What vaccines do I need for Australia?

Required: Yellow Fever (required only if arriving within 6 days of leaving a country with yellow fever transmission risk). Recommended by the CDC: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza.

Is tap water safe to drink in Australia?

Tap water is generally safe in Australia, though bottled water is advisable in rural areas.

🇦🇺

Oceania

Australia Travel Health

Reviewed by Alexander Webber, Chief Epidemiologist · Updated 2026-08

Australia is a low-risk destination with world-class healthcare infrastructure. The primary health hazards for travelers are environmental rather than infectious: extreme UV radiation, dangerous marine life, and venomous animals including snakes and spiders. Ross River virus is a mosquito-borne alphavirus present throughout the country that causes prolonged joint pain and fatigue. There is no malaria on the mainland.

Food Safety: Low Risk Tap Water: Safe Malaria Risk Present

Track disease activity in Australia before and during your trip.

Virus Watcher monitors 200+ diseases across 190+ countries in real time. Get push alerts when conditions change at your destination.

Track on iPhone Track on Android Web App

Vaccines for Australia

Required for Entry

Yellow Fever (required only if arriving within 6 days of leaving a country with yellow fever transmission risk)

CDC Recommended

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Influenza

Source: CDC Travelers' Health — Australia

Malaria Risk

No malaria risk in mainland Australia or Tasmania. Dengue is locally transmitted in far north Queensland.

Food and Water Safety

Low Risk Tap water: safe

Australia has some of the strictest food safety standards in the world. Tap water is safe to drink in all cities and most towns. In very remote communities, water quality may vary and local advice should be followed.

Key Health Tips for Australia

Apply SPF 50+ sunscreen every two hours when outdoors; Australia has one of the highest UV indices in the world.
Never handle bats or flying foxes; Australian bat lyssavirus is fatal if not treated promptly with post-exposure prophylaxis.
Swim only at patrolled beaches between the flags; rip currents, box jellyfish (in northern waters November through May), and crocodiles are genuine hazards.
Dengue is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes in far north Queensland; use repellent and protective clothing in Cairns and surrounds.

Disease Risks in Australia

Official Resources

Real-time alerts for Australia

Virus Watcher sends push notifications when disease conditions change at your destination.

Download for iPhone Download for Android

Get Australia travel health alerts by email.

Weekly digest of outbreak activity at your destination. Unsubscribe anytime.