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Avoid a $220 fine in Australia: here’s what you can’t do when crossing the street
From jaywalking to feeding koalas, these six Australian laws often catch travelers off guard. Find out what’s illegal and how much you could be fined.
When you think of Australia, you likely picture barbeques, lazy beach days, and a super relaxed vibe. You probably wouldn’t expect to get fined for doing something as simple as crossing the road.
Yet Australia’s Jaywalking rule is one of the biggest surprises for travelers in the land down under. And that’s not the only Australian law you need to be aware of.
This article reveals six real and enforced regulations with on-the-spot penalties that catch thousands of visitors off guard each year. By knowing about these laws ahead of your trip, you can focus on having that awesome Aussie experience you’ve always dreamed of.
| Law | What catches visitors out | Typical penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Jaywalking | Crossing against the light or near a crossing | Around $50 to $220 |
| Public drinking | Alcohol in a signed alcohol-free zone | On-the-spot fine, drink seized |
| Swimming outside the flags | Swimming beyond the patrolled zone | Fine plus safety risk |
| Feeding wildlife | Feeding dingoes or quokkas | Fine into the thousands |
| No e-scooter helmet | Riding without a helmet | On-the-spot fine |
| Littering | Dropping rubbish in public places | State-issued fine |
Crossing the road wherever you like can become costly
In your home country, you might cross the road whenever you see it’s clear. But if you did this in Australia, and you were within 20 meters of a pedestrian crossing or traffic lights, you could be fined.
Crossing the road without using pedestrian crossings or lights when you’re close to them is known as jaywalking. This also includes crossing at the lights when it’s still red (even if the road is clear), or crossing once it’s started flashing red.
This doesn’t mean you can only cross on a pedestrian crossing. If there isn’t one nearby, you can absolutely cross wherever and whenever it is safe to do so. But purposely not using the designated crossings nearby is a fineable offense.
If caught jaywalking, you could be hit with an on-the-spot fine, ranging from $50 to $220 AUD depending on the state you’re in. If you don’t pay and it goes to court, you could end up paying around $2000 AUD out of pocket.
Police in big cities like Sydney and Melbourne actively enforce this law, so it’s not worth the risk. Since jaywalking is also against the law in the USA, Europeans and Brits are most likely to get caught out with this one.
Cracking open a beer in the park could earn you a fine
Many backpackers and solo travelers in Australia assume that drinking alcohol on the beach is totally normal and legal. But the truth is, many public spaces (including beaches, parks, and streets) are designated alcohol-free zones.
Each local council sets its own rules, but many beaches in the popular Australian holiday destinations are alcohol-free. For example:
- Sydney has a 24/7 alcohol ban on Bondi Beach.
- Melbourne enforces an alcohol ban on St Kilda beach during the peak summer months (November to March). It is also banned from 8 PM to 12 PM daily the rest of the year.
Most alcohol-free public spaces have clear signage detailing the rules. Some picnic areas in parks may allow alcohol, but the signs will state that.
Penalties for ignoring the law vary by state. You might get a warning at first, then be fined and have your drink seized if you continue.
Swim outside the flags and you risk more than a telling-off
Most travelers know lifeguards patrol Australian beaches, but many don’t realize they can only swim between the flags.
On a lifeguarded beach, red and yellow flags mark the designated swimming zone. If you swim outside these flags, the lifeguards will whistle to signal to you to stop. Continuously ignoring the lifeguards could result in a fine.
This rule exists to keep people safe and prevent drownings. The flags are purposely placed away from rip currents, marking the safest place to swim. By ignoring the flags and swimming elsewhere, you put yourself in danger of getting swept up in a current.
If there are only red flags on the beach, swimming is completely prohibited because conditions are too dangerous.
Feeding wildlife can cost you thousands, not a slap on the wrist
From cute koalas to hopping roos, the native animals are one of the most loved things about Australia. But while they may look cute and cuddly, you should avoid approaching them.
While trying to touch a wild animal could result in you being physically harmed, feeding one could result in a fine. Whether it’s dingoes on Fraser Island, quokkas in Western Australia, or penguins in Victoria, feeding wild animals is usually prohibited.
If you get caught feeding animals in a national park or protected area, you could get fined up to a few thousand dollars.
This law is in place to protect the animals because human food can make them sick. In addition, feeding wild animals can change their behavior. As they become more reliant on humans, problems like crowding, property damage, and aggression can occur.
Helmets, e-scooters and littering: The small rules with real fines
Some major Australian cities, like Brisbane and Perth, have e-scooter rental services. Because of this, electric scooters are a popular way for tourists to explore the city, but what most don’t realize is that the law requires you to wear a helmet while using one.
Police strictly enforce this helmet law and actively stop and fine riders without one. Fines vary widely by state, from $50 to over $500 (Queensland just increased their penalty to $518).
Littering on beaches, in parks, and on streets is another fineable offense in Australia that often catches tourists out. Each state creates its own waste laws, so penalties range from a couple of hundred for food packaging to over one thousand for dangerous material like a lit cigarette.
Brush up on these Australia laws before you go
A fine is not an Australian souvenir you want to be taking home with you. So before you start your trip, research the laws of the cities and states you plan to visit. Just as regulations differ between states, so do the penalties and fine amounts.
Once you’re in Australia, refer to local signage, since many of these rules are clearly marked in the impacted areas. If in doubt, ask the locals.
Australia is not the only place where everyday habits can carry surprising fines. If you’re planning an extended, multi-country adventure, read up on the most common fines that tourists get abroad.
Stay connected across Australia with Holafly
Exploring Australia means long drives between cities, remote coastlines, and national parks where a quick check of the local rules can save you a fine. A eSIM for Australia keeps you online the moment you land, with unlimited data, 5G speeds, and 24/7 customer support, so you can look up an alcohol-free zone or find the patrolled beach before you get caught out.
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Hi, I'm Mika, a South Korean writer living in the US. I cover travel and live events, focusing on the practical stuff that makes your trip smoother, whether you're navigating a new city or heading to a major international event.I'm also the founder of Search SEOul, South Korea's leading SEO conference, bringing together search marketing experts and speakers from around the world.
