Accessible travel in Australia: ideas and checks before you go
Accessible Australia – let’s go somewhere!
By Nick Warren · Originally published 5 January 2021
How participants can check an outing against their access needs
Choose the places that interest you, then ask about the route, toilets, equipment and assistance you need. Confirm whether beach matting, chairs or other facilities will be available on the day. Keep a practical alternative if conditions change.
For Victorian TrailRiders, Parks Victoria’s current guidance explains advance booking, inducted operators and trail suitability. Equipment availability is not permission to use every trail.
Original article and dated context
Written by Nick Warren. Nick is a marketing professional with a background in pharmacology, oncology, disability and project management. Nick is passionate about disability access and inclusion, and works as the Marketing Manager at Solve Disability Solutions (Victoria) and serves on the Board of Directors at Accessible Beaches Australia – making Australia’s beaches and waterways more accessible.
As the summer season is officially underway, many people are keen to organise holidays, day trips and basically anything to get out of the house. Following last year’s catastrophic bushfire season, the ever-present health crisis of the global pandemic has interrupted life as we knew it, shifting our (international) travel plans to the domestic landscape. The good news – this is Australia and there is plenty to see and do, particularly for people with disability.
If you are a person with disability, travel and accommodation can be a major source of travel anxiety – until now!
To help get your summer season in motion we have handpicked a few resources with plenty of options, whether you’re looking for local and free, keen for something cheap and cheerful, or wanting to dive into more exotic accessible destinations.
Where to go?
If the foreshore is calling your name, visit Accessible Beaches Australia’s free online accessible beach directory. Here you will find accessibility details, images and videos of over 40 accessible beaches with everything from accessible car parks, toilets, cafes, as well as beach matting, beach walkers and chairs across over 35K km of Australia’s scenic coastline including:
- New South Wales with half a dozen accessible beaches from Bondi to Ballina
- Queensland with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, now leading the way for beach accessibility in Australia with the largest number of accessible pathways
- South Australia with 7 accessible beaches, 5 in Adelaide alone
- Victoria with Australia's longest stretch of accessible beach matting and a total of 10 accessible beaches across the state including accessible webcam that livestreams every day. Check outMt Martha’s accessible beach cam here.
- Western Australia with an impressive 8 beaches filled with accessibility features including beach matting and WA’s signature Beach Trekkers rolling up WA’s stunning coastline.
Look before your leap
In addition to the information and images on the Accessible Beaches website, you can take a sneak peak at the current and forecasted beach conditions by visiting www.coastalwatch.com and choose from over 100 beaches to view local streaming surf cams and surf reports from Australia's largest network of livestreaming beach cameras.
If the surf is your thing, connect with the Disabled Surfers Australia (DSA). Uniquely Australian, the DSA is setting world's best practice for the sport of Disabled Surfing and provides a series of events and activities for people with disability.
“From asthmatics to joint injuries to paraplegic, many members have found friendship, support and have renewed their interest in surfing.” - DSA
Park it…in Victoria!
If dry land is more your speed – head to one of Australia’s beautiful and accessible park ranges.
Surrounding Australia’s most accessible city (Melbourne), Parks Victoria offers a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around Victoria. Enjoy Victoria's first all-accessible floating pontoon and canoe launcher at the Psyche Bend in Kings Billabong in Mildura, or link up to the free electric hoist at the Patterson River boat ramps – assisting wheelchair users to transfer safely in and out of boats.
Parks also offer modified accommodation and accessibility equipment to make it easier for people with a disability, families and carers to stay and enjoy the spectacular natural beauty.
You can even book a TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair, allowing visitors with limited mobility to access more rugged walking trails with friends, family, and carers.
TIP: Assistance dogs are also welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Some entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.
Beyond mobility, Parks Victoria also offer social script resources for children on the autism spectrum in multiple locations including Brimbank Park, Buchan Caves, Jells Park, Serendip Sanctuary and Wilsons Prom.
Know before you go! Find out more about accessibility at parks around Australia:
- ACT: www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a-park
- NSW: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/access-friendly
- NT: www.northernterritory.com/plan/useful-information/accessibility
- QLD: www.parks.des.qld.gov.au/before-you-visit/park-accessibility
- SA: www.parks.sa.gov.au/know-before-you-go/accessibility
- TAS: www.parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/know-before-you-go/access-friendly
- VIC: www.parks.vic.gov.au/get-into-nature/all-abilities-access
- WA: www.parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/connect/accessibility
Where to stay?
If you’re looking to stay beyond a day trip, we have a few options to help you find an accessible accommodation that’s right for you, and within your budget.
Accessible Accommodation (the name says it all, really) is a free online resource offering a selection of over 130 locations and over 700 holiday, respite, and short-term room options in Australia for people with disability. From apartments to resorts, to houseboats and accessible glamping, even farm stays and wineries – there is something for everyone!
Accessible Accommodations is staffed by people with disability and caters to all levels of disability from accessible walking, independent wheelchair-users, and assisted wheelchair-users. Browse through the plethora of options, images, videos, and features on the accessible website with rooms ranging from $120 to $700/night. You can also take advantage of substantial discounts for stays over a week.
With most properties offering no-fee COVID and bushfire cancellation policies, you can rest assured if you need to change your plans, you can cancel or change as needed.
[Clickability update, October 2026: These cancellation terms and prices belong to the original guide. Obtain current written booking conditions; accessibility descriptions do not guarantee every room suits your requirements.]
Accessible Accommodations was designed to provide clear and verified information, so you know exactly what is provided in terms of accessibility, with exceptionally detailed information for every property. You’ll feel secure knowing what you see is exactly what to expect on arrival.
Each property is also categorised to make it easier for you to find a place that is just right for you including:
- Over 50 questions and answers to your most pressing questions
- Helpful photos especially bathrooms
- Video tours
- And more!
If you are concerned about summer availability, check out the last-minute availability on the Gold Coast with multiple accessible beaches less than 10km from your holiday accommodation.
Can I afford it?
Even at the local and domestic level, travel is not affordable for everyone.
If you require the assistance of a carer when you travel, there are disability assistance concessions available for your carer when flying Qantas, with the Qantas Carer Card or Virgin Australia offering Disability Assistant Concession fare at a 50% discount, which is applied to the base fare of all fare types including business class.
[Clickability update, October 2026: Concessions depend on the airline’s current eligibility, fare and booking rules. Do not assume the historical discount applies to your whole fare or every booking. Check current airline assistance information.]
People with disability and their carers can apply for cards, concessions, and discounts to allow you to pay less for a range of travel services and products. Find more information about state and national schemes at Carers Gateway.
You may also be able to access funding for your travel plans through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The scheme, which finished rolling out across Australia in 2019, provides people with disability with supports that meet their needs and allow them to live the life they choose. The key is making sure your goals are stipulated clearly in your NDIS so you receive the ‘reasonable and necessary’ support you need.
This means you may be able to include supports in your NDIS plan. You may see some of the following words on your NDIS support plan:
- Assistance with personal activities
- Social and community participation
- Development of daily life skills
- Assistance with travel and transport
- Group-based community, social and recreational activities
If simply going on holiday is one of the goals set out in your NDIS plan, the NDIS may or may not fund the supports needed for your trip so be sure your travel plans come back to your overarching goals such as the examples listed above.
[Clickability update, October 2026: A stated goal does not make holiday costs eligible. Check current NDIS support rules and the actual assistance in your plan; ordinary holiday accommodation and travel costs are separate.]
Whether you’re looking to take a trip to a local park, a visit to the beach or just rolling across state lines – Australia is calling. So, pick up and go somewhere!
Don’t forget to pack your mask and sanitiser!
Other helpful resources
Discounts: People with disability and their carers can apply for cards, concessions and discounts to allow you to pay less for a range of travel services and products at https://www.carergateway.gov.au/financial-help/cards-concessions
Funding / NDIS: The NDIS has resources regarding travel funding at https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/creating-your-plan/plan-budget-and-rules/transport-funding
Lived Experience: Read about Stacey’s travel experience from our blog, How the NDIS supported me to travel
Clickability editorial update: October 2026
Agree the help and rest arrangements before setting off
With permission, help confirm equipment, transport and booking terms. Discuss the assistance each person can provide safely and willingly rather than treating a day trip as an obligation to manage every access barrier. Check cancellation and alternative arrangements as well as the destination.
Questions readers ask
Does listing a holiday goal make holiday costs NDIS-funded?
No. Check eligible supports and your plan separately from ordinary holiday expenses. Official guidance
Can I assume a TrailRider is available on arrival?
No. Check bookings, suitable routes and operator requirements. Official guidance
Find support for the activities you want to take part in
Describe your disability-related assistance needs through Clickability. Compare reviewed and rated providers and confirm service arrangements and funding eligibility directly.