Smartraveller is the Australian Government's free official travel advice resource.
It provides travel advice for over 175 overseas destinations including essential information on local laws, security and safety risks, and how to stay safe.
Whether it's your first time overseas or you're an experienced traveller, Smartraveller can help make your trip a memorable one, for the right reasons.
Know before you go, visit Smartraveller.gov.au for the latest information and sign up for email alerts when the travel advice changes.
Know before you go
Heading overseas? Before you go — here's what you need to know!
Drug and alcohol laws overseas can be very different to the laws in Australia. What's okay at home may not be safe in other countries.
Cultural norms are different too. What's accepted in Australia might not be overseas.
Get travel insurance. If you can afford to travel, you can afford travel insurance.
Check the fine print on your travel insurance. Know what it covers — and what it doesn't.
Know who to call for help. Save the number of local emergency services and the Australian embassy in your contacts.
Know before you go and make your trip unforgettable for the right reasons.
For tips and advice on local laws, how to stay safe and emergency contact numbers overseas, visit Smartraveller.gov.au
Partying safely
You're more vulnerable when you head out to party in an unfamiliar country.
You don't need to drink to have a great time at Schoolies — in fact more school leavers are choosing not to drink or to drink less alcohol while at Schoolies.
If you do decide to drink, pace yourself.
Drinking water or other non-alcoholic beverages between alcoholic drinks can help to reduce the impacts of alcohol. Encourage your mates to do the same.
Eating food before and during drinking can help slow your drinking pace and slow the absorption of alcohol.
Day-drinking can also be dangerous. Wear sunscreen and look out for sunburn or signs of heatstroke.
Know your limits and keep track of how much you're drinking. Drinks may contain more alcohol than you're used to.
Alcohol can affect your judgement, coordination and balance. When you've been drinking, you're more likely to take risks and make poor decisions.
At best, your hangover will mean you waste a valuable day of your holiday. You could also be injured, robbed, sexually assaulted or arrested. At worst, your night out could be fatal.
Never drive a car or scooter if you've been drinking, and don't be a passenger with someone who has. Remember you can still be too impaired to drive the day after drinking.
If you feel pressured to drink, simply say no and let the person know that you really mean it, and if needed remove yourself from the situation.
Look after your mates. Stay in contact and know where they are. If your phone runs out of battery, you get separated or decide to split up, have a time and place to meet.
Make sure everyone has the hotel name, number and address, and knows safe transport options to get home safely. Never let your friends wait by themselves for taxis or rideshares.
Drink spiking
Drink spiking can happen to anyone, anywhere — bars, clubs, parties, or festivals.
Protect yourself. Always watch your drink including when it's being made. Don't accept drinks from strangers.
If your drink has been left unattended, leave it and get a new one.
The drug or extra alcohol in a spiked drink could be colourless, odourless and tasteless, so you might not be able to tell if your drink has been spiked.
Buy or pour your own drinks and avoid sharing drinks.
Choose safer drink options, like low and mid strength drinks and premixed or bottled drinks where possible.
If you think your drink tastes weird or may be spiked, pour it out.
Look out for yourself and your mates. If you're not feeling right or a mate's acting weird — slurring, confused, feeling sick or passing out — don't brush it off. It could be a sign of drink spiking.
Stay with your mate to keep them safe and get medical help fast.
Know how to contact local authorities and emergency services before you go out — just in case you need them. A quick call could save a life.
Methanol poisoning
Sipping on a cocktail overseas? Do you know what's in it?
In some places, alcohol isn't as regulated as it is in Australia. It can be badly or cheaply made to cut cost, and that's where methanol can creep in.
Methanol is toxic, even deadly, and you can't smell or taste the difference.
Protect yourself. Only drink from trusted places. Avoid free shots, buckets, jugs and cheap deals that seem too good to be true. Don't drink anything from an unsealed bottle.
Branded beers, ciders, wines and premixed cocktails in sealed bottles and cans are usually safer.
Signs of methanol poisoning can happen hours later — a hangover that's worse than it should be or gets worse as the day goes on is a big warning sign.
Look out for blurred vision, dizziness, vomiting, trouble breathing. If you or your mate feel off, don't wait it out. Get medical help straight away.
Methanol poisoning gets worse, fast, and early treatment could save your life.
Save contacts for local emergency services before you go out — just in case you need them.
Drug safety
Drug laws overseas are serious. They can be a lot stricter than in Australia. Some places have heavy fines, jail time or worse, even for first time offences.
Don't take drugs overseas. It's not just about getting caught, it's about staying safe.
You never really know what you're taking. Drugs can be cut with dangerous stuff that can affect you fast.
If a mate looks off — confused, struggling to breathe, overheating, passing out — act quickly. Early signs of drug harm need medical help straight away.
Know how to contact local authorities and emergency services before you go out — just in case you need them.
Alcohol and water safety
Alcohol and pools, rivers, lakes or oceans are a dangerous mix.
Alcohol affects your coordination, balance and judgement. It also impacts your ability to help yourself and others if something goes wrong.
If you've been drinking: avoid swimming or going on a boat, especially if you're alone.
Don't dive into a pool, river or the ocean.
Be careful around water — you're more prone to slip and fall when under the influence.
Remember, if you're too drunk to drive a car, you're too drunk to drive a boat, and you're too drunk to swim.
