Australia travel advice: latest guidance for UK visitors on flights, holidays and quarantine rules as Melbourne lockdown continues

Lockdown has been reimposed in Victoria with Melbourne among the cities impacted

Strict lockdown measures are in place in Victoria, Australia (Getty Images)

Australia is one of dozens of countries named on a list of places that people based in all four UK nations can travel to without needing to quarantine on their return.

The latest update comes as Victoria in the country’s south was forced to reimpose its third stage of lockdown.

What’s more, travel to the country remains fraught with difficulty with UK travellers required to quarantine on arrival in the country.

Can I travel to Australia?

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), entry to Australia is limited, except for Australian citizens and permanent residents or those with an exemption.

On arrival in the country, visitors are required to quarantine at “a designated facility” for 14 days at their port of arrival – this is organised free of charge apart for in The Northern Territory and Queensland.

You will need to apply for a visa via special exemption to be able to travel to Australia – normal visa applications are no longer accepted.

You should be able to obtain an exemption if you are visiting on compelling or compassionate grounds.

On July 10, the government introduced a cap on international arrivals.

Can I visit Melbourne or the rest of Victoria?

It is not possible to visit Melbourne unless it is for medical care and caregiving, work or study, or shopping for essentials.

It’s possible to travel through the region but visitors are advised not to stop unless for the aforementioned reasons.

What are the current social distancing measures in Australia?

Rules vary by region.

For instance in Victoria up to 10 people can gather outside, whereas in Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory, there is no such limit.

Face mask wearing when outside is now mandatory in Victoria.

The Covid-19 restriction checker at Health Direct provides a comprehensive breakdown of rules by region.

Will I need to quarantine on my return from Australia?

No.

Australia was one of the few long-haul destinations added to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales’ no-quarantine lists.

This applies to both UK residents and Australia-based visitors.