The activities that Australian travellers love most — scuba diving in the Gili Islands, trekking Mount Rinjani, surfing in Lombok, skiing in Japan, riding scooters in Thailand — are precisely the activities that standard travel insurance policies most commonly exclude. This guide tells you exactly which activities require specialist coverage and which policies provide it.
For the full Australian travel insurance comparison, see our Complete Travel Insurance Guide for Australians. For Lombok-specific travel advice including Rinjani trekking, see our Lombok Travel Guide for Australians.
The Golden Rule: Always Check Your PDS
Every insurer defines "adventure activities" differently. The only definitive answer to "am I covered for X?" is in your Policy Disclosure Statement (PDS) — specifically the activities inclusion and exclusion lists. What one insurer calls "recreational diving" (covered), another calls "scuba diving" (excluded on base policy, covered on add-on). Read the specific terms for your specific activity before every trip.
Activity by Activity: What's Covered and What Isn't
Scuba Diving
| Policy | Coverage | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| World Nomads Standard | Yes | Up to 30m depth, with qualified guide or PADI certified |
| World Nomads Explorer | Yes | Up to 40m, includes technical diving |
| Cover-More Comprehensive | Yes | Recreational diving up to 30m, PADI certification required |
| 1Cover Standard | Yes | Recreational diving, qualified guide |
| SafetyWing Nomad | Yes | Recreational diving up to 30m |
| Budget Direct | Check PDS | Often excluded or requires add-on |
Most comprehensive Australian policies cover recreational scuba diving up to 30m with a qualified guide or PADI certification. Technical diving (beyond 30m, rebreathers, cave diving) requires specialist coverage — World Nomads Explorer is the most commonly used policy for technical divers.
Rinjani Trekking (Lombok)
Mount Rinjani (3,726m) is covered by most comprehensive policies as recreational trekking on marked trails. Key conditions:
- Must use a licensed guide (legally required by Indonesian authorities)
- Altitude limits: most policies cover trekking to 4,000–6,000m on marked trails — Rinjani's 3,726m summit is within standard coverage
- Emergency evacuation from Rinjani: helicopter evacuation in Lombok is limited — ground evacuation by porter to the nearest road is the standard emergency protocol. Your insurer's emergency assistance team should be notified immediately for any medical event on the mountain.
World Nomads Standard, Cover-More Comprehensive, and 1Cover all cover Rinjani trekking under standard recreational hiking provisions. Confirm altitude limits in your specific PDS.
Surfing
Recreational surfing is covered by virtually all comprehensive Australian policies — it's considered a standard water sport. What may not be covered:
- Professional or competition surfing
- Big wave surfing (some policies define this as a specific exclusion)
- Surfing while intoxicated (standard alcohol exclusion applies)
Lombok's surf breaks (Mawi, Gerupuk, Desert Point) are all covered under standard recreational surfing provisions on comprehensive policies.
Skiing and Snowboarding
This is where standard policies most commonly fall short. Most base policies exclude skiing and snowboarding — it requires either a specific snow sports add-on or a policy that includes it by default.
| Policy | Ski Cover Included? | Add-on Cost (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| World Nomads Explorer | Yes — included | N/A (part of Explorer tier) |
| World Nomads Standard | No | N/A — upgrade to Explorer |
| Cover-More Comprehensive | Add-on available | AUD $30–60 for 14 days |
| 1Cover Standard | Add-on available | AUD $25–50 for 14 days |
| SafetyWing Nomad | No — excluded | Not available |
Always add snow sports cover when purchasing your policy — not after you've booked ski accommodation, as insurers may refuse to add it once a ski booking is on record.
Motorbike and Scooter Riding
Standard conditions for motorbike/scooter coverage across all major Australian policies:
- Valid motorcycle licence (Australian licence or International Driving Permit with motorcycle endorsement)
- Helmet worn at all times
- Engine size limit (usually 125cc–250cc — check your specific policy)
- Pillion passengers covered on most policies if the same conditions are met
Without a valid licence: scooter accidents are excluded on every major Australian policy. This is the single most common cause of travel insurance claim rejection for Australians in Thailand and Bali.
White Water Rafting
Grade 1–3 rafting: covered by most comprehensive policies as recreational activity. Grade 4–5 rafting: often requires adventure activity cover or World Nomads Explorer tier. Always check the specific grading your activity falls into.
Rock Climbing
Indoor and guided outdoor climbing on marked routes: covered by World Nomads Standard and most comprehensive policies. Technical climbing, multi-pitch routes, and via ferrata: World Nomads Explorer recommended.
Paragliding and Skydiving
Tandem paragliding (as a passenger with a licensed pilot): covered by World Nomads Standard. Solo paragliding: World Nomads Explorer or specialist policy required. Tandem skydiving: covered by World Nomads Standard up to 4,500m. Solo skydiving: specialist policy required.
World Nomads vs Cover-More for Adventure Activities
| Activity | World Nomads Standard | World Nomads Explorer | Cover-More + Add-ons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scuba diving (recreational) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Surfing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Skiing/snowboarding | No | Yes | Yes (add-on) |
| Scooter (with licence) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rinjani trekking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Technical diving (30m+) | No | Yes | No |
| Tandem skydiving | Yes | Yes | Add-on |
| Bungee jumping | Yes | Yes | Add-on |
How to Buy — Step by Step
Buy your policy the same day you make your first trip booking — not the day before you fly. Cancellation coverage applies from the moment you purchase. If something happens between booking and departure (illness, airline collapse, family emergency), you are covered from day one. Waiting until departure day means you have no cancellation protection for that period.
For the full Australian travel insurance comparison including pricing for every provider, see our Complete Travel Insurance Comparison Guide for Australians. For Bali-specific coverage advice, see our Travel Insurance for Bali guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does travel insurance cover scuba diving in the Gili Islands?
Yes — recreational scuba diving up to 30m is covered by World Nomads Standard, Cover-More Comprehensive, 1Cover, and SafetyWing when diving with a qualified guide or as a PADI certified diver. Technical diving beyond 30m requires World Nomads Explorer or specialist coverage.
Is Rinjani trekking covered by standard travel insurance?
Yes — Mount Rinjani's 3,726m summit is within the altitude limits of most comprehensive Australian policies covering recreational trekking on marked trails. You must use a licensed guide (legally required) and the trek is covered under standard provisions by World Nomads, Cover-More, and 1Cover.
What's the best travel insurance for adventure activities from Australia?
World Nomads Explorer covers the widest range of adventure activities including skiing, technical diving, rock climbing, and paragliding in a single policy. For most Australian adventure travellers (scuba diving, surfing, trekking, scooter riding), World Nomads Standard or Cover-More Comprehensive with relevant add-ons provides adequate coverage at lower cost.
Am I covered for surfing on travel insurance?
Yes — recreational surfing is covered as a standard water sport on virtually all comprehensive Australian travel insurance policies. Exceptions include professional/competition surfing, big wave surfing at some insurers, and any incident occurring while intoxicated.
FastCover + Adventure Pack: FastCover's base Comprehensive policy covers standard recreational activities. The Adventure Pack add-on extends this to selected high-risk activities. The Snow Sports Plus policy is a standalone option for ski trips. The Motorcycle and Moped Add-On covers scooter riding with a valid licence. See our FastCover review for the full add-on breakdown.