seniors travel south australia

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From Friday, 1 July 2022, South Australian Seniors Card members can travel for free on Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams – all day, every day.

To access the free travel, simply validate your Seniors Card when you board a service or pass through barrier gates.

Previously, SA Seniors Card members were required to pay a concession fare during peak weekday times. This change will make Adelaide Metro services easier to use for South Australian Seniors Card members, regardless of when they need to travel.

Find more information about travelling with your South Australian Seniors Card here.

Unused credit

Any unused credit on SA Seniors Cards can be refunded or transferred to a different metroCARD. To receive a refund, please visit the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre at the Adelaide Railway Station.

If you are unable to travel into the city, please call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 for assistance (7am-8pm, daily). A customer service representative will assist with processing a refund.

There is no time limit on when you can receive your Seniors Card refund. Please travel to the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre for your refund, at a time that is convenient for you.

If you would like your credit transferred to a different metroCARD, please visit the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre with your Seniors Card and the metroCARD, or call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 between 7am and 8pm.

Please note:

• refunds and credit transfers require the Seniors Card member to be present or available via phone
• if you have less than $5 credit, the refund or credit transfer will need to be completed at the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre
• credit, and a recent validation, will still be required on Seniors Cards to access the discounted parking at the Tea Tree Plaza Park ‘n’ Ride .

Adelaide Metro wants all passengers to have a safe journey. Sometimes services need to stop or slow down suddenly. Please remain seated until your bus, train or tram has arrived and you can get off safely.

Do I need to do anything to activate the free travel on my South Australian Seniors Card?

No, the South Australian Seniors Card with the Adelaide Metro logo in the corner is also your metroCARD. From Friday, 1 July 2022, you can use it on all Adelaide Metro services for free – all day, every day. Simply validate your Seniors Card when you board a service or pass through barrier gates.

Why do I still need to validate when travel is free?

Validations are still required, even when no fare is charged, to provide Adelaide Metro with accurate patronage data and assist with future service planning.

How can I get help with my existing credit?

You can receive a refund by visiting the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre at the Adelaide Railway Station.

If you cannot travel into the city, from 1 July please call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 (7am-8pm daily). A customer service representative will assist with processing a refund.

How do I get a Seniors Card?

To apply for a Seniors Card, visit the Seniors Card website or pick up an application form from any South Australian public library. To get a replacement Seniors Card, use Seniors Card member online services on the Seniors Card website, or contact the Seniors Card Unit on 1800 819 961 or [email protected]

How do I access the Tea Tree Plaza Park ‘n’ Ride?

Seniors Cards will still require credit to access the discounted parking at the Tea Tree Plaza Park ‘n’ Ride . Make sure you validate your Seniors Card on board to ensure the discounted parking price is applied.

Are regional bus services included?

No, free travel is not available to Seniors Card members on regional bus services. Find more information about regional services and fares here.

Can I travel with my bike for free?

Seniors Card members can travel with their bike on trains for free at any time, provided there is space available,

Bikes are not allowed on buses or trams as there is not enough space for passengers to move around them safely, or anywhere to secure a bike while the vehicle is moving.

How do interstate Seniors Card members access free travel?

Interstate Seniors Card members can access free travel during off peak times on weekdays as well as all day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays by collecting a 14 day free travel pass. Simply show your interstate Seniors Card at the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre or at a participating retailer . Find more information here.

• Upgraded Woodlands Park Railway Station now open
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South Australia Tours for Seniors

Explore South Australia with other Seniors. These 13 tours include popular destinations like Adelaide and Kangaroo Island.

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13 trips for 'over 50s' in south australia with 11 reviews.

• Christmas & New Year

Kangaroo Island Adventure

Great trip. Our tour guide Kevin was great and other travellers were good company.

Eyre Peninsula Adventure

A great trip. Varied landscapes & a good variety of activities. Cai, our guide, made the trip memorable. He was well organised and receptive to our needs.

• Coach / Bus
• In-depth Cultural

Great Ocean Road and Kangaroo Island Escape (7 Days)

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Outback Explorer Uluru to Adelaide (4 Days)

• Food & Culinary
• Wine tasting

The Flavours of South Australia (5 Days)

• Hiking & Trekking

Heysen Trail and the Flinders Ranges Final Five

Heysen Trails Wild South Coast Way Deluxe Walk

Cycle South Australia's Wine Regions

David our tour leader and Peter our tour driver are excellent. We really appreciated their local knowledge and sense of humour. The bike trails, wine tastings and food stops are all well thought out. We visited some unique quirky locations that only locals would know about.

Best of South Australia

Walk South Australia's Flinders Ranges

Hike the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

Tastes of Southern Australia (2025/2026, 11 Days)

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

Travel free with your SA Seniors Card

From Friday, 1 July 2022, South Australian Seniors Card members can travel for free on Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams – all day, every day.

To access the free travel, simply validate your Seniors Card when you board a service or pass through barrier gates.

Previously, SA Seniors Card members were required to pay a concession fare during peak weekday times. This change will make Adelaide Metro services easier to use for South Australian Seniors Card members, regardless of when they need to travel.

Find more information about travelling with your South Australian Seniors Card here .

Seniors Card

View Seniors Card discounts and benefits other than concessions.

Funeral AssistanceSA

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Tips for Senior Travelers in Australia

Seniors -- often called "pensioners" in Australia -- from other countries don't always qualify for the discounted entry prices to tours, attractions, and events that Australian seniors enjoy, but it is always worth asking. Inquire about discounts when booking hotels, flights, and train or bus tickets. The best ID to bring is something that shows your date of birth or that marks you as an "official" senior, such as a membership card from AARP.

Many reliable agencies and organizations target the 50-plus market. Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel; tel. 800/454-5768 in the U.S.; www.roadscholar.org) arranges worldwide study programs -- including to Australia -- for those ages 55 and over.

In Australia, pick up a copy of Get Up & Go (www.getupandgo.com.au), the only national travel magazine for the over-50 crowd and the official Seniors Card travel magazine. It's a glossy quarterly, available at most newsstands and has an extensive section called "Destination Australia," which covers a region in each state/territory in every issue.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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See the world. Make friends. Have fun!

Travel at 60 has adventures in Australia, New Zealand and across the world in 2024 and beyond!

Whether you’re planning your own itinerary or want to travel with fellow over-60s , our full-service Aussie travel agency is here to make it easy!

Call now on 1300 414 198 (for the cost of a local call anywhere within Australia) for a friendly chat about your next adventure. And make sure you’ve signed up for our newsletter to get the best deals in your inbox!

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This week's top holiday deals

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Highlights of Antarctica: Expedition Cruise

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Kimberley: All-inclusive Small Group Tour

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Christmas in July in the Hunter Valley (Jul 2024)

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Round Australia Cruise from Brisbane (Mar 2026)

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Round Australia Cruise from Sydney (Nov 2025)

Round Australia Cruise from Melbourne (Mar 2026)

Round Australia Cruise from Fremantle (Nov 2025)

"Bounty Adventure" Cruise from Brisbane (Aug 2025)

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Tour Japan by Bullet Train (Return Flights Included!)

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• SALE on selected departures: Partner flies free or solo traveler save 50% on airfare*

Journey from Cairns to Darwin along the Savannah Way

A$10,485 pp.

• Explore a road less travelled: the mighty Savannah Way
• All-inclusive experiential small group expedition
• Scenic helicopter flights, luxury wilderness lodges and more!

Explore Longreach & Winton by Tour, Stagecoach, Cruise & Train! (2024)

• Stay in unique pioneer-inspired accommodation
• See the best of Outback QLD in a hugely varied itinerary
• Ride the Spirit of the Outback train from Longreach-Brisbane

Bali Escape: 7 nights in Ubud with touring, breakfast and more!

• 4-star accommodation just 10 minutes' walk from the Monkey Forest!
• F​ull day private tour of Bali included
• P​LUS daily breakfast, a spectacular scenic temple visit, silver making class and more!

Fly, Stay & Cruise Package: South Pacific Crossing with Hawaii & Tahiti (Sydney roundtrip)

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Tour the tulips, windmills and many delights of Holland

• Visit the stunning Keukenhof Tulip Bulb Gardens
• Visit a cheese and clog factory in Volendam
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Explore Arnhem Land and Kakadu

• O​ne in a lifetime wilderness adventure
• T​ravel across ancient & sacred lands
• V​isually stunning scenery + Wildlife encounters

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Dedicated over-60 holidays

Capricorn Coast: Over-60 Group Getaway (FULLY HOSTED Seniors Month Special Departure)

• Business Class return rail from Brisbane
• One-off FULLY HOSTED departure with daily tours and activities
• Five nights in Yeppoon
• Includes the Capricorn Caves, a Great Keppel Island day trip, dinner and a show at Footlights, Byfield National Park and more!

Norfolk Island: Fully Escorted Tour with Flights (Brisbane roundtrip, Jan 2025)

• Fully escorted over-60s tour including historic reenactments, theatre-style dinners and more
• Return airfares from Brisbane included

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers (Brisbane roundtrip)

• Includes accommodation + meals + touring
• See award-winning gardens and public parks with like-minded gardening enthusiasts
• PLUS A ride on the Downs Steam Tourist Railway, an Empire Theatre tour and more!
• Travel at 60
• See the world
• Make friends

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Guide: Public transport trips when interstate

Smart cards have changed how we catch a bus tram, ferry or train, but the rules differ from state to state

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• 2 March 2023
• Read Time: 8 mins

Getting around by public transport has been made easier since the introduction of plastic travel cards that can be used to tap on/tap off. It is getting even easier with some states now accepting debit and credit cards, including those connected to smart devices, meaning you don’t even need to purchase yet another plastic card for your purse or wallet. 

While using these cards are an easier option than worrying about paper tickets to travel around, every state uses different card systems which makes it difficult to know how to pay for transport when travelling interstate.

The rules are different from state to state, and there are traps if you are unfamiliar with the system. These include:

• While all capital cities issue tap-and-go travel cards, they are not interchangeable. You won’t be able to use your state’s travel card interstate.
• Use of the travel cards can be limited in regional areas.
• Seniors Card holders outside their own state or territory may be treated differently to cardholders from the home state.
• The time of day can make a difference to the fare you pay

Here’s a state-by-state rundown of public transport cards.

The myki card is used on trains, trams and buses in Melbourne, certain V/Line rail services and buses within Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour, and the La Trobe Valley.

Seniors' myki cards are available for Victorian Seniors Card holders, while with Seniors Card holders from other states or territories qualify eligible for a concession card.

Seniors and concession cards cost $3, half the full price of $6, and can be bought and topped up at railway stations and many retailers including 7-Eleven stores. This can also be done online . Travellers with Android phones can download a myki app.

Seniors and concession-card holders receive a 50 per cent discount on fares. There is also a free tram zone in the CBD.

The myki network does not currently accept allow users to tap on and off with credit- cards. payments.

Find out more:

New South Wales

The Opal Card can be used on trains, trams, buses and ferries in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra region.

All seniors are entitled to half-price fares, while a Gold Seniors Opal Card, which is available online , allows Seniors Card holders unlimited travel for no more than $2.50 a day in these regions. 

Standard Opal Cards are available to buy at convenience stores and retailers. 

Passengers can also tap-and-go using debit cards and American Express, Mastercard and Visa credit cards – but senior and other concession fares are not available if you use this method.

Companions and carers can qualify for free travel if accompanying concession card holders.

The Translink go card is valid for use on trains, trams, buses and ferries in the greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. The top-up card can be bought and recharged at railway stations and some shops, including newsagencies, and online .

A seniors go card is available to those with a valid Seniors Card issued by any state or territory. Seniors, who are exempt from the $5 fee but must load the card with at least $5 on purchase, pay half fare.

Queensland has just introduced Smart Ticketing allowing passengers to can now pay with Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards, bank debit cards, smartphone or smart device. Tap and go credit card payments can only be used on the new smart ticketing terminals, which are coloured bright pink., These machines also accept go cards.

The ability to use tap and go credit card payments is available on most the greater Brisbane train transport network, including the Air Train to the ort. It will eventually be rolled out to bus services in Brisbane and beyond, including major centres such as Cairns, Bowen, Rockhampton, and Bundaberg.

The bad news is that there is no seniors discount on these transactions, so a go card is a far better option.

For one-off trips, passengers can purchase paper tickets, but they are more expensive than those bought on cards or smart devices.

Brisbane City Council offers free off-peak travel for seniors on its bus network.

South Australia

The rechargeable MetroCARD can be used on trains, trams and buses in city and suburban Adelaide.

The South Australian Seniors Card includes MetroCARD technology, allowing users to travel all day, every day for free.

Seniors Card holders from other states and territories can access a MetroTicket for 14 consecutive days of free off-peak travel during a visit to Adelaide. Details are hereon the SA Government website .

If you don’t qualify for free travel, MetroCARDs are available from selected retailers and vending machines across Adelaide, with concessional fares half the regular price.

Passengers on tram and O-Bahn bus services can tap on and off and pay with their Mastercard or Visa.

Western Australia

The SmartRider rechargeable card is available for travel on the TransPerth network of trains, trams and buses, and can be purchased at agents, including many newsagencies.

Western Australian seniors qualify for free off-peak travel and concessional fares during peak hours using their state-issued Seniors Card. It is rechargeable with amounts of $10 or more if you want to use it outside of the free period.

Holders of interstate Seniors Cards are eligible for a Concession SmartRider card. Concession fares vary depending on the number of zones travelled, but they are less than 50 per cent of full fare.

TransPerth will introduce credit and debit card tap on and off payments in late 2023.

The Metro Greencard, which can be purchased at branded Metro Shops, bus depots and Metro shops and agents including newsagencies and convenience stores, is available for bus travel in Hobart. It can be recharged at the same outlets or online .

Holders of a Seniors Card issued in any state or territory, and all people over 70, are entitled to a concessional flat fare of $1.92 per journey using a Metro Greencard or $2.40 if paying cash.

Australian Capital Territory

The MyWay card is available for use on bus and light rail services across the territory. The technology is already included in Australian Seniors Cards issued in the ACT.

Seniors Card holders from elsewhere in Australia can purchase an Interstate Seniors MyWay Card at the 30-plus MyWay agents, including many newsagencies, or on the Transport Canberra website . 

Journeys are free for seniors and other concession-card holders during off peak times, and half price in peak hours, with an upper cap of $4.80 on week days and $2.17 on weekends and public holidays.

Northern Territory

People holding a Seniors Card from any state or territory are entitled to free bus trips at all times any time of the day just by showing that card to the driver.

Passengers who are not Seniors Card holders, but are entitled to other concessions, pay one-third of full fare via Tap & Ride Cards. These, which can be bought and recharged on buses and at the Casuarina, Darwin, and Palmerton bus interchanges.

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Destination: Australia

Small group tour of Australia

For Odyssey, our limited collection of Australia small group tours for seniors with a tour leader, provides a platform for you to safely and conveniently discover Australia on a small group coach tour, typically with a relaxed adaptable group of just 12 participants (Maximum 15 travellers). This type of authentic Australian holiday package is primarily for the senior traveler exploring as a couple or solo traveler and is offered with an excellent tour manager to a small group by this tour company since 1983. Odyssey has sought to capture those unique holiday packages Australia seeks to present in its escorted tours Australia 2022 portfolio, across a collection of some 30 small group tours. This travel package range for mature travellers of Australian tours are often guaranteed.

Our Destinations

New south wales 3 tours.

Northern Territory 1 tours

Queensland 2 tours

South Australia 2 tours

Tasmania 13 tours

Victoria 2 tours

Western Australia 2 tours

Specialised Tours

Explore Australia from a different perspective with a tour operator offering smaller group since 1983.

Australian Air tours

All Australian Tours

Crafted Tours for Mature World Travellers

Wildflowers tour of Western Australia

Visiting Western Australia

Escorted small group tour for senior and mature travellers as a couple of solo traveller. Upto 12 people of WA's Wildflower regions including Esperance and the Fitzgerald river National park. Local guides and program leader share knowledge about this fascinating region whilst in bloom.

From A$12,250 AUD

Long tour of Australia for a small group

Visiting New South Wales, Northern Territory

Small group tour for senior couples and solo travellers touring Australia. Travelling through the outback and visiting many of the famous sights as well as off the beaten track locations. Learn about the history of the people who explored the deserts, from indigenous communities to Europeans, as well as Burke and Wills , visit White Cliffs , Marree and far north Kakadu and the Kimberley.

From A$45,910 AUD

Small group tour; Broken Hill and back

Visiting New South Wales, Queensland

Small group tour of New South Wales, Queensland & South Australia deserts, from Broken Hill. Learn about the history of the people who explored the deserts, from indigenous communities to Europeans, as well as Burke and Wills, visit White Cliffs, Birdsville, Maree.

From A$11,550 AUD

Small group tour of Flinders Island

Visiting Tasmania

Explore and learn about Flinders Island on an escorted small group tour for mature and senior travellers who enjoy a walking holiday . For couples or solo travellers . We also explore Cradle Mountain and Launceston .

From A$6,950 AUD

Discovering Tasmania’s Wildlife

Small group tour of up to 15 mature and seniors travellers visiting and learning about Tasmania's wildlife and history. Visit Maria Island, Freycinet peninsula , Cradle Mountain , Strahan , Lake St Clair and Bruny Island over 16 days.

From A$11,450 AUD

The Darling River Run small group tour

Visiting New South Wales, Victoria

Small group tour for the mature and senior traveller of the Darling River. Learn about the history, culture and landscapes of the Darling, a key part of the Australian river system including Aboriginal trading routes and aquaculture . Suitable for mature and senior couples or solo travellers.

From A$10,750 AUD

Aboriginal history in Tasmania |Summer School in Launceston

Aboriginal Tasmania explores the deep history through to the contemporary period today. Colonial settlement is explored and the program is supplemented wit field trips.

For mature couples or solo travellers there are Sydney tour packages that start and end in this city, but we do so much more than that. You can travel with us on an outback tour of Australia that takes you as far north as Cape York and as far west as Broome . Contact us for more details about our small group Australia tour package dates for guaranteed departures . Although many of the programs are outback tours of Australia for seniors, we don’t neglect the coastal areas and the cities.

Odyssey’s collection of Australia tour packages with a tour manager enable you to explore each state with Odyssey’s escorted tours Australia 2022 portfolio as a city based tour or a Australia holidays package into the Western Australia outback of the Kimberley or South Australia‘s Flinders range or just spend a week on holiday in Hobart learning about a range of subjects on Odyssey’s Summer Schools tour package. This collection of some 70 scheduled small group holiday departures provides plenty of choice for an Australian holiday. These are holidays for solo travellers over 60 Australia or couples.You can make your booking direct for your Australia escorted tour with us or via your travel agent or travel consultant.

Tasmania Summer Schools

Convicts and Emigrants in Early Tasmania | Summer School in Hobart, Tasmania

The course focuses on Tasmania and its similarities and differences from the ‘mainland’ as a convict colony, with a particular focus on women's experiences.

The Great Philosophers and Us | Summer School course

This course takes you back to the birthplace of western philosophy and the basis for our inner growth as individuals, as communities and a civilisation that continues to question its values and our very being ever since. Our small group will explore these origins of thought , the masterpieces of literature and drama that reach far beyond their initial time and place and let them speak again to us today.

Tasmanian Colonial homes, centring on Hobart and Launceston | Summer School in Hobart, Tasmania

Summer School tour that examines the Historic homes and the history of their occupiers.

Tasmanian Wilderness | Summer School in Hobart, Tasmania

The Tasmania Wilderness summer school is held annually in Hobart in early January. This summer school allows you to experience the great western wilderness of Tasmania, while staying at a comfortable ‘base camp’ in a Hobart hotel!

Houses and Gardens of Southern Tasmania | Summer School in Hobart, Tasmania

Houses and gardens of Southern Tasmania runs for five days and takes in ten different gardens and three heritage-listed houses. We will step back into the past and experience life as it was two centuries ago.

Italian Renaissance | Summer School course

This Summer school course looks at the influence and contribution five key families in shaping today's Italy. In the 15th and 16th centuries the principalities that became Italy were alive with new ideas. The boundaries of art, architecture, music, science, politics, religion and literature were pushed. It was also riven by bitter rivalry and even open warfare between the numerous independent city states.

Romans settling Britain & Gaul | Summer School course

This course will investigate contemporary accounts of Roman of the path to occupation and then settlement in Britain and Gaul. This class will endeavour to consider and discuss the contribution Rome and the Romans had on the places controlled by these invaders.

Uncovering Ancient Greece | Summer School course

The Glory of Greece course examines the history of the Ancient Greeks from Mycenaean, Minoan and Homeric times until the commencement of the Peloponnesian War in 431BC. We discover the development of a classical, ancient people and culture.

Extraordinary Women from Medieval and Renaissance Europe | Summer School course

This Summer school course will examine the life and deeds of a number of strong women living in Medieval and Renaissance Europe. Women seldom wrote the history books in the period between 1050 and 1650.

Victorian Britain | Summer School course

This course will look at the life and times of Queen Victoria who reigned over the British Empire between 1837 and 1901. During that period Britain underwent what amounted to a revolution in industry, agriculture, transport, politics, science, medicine and the arts.

Some Articles about Australia

Iconic Animals of the Australian Outback

Explore the wildlife and natural heritage of Australia , with its iconic marsupials, birds, reptiles, and surreal monotremes in the Outback. Odyssey offers small group tours for mature and senior travellers, couples, and solo travelers to Australia.

The Kimberley: A Definitive Guide

This article supports the small group package tours for mature and senior travellers, couples and solo travellers to Western Australia 's Kimberley region . Learn about the wet and dry seasons and the fascinating Aboriginal history as well as the Bungle Bungles , Lake Argyle , Halls creek and resort of Broome.

What to pack for holidays

For mature solo and senior travelers what to pack for holidays in a post Covid-19 environment is packed with suggestions. Article for small group tour travellers to Europe or outback Australia to assist with packing advice for general trips and walking tours.

Responsible Travel Tips

Article to encourage and promote responsible travel. Article supports similar articles choosing shoes or maintaining health and fitness of travel advice for solo travellers. An Antipodean travel company serving World Travellers since 1983 with small group educational tours for senior couples and mature solo travellers.

Moonta, South Australia

Continued reading about South Australia and the "Copper Triangle" of Yorke Peninsula, Adelaide and British Settlement for senior couples and solo travellers on a small group tour by coach or air tour.

19th Century South Australian Copper Triangle

Learn on a small group tour for couples and senior travellers for couples and solo travellers about the history of South Australian copper. Explore the Eyre peninsula, Lake Gardiner as well as Burra and the Flinders ranges .

A unique small group journey into the outback

Odyssey offers a small group tour of Australia providing a journey between cities with just 250 years of European history, and an outback, which has some of the oldest known geologic material on earth. Importantly, it has one of the longest and most truly fascinating periods of human settlement, which we seek to convey through our collection of small group outback tour programs. This collection of outback tours for seniors takes the senior couple or solo traveller on a guided tour through the national park network, into the Flinders range including Wilpena pound, Birdsville, or beyond Broken hill. In the Northern Territory to Watarrka national park and King’s canyon or Tennant creek. Priority is given to sourcing indigenous guide to share their knowledge of outback Australia on these outback tours for seniors.

Indigenous Australians settled, possibly via a land bridge on the continent from Southeast Asia, at least 85,000 years before the first Europeans from Portugal and Spain began exploration in the 17th century. For senior and mature travellers, a small group outback tour of Australia is a unique experience, an outback adventure and an inspiration for the mature traveller interested in a small group journey. You can travel along the Oodnadatta Track , journey over the Nullarbor Plain, visit the Kimberley region or watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean from Broome. On an Odyssey outback tour you have the chance, not just to experience the amazing landscape, but to learn about indigenous culture from indigenous guides and from the physical evidence still available, including rock art in the Bungle Bungle Ranges and the fish traps at Brewarrina .

Australia is a country the size of America, but with a population of just 25 million, and one of the longest coastlines in the World. Some 80% of the population lives on Australia ‘s east coast, separated from what is known as the outback by the low mountains of the Great Dividing Range. Australia ‘s geographic diversity, in landforms, flora, and wildlife, is part of its charm, providing the back drop for a small group outback adventure in the winter period . Whilst the Great Barrier reef, kangaroos and koalas are well known, the great biodiversity of the native Australian wildlife is less well known, and an escorted tour, complete with a local guide into the outback, provides an amazing opportunity. The biodiversity present is often missed until a good tour guide or travel expert shares their knowledge with you. Our small group tours of Australia including any of chosen Australian outback tour or air charter allows you to travel on an epic journey across one of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating countries. Take a journey across the outback and experience a national park such as Purnululu National Park , the Blue Mountains , Kuku Yalanji, the Great Barrier reef and Kata Tjuta. These parks account for some 10% of the World’s biodiversity and on any tour of Australia, travellers can expect to meet unique wildlife, just waiting to be photographed.

Reaching your Destinations

Travel in Australia can be a challenge. Once you leave the major cities of Sydney , Melbourne or Brisbane on a journey by car, or on an escorted tour by coach, the sheer scale of the country begins to reveal itself as the journey unfolds. It is on a scale often unrecognised when flying, for example, to Cairns or Port Douglas from Sydney to explore a UNESCO world heritage site such as the Daintree rainforest or the Great Barrier reef in far North Queensland. You may arrive in Cairns in less than three hours by plane, but on the road, through the outback, this journey for the tour group, becomes an outback adventure, that can run for days. It can become an epic journey, one that requires careful planning and destinations selected well in advance, if you are to arrive safely at your outback destination.

The same rules apply for the journey to Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayers rock ) in the Kata Tjuta National park. From Sydney, or any of the state capitals, this journey has much that will be missed by plane. When you travel as part of a small group tour of Australia with Odyssey, there is so much more to experience. The journey from Sydney to Uluru passes first through another UNESCO world heritage site, the Blue Mountains National Park with its extraordinary gorges and cliff faces, so easily missed unless you know where to look. Farmland and rural towns soon disappear as the drive takes us towards the Northern Territory, then three thousand kilometres away, we finally reach Uluru. This is the Australian outback!

The vast scale of the outback may not be missed on a solo journey by car, but there is so much more to experience than simply distance. When you travel as part of a small group tour of Australia with Odyssey, your programme leader, or your local guide for the day, will be sharing stories with you about the Australian wildlife, local legends or some of world’s most beautiful stories from the dreamtime of the indigenous Australian communities you visit. Aboriginal culture and colonial history both come to life in the sites and country museums we visit, and in the tales related by locals. The Odyssey Australian outback tour seeks to create programs that provide learning as well as enjoyment and adventure as you travel overland, off the beaten track through Central Australia.

Small group tours of Australia for seniors from Odyssey.

Odyssey has, over almost 40 years, put together a collection of Australia packages for air tours , coach tours and motorbike tours within Australia and overseas for the mature solo and senior couple. Our aim is to create Seniors holiday packages that older people from within Australia, and those from overseas, can enjoy. We have created a wide variety of itineraries for local and international travellers with the opportunity to take the journey, often into the Australian outback, that go beyond the icons of the Sydney Opera House or the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Uluru ( Ayers rock ) and the Great Barrier Reef. Our travel programs in Australia for seniors seek to take you off the beaten track on a road trip to explore some less well known, but still spectacular scenery. They are designed for older travellers, couples and those travelling solo. Your fellow traveller understands as does the tour manager leading the group about solo travel. There is a single supplement for solo occupancy of a hotel room. What is important though is that for both couples and the single traveller that you are with a like minded people seeking a similar travel style and experience.

We hope, like Robert Frost, to take the road less travelled. These may not be adventure Australia tours but they are wildlife Australia tours. We provide travel experiences in central Australia that follow the Birdsville track , or take the Canning stock route, camping each night. Another tour explores the Oodnadatta Track and continues into the Flinders Ranges and Brachina Gorge. We have coach tours in Australia that track the stunning scenery of the great Australian Bight or the wildflowers of Western Australia and the extraordinary Kimberley region.

This is a fascinating country and our collection of discovery Australia escorted tour(s) seek to show how its geographical isolation has allowed for an incredible biodiversity record unlike that of any other place on the planet. This can be seen in its unique Australian wildlife, from the the kangaroo, platypus, wombat, quokka, echidna and koala, to its plant diversity, expressed in the wildflowers of Western Australia . Of course not all our tours are wildlife tours, but once our outback tours of Australia leave the built up environment, then there will almost certainly be a wildlife experience at some time on your vacation.

Our group tours for seniors in Western Australia , give the traveller the opportunity to explore and learn about places such as Broome and the beautiful Kimberley coast, Kings Canyon, Kuranda the Bungle Bungle Ranges and Lake Argyll , while developing an understanding of the wet and dry climatic cycle of the Kimberley. The Aborigines have been present here for some 60,000 years in WA and we hope to come to some understanding of Aboriginal history and culture. They developed not only incredible storytelling, to pass on from generation to generation, but had the ability to manage the world’s most arid continent on a sustainable basis. The Aboriginal people also represented their life and understanding of the spirit world through their rock art and painting . We have the opportunity to explore Aboriginal rock art , particularly in the Kimberley region, on these Western Australia tours.

In South Australia , Europeans made their mark in the Flinders ranges, long after geologic processes commenced. Beautiful Wilpena Pound represents the stumps of mountains believed to have once been as tall as the Himalayas. Coober Pedy , with its unusual underground living, yielded opals to miners while other British settlers sought to develop agriculture, train lines and the telegraph through the Flinders ranges. The Oodnadatta track, also in South Australia, provides the traveller with the chance to learn more about both Aboriginal and colonial history.

A traveller with a curiosity and interest in outback Australia and fossils can join an Odyssey program in country New South Wales that ends in far North Queensland in the place where complete Dinosaur skeletons were uncovered by local people some 50 years ago or learn about Australia’s unique Megafauna . Our senior traveller can sit and consider that moment in time, just outside what is Winton today, when a herd of Dinosaurs stampeded through the mud to escape a larger Dinosaur, seeking lunch some 65 Million years ago. On our outback tour we can show you this in the exposed geological record.

What can be discovered in Australia, from the past and the current environment, is simply fascinating once the traveller escapes the cities and ventures into the outback. You can’t really capture the outback spirit from a seat in an aeroplane. You need to get out into the Northern Territory and Western Australia, or at least to drive across the Hay Plain on your way to Lake Mungo . We don’t, however, ignore the cities entirely as major cities, including Sydney , Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth , Darwin & Hobart , where the vast majority of the population lives, each have their contribution to make to an understanding of modern Australia. Our Victorian Gold Rush and Gardens tour begins and ends in Melbourne, there’s a dedicated tour to Adelaide in South Australia or you can take a tour that concentrates on Canberra , the nation’s capital.

Odyssey wants travellers on an Australian small group tour to experience the extraordinary variety that this country has to offer. We want you to be surprised by information that has been recently discovered by Europeans but known to Indigenous Australian for thousands of years. In the outback of Western Australia, for example, just down the road (well only a few hundred kilometres), from the UNESCO World heritage site at the Purunululu National Park (home to the Bungle Bungle rock formation ) is the world’s second largest meteorite impact crater. A meteorite struck this part of the planet some 120,000 years ago at Wolfe Creek. This crater remained unknown to Europeans until it was spotted from the air in 1947, though the local indigenous community had been telling stories of the event for many thousands of years!

Is tipping customary in Australia?

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you tip an appropriate amount for services. Tipping is common in Australia; A small tip of a few dollars in showing appreciation for services is greatly appreciated.

What is the time zone?

Australia has multiple time zones. Some of them are half-hour and quarter-hour time zones. Not all states and territories use Daylight Savings:

Australia has 5 standard time zones:

• UTC+8:00: Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)
• UTC+8:45: Australian Central Western Standard Time (ACWST)
• UTC+9:30: Australian Central Standard Time (ACST)
• UTC+10:00: Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
• UTC+10:30: Lord Howe Standard Time (LHST)

What is the best way to tour Australia?

For Odyssey Travellers who tend to be retirees and mature or older travellers travelling as a couple or as a solo travellers, we suggest an organised group tour as being the best way to tour Australia for senior travelers.

Odyssey’s collection of small group Australian vacation packages escorted tours of seek to be an organised tour that get off the beaten track whether on a regular escorted tour or a walking tour somewhere on Australia ‘s east coast . Odyssey’s Australian holiday packages are all inclusive, with the exception of some meals particularly when on an Australia holiday package tour of a city.

Odyssey’s Australia tour packages are for a small group tour of 12 people (Maximum 15) allows you the freedom to enjoy the journey on one of our small group escorted tours of Australia whilst your tour guide looks after the logistics of the tour operation and getting you and your fellow travellers to the next place of interest.

What destinations do Australia escorted tours visit?

An escorted Australia tour has a tour itinerary schedule that typically will visit all the popular destinations a traveller seeks when visiting Australia.

For Odyssey Travellers joining one of our seniors holiday packages , we seek to journey onto the road less travelled! small group escorted tours of Australia that explore.

Our Australian vacation packages ( senior holiday packages ) are small group tours for seniors that explore and provide opportunity to learn as you travel to the Kimberley , Tasmania, Flinders range, South West coast of Western Australia , Outback Queensland or the Canning stock route. Places where Aboriginal stories come to life, the wildlife can be seen, landscapes leave you in awe and the settlement history creates the time to pause and wonder. This is a package holiday offered by an experienced tour operator, though we ask you to arrange your domestic flights ensuring you get the best travel deals available to the start of the perfect holiday.

What are the best places to visit in Australia?

Australia is unique in that this vast island continent contains such a diversity of experiences to meet all types of interest that a traveller may have. It is recognised that for many it is seeking the icons.

For Odyssey Travellers a small group tour is getting beyond the “Best” but to reach the places of interest, to satisfy the curiosity and to learn. Our portfolio of small group escorted tours of Australia to each state seeks to achieve this in groups of typically 6 to 12 people, with a maximum of 15, plus an experienced leader to provide an Australian holiday package experience to be remembered.

Besides the historical towns and outback Aboriginal communities, which many of Odyssey’s tours include, we recommend that you don’t miss the following Australian highlights:

• Far north Queensland
• Barossa Valley
• Broken Hill
• The Kimberley
• Blue Mountains
• Southern Highlands
• Whitsundays

How far in advance should I plan a trip to Australia?

Bookings for an upcoming tour with Odyssey , open upto 2 years in advance to allow you book onto your preferred Australia tour .

A deposit will typically secure your place with final payments falling due between 90 to 60 days before departure.

A reputable travel company will allow you pay by credit card or direct bank transfers in the currency of your choosing.

How much does an Australia escorted tour cost?

For a small group tours for seniors of typically 12 people in this post pandemic environment you should considering an allowance of AUD$550-$600/day per person on a twin share basis. This should cover all travel , entrances, breakfast and one other meal a day, plus tipping. For holidays for solo travellers over 60 Australia should allow AUD$650-$675/day

A large group coach tour of up to 50 senior travelers will operate with a lower cost/ day.

How much does an average trip to Australia cost?

For a small group tour for seniors with Odyssey Traveller you should allow for AUD$3500 for a 8 day city coach tour to Adelaide and AUD$12,500 for a 16 day inclusive tour of the Kimberley .

Location, distance, sights and duration all influence the tour price of coach tours in Australia for seniors .

What is a holiday package to Australia?

Odyssey Traveller specialises in educational small group tours , for seniors , typically groups between 6 to 12 people. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs , since 1983.

We offer a wide range of educational, cultural and heritage journeys that expand horizons and broaden the mind. Our tours are designed for active , inquisitive travellers in a small group environment.

What are the public holidays in Australia?

• New Year’s Day – 1 Jan
• Australia Day – 26 Jan
• Good Friday
• Easter Saturday
• Easter Sunday
• Easter Monday
• Anzac Day – 26 April
• Queen’s Birthday – 14 June
• Labour Day – 4 Oct
• Christmas Day – 25 Dec
• Boxing Day – 26 Dec

This is a link to Australia’s School Holidays: https://info.australia.gov.au/about-australia/special-dates-and-events/school-term-dates

Including South Australia on a small group tour of Australia?

South Australia should not be missed during your Australian adventure – a state famous for its wine regions ( Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills ), its wildlife and stunning nature. Do not miss Adelaide (state capital), the Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island .

South Australia holds a lot of the history of Australia’ s outback and Kangaroo island is a popular destination . Geologically unique, Aboriginal culture , wildlife and European settlement is all part of the mix you can organise as part of a guided tour program in this state. Whilst Adelaide and its hills provide some of Australia’ s finest Victorian buildings and design collections from this era, as well as wines on a day tour , it is the outback of South Australia’s Flinders ranges National park, places like Brachina gorge and Lake Eyre National park , Wilpena pound , Coober Pedy and Woomera that can inspire you when on a escorted tour of this region.

What to see in New South Wales on a tour of Australia?

The oldest state in Australia, New South Wales (NSW) is home to one of the world’s most beautiful cities: the stunning harbor city and capital Sydney , with its unmissable Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and sprawling natural harbor.

Odyssey concentrates our tours on the outback NSW – discover ancient landscapes, unique rock formations and rich Aboriginal culture in places like Broken Hill , Bourke , White Cliffs , Lightning Ridge , Cobar and Mungo National Park .

Odyssey offers easy, convenient and relaxed escorted small group tours to NSW outback. There are important authentic Aboriginal sites , historic colonial towns, World Heritage National Parks , large multi-cultural cities and spectacular scenery, all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s NSW tour packages with a well-organized outback NSW itinerary designed for the senior travellers.

What to do in Tasmania as part of a tour of Australia?

Odyssey lets you explore the sights and history or Tasmania , from the cerulean waters on the east coast, to Cradle Mountain and the capital city if Hobart . With its distinct flora, fauna, geology and climate patterns, Tasmania is one of the most fascinating places you can visit and we are sure you will create memories you will never forget.

Tasmania is a scenic destination with many national parks to explore complete with pure stands of virgin bush, unique wildlife such as the Tasmanian devil to see and learn about in a rugged mountain and wilderness areas, particularly Cradle mountain national park . Our selections of c oach tours of Tasmania for seniors are typically for 15 days. For those interested in European and British history, Tasmania will readily share its often uncomfortable past, both social and the issues surrounding logging and mining. An escorted tour of either the wildlife or cultural history will always be a fascinating tour , the Tasmania tour (s) visit Tamar Valley , the Gordon river , Bruny Island and Lake st Clair .

The capital, Hobart is a pretty city with a vibrant waterfront and harbour built on reclaimed land. It is also associated historically with the convict era as depicted at the Port Arthur Historical site, an ex-convict prison. The contentious private art gallery MOMA is a good place to visit whilst in Hobart.

Should a traveller visit Western Australia as part of a tour of Australia?

During Odyssey’s escorted, small group tour for seniors to Western Australia , we will take you to sites of ancient Aboriginal history , World Heritage Sites , breath-taking Wildflowers blooms, all with spectacular scenes on the way.

The state of Western Australia is dominated by the city of Perth . Beyond Perth regional towns support Wheat farms, Mining and Tourism. Distances on any Western Australia tour are substantial, but the history goes back some 60,000 years and there is plenty to see that this is a destination for a planned tour of Australia on its own. It is Aboriginal history and culture , the wet and dry season of the Kimberley and the Australian outback landscapes of Rainforest, gorges and desert after the coastal town of Broome . But there is more with Ningaloo with its manta rays exploring the Indian ocean . The Kimberley region reveals the bungle bungle and the pinnacles desert . In the eastern part of Western Australia there is or was gold and the worlds second biggest meteorite crater at Wolfes creek that struck this spot 120,000 years ago. On the South West coast of Western Australia , just a few hours drive from Perth city , from June to November endemic Wildflowers come into bloom drawing enthusiasts from around the world to come and observe the season. Travellers explore from Esperance to the wine tasting in the Margaret river region on organised day trip as part of our Western Australia tours .

Should a traveller visit Queensland as part of a tour of Australia?

Queensland covers an area about 7 times the size of the U.K and has a rich and diverse landscape, featuring lush rainforests, beautiful beaches, coastal islands, deserts and the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, as well as the metropolitan state-capital, Brisbane .

For the majority of people on vacation, Queensland represents the beach in their minds. The Great Barrier reef , Cairns , East coast beaches at Noosa or the Gold coast , the Whitsunday islands , Fraser island , the worlds largest sand bank and Brisbane.

For the majority of visitors, they hug the east coast not venturing into the Australian Outback to discover the history of Aboriginal settlement, the river boat traffic down the Murray river or the impact the railway lines brought to regional towns at the begining of the 1900’s. But if you can get beyond Australia’s E ast coast and the G reat Barrier reef particularly in going inland into Queensland then the history is revealed from Winton with the discovery of complete dinosaur skeletons , the town where Waltzing Matilda was first played or where the airline Qantas was the germ of an idea in Longreach, then the stories and history are quickly exposed and become intriguing as they reveal the Australian character. However, the Great Barrier reef , is a UNESCO world heritage site and like Uluru Ayers rock , the Sydney Opera house and the Sydney harbour bridge or the Blue mountains the Great Barrier reef should be seen by the first time visitor to Australia’s east coast . Whilst you are in based in Cairns the Daintree rainforest is also ecologically important and should be visited. Many travellers will base themselves in Cairns when visiting the Great barrier reef , taking an escorted tour up to Port Douglas as a day tour .

Should a traveller visit the Northern Territory and Darwin as part of a tour of Australia?

During Odyssey’s escorted, small group tour for seniors to Darwin and the Northern Territory , you will learn about deep Aboriginal culture , the colonial history and the landscapes that inspire. There is enormous variety of spectacular scenery, history, wildlife and cultural activity.

The Northern Territory with its capital Darwin, has a small population of some 250,000. Famous for the natural waterholes in the Red Centre to the sprawling wetlands of Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, the NT has more diverse landscapes to explore than most countries. This state is 75% arid even though is sits above the tropic of Capricorn. Kakadu N ational park and Uluru Kata Tjuta National park are both key places to visit in the Northern territory, though they are located at each end of the State. Uluru Kata Tjuta National park is associated with the red centre or Australian outback .

Darwin is small, yet cosmopolitan mainly due to the mix of different ethnic cultures which one finds here. It is handy for a visit to both the Charles Darwin National Park , one of Australia ‘s largest wetlands and the Kakadu National Park , the country’s largest national park with its crocodiles, unique birdlife and the largest collection of Aboriginal rock art .

Where should I go on the East Coast of Australia?

Odyssey offers a range of tours on the East Coast of Australia, including our Outback NSW tours – one to Western NSW and one to North East NSW.

What to do in Perth?

During Odyssey’s escorted, small group tour for seniors to Western Australia and its capital Perth, we will visit the new Perth Museum, the Mint Museum, art galleries and many grand Victorian buildings, i.e., the Government House. We will head out of the city to nearby historic Avon Valley, visiting towns such as Beverley, York, Northam and Toodyay. We cruise the Swan River to Fremantle where we take a guided tour of the historic centre and visit one of the world’s best-preserved examples of a 19th century port streetscape. You will explore National Trust properties such as Peninsula Farm and the grand Woodbridge mansion.

What are the best sights to see during your time in Sydney on a tour of Australia?

The UNESCO world heritage listed Blue Mountains , some 2 hours from the city of Sydney, is a great place to start a day tour . The unique formations of dramatic scenery encompass steep cliffs, some of Australia ‘s finest eucalyptus forests, waterfalls and small villages. The mountains include the Three Sisters, some of the world’s most beautiful awe-inspiring pinnacled peaks. In the Blue Mountains there are 140 kilometres of walking trails. However, the B lue mountains should be treated as a journey in to Australia’s outback . For the novice an escorted tour or guided tour onto any of the walking trails in the Blue mountains would be prudent. Should one wish to spend time here, beyond the day tour then the best place as a base in the Blue Mountains would be Katoomba, a small town offering arty boutique shops. Another region a two hour drive away from Sydney and a suitable day tour is the Hunter Valley , a wine producing region with over 120 wineries and some of Australia ‘s finest bloodstock. To the south of Sydney , just off the Hume highway, the road to Melbourne are the Southern highlands and the regional centre of Bowral. This regional town has a tulip festival each spring as well as an amazing National trust property to visit. The Southern Highlands and Bowral are also a suitable day tour from Sydney .

These are Odyssey top 10 recommendations for your Sydney visit:

Sydney Opera House

• Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Sydney Beaches
• Taronga Zoo
• Art gallery of NSW
• The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
• The Sydney Tower Eye
• Barangaroo Reserve

Odyssey’s small escorted group tours for seniors are mainly transported by modern, air-conditioned coaches, however, we have recently developed a range of “ Air tours ”. Our scenic air tours, with privately chartered small aircrafts, enables the time restricted traveller to view some of the iconic destinations, more efficiently and also with a great view!

If you prefer travelling by land, our coaches used on our small group tours, are typically kneeling (the coach can be lowered to the ground upon embarking/disembarking vehicle), 14-to 21-seater, business style coaches with reclining chair, USB ports, Wi-Fi (when available) and an on-board toilet.

What to do on a Melbourne vacation as part of a tour of Australia?

During Odyssey’s escorted, small group tour for seniors to Melbourne , we enjoy a collection of day trips, based from Melbourne CBD . We explore Melbourne’s history and architecture through its labyrinth of laneways, guided by a knowledgeable tour leader and local guides. You will see the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Royal Exhibition building , as well as the Parliament House and the Old Treasury building, where you will learn how the Gold Rush transformed Victoria .

Melbourne , Sydney’ s “rival”, is a sophisticated metropolis and should also be included as part of the itinerary on a small group tour of Australia .

Central Melbourne is the most European of Australia’ s cities and is its cultural capital. Its unique character includes its trams and its Victorian-era architecture. Melbourne offers excellent shopping and cultural sites such as art galleries and museums. Central Melbourne has colourful neighbourhoods such as Fitzroy and the beach side suburb of St. Kilda, just a Melbourne tram ride away. A Day tour out of Melbourne can be to Daylesford for a spa or to Phillip Island to watch the Penguin activity at sunset. The gold rush towns of Ballarat and Bendigo are a comfortable day tour if Melbourne is your base during your time in Victoria. A long day tour would be along the scenic Great Ocean road including the unique rock formation of the Twelve Apostles, returning back to Melbourne along the inland route or onto Port Fairy.

Odyssey’s Australian escorted small group tours for seniors vary in costs. Please see all our Australian tours by clicking on this link:

https://www.odysseytraveller.com/destinations/australia/

What is the internet access like in Australia?

Residential broadband Internet access is available in Australia using ADSL, cable, fibre, satellite and wireless technologies. According to Okolo’s Speed test Global Index, Australia’s average download speed is 58.83Mbps with an average upload speed of 21.44Mbps (as of December 2020). That puts Australia 61st in the world.

Do you need a visa to travel to Australia?

Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of visas, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, at your nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate.

What to do when visiting Adelaide as part of your small group tour of Australia?

Adelaide is an easy going, relaxed and garden-like city. The Adelaide Museum and the art gallery collections will surprise and delight the visitor seeking history.

Port Adelaide is also well worth a visit. A guided tour of the Barossa Valley or the McLaren Vale wine districts are suggested in order to appreciate the impact different nationalities have had on the settlement of South Australia. Kangaroo Island with its abundance of wildlife and Cleland Conservation Park where you can get up close to many of the country’s indigenous animals is best as a mulit-night stay rather a day tour .

For those with an interest in train journeys, you can catch a train from Adelaide to the Northern Territory capital Darwin through the outback to Alice Springs , where you join a guided tour to Uluru Ayers rock , before continuing on through the Northern Territory to Darwin. This journey puts any tour of Australia into context as the kilometres of rail pull you the traveler through Australia’s outback to Darwin.

What to do when visiting Australia’s capital, Canberra as part of your small group tour of Australia?

Australia’s capital city is Canberra , some 4 hours by road from Sydney and about 6 hours from Melbourne . The serene unhurried and purpose-built and planned capital, is located around the attractive artificial Lake Burley Griffin. Some of the major landmarks are the old Parliament House, the traditionally designed Parliament Building and the Australian War Memorial. Canberra is home to the National Art Gallery and National Museum which are worth visiting.

What to do in the Australian outback as part of a tour of Australia? 

The Australian Outback is actually a vast area which comprises most of Australia and which is made up of either semi-arid or desert land. It is not an exact location. One of the best-known towns is Alice Springs , and it`s the perfect place to explore the Australian Outback , which is also known as the “Red Centre”. It is also the home of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Activities here can include camel rides from one of the many camel farms, stargazing as the town exists under amazingly clear skies and hot air ballooning. One can visit the nearby King’s Canyon and the MacDonnell Range of mountains located in National parks. There are escorted group tours out of Alice Springs along the Canning stock route or the trek of the Duracks across to the Kimberley. Trails and routes of endurance and often hardship in part of the most arid places in the world.

From Alice springs 450 kilometres/270 miles away is Uluru Ayers Rock in the Uluru Kata Tjuta National park . The huge sandstone monolith which stands out starkly in the surrounding desert is one of Australia ‘s iconic sites and is typically included on a overseas visitor first visit to Australian. Uluru is classified as a UNESCO world heritage site is 348 metres/1142 feet in height. To the Aboriginals, Uluru is a sacred site of spiritual significance and was an integral meeting point on ancient trading routes.

Touring Australia

The need to know

Getting around

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics for your Australia trip are always outlined in your tour itinerary. Bus services are widely available, with long-distance buses and shuttle buses providing services across the country. The train services are somewhat more limited in terms of transportation coverage, though remain a comfortable and very scenic way of getting around Australia.

Accommodation

In major cities on your Australian tour, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our longstay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Tour guides

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Geography, Environment, & Weather

Australia comprises a land area of about 7.692 million square kilometres.

Although this is just five per cent of the world’s land mass (149.45 million square kilometres), Australia is the planet’s sixth largest country after Russia, Canada, China, the United States of America and Brazil. It is also the only one of the largest six nations that is completely surrounded by water.

Australia is the smallest of the world’s continents. It is also the lowest, the flattest and (apart from Antarctica) the driest.

Due to the size of the country, Australia has serveral different climate zones. The northern section of Australia has a more tropical climate, hot and humid in the summer, and quite warm and dry in the winter, while the southern parts are cooler with mild summers and cool, sometimes rainy winters.

World Heritage Sites

There are 20 properties in Australia listed on the World Heritage List. You can view the listed properties here: (https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/au). Australia listed properties include:

The Great Barrier Reef: a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, formerly called Uluru (Ayers Rock – Mount Olga) National Park, features spectacular geological formations that dominate the vast red sandy plain of central Australia. Uluru, an immense monolith, and Kata Tjuta, the rock domes located west of Uluru, form part of the traditional belief system of one of the oldest human societies in the world. The traditional owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta are the Anangu Aboriginal people.

Australian Convict Sites, includes a selection of eleven penal sites, among the thousands established by the British Empire on Australian soil in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. The sites are spread across Australia, from Fremantle in Western Australia to Kingston and Arthur’s Vale on Norfolk Island in the east; and from areas around Sydney in New South Wales in the north, to sites located in Tasmania in the south.

Festivals & Events

Whether it’s the adrenaline rush from the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, a chilled-out break soaking up the music at the Byron Bay Bluesfest or experiencing history and culture at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in Queensland, Australia has an event that’s sure to feed your passions.

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival takes place in February every year with a colourful and happily chaotic street parade.

Australia has no shortage of riveting sports events, like the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and the Australian Open, it’s no wonder sport-lovers come from all around to experience the adrenaline-inducing atmosphere and world-class athletes.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and South Australia’s Tasting Australia, are two of many events focused on the culinary side of what Australia has to offer.

Reading list

True Girt: The unauthorised History of Australia, by David Hunt.

A History of Australia, by Mark Peel.

Dark Emu: Aboriginal Australia and the Birth of Agriculture, by Bruce Pascoe.

The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines made Australia, by Bill Gammage.

Eating & Drinking

Australians love their food and this nation is built on a strong history of migration so it’s no wonder that we’ve become famous to the culinary world for our ‘fusion’ food. English and northern European cooking styles have been a part of Australian food since colonisation. Then in the 1970s many Asian cuisines including Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and Indian began to influence the Australian food landscape, as well as the many southern European and Middle Eastern influences such as Spanish, Balkan, Hungarian, Turkish and Lebanese.

Australians are the second largest beer drinkers in the world! Our beer is essentially a cold lager with a strength of around 5 per cent and the list of breweries is endless, including Tooheys, Carlton Draught, Coopers, Boags, Cascade (which is also the oldest that’s still operating), Hahn, James Squire, Victoria Bitter, Emu Export and Little Creatures.

With many great wine regions on the doorsteps of Australia’s largest capital cities, the international reputation of Australian wine has never been greater, currently being the fourth largest exporter of wine worldwide at around 750 million litres per year.

Health & Safety

Generally speaking, Australia is safe to travel in, though always exercise common sense while travelling.

You may wish to read this article on face masks and on being Covid safe when travelling

Electrical Supply

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. The electricity supply in Australia runs at 230V and 50Hz. Australia uses the Type I electric plug, so make sure you have the right travel adaptor with you.

The best of Australia

The Great Barrier Reef

Located on the north east coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, visable from space.

One of the 20th century's most famous and distinctive buildings, located next to Sydney's famous Harbour Bridge.

Kimberley Mountain ranges

Western Australia’s sparsely settled northern region, known for large swaths of wilderness defined by rugged ranges, dramatic gorges, semi-arid savanna and a largely isolated coastline.

Tour Reviews

I had high expectations of all aspects of the school and they were met.

Participant 2018

Enjoyed the local knowledge from Pavel and especially loved his garden.

Very knowledgeable coach drivers, courteous and friendly (as were they all) but Stuart bent over backwards to show us various landmarks around Hobart on our last day.

Morning teas and lunches were superb.

Romans settling Britain & Gaul | Summer School course

Our leader, David Daintree, did a fantastic job. He was able to impart his knowledge and keep an easy-going vibe to the course. Most enjoyable. The two guest speakers were great. As I was reading Alison Alexander's book I was especially pleased to meet her and hear her talk on convicts in Tasmania.

I would like to do it again!

Was nice and leisurely

Mal's knowledge of her subject was outstanding and notes a great help.

Nick Mooney is an excellent leader. His knowledge in so many areas is extensive. It became obvious when meeting other local people that he is regarded very highly. As with Trevor, our driver, nothing was too much trouble for him when trying to make our trip memorable. 10 out of 10.

Nick had interesting comments and views on his field of expertise. Made me think about some of the things I took for granted.

It was my first time with Odyssey & I enjoyed it very much

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole program!

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole program

David is extremely knowledgeable, courteous and friendly. He wasn't rigid with the itinerary (times) as he wanted all the participants to enjoy and see what interested them the most. He did an excellent job.

Great course. Left me wanting to explore more. Plenty of variety in presentation methods. Continually engaging.

Very knowledgeable with a good sense of humour. Well prepared.

It was a first-rate program and fully met expectations

It all worked out very well - as usual!

Mal Bock was an Excellent Program leader & made it a very Pleasurable Experience. I would certainly like to attend further things led by her.

The leader had a great deal of knowledge and good sense of humour also.

Responsible travel tips for Australia

• Before departing, make sure you have a number of AU dollars in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.
• Carry a card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
• Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
• Before departing, make sure you have a number of AUD in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.
• When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
• Before departing on your trip, contact your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.

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Over 60s Tours & Holidays

• Ways to travel
• Tours for Seniors
• Over 60s Tours & Holidays

Bringing generations together, one Intrepid traveller at a time 

Whether you’re a retiree looking for your next big adventure or just think it’s time to see more of the world now that you’ve been around the block a few times, travelling with us means getting under the skin of a destination with expert local leaders who know it best. Join a small group of like-minded people from all walks of life as you check out hidden noodle bars, fascinating galleries, and real-life experiences you won’t find on any search engine. With a good range of styles (from Premium to Basix) and the best balance of social activities and ‘you’ time, our trips are for every single curious and adventure-hungry traveller – no seriously, as far as we’re concerned, age is just a number.  

Our trip styles

Premium trips feature our best accommodation, most comfortable transport and exclusive experiences led by our most experienced leaders. Learn more about Premium trips .

Designed for those who want more inclusions, our Comfort trips offer a higher standard of accommodation, larger vehicles and more included activities. Learn more about Comfort trips .

The classic Intrepid style. These trips include some activities and stay at more hotels than Basix trips—an ideal choice for those who want a taste of everything. Learn more about Original trips .

For travellers on a budget, our Basix trips keep inclusions to a minimum. They’re about value and lots of free time to choose the activities and extras that you want to do.  Learn more about Basix trips .

Our Premium tours 

Premium morocco in depth, 15 days from 4712.

Discover the secrets of Morocco on a Premium journey through Casablanca, Fes, the...

Premium Japan

12 days from 10647.

Uncover the wonders of Japan on this immersive 12-day Premium tour; encompassing Tokyo,...

Premium Vietnam

8 days from 2404.

Discover the highlights and traditions of Vietnam on this short Premium adventure from...

Premium Greece

8 days from 3920.

Soak up the best of Greece on this Premium small group adventure, from Athens to...

Premium Sri Lanka in Depth

14 days from 4795.

Savour Sri Lanka on an in depth Premium journey around the ‘Teardrop Isle’, exploring...

Premium Venice to Split

9 days from 6152.

Explore the beautiful cities, mountains and waterfalls of Slovenia and Croatia on a...

Premium Uzbekistan

10 days from 3447.

Explore the mysteries of Uzbekistan on an in-depth Premium adventure, where remnants of...

Premium Egypt

9 days from 4230.

From the Pyramids of Giza to the temples of Karnak and the bustling Khan al-Khalili...

Premium Jordan

8 days from 3021.

Jordan is a paradise for the curious, so discover Amman, Wadi Rum, Petra and Jerash on...

Premium Portugal

8 days from 5189.

Explore Portugal from Lisbon to Porto on this Premium adventure. Passing through...

Premium Borneo in Depth

12 days from 5936.

Discover Borneo’s wild heart on a Premium adventure. Cruise the Kinabatangan River,...

Premium Spain

11 days from 7672.

Embrace the diversity of Spain on this Premium small group adventure, travelling from...

Premium Vietnam in Depth

15 days from 4698.

Uncover Vietnam on a Premium journey from south to north, taking in Ho Chi Minh City,...

Premium Peru

9 days from 5774.

Discover the wonders of Peru’s history on a nine-day Premium adventure through Lima,...

Premium Chile & Argentina

9 days from 6525.

Discover the best of Chile and Argentina on a Premium journey through the countries'...

Premium India Safari

13 days from 7660.

Take safaris through Panna National Park, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Satpura National...

Premium Egypt & Jordan

16 days from 7920.

Discover Egypt and Jordan on a 16-day Premium adventure from Cairo to Amman, including...

Premium Morocco Highlights

8 days from 2559.

Explore Morocco on this all-encompassing Intrepid Premium small group adventure from...

Premium Sicily

10 days from 7032.

Discover Sicily in the heart of the Mediterranean on this 10-day Premium journey that...

Premium Morocco in Depth with Essaouira

18 days from 5324.

Fall in love with Morocco on this 18-day Premium journey through the country's...

Premium Peru with Ica Valley

12 days from 8010.

Discover the wonders of Peru’s history on a twelve-day Premium adventure through Lima,...

Premium Peru in Depth

15 days from 8352.

Spend two weeks exploring Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca...

Premium Peru in Depth with Ica Valley

18 days from 9372.

Spend 18 days exploring Ica, Colca Canyon, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Lima and...

Premium Sweden and Norway

10 days from 10009.

Take a Premium trip through Scandinavia, with epic stays and activities in Sweden and...

Premium Morocco Explorer

12 days from 3525.

In 12 incredible days you’ll discover some of Morocco’s best sights on a Premium...

Premium Egypt in Depth

15 days from 6807.

Travel down the Nile from Cairo to Aswan, exploring Luxor, Alexandria and more along...

Premium Costa Rica

9 days from 5310.

Explore Costa Rica’s natural and cultural wonders on a nine-day Premium adventure...

Premium Turkey in Depth

15 days from 6087.

This 15-day Premium tour takes you into the ancient heart of Turkey. Begin and end in...

Premium Java and Bali

11 days from 4290.

Discover Java's heritage and Bali’s traditions on an exclusive Premium small group trip...

Premium Nepal

9 days from 3699.

Take a Premium adventure that encompasses much of what makes Nepal so beloved by...

Premium New Zealand South Island

10 days from 6561.

Explore New Zealand’s South Island on a 10-day small group tour which includes Franz...

Premium Vietnam & Cambodia

13 days from 5720.

Be immersed in the rich historic and cultural heritage of Vietnam and Cambodia on this...

Premium Thailand and Vietnam

19 days from 7794.

Take a Premium trip exploring Thailand and Vietnam’s highlights, including Bangkok,...

Premium Egypt & Jordan in Depth

22 days from 11692.

Discover the contrasts of modern and ancient Egypt and Jordan on this in-depth Premium...

Premium Iceland

9 days from 7952.

Discover Iceland’s geological wonders and welcoming people on an all-encompassing...

Premium Argentina & Brazil

7 days from 5600.

Soak up Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, two of South America's liveliest cities, and...

Premium India in Depth

14 days from 5540.

Take in north India’s fabled cities and encounter the exotic wildlife of Ranthambhore...

Premium Nepal & Bhutan

17 days from 11635.

Embark on a 17-day Premium adventure through the mysterious mountain kingdoms of Bhutan...

Premium India

10 days from 4741.

Take a 10-day India Premium adventure with Intrepid through the country’s north,...

Premium Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia

15 days from 6420.

Experience varied landscapes, customs and people as you journey from Baku to Yerevan...

Premium Cambodia

6 days from 2066.

Uncover the mysteries of incredible Angkor Wat on a Premium tour of Cambodia. Travel...

Premium Highlights of Japan

9 days from 6290.

Take a Premium trip through the highlights of Japan, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Kamakura,...

Premium Northern Thailand

12 days from 4164.

Discover a land of mouth-watering food, stunning landscapes, history, and hospitable...

Premium Southern Africa

8 days from 8669.

Embark on an eight-day Premium adventure from Johannesburg to Chobe National Park, via...

Premium China

12 days from 5704.

Take a small group Premium adventure that weaves together some of China’s most famous...

Premium Sri Lanka

9 days from 3240.

Discover the best of a Sri Lanka on a 9-day Premium small group tour that includes...

Premium Patagonia

9 days from 10730.

Discover Patagonia on a 9-day Premium journey that takes in Santiago, Torres del Paine...

Premium Spain in Depth

20 days from 15062.

Premium Bhutan

9 days from 7030.

Experience a Premium adventure through the mysterious mountain kingdom of Bhutan. Take...

Premium Mexico City to Oaxaca

8 days from 4095.

Discover the dazzling diversity of Mexico as you embark on a Premium adventure with a...

Premium New Zealand North Island

8 days from 5629.

Uncover the natural wonders of New Zealand’s North Island on an eight-day Premium...

Premium Cuba

9 days from 4085.

Escape to Cuba on a Premium adventure and explore the old-world charm of Havana,...

Premium Highlights of South America

24 days from 19955.

Embark on a 24-day Premium journey from the Amazon to the Andes and discover South...

Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights

8 days from 4223.

Discover Maya ruins, colourful cultures, indigenous communities and colonial towns on...

Premium Southern Africa in Depth

14 days from 15120.

This 14-day Premium journey through southern Africa reveals the best wildlife and...

Premium New Zealand Encompassed

17 days from 13715.

Discover the best of New Zealand on a 17-day Premium adventure, taking in the most...

Premium Morocco Highlights with Essaouira

11 days from 3468, 18 days from 13715, premium cambodia & vietnam in depth, 20 days from 7586.

Discover the incredible diversity, delectable cuisines, dramatic histories and natural...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

Premium Morocco Explorer with Essaouira

15 days from 4298.

A 15-day Premium journey through Morocco’s best sights, taking in Casablanca, Fes,...

Our Comfort tours

Morocco uncovered, 13 days from 2108.

Uncover the heart of Morocco on a journey from Casablanca to Marrakech, through Roman...

Egypt Experience

12 days from 3604.

From Cairo, Alexandria and Aswan to the Valley of the Kings at Luxor, see the pharaohs,...

Classic Galapagos: Central Eastern Islands (Grand Queen Beatriz)

10 days from 7464.

Travel to the Galapagos Islands and sail around the central eastern islands, witnessing...

Classic Borneo

10 days from 3182.

Journey through Borneo on a wild 10-day adventure from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan,...

Classic Morocco

8 days from 1740.

See the wonders of Morocco, including Ait Benhaddou, Casablanca, the Atlas Mountains,...

Jordan Discovery

8 days from 2083.

Experience the best of Jordan on this 8-day adventure. From Amman, 4WD through Wadi Rum...

Beautiful Cuba

8 days from 1635.

Escape to Cuba on an adventure to this exotic Caribbean island and explore the sultry...

Journey to the Antarctic Circle (Ocean Endeavour)

14 days from 14913.

Set sail for the trip of a lifetime – a 14-day journey on board the Ocean Endeavour,...

Explore Egypt & Jordan

19 days from 6292.

This 19-day tour explores the best of Egypt and Jordan in Comfort, from Cairo to...

Classic Vietnam

15 days from 3069.

Uncover the proud, spirited heart of Vietnam on this classic 15-day adventure. Tour...

Italy Experience

10 days from 5423.

Travel to Italy on a journey from the canals of Venice to the cobblestone streets of...

Treasures of Vietnam

8 days from 1605.

Discover the spirit of Vietnam on a small group tour from south to north, visiting Ho...

Turkey Encompassed

15 days from 4238.

Travel through Turkey and see Istanbul's Blue Mosque, Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, the...

Cambodia & Vietnam Discovery

13 days from 3689.

Uncover the dramatic histories of these two beautiful countries on a trip through the...

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Adventure

6 days from 4670.

Take a discovery tour of Wyoming’s highlights, with plenty of wildlife-spotting and...

Rajasthan Experience

15 days from 3410.

See the best of Rajasthan on this 15-day tour. Behold the delights of Agra, Jaipur,...

Classic Cambodia

6 days from 1445.

Unearth the essence of Cambodia on a leisurely journey that spends time seeing the...

Best of Antarctica: Wildlife Explorer (Ocean Endeavour)

11 days from 11730.

Experience the magic of the Antarctic Peninsula and its islands aboard the Ocean...

Classic Japan

11 days from 7209.

Journey from Kyoto to Tokyo with Intrepid and explore temples, post towns and lush...

Western Balkans Uncovered

12 days from 3533.

Combine the must-sees of the Balkan region and the lesser-known glories of North...

Tennessee Music Trail to New Orleans

7 days from 4424.

Walk in famous footsteps on a 7-day musical journey from Nashville to Memphis and New...

Classic Egypt

8 days from 2370.

Travel Egypt on this adventure that visits Cairo, Aswan and Luxor. See pyramids, visit...

Iceland's Golden Circle in Depth

5 days from 2736.

Set off on a five-day circuit from Reykjavik, visit thundering waterfalls, steamy...

Classic Nepal

11 days from 2910.

Journey around Nepal from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Bandipur, meet the creatures of...

Morocco Family Holiday Comfort

10 days from 1660.

Take your family on a Moroccan adventure through Casablanca, Fes, Midelt, Merzouga, Ait...

Majestic Peru

15 days from 4326.

Tour through Lima, Puno, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes and...

Best of Antarctica In Depth (Ocean Endeavour)

14 days from 15037.

Experience the rare opportunity to explore both the eastern and western sides of the...

Botswana Adventure

10 days from 5624.

Visit Africa and travel through Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe on a tour from Windhoek...

Hiking in Sedona and the Grand Canyon

4 days from 4030.

Discover the very best of Northern Arizona on this 4-day hiking adventure through...

South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer

6 days from 3652.

Explore South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park, Badlands National Park, Little...

Best of Mexico

15 days from 5225.

Experience the best of Mexico on a 15-day adventure from Mexico City to Playa del...

Best of the Top End & Kakadu

4 days from 2189.

Visit the natural wonders of Litchfield National Park and Kakadu National Park,...

Classic Egypt & Jordan

15 days from 5194.

Tick the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Nile, the Dead Sea and The Treasury in Petra...

Best of Perth, Margaret River & Rottnest Island

5 days from 1977.

See the best of Perth, including the Margaret River region and its wineries, Fremantle...

Namibia Discovery

13 days from 4763.

Travel from Cape Town in South Africa to Namibia’s Windhoek through coastlines, sand...

Highlights of Thailand

10 days from 2746.

Experience Thailand’s greatest hits on a 10-day comfort adventure through Bangkok,...

Best of Costa Rica

10 days from 3695.

Take a Costa Rican adventure starting in San Jose, visiting Copey, Manuel Antonio...

Classic Cambodia & Vietnam

20 days from 5031.

Get to know Vietnam and Cambodia, each with their own uniquely enchanting culture and...

Best of South Australia & Red Centre

9 days from 4518.

See the best of South Australia and Red Centre on this comfortable journey through...

Classic Sri Lanka

8 days from 1944.

Explore wonders of nature and humanity – often both at once – on this 8-day adventure...

Best of Alaska

10 days from 8346.

Explore the rugged landscape of icy Alaska. From Anchorage, circle the Kenai Peninsula...

Classic Barcelona to Madrid

7 days from 3549.

Travel south along the coast of Spain, leaving Barcelona, travelling through Valencia...

Best of Argentina & Brazil

7 days from 4340.

Experience the best of everything Argentina and Brazil have to offer on this fantastic,...

Classic Galapagos: Central Southern Islands (Grand Queen Beatriz)

10 days from 8984.

Sail the aquamarine waters of the Galapagos’s central southern islands taking in...

Classic Madrid to Lisbon

9 days from 4878.

Take a trip through Portugal, starting in Spain’s capital, Madrid and heading through...

Croatian Coastal Cruising: Dubrovnik to Split (Aurora)

8 days from 3916.

Join a small ship cruising adventure to Croatia. Voyage along the Dalmatian coast,...

Best of Cairns, Great Barrier Reef & Daintree

5 days from 2511.

From Cairns, take a trip to explore Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest, the Great...

Ultimate Galapagos: Central Islands (Grand Daphne)

10 days from 7384.

Spend 10 unforgettable days on board the Grand Daphne, discovering the central islands...

Best of Northern Territory

8 days from 4735.

Tour through the Australia’s Red Centre and Top End, visiting Uluru, Kings Canyon,...

Explore China

12 days from 4023.

Spend 12 days exploring northern China from Shanghai to Beijing, including Luoyang, the...

Best of Uluru & Kings Canyon

4 days from 2176.

Discover Australia’s Red Centre on an adventure to the spectacular sights of Tjoritja ...

Amazing Southern Africa

22 days from 11250.

Jump onboard an exhilarating journey from Cape Town to Victoria Falls through the...

Best of the South: Atlanta to New Orleans

14 days from 9315.

Explore the deep South on your way to New Orleans on a twelve-day small group tour...

Classic Canadian Rockies

7 days from 5031.

See all the highlights from the Canadian Rockies, including Lake Louise, Spirit Island,...

Best of Australia

12 days from 7448.

Experience the full range of Australia’s natural wonder, with visits to the Blue...

Best of South Australia

5 days from 2108.

Explore the famous wine region of South Australia including Barossa Valley and Clare...

Best of Tasmania's Tarkine & Cradle Mountain

6 days from 2529.

Discover the best of Australia’s Tasmania with a visit to the Tarkine rainforest and...

Croatian Coastal Cruising - Split to Dubrovnik (Aurora)

8 days from 2997.

Take a small-ship cruising adventure in Croatia from Split to Dubrovnik. Voyage along...

Egypt Family Holiday Comfort

8 days from 3055.

Step back in time on an 8-day family Egyptian adventure through Cairo, Aswan and Luxor....

Our Original tours 

Vietnam express southbound, 10 days from 1343.

Take a tour of Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, with stops to cruise the Mekong...

Sydney to Cairns Adventure

14 days from 5423.

See the natural wonders of Queensland and New South Wales on an adventure through the...

Classic Costa Rica

15 days from 2669.

Travel to Costa Rica and discover a tropical playground of immense natural beauty....

Beautiful Bali

9 days from 1192.

Travel to Bali and experience this oasis off the coast of Indonesia. Bali's Ubud, Mt...

Best of Sri Lanka

15 days from 3168.

Discover the must-sees, must-eats, and must-meets of gorgeous Sri Lanka on this 15-day...

Inca Trail Express

7 days from 2019.

Travel to Peru to discover Peru's ancient civilisation. Trek or train to Machu Picchu,...

Vietnam Express Northbound

10 days from 1539.

Travel through Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Visit the Mekong Delta, cruise...

Rome to Amalfi

8 days from 3222.

Travel to Italy on a tour from Rome to Amalfi and explore the best of the region....

Best of Vietnam & Cambodia

18 days from 2686.

Travel into the heart and soul of South East Asia on this tour of Vietnam and Cambodia....

Iceland Discovery

8 days from 4263.

See Iceland on this eight-day tour that travels to Reykjavik, the Golden Circle,...

Best of Morocco

15 days from 1594.

Discover the best of Morocco on an action-packed trip exploring Marrakech, Fes, the...

Athens to Santorini

8 days from 3244.

Travel from ancient Athens to the spectacular island of Santorini on this wonderful...

Sacred Land of the Incas

15 days from 4028.

Visit the Sacred Land of the Inca and delight in Peru's culture with two weeks through...

Everest Base Camp Trek

15 days from 1832.

Embark on the trek of a lifetime to Everest Base Camp on this tour. Fly into Lukla and...

Egypt Adventure

8 days from 1407.

Visit Egypt and adventure along the River Nile through the land of the pharaohs, from...

Explore Jordan

8 days from 1498.

Travel to Jordan and tour Amman, Madaba and the inspiring desert landscape of Wadi Rum....

Classic Rajasthan

15 days from 1639.

Travel to India and visit the Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar through...

Guatemala to Belize

10 days from 1917.

Wander the cobblestone streets of Antigua, float along the waters of the Rio Dulce, and...

India's Golden Triangle

8 days from 975.

Take an action-packed eight-day tour through the essential sights and bites of India’s...

South Korea Highlights

9 days from 4131.

Take a dive into all that South Korea has to offer, from Seoul to Sokcho, Andong and...

Best of Italy

14 days from 5863.

Immerse yourself in classic culture, history and incredible sights on this Best of...

Cambodian Traveller

9 days from 1103.

Travel from Vietnam to Thailand on a South East Asian adventure that explores Cambodia...

North Morocco Adventure

8 days from 928.

This tour of North Morocco from Casablanca to Marrakech will capture your heart....

Inca Trail Express from Lima

8 days from 2304.

Travel to Peru and retrace the steps of the Inca. Follow traditions from Lima to Cusco,...

Classic Hikes of Patagonia

15 days from 11700.

Embark on all the classic hikes of Patagonia – including the Torres del Paine base hike...

Thailand & Laos Adventure

13 days from 2127.

Travel from Bangkok to Vientiane on a tour through Thailand and Laos. Visit Thailand's...

Japan: Land of the Rising Sun

13 days from 6777.

Discover Japanese culture on this 13-day tour. Travel with a local from Tokyo to Kyoto...

Croatia Sailing Adventure: Dubrovnik to Split

8 days from 2132.

Explore Croatia's beautiful Adriatic coast on this aquatic adventure from Dubrovnik to...

Cycle Vietnam

15 days from 2633.

Jump in the saddle for a two-wheeled adventure tour of Vietnam. Take in cultural...

Morocco Encompassed

17 days from 1947.

Explore Morocco on this in-depth tour with Intrepid. Spend 17 days exploring Marrakech,...

Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure

12 days from 3834.

Travel from the heights of the Andes to the exotic Amazon rainforest on this best of...

South Korea Real Food Adventure

8 days from 4356.

Slurp, crunch and spoon your way into the heart of South Korean cuisine, snacking at...

Turkey Highlights

8 days from 2169.

See the highlights of Turkey on this eight-day adventure. Start in Istanbul and visit...

Costa Rica Experience

9 days from 1895.

Encounter the natural beauty of Costa Rica, from La Fortuna’s volcano and Monteverde’s...

South Morocco Discovery

10 days from 1080.

Discover Morocco's southern highlights on this well paced adventure including Marrakech...

Best of Galapagos

10 days from 4977.

Discover amazing wildlife and natural beauty in the Galapagos Islands.

China Highlights

8 days from 2185.

Take a trip through epic China and see the Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall,...

Central Asia: Five Stans Express

24 days from 7152.

Join a 24-day adventure through Central Asia from Ashgabat, to Tashkent, to Bishkek and...

East Africa Highlights

10 days from 3878.

Travel through East Africa from Kenya to Tanzania, stopping at the Masai Mara, the...

Discover Egypt & Jordan

15 days from 3360.

Take an adventure holiday through Egypt and Jordan. Visit Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza,...

Explore Colombia

10 days from 2888.

Travel to Colombia on a ten-day Intrepid. Stroll the cobblestone streets of Cartagena...

The Maritimes: Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick

6 days from 3845.

Experience the seaside charm of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick on this 6-day...

Sabah Adventure

11 days from 2584.

This Sabah Adventure tour through the Borneo wilderness will truly capture your...

Balkan Adventure

15 days from 3428.

Travel across historic Eastern Europe from Hungary to Croatia. Visit cultural sights...

Western USA National Parks Loop

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Central American Adventure

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Galapagos Experience

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Visit Venice, Verona, Parma, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence and Rome with like-minded 18...

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Turkey Uncovered

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Peru Essentials

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Cambodia Adventure

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Kakadu, Katherine & Litchfield Family Adventure

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Set out on a camping safari through captivating Kakadu National Park. Experience the...

Garden Route Adventure

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Vietnam Discovery

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Vanuatu Expedition

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Delhi to Goa

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Discover India in all its glory on this 15-day spice-filled adventure from Delhi...

Mount Toubkal Long Weekend Trek

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Tour Central America on an epic 44-day experience from Mexico to Panama, via Costa Rica...

Recent tour reviews

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip as a senior.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

Who are Intrepid travellers?

Intrepid adventures are for travellers with a yearning to get off the beaten track. Whether you're travelling solo, with a group of friends, or are aged 18 or 70, there is an Intrepid adventure to suit your interests and comfort level. Each Intrepid adventure has a physical and cultural grading to help you decide if the trip is right for you. No special skills are required for most adventures, just a sense of adventure and a curiosity about the world. Even on our camping adventures no previous experience is required; our tents are easy to set up, even for first-time campers. 

Are there age restrictions on your trips?

For the majority of our trips the minimum age is 15. An adult must accompany all children under the age of 18. Our Overland Adventures have a minimum age of 18. Younger children can join us on our Family trips and Short Break Adventures, but check each trip for its minimum age, which is located on the trip’s overview page on the website. Most of our trips don’t have a maximum age limit, but a Self-Assessment Form is required for all passengers 70 years and over. 

How many people will be on my trip?

Good things come in small packages, which is why we keep our group sizes down. This means we’re small enough to remain flexible as we thread our way through communities without intimidating the locals. On most of our trips you’ll be part of an intimate group of 12-16 people, though our group sizes are on average 10 people. Our Overland trips are in purpose-built vehicles that can carry up to 24 travellers. Group sizes are displayed on each trip’s overview page on our website. 

I’m travelling alone – is that OK?

This is the beauty of the Intrepid style of travel: many of our travellers join because they are travelling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people.

Learn more about solo travel

I have a disability – can I join an Intrepid trip?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We ask that you carefully consider whether you are physically and mentally able to complete the itinerary you have chosen, recognising that on many trips you will be required to carry your own bags and use public transport. 

Where we can we will make reasonable adjustments to the operation of our trips to facilitate the requirements of disabled travellers – such as booking ground floor accommodation, or having our leaders communicate important directions in writing as well as verbally. Many travellers with disabilities have been able to enjoy our trips by travelling with a friend or companion who can assist with specific needs. If joining a group trip is not practical we may be able to provide you with a private departure. Please contact our sales team for further information on any of our itineraries. 

Learn more about accessible travel with Intrepid

Do I need to buy travel insurance?

Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips if you’re travelling internationally. Minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number – it’s really important there are no barriers to getting emergency assistance for you. 

Will I have my own room?

It's your call. Rooming on our trips is organised on a twin-share basis, but most of our trips also have the option to pay an extra fee for your own room. Just let us know at the time of booking and we'll arrange it for you. 

For twin-share rooms, we pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. As a responsible tour operator, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. In the case that your gender identity differs from what's indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you. 

On a small selection of itineraries some accommodations are booked on an open-gender, multi-share basis. In those instances it will clearly be stated in your Essential Trip Information. 

How does group time work?

Whether you’re travelling alone or with a partner, our trips have a set itinerary. But within that there’s time set aside for your own exploration (if you want to – no pressure). Depending on how you're feeling, you may want to have some downtime, ask your guide for a few tips then head out alone, or hang out with the group and see where the day takes you. 

What makes a small group tour better than a coach tour?

The main difference between a small group tour and a coach tour is the size of the group; our tours have 10 travellers each (on average) while coaches can hold up to 60 people. This means that you'll never have to vie for your leader's attention on a small group tour because you'll automatically have it.

Learn more about the differences between a small group tour and a coach tour

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Travel experiences for Australians aged 50+

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• Travel Insurance
• Best Travel Insurance Providers for Seniors

The journalists on the editorial team at Forbes Advisor Australia base their research and opinions on objective, independent information-gathering.

When covering investment and personal finance stories, we aim to inform our readers rather than recommend specific financial product or asset classes. While we may highlight certain positives of a financial product or asset class, there is no guarantee that readers will benefit from the product or investment approach and may, in fact, make a loss if they acquire the product or adopt the approach.

To the extent any recommendations or statements of opinion or fact made in a story may constitute financial advice, they constitute general information and not personal financial advice in any form. As such, any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers.

Readers of our stories should not act on any recommendation without first taking appropriate steps to verify the information in the stories consulting their independent financial adviser in order to ascertain whether the recommendation (if any) is appropriate, having regard to their investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs. Providing access to our stories should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction by Forbes Advisor Australia. In comparing various financial products and services, we are unable to compare every provider in the market so our rankings do not constitute a comprehensive review of a particular sector. While we do go to great lengths to ensure our ranking criteria matches the concerns of consumers, we cannot guarantee that every relevant feature of a financial product will be reviewed. We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, Forbes Advisor Australia cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of this website. Forbes Advisor Australia accepts no responsibility to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in our stories or any other information made available to a person, nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information.

Our Pick Of The Best Travel Insurance Providers For Seniors

Published: Jul 19, 2023, 1:05pm

Preparing for a holiday is a treat at any age, but all travellers, regardless of whether you’re backpacking or retired, need to tick off essential travel admin like purchasing travel insurance before the fun begins.

This ensures you can access life-saving medical treatment in an emergency overseas, when medical and hospital fees vary wildly. It can also help cover costs to get your trip back on the road after unforeseeable mishaps, or get you home safely if you need to cut the holiday short. This safety net can be especially important for more mature travellers with complex health and travel needs.

Not every insurance policy caters to people over a certain age, and others may impose benefit limits for certain activities for older travellers. Our dedicated Australian research team has dug through the fine print of policies open to seniors so we can outline the details of the best seniors travel insurance in Australia and who they may be best suited for. Leading policies are analysed across numerous data points, and ranked by our editorial team to reflect the most generous travel insurance suitable for seniors.

Note: The below list represents a selection of our top category picks, as chosen by Forbes Advisor Australia’s editors and journalists. The information provided is purely factual and is not intended to imply any recommendation, opinion, or advice about a financial product. Not every product or provider in the marketplace has been reviewed, and the list below is not intended to be exhaustive nor replace your own research or independent financial advice. For more information on how Forbes Advisor ranks and reviews products, including how we identified our top category picks, read the methodology selection below.

Related: Best Travel Insurance for Australians

Featured Partners

Travel Insurance Saver

Cover-more travel insurance (comprehensive), nib travel insurance (comprehensive), freely (comprehensive), allianz (comprehensive), bupa (comprehensive), boomers travel insurance (comprehensive), australia post (comprehensive), medibank travel insurance (comprehensive), racv travel insurance (comprehensive), cota (comprehensive).

Southern Cross Travel Insurance (Comprehensive)

Fast Cover (Comprehensive)

Our methodology, what is seniors travel insurance, types of travel insurance, senior travel insurance: what to look for, can seniors over 75 get travel insurance, pre-existing medical conditions: are you covered, travel insurance coverage for children and grandchildren, typical exclusions in seniors travel insurance, final thoughts, frequently asked questions (faqs).

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Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Medical cover

Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Option of Cruise Cover

Unlimited medical

Yes (some sub limits apply)

Yes (automatic)

The Travel Insurance Saver policy operates via nib’s underwriting service and therefore provides very similar benefits, minus the discount offered to nib health insurance members. Like the nib comprehensive policy, you’ll receive unlimited cover for medical expenses and anything that happens on a cruise as standard, as well as the freedom to choose the amount you’d like covered for cancellation costs (apart from the $2,000 limit on travel agent cancellation fees).

Many pre-existing medical conditions are included in the policy without the need for a medical assessment, including allergies, epilepsy, Hashimoto’s Disease and more, provided you meet the relevant criteria. But don’t forget the $8,000 limit on hospital compensation (at $50 per day), and that cover if you are permanently disabled while travelling is relatively low at $12,500. This policy also only covers $1 million in personal liability expenses.

• Cruise cover automatically included.
• Unlimited overseas medical expenses covered
• Lower permanent disability cover

99 (with acceptance criteria)

The comprehensive travel insurance offering from Cover-More is a suitable option for seniors (up to 99 years of age) seeking the peace of mind that cover for pre-existing medical conditions can provide. The policy’s wide range of automatically covered conditions includes carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and some common heart conditions.

Be sure you meet any criteria related to these and other conditions, and please note that asthmatics over 60 aren’t automatically covered. We also liked the option to add on cruise cover, the generous $15,000 in coverage for luggage, $2.5 million in personal liability cover, $60,000 in funeral and repatriation expenses, and unlimited overseas medical cover. However, dental expenses are capped at $2,000.

• Many pre-existing medical conditions covered without assessment
• $15,000 luggage cover with item limit increases available
• $2,000 overseas dental expenses cap

The comprehensive travel insurance offering from nib provides generous cover that will suit many seniors’ travel plans, with additional flexibility. It’s a great option for nib health insurance customers who receive a 10% premium discount, or anyone travelling with their children who can also be covered by the policy (as long as they’re under 25). Medical expenses that may crop up on your overseas trip should be sorted with the unlimited cover, and cruise cover is included as standard. We also like that policyholders can choose the amount of coverage for cancellation costs, with the only limit being $2,000 on travel agent cancellation fees.

This policy gets another gold star for covering numerous pre-existing medical conditions as standard, including things like allergies, epilepsy, Hashimoto’s Disease and many others (as long as you fit the criteria). However, only $1 million is covered for personal liability expenses. Also note the $8,000 limit on hospital compensation (at $50 per day), and that the permanent disability cover of $12,500 is relatively low.

• 10% discount for nib health insurance members
• Cruise cover automatically included

If you’re a whizz with technology and under the age of 99, Freely could be your ideal travel insurance provider. You can purchase and manage a comprehensive policy suited to seniors via the Freely app which enables a convenient claims process and easy access to important policy documents. We appreciated that the unlimited overseas medical cover also includes dental expenses, and that cruise cover can be added onto the policy.

Personal liability is covered to $3 million, and if the worst were to happen—that you pass away or become permanently disabled while travelling—expenses related to this are covered up to $25,000. A number of medical conditions are automatically covered, from bunions to congenital blindness and deafness, just be sure you meet the criteria for each. However, there is only $5,000 allotted to cancellations, which should be factored in if you’re planning a costly trip with payments made ahead of time.

• Numerous pre-existing medical conditions covered without assessment
• Unlimited overseas medical and dental cover
• $5,000 limit on cancellation cover

Allianz Australia is a suitable choice for seniors looking for a reputable underwriter and some generous conditions. Chief among these is the ability to add cruise cover—a big plus among older travellers— and the fact there is no age limit on taking out a policy. We also liked the unlimited medical expenses, alongside personal liability coverage up to $5 million.

Another bonus: children and grandchildren are covered if they are travelling with you 100% of the time, are aged under 25 years and not in full time employment. However, coverage for pre-existing conditions required a medical assessment, and there is no cover for any expenses for medical evacuation, funeral expenses incurred overseas or return of remains unless it has been approved by Allianz Global Assistance.

• Cruise cover can be added
• No age limit to policy
• Pre-existing medical conditions require assessment

Travellers of all ages and life stages can take out Bupa’s comprehensive policy, but anyone who currently holds health insurance through the company can access a 15% discount as a loyalty bonus. Simply enter your membership number when prompted as you’re applying, and you’ll get a tidy discount across the policy, which includes unlimited medical, health and emergency cover.

Top marks as well for the handy add-ons, such as cruise cover and increased item limits for more valuable personal effects, as well as the $5 million personal liability cover and $60,000 for funeral and repatriation expenses. Please note that you will be required to do an online medical assessment for any coverage of pre-existing medical conditions.

• 15% discount for Bupa Health Insurance members

While the company’s name may elicit a cringe, Boomers Travel Insurance presents a high quality, flexible offering for travellers of any age that’s underwritten by the reputable Allianz Australia Insurance. The policy’s generous benefits include $10,000 in cover for luggage with the option to increase item limits for more valuable possessions, the option to add on cruise cover, and $5 million in personal liability cover.

It’s a great option for families, as children and grandchildren are also covered if they are joining you for your entire journey, as long as they are under 25 and not employed full-time. While the policy includes unlimited overseas medical, hospital and emergency expenses, it’s important to note that all pre-existing medical conditions need to be assessed and approved by the company when you apply for coverage.

• Luggage cover can be increased for valuable items

Yes (dental limits apply)

Seniors seeking out travel insurance that automatically covers a wide range of pre-existing medical conditions (without a medical assessment required) alongside generous benefits should consider Australia’s Post’s International Comprehensive Travel Insurance. Knowing you’ll be covered if a claim arises from conditions like hypertension, epilepsy, hiatus hernia and some autoimmune disorders provides extra peace of mind for anyone juggling health complications later in life (just be sure you meet the criteria for each condition).

There’s no age limit for policyholders, nor any limits on overseas medical and hospital care, as well as additional emergency expenses. We also liked the generous $5 million personal liability cover, and $12,000 in repairs or replacement for luggage (sub limits for certain items do apply). If you’re concerned about potential dental issues while travelling, do note there is a $2,000 cap on dental expenses. And if you’re an asthmatic over 60, this particular condition won’t be covered.

Medibank is one of the largest private health insurance providers in Australia, and its comprehensive travel insurance policy is similarly reliable for senior travellers. It is especially good value for anyone who already holds a health insurance policy with Medibank – those with standard health insurance memberships will receive a 15% discount, and Medibank Priority health members will see a 20% premium reduction.

It includes generous policy features like unlimited cover for overseas medical and cancellation expenses, $15,000 in luggage cover with flexible sub limits for specific items, and $5 million in personal liability cover. Cruise cover can be added as an optional extra for those travelling the high seas, and a wide range of pre-existing medical conditions are covered without policyholders having to apply or undergo a medical assessment. Keep in mind there is a $2,000 limit on overseas dental cover.

• 15% discount for Medibank health members.
• Many pre-existing medical condistions covered without a health assessment.
• $2,000 limit on dental cover.

Undisclosed

With unlimited overseas medical, dental and cancellation cover, the comprehensive travel insurance policy from RACV is an attractive policy for travellers of all ages. While the Victorian insurance company doesn’t specify an age limit on this policy, it provides cover suitable for seniors while offering a 15% discount to RACV members, no matter the type of insurance they hold with the company.

We appreciate the extremely generous $15 million personal liability cover, the $15,000 in luggage cover with flexible sub limits, and that a range of pre-existing medical conditions are covered without an assessment. Please note that travellers over 50 can’t be covered for diabetes, and those over 60 aren’t covered for asthma.

• Cruise cover can be added.
• 15% discount for RACV members.
• Age limits apply for some pre-existing medical conditions.

Yes (some conditions apply)

COTA has specialised in the seniors’ insurance space since 1992, and is currently underwritten by Pacific International Insurance. Major selling points that could serve older travellers well include the automatic inclusion of cruise cover, $12,000 in cover for lost or stolen luggage, and no age limits applied to the coverage.

While overseas medical expenses coverage is unlimited with this policy, we thought it important to note the caps on dental cover ($1,000) and hospital compensation (up to $8,000 with a limit of $50 per 24 hours). Medical evacuation and repatriation expenses are unlimited, but there is relatively low cover for permanent disability caused while travelling ($12,500). And if you require cover for pre-existing conditions, you’ll need to undergo an assessment.

• Caps on overseas hospital and dental expenses

Southern Cross Benefits is a reputable underwriter for this comprehensive policy available to travellers at any age . It includes generous benefits like $25,000 cover for lost luggage and unlimited medical and evacuation costs, although sub limits do apply (such as a $2,000 limit for dental expenses and a $100,000 limit on medical costs related to terrorism).

The $50,000 coverage for death, permanent disability and funeral expenses is notably higher than similar policies, but personal liability costs are only covered up to $1 million. While bank cards and other travel documents are covered up to $1,000 if lost, there is no cover for credit card fraud. Anyone with existing medical conditions or injuries will need to apply for these to be covered in case they are the cause of expenses while travelling.

• Generous death and disability cover
• No cover for credit card fraud

89 (with age and coverage limits on certain benefits)

Fast Cover caters to travellers aged up to 89 , but benefit limits and coverage restrictions can apply for anyone over 60, depending on which age bracket you sit within. Travellers up to 79 years of age have unlimited cover for overseas medical expenses, cancellations (although there is a $1,500 cap on travel agent fees), and trip disruption and resumption costs. Those aged 80-89 will need to pay a $2,000 excess for cancellations related to sickness or injury.

Also note that snow cover isn’t available to anyone aged 70 or older, the adventure pack age limit is 74, and dental cover for travellers of all ages is limited to $1,000. Happily, cruise cover can be an add-on at any age, personal liability is covered up to $5 million, and there are a large number of pre-existing medical conditions covered for people of all ages (as long as you satisfy the criteria related to those conditions).

• Many pre-existing medical conditions covered without assessment.
• Cruise cover can be added on.
• Age and cover limits apply to certain benefits for older travellers.

Our editorial team has complete control over analysing and rating the travel insurance policies you’re reading about today. We don’t aim to evaluate every policy on the market, but we go to great lengths to extensively research and report on the most popular choices among consumers.

To find the best travel insurance for seniors, we meticulously assessed the desirable policy attributes for this kind of insurance customer across 17 datapoints. These factors are weighted to reflect the importance of each. The four most important factors considered were limits around age, death and disability cover, unlimited medical cover and cruise cover.

As mentioned, we didn’t include price in this assessment, as quotes vary between travellers based on a huge range of factors, from their holiday itinerary to optional extras they want included and health and medical histories. Each of the elements we considered when finding the most senior-friendly travel insurance providers are outlined below.

• Emergency Assistance:  Does the policy offer a 24-hour medical or emergency hotline?
• Credit card fraud:  If you fall victim to credit card fraud while travelling, will your credit card be replaced and any stolen funds reimbursed?
• Pre-existing medical conditions:  Does the policy cover pre-existing medical conditions, and are you required to undergo a medical assessment to be covered for these? The more conditions automatically covered, the better.
• Lost luggage:  Will your lost luggage be covered? Higher overarching limits and extra flexibility to increase sub limits scores extra points.
• Cancellations: Does the policy cover cancellation fees, and what is the limit or any sub-limits?
• Cruise cover:  Is cruise cover included as standard or can you add it on?
• Online discounts:  Are there any discounts on offer?
• Maximum age covered:  What is the maximum age covered in the comprehensive policy? Having no age restrictions is ideal, but otherwise the higher the better.
• Cover for medical expenses:  Is it unlimited or is there a set total price for the medical expenses covered?
• Cover for dental expenses:  Does the policy cover emergency dental work overs overseas? If so, is a limit specified?
• Covid cover:  Is cover for expenses that arise from events and illnesses related to COVID-19 included in the policy? If so, what does this include, and are there any limits?
• Cover for children and grandchildren travelling with you:  Are grandchildren or children covered for free under this policy? If they are, what terms and conditions must your family members meet to qualify?
• Personal liability:  If you unintentionally injure someone else or damage their property, what is the maximum personal liability expense that the insurance company will pay out?
• Funeral costs:  Are funeral costs covered, and up to what price? Limits on repatriation of remains from overseas should be considered here if they’re not included under a different policy point.
• Accidental death:  What is the claim limit if the worst were to occur and you pass away from unforeseeable circumstances while travelling?
• Accidental disability:  If you are permanently disabled after an accident while on holiday, what’s the maximum monetary support you can access?
• Customer service:  What level of customer support does the insurance company offer? This could include live online chat and phone services, with these channels being available on weekends or outside business hours midweek.

About Star Rankings

You will note that we have included a star rating next to each product or provider. This rating was determined by the editorial team once all of the data points above were considered, and the pros and cons of each product attribute was reviewed. The star rating is solely the view of Forbes Advisor editorial staff. Commercial partners or advertisers have no bearing on the star rating or their inclusion on this list. Star ratings are only one factor to be considered, and Forbes Advisor encourages you to seek independent advice from an authorised financial adviser in relation to your own financial circumstances and investments before you decide to choose a particular financial product or service.

When you search for seniors travel insurance online, you can find specialised policies for people over a certain age. Many insurance companies that offer these define ‘senior’ as being over 75. However, some will have a higher minimum age and others will impose age-based coverage restrictions for anyone over 55.

The majority of travel insurance companies don’t provide tailored seniors cover, and instead recommend their comprehensive travel insurance policies to older travellers. These policies often have very high or even no age restrictions, and can cover a range of complex health and travel needs.

When our research team scoured the market to find travel insurance policies best suited to seniors, we analysed comprehensive offerings to assess how generous they were for seniors. Age limits, cover for unlimited medical expenses and the availability of cruise cover, a popular option among retirees, were all key considerations.

Remember: You will note that ForbesAdvisor has not analysed price as one of its metrics as this varies wildly between insurers and depends on a number of individual variables. Age is one of these variables, and, as a whole, senior travellers can expect to pay higher premiums for travel insurance. As always, it’s important to check the fine print so you know what you are, and aren’t, covered for.

While every travel insurance provider may offer different levels of coverage under different names, there are usually three types of international travel insurance: basic, essentials and comprehensive. The cost of travel insurance will change depending on the option you chose, with basic usually the cheapest and comprehensive the most expensive.

Speaking broadly, this is what the three policy tiers generally cover:

Basic: A policy under the basic banner will usually cover things like overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses, unavoidable cancellations, replacing lost or damaged luggage, and personal liability for if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property. Basic policies often come with age restrictions, so may not be suitable for seniors.

Essentials: This is generally a mid-range policy that includes everything covered by basic travel insurance, as well as cover for some riskier activities or higher benefit limits. Similarly, an essentials policy may not be open to people over a certain age.

Comprehensive: If you’re after all of the essentials, higher benefit limits, and more cover for a wider range of activities, then a comprehensive travel insurance policy may fit the bill. Many travel insurance companies may not offer a policy explicitly for seniors, but their comprehensive options—which usually cover broader medical care and have higher or no age limit—will suit most senior travellers.

If you’re travelling within the bounds of Australia, domestic travel insurance could also be useful. However, the inclusions and coverage in these policies aren’t always relevant to international travel insurance, and so shouldn’t be compared alongside the policies listed below.

Choosing an insurance policy is personal, as it depends on factors like your age, your health needs, the belongings you want protected while travelling and your specific holiday plans. So, you should always consider policies in line with your personal and financial circumstances. However, there are a few common elements of travel insurance that seniors should consider when comparing policies:

Unlimited medical, hospital and emergency cover: You’ll find many comprehensive policies list unlimited cover for overseas medical expenses. This is a vital component of travel insurance, as you can’t predict if you’ll encounter emergency health situations and the cost of treatment may be very high in some countries, especially America . Keep an eye out for any limits around dental expenses and hospital compensation limits.

Automatic cover for pre-existing medical conditions: Some policies will automatically cover a number of common illnesses and injuries, while others will ask you to apply for coverage for all existing medical conditions (or a combination of both). In both cases, your medical history will need to meet certain criteria for that condition to be covered. Having more conditions automatically covered by a policy makes the application process smoother for seniors with complex health needs, and means the insurance provider probably isn’t increasing premiums based on the your health status.

Cover for children and grandchildren you’re travelling with. Many comprehensive policies will provide cover for your children and grandchildren if they’re travelling with you at no extra cost. This is great for families, but usually comes with some caveats. Kids and grandkids will often need to be travelling with you for 100% of your trip to get coverage, will need to be under a certain age (often 25 or younger), and can’t be working full-time. Be sure to check your family meets all the criteria before assuming any extra travellers are covered under your policy.

Cruise cover: Cruising the globe is a popular adventure for many older travellers, but it comes with risks like any other activity. Things like on-board medical treatment, incidents that happen on shore-trips and medical evacuations from cruise liners can be extremely expensive, and they generally aren’t covered by a standard policy. Many comprehensive policies offer cruise cover as an optional extra to add onto your policy, and some include it as standard in coverage. If you’re headed for the high seas, investigate which option suits you best.

No age limits, age-based excesses or benefit exclusions: Many senior-specific travel insurance policies or comprehensive policies will allow people of all ages to take out insurance, which is essential for older travels. Keep an eye out for any additional excesses that may be applied to older travellers when making a claim, or any activities or pre-existing conditions that won’t be covered if your age exceeds the insurance company’s cap.

People over the age of 75 can take out travel insurance, but not every provider or policy will cover you. Basic policies usually have an age cap at 75 (or sometimes even lower), so seniors over 75 will need to take out comprehensive travel insurance or specific policies tailored to seniors.

Make sure you carefully examine the product disclosure statement (PDS) of each policy for any specific activities or benefits that have age restrictions or limits, as this can vary considerably between providers.

In every PDS, you’ll find a long list of pre-existing medical conditions that are or are not covered. While every policy is different, having certain health conditions may disqualify you from travel insurance cover at any age.

However, many common pre-existing conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, asthma and some heart conditions are automatically covered in many policies. This means if you make a claim that’s directly or indirectly related to these conditions, your insurance provider will likely cover you assuming you met the criteria for the claim.

Be sure to check any criteria around these conditions related to changes in medication, recent surgeries or other complications. And remember: some policies may apply age limits for specific conditions which they do cover. For example, older asthmatics often won’t be automatically covered, while younger travellers with the condition will.

Some providers allow you to apply for cover of pre-existing medical conditions that aren’t on the pre-approved list. You’ll generally need to undergo a medical assessment to apply, and if approved, you’ll likely be charged an extra premium or higher excess for the coverage.

Many seniors and comprehensive travel insurance policies will include cover for any of your children and grandchildren joining your travels. This is generally included as standard, but comes with strict criteria that your family must meet in order for them to be covered by your policy. In many cases, children and grandchildren are required to be:

• Travelling with you for 100% of your trip
• Under a certain age (often 25 or even younger)
• Not working full-time and, in some cases, be financially dependent on you

Younger travellers may have different travel insurance needs from seniors, so it’s important to ensure your policy covers everything that might impact your kids or grandkids while they’re travelling with you. And if your family continues their journey when you head home, they will need to take out their own insurance for the remainder of their trip in order to be covered.

All travel insurance policies have a number of activities or situations that aren’t covered, no matter your age. Seniors should always read policy documents carefully to see if there are any additional age restrictions on things like adventure sports or certain pre-existing medical conditions.

Some exclusions will be outside your control, but there are other actions you can take that may void your cover. Common seniors travel insurance exclusions include:

• Any pre-existing condition which has not been declared, whether it’s automatically covered or not.
• Any expenses caused by asthma if you’re over 60 (a common age-based medical restriction).
• If you are involved in any illegal activity.
• If you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the relevant event.
• Travelling to a destination with Smartraveller warnings under a ‘do not travel’ classification.
• If you take part in risky activities that aren’t covered by your policy, like snow sports or high-altitude hiking.
• Anything that happens on a cruise ship if cruise cover is not included in your policy (either as an automatic inclusion or added as an optional extra).
• Pandemics and epidemics, unless specifically outlined in your policy, which you’ll find is often the case with expenses related to Covid-19.

There are numerous travel insurance options available to seniors, no matter your age nor your ability. The key to finding a suitable policy for you is in the fine print.

As you’re researching and comparing policies, be sure to pore over policy documents for limits to cover, specific age-based restrictions, options for additional cover versus automatic inclusions, and any policy features which will best suit the kind of international holiday you’re taking.

What is the best travel insurance for seniors over 70 in Australia?

The best travel insurance for any individual is a policy that offers the most relevant features within their budget. We’ve researched travel insurance policies that include features which are best suited to seniors, but everyone should compare and consider these policies to see if they meet their personal and financial needs.

Is travel insurance more expensive for over 75s?

As some risk factors are higher for older travellers—often those associated with existing medical conditions and injuries—you may find your travel insurance quotes increase with age. Every insurance provider has their own method for calculating premiums, so the level to which age does impact price will differ between quotes.

There’s no magic age where your premiums skyrocket, but some insurance companies do set their standards for ‘seniors travel insurance’ for people aged 75 and over.

What's the difference between single and multi-trip travel insurance?

With most travel insurance policies, you’ll need to select the dates you’ll be travelling within, and only bookings or events that happen in this timeframe will be covered. This is referred to as a single-trip policy. If you’re a regular globetrotter, you might consider multi-trip travel insurance. Otherwise known as annual travel insurance, this kind of policy can cover you for numerous holidays within a 12-month span.

Multi-trip insurance can be more affordable overall, but you’ll get the most value out of it if you have consistent travel habits, as you’re effectively paying at a set level for each trip. This means if you want more expensive features for just one trip—say, cover for your laptop while travelling or to go scuba diving—the increased premium is applied across all your travel for the year.

You’ll usually need to set the maximum duration for the trips you plan to take ahead of time, with most policies allowing for 60-day holidays and a few up to 90 days. You’ll also need to select the countries you’re likely to travel to in the year, as insurance companies need to assess the risks involved with each destination.

If you’re living it up in retirement and think you will travel often enough within the year to warrant this cover, make sure you don’t exceed the maximum trip length for any single excursion. You won’t be covered by your policy if you extend your trip.

Remember:  some insurance providers only offer multi-trip policies to travellers under 75, so be sure to check you qualify.

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

Pre-existing medical conditions can include all manner of illnesses or injuries you know you have when you purchase an insurance policy. These may or may not be covered by your travel insurance, and some insurance providers will want to conduct a medical assessment before agreeing to cover you for these conditions.

I am going on a cruise. Will travel insurance cover me?

Yes, some comprehensive travel insurance policies offer coverage while you’re on a cruise as a standard inclusion. Most other providers will offer this kind of cover as an optional extra for an additional fee.

Olivia Gee is a Sydney-based writer and editor working across personal finance, lifestyle and sustainability. She is an insurance expert with ASIC RG146 Tier 2 Certification to provide general insurance advice. Her work has been published in Time Out, Money magazine and Guardian Australia, among other publications.

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Check eligibility

Find out how to get a Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card

Get a Gold Opal card

Eligible seniors can apply on the Opal website

Apply as an Interstate Senior

Eligible interstate seniors can use this form to apply

about Seniors Card

If you have a Seniors Card issued by any Australian state or territory, you are entitled to concession fares on public transport in NSW. Some Seniors Cards are not accepted.

NSW Seniors Card eligibility

To be eligible for a NSW Seniors Card, you must be a NSW permanent resident aged 60 or over, doing no more than an average of 20 hours of paid work a week, across a 12 month period.

How to apply for a NSW Seniors Card

To apply for a NSW Seniors Card and any replacement, visit the NSW Seniors Card website or call 13 77 88 and your application will be processed over the phone.

NSW Seniors Cards are issued by the Department of Family and Community Services. Seniors Cards are issued free of charge and have no expiry.

Interstate Seniors Cards

If you do not reside in NSW, contact the applicable state government department in your home state or territory to apply for your Seniors Card.

If you already hold an interstate Seniors Card, you can apply for a Gold Opal card by completing the Interstate Seniors application form .

Important information before applying for a Gold Opal card:

• Make sure you have your Seniors Card number ready
• Prepare a photocopy or scan of your Seniors Card (front and back)
• Application forms and supporting documents are to be uploaded and submitted online via the Concessions application form
• Please submit at least three to four weeks before travelling to NSW

Seniors Cards not accepted

Concession fares are not available to holders of other types of seniors cards, such as:

• New Zealand SuperGold Card
• National Seniors Card
• NSW Seniors Savers Card
• Seniors Business Discount Card
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card

booking Ticket options

You must carry your Seniors Card or digital Seniors Card when travelling on a concession fare as proof of entitlement or you may be fined.

Concessions are generally not available on private ferries, event shuttle buses, chartered buses and Great Southern Rail services.

opal Sydney and surrounding areas

When travelling within the Opal network , eligible seniors are entitled to use a Gold Senior/ Pensioner Opal card. You'll need your proof of entitlement card to apply and must carry it with you at all times.

If you do not have your proof of entitlement card, you are required to pay for and travel with an Adult fare, or you may be fined for travelling on an invalid ticket .

How to get your Gold Opal card

NSW/ACT Seniors: NSW and ACT Seniors Card holders can apply on the Opal website .

Interstate Seniors: Interstate Seniors Card holders (except from the ACT) can apply for new or replacement Gold Opal cards by completing the Interstate Seniors application form (pdf 283KB) .

Important information for Interstate Seniors before applying:

Sydney Airport train station access fee

Eligible seniors pay the Concession Sydney Airport station access fee when travelling with a Gold Opal card to or from the airport train stations.

regional-train coach Regional NSW

Nsw trainlink.

Eligible seniors are entitled to $2.50 all day travel with the Country Pensioner Excursion ticket when booking on NSW TrainLink Regional services within NSW.

When travelling interstate on NSW TrainLink Regional services (entitlements vary from state to state).

nsw-map Privately-owned services

Eligible seniors are entitled to $2.50 all day travel on regional buses with the Regional Excursion Daily ticket.

Some privately owned and operated services may offer other concessions at their own discretion. Check with local transport operators before you travel.

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Everything you need to know about your Seniors Card membership

How many hours a week can i work.

No more than 20 hours per week in paid employment. If you work casual hours or on an ad-hoc basis through the year, average your working hours over a 12-month period to determine if you're eligible.

Will the card be automatically sent to me?

No. When you turn 60 and meet the other  eligibility criteria , you can apply for a Seniors Card. Applications can be accepted by post up to one month before your birthday, as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria. Your application can be processed seven days before your birthday. Applications can be accepted online up to seven days before your birthday.

Do I get a new card every year?

No. Your Seniors Card doesn't expire so it doesn't need to be replaced unless it is lost, stolen or damaged.

What can I do if my card is lost, stolen or damaged?

Use  Seniors Card member online services if you are an existing Seniors Card member and need a replacement card (i.e., your card has been lost, stolen or damaged).

Alternatively, contact the South Australian Seniors Card Unit:

• free call  1800 819 961
• email  [email protected] .

There is no charge for a replacement card.

How can I update my details with the Seniors Card Unit?

Use  Seniors Card member online services if you are an existing Seniors Card member and need to update your personal details (i.e., name, address, phone number, email address).

How can I care for my Seniors Card?

Seniors Cards are made of strong plastic, similar to a credit card, and with normal use will last many years. Keep it in your wallet or purse.

Do not expose to heat, bend or puncture your Seniors Card as this may damage the internal antenna or microchip.

Do not expose your Seniors Card to static electricity, water or extremes of temperature (such as a clothes dryer or car dashboard).

If you lose your Seniors Card or it gets stolen or stops working, use  Seniors Card member online services to order a replacement card.

How can I use my Seniors Card for discounts and benefits?

The Seniors Card Discounts & Deals Directory lists thousands of places around South Australia where Seniors Card members can access a discount or benefit.

Browse the online Seniors Card Discounts & Deals Directory or search for discounts and deals based on category or location.

Where can I get a hardcopy Seniors Card Discount & Deals Directory?

The hardcopy Seniors Card Discounts & Deals Directory lists thousands of places around South Australia where Seniors Card members can access a discount or benefit.

Seniors Card members can pick up a copy of the Directory from one of hundreds of collection points across the state, including their local council or library.

Find your nearest collection point:

Public libraries Visit www.libraries.sa.gov.au and click on the Locate a Library tab. Use the map or download the PDF.

Council offices Visit www.lga.sa.gov.au and click on SA Councils. Click on SA councils list and map.

How can I use my Seniors Card for free public transport?

South Australian Seniors Card members can travel for free on Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams – all day, every day.

Seniors Card and public transport .

Can I use my Seniors Card interstate and overseas?

Yes. Most business partners of interstate Seniors Card programs will welcome your South Australian Seniors Card. You can also use your SA Seniors Card to access some concessional public transport fares in the state/territory you are visiting.

Check with the Seniors Card office in the state or territory you're visiting as different conditions may apply.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

(02) 6282 3777 www.actseniorscard.org.au [email protected]

New South Wales (NSW)

13 77 88 www.seniorscard.nsw.gov.au [email protected]

Please note: Seniors Card members wanting concessions on public transport when visiting NSW need to apply for the Gold Opal card  two to three weeks before they need to travel . For more information including how to apply, visit  www.opal.com.au .

Northern Territory (NT)

1800 441 489 (free call) www.ntseniorscard.org.au [email protected]

Queensland (QLD)

13 QGOV (13 74 68) www.qld.gov.au/seniorscard [email protected]

Tasmania (TAS)

1300 135 513 www.seniors.tas.gov.au [email protected]

Victoria (VIC)

1300 797 210 www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au [email protected]

Western Australia (WA)

(08) 6551 8800 www.seniorscard.wa.gov.au [email protected]

Thanks to a reciprocal agreement between the New Zealand Government and Australian state and territory governments, holders of Australian Seniors Cards are able to access discounts from participating businesses in New Zealand. Additionally, holders of a SuperGold Card (New Zealand's equivalent) can access discounts from participating Seniors Card business partners when travelling to Australia. This arrangement does not include state or nationally funded initiatives such as free public transport.

For details of participating New Zealand businesses, visit  www.supergold.govt.nz or phone 0800 25 45 65 (when in NZ).

Additionally, Seniors Cards are often accepted by businesses in other countries as a matter of goodwill. All you need to do is ask.

Who can access the personal information I supply when I apply for a Seniors Card?

The Seniors Card program collects and uses your personal information for the purpose of administering the program. This includes mailing your Seniors Card, providing you with free and discounted public transport services, government information and special offers and information from participating businesses.

The program does not provide your personal information to participating businesses. We use a mail house contractor to administer our mail-outs. Emails are sent by the Seniors Card program.

The Seniors Card program requires its contractors to treat your personal information confidentially and in accordance with the Information Privacy Principles (IPPS) Instruction.

We may provide your information to other Government agencies that provide services to members. We may also disclose personal information with your consent, or if required or authorised by law or our Code of Fair Information Practice.

How do I suggest a business that I would like to see advertised through the Seniors Card program?

If there's a business you know of that offers a discount to Seniors Card members but they aren't listed in the Seniors Card Discounts & Deals Directory, other members would like to know about it! And there are great benefits for businesses to partner with Seniors Card.

Phone the Seniors Card Unit on 1800 819 961 (freecall) or email  [email protected] to let us know about them.

All suggestions will be followed up but we can't guarantee that a business will join the Seniors Card program. There are also some businesses that provide a discount to members but choose not to partner with the Seniors Card program.

Who do I contact if I have a complaint about a business?

We recommend you try to sort out the problem with the business first.

If this isn't possible, contact Seniors Card.

• email  [email protected] .

All complaints will be registered and followed up and we'll try to let you know the outcome where we can.

Information for interstate Seniors Card members visiting SA

I don't live in south australia. how can i get a seniors card.

If you don't live in South Australia, contact the Seniors Card office in your state or territory to find out whether you are eligible.

Can I use my interstate Seniors Card for discounts and benefits when visiting SA?

Seniors Card members visiting South Australia can access hundreds of discounts at businesses across South Australia.

View the online Seniors Card Discounts & Deals Directory .

Can I use my interstate Seniors Card on public transport when visiting SA?

When visiting Adelaide from interstate, if you have a state-issued Seniors Card, you can access a MetroTicket for 14 consecutive days of free off-peak travel during your visit to Adelaide. This excludes National Seniors Card, Seniors Business Discount Card and New Zealand SuperGold Card.

To order a MetroTicket online, you need a scan or photograph of the Seniors Card that clearly shows the card number and member's name, as you will upload it before submitting.

If you need to order tickets for more than one Seniors Card member, you must submit one form per person.

Order an interstate Seniors Card member 14-day free travel ticket.

Please allow 10 days between ordering your ticket and your departure date, to reduce the risk of your ticket not arriving in time.

If you are arriving in Adelaide within the next 10 days, you can present your interstate Seniors Card at one of the following locations to receive a 14-day free off-peak travel ticket:

• Adelaide Metro InfoCentre at the Adelaide Railway Station on North Terrace, Adelaide
• Adelaide Visitor Information Centre within the City of Adelaide Customer Centre at 25 Pirie Street, Adelaide
• Glenelg Visitor Information Outlet at 1 Moseley Square, Glenelg (open 10am-4pm)
• Glenelg Public Library at 2 Colley Terrace, Glenelg
• Gawler Visitor Information Centre at 2 Lyndoch Road, Gawler
• Port Adelaide Visitor Information Centre at 66 Commercial Road, Port Adelaide

Interstate Seniors Card members need to pay a concession fare to travel in peak times. If you need to use Adelaide Metro services outside of the free travel times, you will need to buy a concession metroCARD.  Use the service finder to locate a metroCARD agent near you .

If you do not have a Seniors Card but you have an Australian Pensioner Concession Card, you are eligible for a  concession fare .

International seniors are not eligible for any public transport concessions.  Find out more about discounted travel with a Visitor pass .

For more information about visiting Adelaide,  visit the Adelaide Metro website .

South-east Queensland heads into a wet weekend as state's west floods

Weekend storms will bring a flood risk for southern Queensland, where rivers, creeks and catchments could "respond rapidly" to even moderate rainfall. 

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is expecting 10 to 20 millimetres of rain for the Brisbane region Saturday, with the possibility of up to 40 millimetres on Sunday.

Heavier falls are likely south of Brisbane, at Logan, on the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim, with downpours also likely on the Darling Downs, and eastern Maranoa and Warrego. 

Meanwhile,  Charleville and nearby towns are expected to be isolated for days after the levee was shut on Friday , shortly before the Warrego River was due to peak. 

The Warrego River on the town's outskirts continued to rise overnight, reaching 6.7 metres this morning.

Rain totals of up to 130 millimetres were recorded across the Warrego catchment in the 48 hours to 10am Saturday, but the bureau doesn't expect any more significant falls. 

Local authorities said the levee has held strong overnight.

"It's doing its job, well," said far west State Emergency Service area controller John Wallace.

"The barrier means some members of the local community are cut off from the town, but they have emergency services crews with them and a flood boat if they need to be transported into town urgently."

The State Emergency Service is providing help to members of the community in flood-impacted areas between Charleville and Augathella to the north.

"We've had a couple of people stranded … we've been talking to those people overnight basically every three hours just to say g'day and make sure they're in a good place and they're not in need of help," Mr Wallace said.

Murweh Shire Council Mayor Shaun Radnedge said community members on the wrong side of Charleville's flood levee could be cut off from town for days.

"Once that water goes over the bridge, unfortunately Main Roads policy is that when it goes down you can't just open that bridge," he said .

"It has got to be inspected to make sure it's safe to travel on, so we just need those people prepared so that they can see a couple of days out."

Senior meteorologist Harry Clarke said there is a risk of flooding as water travels down the the Warrego.

"Over the coming days, communities downstream from Charleville can expect to see major flooding as those river levels rise," he said.

Bean Smith lives at Cunnamulla, about 150 kilometres south of Charleville. 

He expects it'll be a few days yet before the water reaches them.

"We've got a good gauging system now," he said.

"You get an idea three or four days earlier so people are ready for it. We won't have any problems at all."

'Reconsider your travel'

On Friday, Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said there had already been "significant" crashes on the state's roads. 

"If you are out and about, if you don't need to be on the roadways in this period, please reconsider your travel," he said. 

Meanwhile Queensland Emergency Fire and Rescue Service (QFES) warned weather conditions into the weekend would be "ad hoc". 

"We're asking people to remain vigilant. With the current weather conditions, flash flooding can occur in minutes — not hours or days," Brian Cox from QFES said. 

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Aviator Michael Smith shares wild itinerary of historic effort to recreate historic 1924 circumnavigation of Australia

Australian adventurer Michael Smith has hit an important first milestone in his mammoth effort to recreate the first seaplane circumnavigation of the country a century ago.

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An Aussie pilot is recreating a century-old journey around Australia in a seaplane, with a map detailing his wild itinerary as he soars from town to town in the historic footsteps of air force pilots.

Michael Smith departed Melbourne last Saturday, on the first leg of a 50-day journey to circumnavigate the country.

The historic journey was first undertaken by pilots in 1924 by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Following a two day rest stop in Townsville, Mr Smith departed for Cooktown on Saturday marking the end of the first week of his roughly 15,000 km trip.

He plans to reach the Northern Territory by April 23, before making 10 stops down along the Western Australian coastline, three in South Australia, and ending up back in Melbourne on May 19.

Mr Smith joked he was looking forward to seeing the country’s iconic beaches at 500ft.

“It’s so important to recognise the mechanised apparatus that made Australian life possible,” he said.

“Still today there are towns where their mail and milk are delivered by plane.”

Mr Smith is due to touch down on Thursday Island, in Far North Queensland, in the coming week.

He will make similar scheduled stops across the coast, including in Darwin on April 24, Broome in WA on April 28, then hug the coastline through to South Australia in early May.

The aerial adventurer is due to finish his journey in Melbourne - the very place he took off from - on May 19.

The journey got off to a rocky start, with Mr Smith sharing an update on Tuesday from Myall Lake in NSW to say he hit some poor weather near Yarram.

“After a couple of hours it looked like it was going to be pretty clear down the coast so I thought ‘OK we’ll give this a go’,” He said.

“But after half an hour I could see it wasn’t looking good … So I could see that Bairnsdale was going to be the best place to go.

“Thank goodness I did because as I was taxiing towards the hanger and it just opened up and then it bucketed down all night.”

The trip marks a 100 year reflection of the RAAF's first circumnavigation of the country in 1924, which delivered the first aerial survey of Australia’s coastline.

The adventurer was named Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2016 after solo circumnavigating the globe in a single-engine seaplane.

His trip is being monitored with live-streaming from the air online at the Southern Sun website .

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