Chase those breaks knowing you’re covered
Maybe you want to test out the local breaks in Noosa Heads, Byron Bay or Bells Beach. Or have you always dreamed of planning the ultimate surfing trip to the likes of Oahu in Hawaii, Big Sur or Malibu in the USA or the Bukit Peninsula in Bali?
Wherever you’re headed, we’ll be looking out for you wherever the tides take you.
Protection when it matters most
In a perfect world, your surfing trip would go off without a hitch—but unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Imagine you’d planned your dream surfing trip only to find the airline lost your prized board in transit. Or what if you sustained a bad injury from coming into contact with another board while out in the water in another country?
Our travel insurance is designed to provide valuable peace of mind that you won’t be left on your own if things go a little haywire.
Surfing, automatically covered
You’ll be pleased to know that when you purchase our travel insurance, you’ll be automatically covered while surfing, as well as while enjoying a long list of other activities you might want to get up to while away.
It is however important to note that this cover doesn’t extend to big wave or extreme surfing. Our cover also only extends to amateur-level surfers, meaning you won’t be covered if you’re participating in a competition or surfing professionally.
What can our international travel insurance cover?
How does the PassportCard Instant Payouts work?
Tips when planning a surfing trip
Before you kick off your surfing trip, here are some handy tips to help you get the most out of the experience.
- If you’ll be travelling outside of Australia, check your passport is valid with at least 6 months of validity left from the date you plan to depart the destination
- Ensure you meet the visitor entry requirements for the destination/s you will be travelling to
- Research the region you will be travelling to so you’re aware of any potential safety or health risks
- Make sure you choose breaks that are aligned with your ability. If you’re a beginner, don’t even consider attempting the more advanced breaks
- Uphold good surfing etiquette while out in the water. Surfers are renowned for being territorial and you could quickly find yourself in a tricky situation if you don’t follow the rules of the water by doing things like cutting in on someone else’s wave or getting in the way of another surfer mid-ride
- Check the local surf report ahead of time. Make sure you check the weather forecast, swell rating and wind conditions before you head to a particular surf spot to avoid disappointment
- Chat to other surfers to better understand the conditions before heading out. There may be submerged rocks or sharp reefs you can’t see from the sand, so it’s best to ask if you’re not entirely sure
- Use a leg strap to make sure you don’t lose your board or injure other surfers in a wipeout
- Always opt for patrolled beaches over unpatrolled beaches and know what you need to do if you get caught in a rip
- Work out what your accommodation arrangements will be well in advance (particularly if travelling as a group) as many popular beach destinations can book out well in advance during peak season
- Organise your travel insurance with PassportCard.
Surfing travel insurance FAQs
Our comprehensive travel insurance does include cover for the loss, damage or theft of personal effects such as a surfboard, however, there are certain conditions and limitations you need to be aware of. For example, your surfboard won’t be covered if you leave it unattended on the beach or in a car. Please refer to the relevant PDS for full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions.
We only cover amateur-level surfers. Our travel insurance does not provide cover for professional surfers, including participation in any activities that are part of a competition or tournament.
You will be subject to the same conditions and requirements as any other person with a pre-existing medical condition. Please refer to the PDS for more information relating to pre-existing medical conditions or you can call us on 1300 123 413 for information tailored to your personal circumstances.
No. Many Australians don’t realise that they won’t be covered by Medicare in most overseas locations. Purchasing travel insurance with cover for medical emergencies and evacuation is essential to ensure you won’t be left to foot the bill if you become seriously sick or injured while travelling.
Simply call our Global Assistance team on +61 1800 490 478. Our Australian-based Global Assistance team is available 24/7 and can quickly handle most common claims on-the-spot over the phone.