Travel insurance for sports and activities: what’s covered?

• Last updated: Aug 19, 2026

Quick summary for busy readers:

Most travel insurance policies automatically cover a long list of recreational sports and activities, but higher-risk ones often need an adventure pack, winter sports add-on or specialist policy instead.
What counts as “covered” varies a lot between insurers. An activity that’s included as standard with one provider might be excluded entirely, or only covered with an extra premium, by another.
Some activities, like BASE jumping, professional motorsport, and expeditions to genuinely unexplored territory, aren’t covered by any mainstream travel insurer, regardless of how much you’re willing to pay. See more information in our table below.
If you’ve got something specific planned, it’s worth checking the policy’s activity list and any exclusions before you buy; never assume a comprehensive policy will cover everything you want to do.

A good holiday doesn’t always mean relaxing poolside with a delicious cocktail and good book. Sometimes it involves white water rafting, scuba diving, skydiving, jet skiing or rock climbing; things that get your adrenaline pumping!

Of course, when it comes to travel insurance, not all of these wonderful sports and activities are automatically covered (and some aren’t covered at all). Read on to learn more, including a full comparison of what activities Australian insurers do and don’t cover.

Does travel insurance cover adventure sports?

It depends entirely on the activity and the insurer. Most travel insurers cover a wide range of sports and activities automatically, but what’s included as standard with one provider can be specifically excluded by the next. Or if something isn’t covered outright, you can often still get cover by adding an adventure pack or a winter sports add-on (usually for an extra premium though).

Because it all varies so much, we’ve rounded up what the leading Australian insurers do and don’t cover when it comes to adventure sports and activities:

Provider	Quad biking	Scuba diving	Jet skiing	Animal conservation	White water rafting	Rock climbing	Sky diving	Cycling	Contact sports	Action
1Cover	No	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered up to 30 metres, with an add-on available to extend cover to 30–50 metres.	Yes Jet skiing is covered as an optional add-on.	Yes Animal conservation is covered as an optional add-on.	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered for Grade I–III rapids, with an add-on available for Grade IV–V.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is automatically covered, and outdoor rock climbing is covered as an optional add-on.	Yes Sky diving is covered as an optional add-on, for tandem jumps only.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered, provided a helmet is worn.	Yes Contact sports are covered as an optional add-on.	Quote
FastCover	Yes Quad biking is covered as an optional add-on for a single rider, excluding jumping or racing.	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered up to 10 metres, with an add-on extending cover to 30 metres.	Yes Jet skiing is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator.	Yes Animal conservation is covered as an optional add-on under supervision.	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered for Grade I–III, with an add-on available for Grade IV–V.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is automatically covered, and outdoor rock climbing is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator.	Yes Sky diving is covered as an optional add-on, for tandem jumps only.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered, excluding BMX, downhill, and racing.	Yes Contact sports are covered as an optional add-on.	Quote
Insure n Go	No	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered up to 30 metres, with an add-on extending cover to 30–50 metres.	Yes Jet skiing is automatically covered.	No	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered for Grade 1-4; you can't get cover for Grade 5 and above.	Yes Rock climbing is automatically covered provided it is harnessed; free climbing is excluded.	Yes Sky diving is covered as an optional add-on, for tandem jumps only.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered, excluding competitive cycling.	Yes Contact sports are automatically covered, though no Accidental Death and Disability or Personal Liability cover applies to this activity.	Quote
Tick Travel Insurance	Yes Quad biking is covered, provided it's with a commercial operator and not considered extreme risk, and is subject to a $500 excess.	Yes Scuba diving is covered for qualified divers up to 30 metres. Unqualified divers can also dive up to 30 metres if accompanied by an instructor, but only if the dive is run by a commercial operator open to the general public, isn't considered extreme risk, and doesn't require special skills or a high level of fitness. Diving beyond 30 metres isn't covered at all.	Yes Jet skiing is covered automatically.	No	Yes White water rafting is covered for Grade 1-2 with no special condition, and for Grade 3-4 subject to a special condition; Grade 5 and above is excluded.	Yes Indoor harnessed rock climbing is covered; outdoor rock climbing is excluded.	No	Yes General cycling, cycle touring, and mountain biking (excluding racing or extreme conditions) are covered; competitive cycling is excluded.	Yes Recreational rugby is covered; competition contact sports are excluded.	Quote
Travel Insurance Saver	Yes Quad biking is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	Yes Scuba diving is covered up to 10 metres only.	Yes Jet skiing is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	No	Yes White water rafting is covered up to Grade 4.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is covered, but outdoor rock climbing is not covered.	Yes Tandem or static-line sky diving is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	Yes Cycling is covered unconditionally; mountain biking is covered for recreational riding only.	Yes Touch football is automatically covered; Rugby League, Rugby Union, Rugby Sevens, and Soccer require declaration to and acceptance by the insurer before cover applies.	Quote
Zoom	No	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered up to 30 metres, with an add-on available to extend cover to 30–50 metres.	Yes Jet skiing is covered as an optional add-on.	Yes Animal conservation is covered as an optional add-on.	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered for Grade 1-3 rapids, with an add-on available for Grade 4-5.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is automatically covered, and outdoor rock climbing is covered as an optional add-on.	Yes Sky diving is covered as an optional add-on, for tandem jumps only.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered, provided a helmet is worn.	Yes Contact sports are covered as an optional add-on.	Quote
All Clear	No	Yes Scuba diving is covered up to 30 metres, though Personal Accident and Personal Public Liability cover do not apply.	Yes Jet skiing is covered, though Personal Accident and Personal Public Liability cover do not apply.	No	Yes White water rafting is covered for Grade 1–3 only (Personal Accident and Personal Public Liability cover do not apply); Grade 4–5 is not covered.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is covered, but outdoor rock climbing is not covered.	No Only indoor skydiving (simulator) is covered; real skydiving is not covered.	Yes Cycling is covered unconditionally, excluding BMX and mountain biking.	No
Australian Seniors	Yes Quad biking is covered as an optional Adventure Pack add-on, for a single rider only.	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered up to 10 metres, with the Adventure Pack add-on extending cover to 30 metres.	No	Yes Animal conservation is covered as an optional Adventure Pack add-on.	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered for Grade I–III, with the Adventure Pack add-on extending cover to Grade IV–V.	Yes Supervised rockwall climbing is automatically covered, and outdoor roped rock climbing is covered via the Adventure Pack add-on.	Yes Sky diving is covered as an optional Adventure Pack add-on, for tandem jumps only.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered, excluding BMX and downhill riding.	Yes Contact sports are covered as an optional Adventure Pack add-on.
Boomers	Yes Quad biking is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	Yes Scuba diving is covered up to 10 metres only.	Yes Jet skiing is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	No	Yes White water rafting is covered up to Grade 4.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is covered, but outdoor rock climbing is not covered.	Yes Tandem or static-line sky diving is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	Yes Cycling is covered unconditionally; mountain biking is covered for recreational riding only.	Yes Contact sports are partially covered; AFL, touch football, Gaelic football, and hurling are covered but rugby is not listed.
Budget Direct	Yes Quad biking is automatically covered for organised day tours, with an add-on extending cover to general recreational use.	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered up to 30 metres, with an add-on extending cover to 50 metres.	Yes Jet skiing is automatically covered.	No	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered up to Grade 3, with the Adventure+ add-on extending cover to Grade 4–5.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is automatically covered; outdoor rock climbing is covered via an add-on for under 2,000 metres, or via the Adventure+ add-on for 2,000-4,000 metres.	Yes Sky diving is covered via the Adventure+ add-on, for tandem jumps only, excluding BASE jumping.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered, excluding BMX and racing.	Yes Contact sports are automatically covered under "Amateur Sports," including rugby and football.
Cover more	Yes Quad biking is automatically covered for organised day tours, with an add-on extending cover to general recreational use.	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered up to 30 metres, with an add-on extending cover to 50 metres.	Yes Jet skiing is automatically covered.	No	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered up to Grade 3, with the Adventure+ add-on extending cover to Grade 4–5.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is automatically covered; outdoor rock climbing is covered via an add-on for under 2,000 metres, or via the Adventure+ add-on for 2,000-4,000 metres.	Yes Sky diving is covered via the Adventure+ add-on, for tandem jumps only, excluding BASE jumping.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered, excluding BMX and racing.	Yes Contact sports are automatically covered under "Amateur Sports," including rugby and football.
Easy Travel Insurance	No	Yes Scuba diving is not automatically covered; only the 30–50 metre depth range is available, and only via an add-on.	Yes Jet skiing is automatically covered.	No	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered with no grade restriction.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is not automatically covered; outdoor rock climbing under 2,000 metres is available only as an add-on.	Yes Sky diving is covered via an Adventure add-on, for tandem jumps only, excluding BASE jumping.	No	No
Freely	Yes Quad biking is automatically covered for organised day tours, with an add-on extending cover further.	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered up to 30 metres, with an add-on extending cover to 50 metres.	Yes Jet skiing is automatically covered.	No	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered for Grade 1–3, with an add-on extending cover to black water rafting and higher grades.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is automatically covered; outdoor rock climbing is covered via an add-on up to 4,000 metres.	Yes Sky diving is covered via an add-on tier, for tandem jumps only, excluding BASE jumping.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered.	Yes Contact sports are automatically covered under "Amateur Sports."
Go Insurance	Yes Quad biking is covered, provided it is with a licensed commercial operator.	Yes Scuba diving is covered up to 30 metres.	Yes Jet skiing is covered unconditionally.	No	Yes White water rafting is covered up to Category 4, provided it is with a licensed operator.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is covered, provided it is with a licensed operator; outdoor rock climbing is not covered.	No	Yes Cycling is covered unconditionally.	No
Insure 4 Less	Yes Quad biking is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	Yes Scuba diving is covered up to 10 metres only.	Yes Jet skiing is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	No	Yes White water rafting is covered up to Grade 4.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is covered automatically; outdoor rock climbing, bouldering, and mountaineering require a separate application.	Yes Tandem or static-line sky diving is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	Yes Cycling is covered unconditionally; mountain biking is covered for recreational riding only.	Yes Touch football is automatically covered. But Rugby League, Rugby Union, Rugby Sevens, and Soccer require declaration to and acceptance by the insurer before cover applies.
Medibank	No	No	Yes Jet skiing is automatically covered.	No	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered with no grade limit.	No	No	No	No
PassportCard	Yes Quad biking is covered via the optional Adventure Activities Cover add-on.	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered for qualified divers up to 30 metres, and for unqualified divers with an instructor up to 30 metres.	Yes Jet skiing is automatically covered.	Yes Animal conservation and handling is covered via the optional Adventure Activities add-on.	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered for Grade 1-2 only; Grade 3 and above is not covered under any tier.	Yes Indoor harnessed rock climbing is automatically covered, and outdoor rock climbing is covered via the Adventure Activities add-on; true mountaineering is excluded even with the add-on.	Yes Sky diving is covered via the optional Adventure Activities Cover add-on.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered; downhill and extreme mountain biking are covered via an add-on.	Yes Contact sports are automatically covered.
Southern Cross	No	Yes Scuba diving is covered by default, provided the diver holds an open water certification or is diving with an instructor.	Yes Jet skiing is covered by default.	Yes Animal conservation is covered by default.	No	Yes Outdoor rock climbing is covered, provided it's with a licensed operator; indoor rock climbing is covered by default.	No	Yes Cycling is covered by default.	No
Travel Insurance Direct	No	Yes Scuba diving is covered, provided the diver holds an open water licence or is diving under licensed instruction.	Yes Jet skiing is covered by default.	Yes Animal conservation is covered by default.	Yes White water rafting is covered by default.	No	Yes Sky diving is covered by default.	Yes Cycling is covered by default.	Yes Contact sports are covered by default.
Travel Insuranz	Yes Quad biking is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	Yes Scuba diving is covered up to 10 metres only.	Yes Jet skiing is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	No	Yes White water rafting is covered up to Grade 4.	No	Yes Tandem or static-line sky diving is covered as an optional add-on with a licensed operator, and is not available in the USA or Canada.	Yes Cycling is covered unconditionally; mountain biking is covered for recreational riding only.	Yes Touch football is automatically covered; get in touch with the insurer directly to get cover for other contact sports.
World 2 Cover	Yes Quad biking is covered, provided it's with a commercial operator, open to the general public, not an extreme risk activity, and doesn't require special skills or a high level of fitness.	Yes Licensed scuba diving is covered as standard; unlicensed diving is only covered if it's with a commercial operator.	Yes Jet skiing is covered by default.	Yes Animal conservation is covered by default.	Yes White water rafting is covered as standard for Grade 1-2; Grade 3-4 is covered too, but only with a commercial operator; Grade 5 and above isn't covered at all.	No	No	Yes Cycling is covered by default.	Yes Contact sports are covered by default.
World Nomads	Yes Quad biking is covered via a Level 3 upgrade, with a licensed guide, and excludes travellers aged 15 or younger.	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered at Level 1 up to 30 metres, with a Level 2 upgrade extending cover to 40 metres; diving beyond 40 metres or commercial diving is excluded.	Yes Jet skiing is covered via a Level 2 upgrade, with a licensed guide.	No	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered at Level 1 for all grades.	Yes Indoor rock climbing is covered via a Level 2 upgrade, and outdoor or sport/bolted climbing is covered via a Level 3 upgrade, both with a licensed guide; bouldering is covered at Level 3; soloing is excluded.	Yes Sky diving is covered via a Level 3 upgrade, for one jump only, with a licensed guide; subsequent jumps are excluded.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered at Level 1 up to 2,000 metres elevation, with a Level 3 upgrade extending cover to 6,000 metres; above 6,000 metres is excluded.	Yes Rugby League, Rugby Union, and AFL are automatically covered at Level 1; American football is covered at Level 2.
WorldCare	Yes Quad biking is covered as an optional Adventure Pack add-on, for a single rider only.	Yes Scuba diving is automatically covered up to 10 metres, with the Adventure Pack add-on extending cover to 30 metres.	No	Yes Animal conservation is covered as an optional Adventure Pack add-on.	Yes White water rafting is automatically covered for Grade 1-3, with the Adventure Pack add-on extending cover to Grade 4-5.	Yes Supervised rockwall climbing is automatically covered, and outdoor roped rock climbing is covered via the Adventure Pack add-on.	Yes Sky diving is covered as an optional Adventure Pack add-on, for tandem jumps only.	Yes Cycling is automatically covered, excluding BMX and downhill riding.	Yes Contact sports are covered as an optional Adventure Pack add-on.

What activities are usually covered?

Most Australian travel insurers usually cover:

Recreational sports. Things like golf, sailing, cycling, camping, fishing, horse riding, kayaking, swimming, surfing and trekking. Recreational team sports like football, netball or hockey are also generally covered.
Water activities. Amateur water sports popular with beach and island travellers, like jet skiing, kayaking, paragliding, surfing, white water rafting and windsurfing, are usually covered too, though the more intense activities can come with limitations.
Bungee jumping. Despite the adrenaline factor, bungee jumping is covered by most travel insurance policies without requiring a specialist add-on.
Archery. You’re generally covered to shoot at a target, though reckless behaviour while doing it can void a claim.
Ziplining. Most providers cover ziplining as standard, though it’s always worth confirming before you book.

A few activities sit in a middle ground, sometimes covered automatically, sometimes needing an add-on, and occasionally excluded altogether depending on the insurer:

Skiing and snowboarding. Covered by most insurers provided you’ve bought a policy that includes snow sports cover, though racing, stunts, and off-piste skiing can all fall outside standard cover. We’ve got a dedicated guide on off-piste ski insurance you should read if that’s part of your travel plans.
Scuba diving. Widely covered, but usually with conditions attached around certification and maximum depth. Head to our scuba diving travel insurance guide for more details.
Skydiving. Tandem skydiving is commonly covered whereas solo jumps are only covered by a handful of insurers. Either way, check the specifics before you book.
Riding a motorbike or scooter. Cover usually depends on engine size and holding a valid licence. Check out our motorbike travel insurance guide for a complete breakdown.
Sailing. Cover does depend heavily on distance from shore, and it varies a lot between insurers. If sailing is on your itinerary, check out our sailing travel insurance guide.
Abseiling and rock climbing. However, altitude limits often apply and a lot of insurers won’t cover mountaineering rock climbing if ropes or specialist equipment are involved.

What activities are not covered by travel insurance?

There are a few adventure sports and activities that travel insurers will not cover, no matter how much you’re willing to pay for an add-on. These typically include:

BASE jumping and cliff jumping. Considered significantly more dangerous than standard skydiving or parachuting, and generally excluded outright rather than available as an add-on.
Professional or competitive sports. If you’re racing against the clock or other competitors, particularly where prize money or formal recognition is involved, standard travel insurance typically won’t cover you.
Motorsport and racing. Motorsport is one of the more consistently excluded categories across the market. If you’re renting a car or bike for a track day, check what cover the rental company itself provides instead.
Running with the bulls. A genuinely dangerous, high-injury event by design, and one that travel insurers just don’t cover.
Shooting sports. Activities involving firearms are rarely covered under standard travel insurance, though some insurers offer additional cover for things like clay pigeon shooting.
Expeditions to inaccessible or unexplored areas. If you’re planning something in genuinely remote or previously unexplored territory, mainstream travel insurance generally isn’t built to cover it

Because coverage varies so much between insurers, and policies change over time, it’s always worth reading the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or contacting the insurer directly before purchasing to ensure whatever activity you’re planning will be covered.

Get Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Does travel insurance cover extreme sports?

Yes, some high-risk sports and activities are covered by travel insurance. Skiing, snowboarding, skydiving and downhill mountain biking are extreme sports you can generally find cover for. But standard travel insurance will not cover BASE jumping, running with bulls or motor racing; you’ll need to look into professional or specialist sports insurance instead.

Why do I need adventure travel insurance?

Every traveller benefits from having the right travel insurance, but it matters even more for adventure activities. Extreme sports often happen far from hospitals and medical facilities, and combine high speeds with genuine physical risk. An adrenaline rush might last an hour, but an overseas hospital bill from an accident can follow you home for a lot longer, so it’s definitely worth having the right cover in place before you go.

What does adventure travel insurance cover?

Beyond the activity itself, adventure travel insurance typically includes the same core benefits as a standard comprehensive policy. That means 24-hour emergency assistance, cover for overseas medical and hospital expenses and cover for ambulance or medical transport to get you to the nearest hospital if needed. Plus, cancellation or disruption cover if you need to cancel your trip or are delayed due to unforeseen events like a family emergency, illness or bad weather, and lost or damaged luggage cover.

Does travel insurance cover riding a motorcycle or scooter overseas?

Many travel insurers automatically cover you to ride a motorbike overseas, provided you’re wearing a helmet and hold the correct licence and engine class according to their policy terms. Check out our motorbike travel insurance guide as it covers exactly which insurers offer this and under what conditions. Learn more from our guide on insurers that cover riding motorcycles, scooters and mopeds.

Am I covered for scuba diving when I go travelling?

Given how popular scuba diving is with travellers, most insurers do offer cover, though usually with some restrictions attached. Depth limits are common, and you’ll generally need to go with a qualified instructor or hold a valid diving certificate yourself. Our scuba diving travel insurance guide has the full breakdown.. Check out our scuba diving cover guide.

Am I covered for trekking and/or climbing when I go travelling?

Trekking is covered the majority of the time, but be advised that there may be some restrictions like altitude limits and if you require the use of ropes. Climbing insurance might be a bit harder to find as most insurers are unable to cover outdoor climbing and only a select few cover for indoor climbing with the use of a harness. Always check with your insurer when arranging the policy to find out if they cover for this and if they have certain restrictions. For further details on this have a look at our climbing guide.

Am I covered if I take part in a race or competitive event?

Generally not. Most travel insurers exclude competitive events where you’re racing against the clock or against other competitors, particularly if prize money or formal recognition is on the line. Participating in the same activity casually or as an amateur is a different story though and might be covered depending on the specifics – check with the insurer of whatever policy you’re considering directly if you’re not sure which category your event falls into. And check out our competitive sports travel insurance guide for more information.

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Disclaimer

This guide is general information only. Always read the Product Disclosure Statement and TMD to understand the Terms, Limits & Exclusions and decide if the product is right for you.

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