through a hotspot despite your residential address being in a non-affected area/region.

We ask that all passengers keep up to date with any state border restrictions or procedures for interstate travel. Some states may require the completion of a health declaration before travelling interstate depending on your origin and destination.

Any passengers who have been directly impacted by a Government COVID-19 restriction may be eligible for our flexible cancellation terms.

2021 Archive

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 13 January 2021

Fortunately, most of our trips and regions continue operating and as usual with our COVID-19 safe procedures in place.

Due to recent infections of the virus is some regions, some passengers may be impacted by associated border restrictions and lockdowns. Below is a summary of the current restrictions that may affect our travellers with departures through to the end of February. We will be contacting all travellers who we know reside in a hot spot/high risk or restricted zone whose travel arrangements are likely impacted. Though, we are also asking any of our travellers that are affected by announcements around restrictions which will impact you and your travel plans to contact us as soon as you are made aware of the same.

Any passengers who have been directly impacted by a Government COVID-19 restriction may be eligible for our cancellation terms.

For travellers coming to Tasmania from:

Victoria – Certain venues at specific date and times. View full list here.
Queensland – LGA’s of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan are deemed high risk
New South Wales – LGA’s of Bayside, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Burwood, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown City, City of Sydney, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Hunter’s Hill, Inner West, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Liverpool, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Ryde, Strathfield, Sutherland, The Hills, Waverley, Willoughby, Wollondilly, Wollongong and Woollahra are deemed a medium risk.

Passengers from high and medium risk areas will be significantly impacted and may not be able to join their departure.

There are no restrictions in place for other states and regions however passengers are required to register their travel with the e-Travel System. While the situation is fluid the above details could change rapidly, please refer to further details of restrictions and the e-Travel system here.

All passengers are required to complete a COVID-19 health declaration prior to joining one of our departures and we will conduct temperature checks at the arrival point of your chosen trip. Health declarations are provided to all passengers with their pre-departure information also for completion. Together, we can be assured that we are protecting our travellers, guides and the many good people you’ll meet during your journey.

2020 Archive

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 18 December 2020

After a cluster positive COVID-19 cases emerging in the Northern Beaches of NSW some states have deemed the area to be high risk. This has resulted in travel restrictions being imposed on residents from this area or anyone who has spent time in this hotspot from the 11th December.

Currently, Tasmania, Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland have declared the Northern Beaches of Sydney as a COVID-19 hotspot and have banned entry for residents from this area. We closely monitoring the situation. At this stage, all of our trips are proceeding as planned and we are contacting all passengers who may be impacted by the new restrictions to assist with alternate travel arrangements.

The safety of our passengers and team is our utmost priority and we will take any action that is advised by the state governments and public health to ensure their safety.

If you are unsure on which areas have been impacted the below map shows the area that has been deemed high risk by various state public health departments;

Tasmania high-risk areas – here.
Northern Territory high-risk areas – here.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 9 November 2020

Tasmanian Borders are now open to all low-risk jurisdictions. This includes WA, NT, SA, QLD, NSW, ACT and NZ. It is expected that VIC will be added to the low-risk jurisdiction from 1st of December 2020.

With firm plans in place for Tasmania to open to all Australian States and territories we will commence collecting deposits and confirming trips that are now operational.

Please note that you must register to travel to Tasmania via the Tas – e-Travel portal.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 12 October 2020

Northern Territory

Northern Territory Government recently announced NSW is no longer deemed a COVID-19 hop spot. NT borders remain closed to travellers from any region that is declared to be a COVID-19 hot spot. At this stage, only the State of Victoria is a declared hotspot.

We are currently taking bookings for all of our 2021 Northern Territory trips.

Tasmania

Our Tasmanian trips are operational for Tasmanian residents from September when our season commences. The Tasmanian Government has recently announced its intention to open the Tasmanian borders to all low-risk jurisdictions from October 26 2020. At this stage, those low-risk jurisdictions include SA, WA, NT, QLD, ACT and possibly NSW.

We are currently taking bookings from non-Tasmanian residents for all trips from 26th of October and will be reviewing border restrictions and the status of these trips weekly.

Western Australia

Western Australian borders remain closed to all other states and territories. Our 2020 trips in Western Australia remain operational for Western Australian residents only.

We are taking bookings from non-WA residents for trips in 2021.

South Australia

South Australian borders are open to all low community transmission zones. At this stage, they include ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, Tas and WA.

We are currently taking bookings for all of our South Australian trips.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 29 July 2020

Northern Territory

Recently the Northern Territory Government announced that it would close its borders to travellers from any region that it declared to be a COVID-19 hot spot. At this stage all of Victoria, Greater Sydney, Eurobodalla Shire (NSW) and Port Stephens (NSW) have been declared hotspots. Our Larapinta trips remain operational and we are taking bookings for travellers from non hot spot regions. Regretfully as a result of the recent announcements our Kakadu and Jatbula trips for 2020 have now been suspended. Any travellers who have been impacted by these restrictions will be contacted by our team.

Western Australia

Our trips in Western Australia remain operational for Western Australian residents. We are taking bookings from non WA residents for trips from the 1st of October and will reviewing border restrictions and the status of these trips weekly.

South Australia

Our South Australian trips remain operational for South Australian residents. We are taking bookings from non SA residents for trips from the 1st of September and will be reviewing border restrictions and the status of these trips weekly.

Tasmania

Our Tasmanian trips are operational for Tasmanian residents from September when our season commences. We are taking bookings from non Tasmanian residents for trips from 1st of October and will be reviewing border restrictions and the status of these trips weekly.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 22 June 2020

Due to the continuing impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly the closure of National Parks and state borders we have suspended the operation of all trips until 31 July 2020 at which point trips on our Larapinta and Jatbula trails only will recommence. Other domestic areas are subject to review as movement restrictions are eased and state borders reopen with updates to be advised. As per our post on 15 June, our consultants are now contacting all passengers that were due to travel in July 2020

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 15 June 2020

Due to the continuing impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly the closure of National Parks and state borders we have suspended the operation of all trips until 31 July 2020. Our consultants are now contacting all passengers that were due to travel in July 2020. We are hopeful that we will be operating again this winter season once restrictions are eased further and state borders are open.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 25 May 2020

Due to the continuing impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly the closure of National Parks and state borders, we have suspended the operation of all trips until 14 July 2020. Our consultants are now contacting all passengers that were due to travel between 1-14 July 2020.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 28 April 2020

Due to the continuing impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly the closure of National Parks and state borders, we have suspended the operation of all trips until 30 June 2020. Our consultants are now contacting all passengers that were due to travel in June 2020.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 28 March 2020

For departures after 01 June 2020

We are receiving a significant number of enquiries from our travellers in relation to trips with departures after 01 June 2020. We can advise that in April, we will be reviewing the operational status of trips departing in June 2020 and will continue to update future trips on a month by month basis.

For now, only trips up to 31 May 2020 have been advised as inoperable.

- For passengers with departures in June 2020, our consultants will advise you of the status of your trip in April 2020.

- For passengers who are due to travel post 01 July 2020 and who wish to either postpone or cancel your trip arrangements due to the coronavirus pandemic, please notify us in writing and you will receive a credit for the monies paid for the land arrangements of the tour to use towards a departure within 18 months of your original departure date. For travellers postponing their trip we will waive our standard $100 transfer fee*

*Any non-refundable permits, internal ﬂights or other nonrecoverable prepayments that have been paid by you and sent on to secure those services will not be held in credit. You will notiﬁed at the time of your transfer or cancellation of the status of such payments after consultation with the relevant provider.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 23 March 2020

Due to the impacts of the Coronavirus which have resulted in restrictions implemented by the Australian Federal and State Governments over the weekend in response to COVID-19, Australian Walking Holidays will be postponing all trips between 23nd March 2020 and 31st May 2020. Trips departing after May will be reviewed in due course.

We will be contacting all clients travelling between 23 March and 31st of May who have been affected from today in chronological order.

We ask at this time rather than call our offices, to put your communication in an email to us, we are doing our best to respond to them as quickly as we can.

We thank you for your patience.

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Update: 20 March 2020

Due to the travel restrictions to Tasmania implemented by the Tasmanian government on 19 March 2020 because of COVID-19 all our Tasmanian trips between 21st March 2020 and 30th May 2020 will be postponed.

We will be contacting all clients who have been affected.

We ask at this time rather than call our offices, to put your communication in an email to us, and we are doing our best to respond to them as quickly as we can.

Bushfires: 6 January 2020

Bushfires have continued to devastate parts of the country. Not all areas we operate in have been affected, there are plenty of wilderness areas to explore and we currently do not have any guided or self-guided trips departing in the bushfire areas. Australian Walking Holidays is constantly in contact with local services to ensure safe operations.

When heading into a national park, always check on the current conditions prior to entering.

Please continue to plan your active holiday in Australia as the local communities and operators need support during this difficult time. Tourism Australia have released a resource on the areas affected by the fires, click here.

Our thoughts are with all the communities, bushland and wildlife that have been affected to which we have donated $1,000 to the Rural Fire Service to show our appreciation and support during this difficult time. Read more about how you can help too.

2019 Archive

New South Wales and Queensland Bushfires: 14 November 2019

Bushfires have devastated National Parks and communities in the states of New South Wales and Queensland. Over 1 million hectares in New South Wales has been destroyed with several casualties and many wildlife perished in both states.

Australian Walking Holidays does not have any guided or self-guided trips departing or currently in these affected areas.

Most National Parks continue to remain closed and we highly recommend anyone considering a trek in the wilderness to check with their state or territory national parks services. Australian Walking Holidays is in constant contact with on the ground services to ensure our people and guests are safe.

Thank you to all of the heroic firefighters, emergency crews and people combating the fires in New South Wales and Queensland. Our thoughts are with the communities who have been affected.

If you find injured wildlife in need of help, please contact your local wildlife rescue service or WIRES.

Links to community, local emergency and wildlife services:

New South Wales Rural Fire Service

Queensland Rural Fire Service

WIRES

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park: 10 November 2019

High levels of water in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and wet conditions with rain and snow has caused the Franklin River Rafting expedition departing on 10 October as unsafe. The trip was deemed inoperable due to the high levels of water. The rain and melted snow from the surrounding mountains including Frenchman's Cap contributed to the river's fast pace through the narrow passages. Continued melted snow will increase water levels resulting in rapid movement in the river system. The river may overflow onto the banks and make sleeping and resting conditions intolerable.

Australian Walking Holiday's priority is to ensure the safety of our clients and guides and to provide a comfortable memorable experience. We will continue to monitor the water levels of the Franklin River to reassess future departures.

Why travel with us

Exceptional Leadership

As our client feedback will attest to, there is no better team of leaders than those at Australian Walking Holidays. Their expertise & knowledge is matched only by their friendly nature and their desire to impart everything they know about the Australian landscape to you.

Advanced Ecotourism Certified

Travel with peace of mind knowing you've chosen a company that respects the environment, climate and culture. We are triple certified by Ecotourism Australia - Advanced Ecotourism Certified, Respecting our Culture Certified, and Climate Action Business Certified - the highest level possible.

Exceptional Value

We aim to include as much as possible in our Australian walking holidays, so that all you need to think about is being in the moment. We include meals & all park fees on our trips. Our inclusions are displayed against each trip in our brochures, on our website and in our trip notes.

Multi Award-Winning Comfort

The best available food, warmth and shelter is standard on our active wilderness holidays, with selected character lodgings as well as quality camp craft and equipment. This ensures that you have the most rewarding and memorable experience. Stay at our multi award-winning Larapinta Trail exclusive eco-comfort camps.