A message from Tourism Australia
Bushfires are currently affecting some parts of Australia. Like all Australians, our hearts go out to the families and communities who are impacted by the bushfires. Our gratitude for the frontline services facing the fires head on cannot be expressed deeply enough.
STAYING UP TO DATE
We encourage all travellers visiting Australia to seek the most up-to-date information for their planned itinerary prior to departure, and remain informed about changing conditions while in Australia.
Speak with your travel agent, accommodation provider, tourism operators and local Visitor Information Centres for advice about local conditions and how best to experience Australia’s tourism destinations.
WILL THE BUSHFIRES AFFECT MY TRIP?
Most destinations in Australia remain safe and continue to welcome visitors. All international airports in Australia are operating as normal.
It is more important than ever to support Australian tourism providers, whether in unaffected regions or those that will recover from these bushfires in the months and years to come. The best way to support Australia, Australian communities, and the tourism sector is to keep visiting. If you cannot travel to an affected area due to bushfires, one of the many ways to help includes rescheduling instead of cancelling a planned trip to support the communities in the coming months.
WHICH AUSTRALIAN DESTINATIONS ARE IMPACTED?
Updated as at 14 January 2020
Here is a link to a summary of some of our most popular destinations for international travellers, and whether they have been impacted by the current bushfires or are safe to visit. The list will be updated regularly, however conditions can change quickly, and travellers should seek the most up to date information from regional websites.
This is not a complete list of affected areas, so if you are travelling outside these areas, please refer to our bushfire safety page for links to regional sites.
STAYING UP TO DATE
Bushfires can start and change direction very quickly. We encourage all visitors to Australia to check the latest bushfire warnings and updates to any areas they plan to travel to, as well as checking the Australian Government’s Bureau of Meteorology site (www.bom.gov.au) to see overall weather updates for all parts of Australia, including the latest fire warnings. For air quality information, visit www.air-quality.com.
For local updates, you can visit the following regional sites.
- New South Wales www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
- Victoria www.cfa.vic.gov.au
- Tasmania www.fire.tas.gov.au
- Australian Capital Territory www.esa.act.gov.au
- Northern Territory www.pfes.nt.gov.au
- Queensland www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au
- South Australia www.cfs.org.au
- Western Australia www.emergency.wa.gov.au
You can also check up-to-date news through:
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio – tune into 891 AM
- Bushfire Information Hotline – call 1300 362 361
CHECK BEFORE YOU GO
If you have booked a trip to Australia, check in with your travel agent, tour operator or accommodation providers on local conditions and how best to enjoy your time in Australia. Even during extreme situations, the likelihood is that many areas of the country will still be unaffected. If unfortunately the area is within the bushfire radius, we encourage travellers to reschedule rather than cancel the booking.
If you are independently driving, you can check local traffic sites to ensure that your route is still safe to drive.
FIND OUT THE FIRE DANGER RATINGS
While you’re travelling, make sure to look up the Fire Danger Rating of your area which will inform you how dangerous a fire would be if it started. These are often included in TV, local radio, newspaper reports, and will be displayed on road signs. Make sure to adhere to total fire bans, or where fires are allowed, use designated fireplaces and always extinguish campfires completely with water. For any concerns, speak to your campsite for advice or visit the appropriate regional site listed above.
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
In the event of an emergency, dial triple zero (000).
BUSHFIRE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THE UPPER HUNTER
Currently there are no major bushfires affecting tourist areas in the Upper Hunter. However, there are fires burning in Barrington Tops National Park, Wollemi National Park and Goulburn River National Park. National Parks and Wildlife Services have currently closed all picnic areas and walking tracks in these parks including Towarri National Park due to bushfires or potential risk of bushfires.
Please note that there is also a total fire ban in place at Burning Mountain Reserve. The walking track and free camp site is still open.
Please visit or contact any of our Visitor Information Centres if you would like more information.
The Upper Hunter will welcome you with open arms!