Travel for free in Australia?

In the hope of kick-starting the nation’s economy after the coronavirus-fuelled recession, state and territory governments are offering what is essentially free cash – with conditions – to encourage people to get out and about again.  Here we answer all those questions, state by state, based on information from government websites.

Victoria

Business Victoria is offering a Regional Travel Voucher Scheme that covers accommodation, sightseeing entry fees (such as galleries or museums) and tours in regional Victoria, the Yarra Ranges and Mornington Peninsula. A similar scheme, for Melbourne, is forthcoming.

How much is this voucher worth?

Each voucher gives you the right to claim a maximum reimbursement of $200, but only if you spend at least $400 on accommodation, sightseeing or tours in regional Victoria.

Who is eligible? 

You must be a Victorian resident and over 18 years of age to apply. Each household is limited to one voucher. To receive the $200 reimbursement, you must travel during the eligible travel periods. The first two rounds have now closed, but round three will open on 30 March at 10am.

Upcoming round:

Round three: 6 April 2021 to 31 May 2021

You must also provide evidence that you have spent at least two nights in paid accommodation.

When can I get it?

The first round of vouchers was released on 11 December at 10am, and vouchers are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Vouchers for the first two rounds were very quickly exhausted, so it pays (literally) to set a reminder for the final round.

A Melbourne travel voucher scheme has also been announced, with more details to come.

How can I get it? 

Register online to try to get a voucher. If your application is accepted then you are free to travel – just make sure you save your receipts. After your trip, they’ll send you a link where you can redeem your voucher by showing you spent $400 during your stay. Around 10 days later, the money will be in your account.

New South Wales

Dine and Discover NSW is a pack of four vouchers, two to be spent on hospitality and two to be spent on cultural experiences.

How much is this voucher worth?

Each eligible person will receive four $25 vouchers. The vouchers cannot be combined and each voucher can only be used once (so try to use as much of the $25 each time!).

When can I get it?

A full rollout is expected in March 2021, but the Service NSW app advises the vouchers are still “getting ready to launch”.

Where can I use these vouchers?

Two of the four vouchers can be used for eating at restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays.

Two can be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues – any day of the week, excluding public holidays. Businesses interested in participating in the program are being encouraged to register their interest.

The vouchers cannot be used for retail, tobacco, alcohol, gambling and accommodation.

Who is eligible?

Right now the program is being trialled in The Rocks and Broken Hill and participation is by invitation only. When the scheme is in full flight, any NSW resident aged 18 or over can participate.

How can I get it?

You’ll have to create a MyServiceNSW account to participate in the scheme. You can do this online or through the Service NSW app. Unlike some of the other voucher programs, Dine and Discover has not indicated it will be capping the number of vouchers given out.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has entered its third round for the Territory Tourism Voucher scheme. Each person can claim one voucher on accommodation and various activities and experiences in the Northern Territory, and make one bonus claim if they’ve travelled a long distance to use their voucher.

How much is this voucher worth?

It is worth up to $200 and is a dollar-for-dollar investment, so you’ll need to spend the same amount as the voucher covers. The optional bonus claim is a reimbursement of up to $200 when you book something more than 400km from your permanent residence.

Who is eligible?

All Northern Territory residents over 18 are eligible to apply, but there are limited vouchers so you’ll have to get in quickly.

When can I get it?

Round three is currently open, and while the first allocation of vouchers has been exhausted, Tourism NT says more will be released in future.

How can I get it?

Join the waitlist by registering on NT’s Territory Tourism page. Once approved, fill in the online registration form. If your registration is successful, your vouchers will arrive within seven days and you can then use the codes to book online or in store at a Visitor Information Centre.

To redeem the bonus claim, you will need to apply online and provide full contact details including your voucher number, booking confirmation, proof of residency and bank details.