If you’re planning to visit Australia in 2025 and are worried about safety, you’re not the only one.
Australia is a large country, and safety can vary depending on the city. While some areas might have higher crime rates, many Australian cities are safe and welcoming for tourists.
In this article, we’ll look at the most dangerous and safest cities in Australia, share safety tips for travelers, and explain what makes a city safer than others. Ready to plan a safe trip to Australia? Start by reading!
Picture by David Jia on Pexels
When exploring the most dangerous cities in Australia, it’s important to keep safety in mind.
One way to ensure you’re prepared is by using a Yoho Mobile eSIM. This lets you access real-time local information and stay connected with loved ones or emergency services without needing Wi-Fi.
Stay informed and secure as you navigate through Australia’s riskier areas.
Why Are Some Places More Dangerous Than Others in Australia?
Australia is a beautiful country, but some places have serious crime issues. Let’s look at what makes certain Australian areas dangerous, including social issues that contribute to it.
But spoiler alert: most of Australia is still very safe for both residents and visitors.
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High Crime Rates: What’s Happening in Australia?
Some cities in Australia have high crime rates. For instance, Alice Springs has the highest crime rate, with 70.35 crimes per 100,000 people. Other cities like Darwin, Cairns, and Rockhampton also experience high crime levels.
Why is this happening? Common causes include drug and alcohol abuse, youth crime, and poverty. Violence is more common in nightlife areas, and business districts in cities like Perth and Adelaide also see higher crime levels.
Violent Crime Surge: Why It’s Rising
Violent crimes in Australia, like murder, assault, sexual offenses, robbery, and family violence, have gone up in recent years. In 2023, there were 409 murder victims, 5% more than in 2022. By mid-2024, crime in Victoria had risen by 10.7%, with family violence incidents reaching a record high.
Experts say this rise is due to drug and alcohol use, youth crime, and financial struggles. Young adults (18-24 years old) are the most likely to commit crimes.
However, even though crime rates have gone up in some parts of Australia recently, the overall crime rate has been going down since 2020. In some states, like New South Wales (NSW), certain types of crimes have dropped considerably.
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Property Crimes: Theft on the Rise
Property crimes in Australia, such as theft, burglary, and car theft, have been increasing recently. In Victoria, theft went up by 17% by March 2024, with nearly 9,300 more stolen cars. In the year up to June 2024, Victoria Police reported over 552,000 crimes, which is a 9.1% increase from the year before. A survey in June 2024 found that 9% of Australians had been victims of property crime in the past year.
These trends show that property crimes are becoming more common in Australia, and the rising cost of living might be making this problem worse.
Youth Crime & Drugs: A Bigger Problem
In Australia, youth crime and drug use remain serious issues. Recently, youth crime went up by 6%, with more than 48,000 young people (ages 10-17) involved in criminal activities. While the number of teens using drugs has dropped since 2001, about 10% of 14-17-year-olds still tried illegal drugs in the past year. The most commonly used drug is cannabis, with 16% of teens reporting they’ve used it.
This means that these issues affect people in various communities and need continuous efforts from both the government and the public to address and solve them.
Poverty & Crime: The Hidden Link
Poverty and crime are closely related in Australia. Studies show that people living in poorer neighborhoods are more likely to commit crimes. In fact, half of all prisoners come from just 6% of the country’s suburbs, which are mostly low-income areas.
Factors like unemployment, low levels of education, and drug use contribute to the crime problem. A survey also found that many Australians believe poverty and lack of jobs are the main causes of crime.
When people are having a hard time financially, they might turn to crime as a way to survive or deal with their situation. Getting involved in crime can cause bigger problems, like getting a criminal record or going to prison, which makes it much harder to find a stable job. This creates a harmful loop where poverty and crime keep reinforcing each other, making it hard for people to escape either one.
Policing Gaps: Why Safety Is At Risk
In Australia, there are some issues with how law enforcement works, which can affect people’s safety.
One problem is racial profiling, where Aboriginal communities are unfairly singled out or treated differently because of their race or background. For example, in 2022-23, a very high percentage (71.8%) of young people on police watchlists were Aboriginal, which shows they were being disproportionately watched or investigated compared to other groups. This is seen as unfair and discriminatory.
Another issue is the slow response times by the police. For instance, the police in New South Wales promised to answer emergency calls in 12 minutes, but they only managed to do so about 74% of the time.
These problems can cause some groups of people to be treated unfairly and can slow down how quickly people get help when there’s an emergency.
Cultural Issues: Fueling Crime Waves
In simple terms, cultural issues in Australia, like the historical struggles faced by Indigenous Australians and the social challenges experienced by migrants, can contribute to higher crime rates.
Indigenous Australians, for example, make up a large portion of the prison population despite being a small part of the overall population. This is partly due to the lasting effects of land loss, poverty, and other historical factors. Some migrant groups also show higher crime rates compared to the general population.
Because of these challenges, these communities are at a higher risk of getting involved in crime.
Tourism and Crime: Are You Safe?
Tourism and crime in Australia are interconnected, but don’t be alarmed—the country is still very safe for visitors. In fact, Australia is considered one of the 25 safest countries in the world. The chance of a tourist being murdered is extremely low, with just 0.9 deaths per million visitors.
The most common risks for tourists, however, are petty theft, scams, and drowning. So, stay alert in crowded areas and around water. There’s also a risk of car break-ins or thefts from hostels. But if you stay smart, follow local advice, and take basic safety precautions, you can reduce the chances of this happening.
Government Action: Is Enough Being Done?
The Australian government is working to reduce crime in different ways. For example, Victoria spent over $30 million in 2024 on programs to prevent crime. From 2016 to 2020, the Australian Capital Territory aimed to reduce burglary and car theft, while in 2022-23, New South Wales police aimed to respond to urgent calls within 12 minutes but only met this goal 73.9% of the time.
However, despite their efforts, some areas still have problems, showing that policing still needs to get better.
The Most Dangerous Cities in Australia
Australia is known for its laid-back lifestyle and beautiful landscapes, but some cities face higher crime rates than others. Let’s take a look at which areas are considered the most dangerous in Australia:
Before we start, you might also want to check out our guide to America’s most dangerous places, including Florida.
Alice Springs (Northern Territory)
Alice Springs, a town in Australia, has a reputation for high crime rates. In mid-2024, it was ranked the 18th most dangerous city in the world, with a crime score of 72.1. The town has seen an increase in crimes like assaults, burglaries, and property damage. For example, in November 2024 alone, there were 191 assaults and 166 break-ins.
Alice Springs has a higher crime rate compared to other cities in Australia. To address this, the government has introduced measures like alcohol restrictions and more police presence. Despite these efforts, crime remains a serious issue for the people living there.
Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash
Rockhampton (Queensland)
Rockhampton, located in Queensland, has a high crime rate, making it one of the more dangerous places in Australia. With a crime index of 67.62, it ranks safer than only 23% of other cities in the country. In 2022, there were 16,704 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is a 16% increase from the year before. This means crime is rising in the city.
Theft is the most frequent crime, with 2,836 cases reported in 2023. People in Rockhampton are more likely to become victims of crime compared to most places in Queensland. For every seven people, one person is expected to experience a crime, whereas the average in Queensland is 1 in 16. Rockhampton City has the highest crime rate, with 112,635 crimes happening for every 100,000 people living there.
RegionalQueenslander, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Townsville (Queensland)
Townsville, in Queensland, is one of the worst cities to visit in Australia. It has a crime score of 86 out of 100, where 100 represents the worst level of crime. In 2023, almost 30,000 crimes occurred, and theft was the most frequent type of crime.
Basically, Townsville has a much higher rate of violent crime compared to other areas in Queensland. If you’re in Townsville, your chances of being a victim of violent crime are 1 in 54, while in the rest of Queensland, it’s only 1 in 131. Violent crime in the city increased by more than 11% from 2022 to 2023, and the Townsville City area has the highest crime rate overall.
Photo by Steve Davison on Unsplash
Cairns (Queensland)
Cairns, a city in Queensland, is considered one of the more dangerous places in Australia. In fact, it’s safer than only 18% of other areas in the country, meaning it has higher crime rates compared to most other places in Australia.
In 2022, Cairns had 15,656 crimes for every 100,000 people, which was 19% higher than the year before. People in Cairns were more likely to experience crime compared to the average in Queensland. Specifically, the chance of becoming a crime victim in Cairns was 1 in 7.
Theft is the most common crime, with 6,413 cases reported in 2023. The suburb of Cairns City had the highest crime rate, with 128,121 incidents for every 100,000 people living there. This shows that crime happens very frequently in Cairns compared to its population size.
Darwin (Northern Territory)
Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, is one of Australia’s most dangerous cities, with a crime score of 61.30. In 2023, the city saw over 2,000 assaults. From December 2022 to November 2023, there were 11,547 assaults, a 17.74% increase from the previous year. Domestic violence-related assaults went up by 21.45%. Property crimes are also a problem, with 3,557 house break-ins, a 17.94% increase. However, some progress has been made, as alcohol-related assaults dropped by 16% after new measures were introduced in 2018. The city is working to reduce crime and improve safety.
David Silva, CC BY-SA 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Geelong (Victoria)
Crime in Geelong, Victoria, has risen recently. In 2024, reported incidents increased by 11% from the previous year, reaching 16,855 cases. The crime rate was 5,849.4 per 100,000 people.
Theft is a major problem, with 5,261 cases reported in 2024. However, the most common crime is breaking family violence orders, which accounts for 14% of all crimes. Additionally, drug-related crimes increased by 18.8% between 2022 and 2023.
Although it may seem paradoxical, despite the increase in crime rates, Geelong remains safer than 63% of Australian areas. However, the likelihood of becoming a victim of violent crime in Geelong is 1 in 23, which is significantly higher than the Victoria average of 1 in 146.
Newcastle (New South Wales)
When it comes to safety, Newcastle isn’t the safest place; it ranks lower than 61% of other cities in New South Wales. If you’re in Newcastle, there’s a 1 in 17 chance of being a victim of crime, compared to a 1 in 20 chance in the whole of New South Wales.
Since June 2024, crime in Newcastle, New South Wales, has been going up. There have been more incidents of violence, with assaults rising by 3% and sexual assaults increasing by 8.2%. This means that more people are facing these types of crimes now than they were before.
Property crimes, like theft or vandalism, have also increased significantly. They’re about 50% more common in this area compared to the state average, which is worrying for people who live there.
Photo by Gilly Tanabose on Unsplash
Gold Coast (Queensland)
Crime on the Gold Coast in Queensland has been increasing. In 2024, there were 76.8 crimes for every 1,000 people, up by 6.2 since 2021.
Home break-ins are a big worry for residents, with the chance of property crime being 1 in 23, which is worse than the national average of 1 in 28. Assaults also rose by 15.02% from 2023, with 2,283 reported cases. Some areas like Ormeau, Upper Coomera, and Robina have higher theft rates.
On the positive side, police made over 500 arrests, and youth crime dropped by 6.7% in the 2023/24 year. The city is still working on improving safety.
Is Australia Safe?
Australia is generally a safe country, but some cities have higher crime rates than others. Alice Springs, for example, has a crime rate that ranks 18th in the world, with a high score of 72.1. Other cities like the Gold Coast and Melbourne also experience crimes like theft, assaults, and drug-related issues. Despite these problems, many cities in Australia still have lower crime rates compared to other cities around the world.
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Safest Cities in Australia in 2025
If you’re planning to visit Australia, here are some of the safest cities there in 2025:
- Canberra: Most secure with a high safety index (73.1) and low crime rate (26.9). It’s the capital city, has a population of about 472,000, and is very safe to walk around, day or night.
- Adelaide: Second safest with a safety index of 67.3 and crime rate of 32.7. It’s known for being affordable and having a nice environment.
- Hobart: Third with a safety index of 66.3 and crime rate of 33.7. It’s a peaceful city with low crime, especially theft and assault.
- Sydney Close behind, with a safety index of 65.8 and a crime rate of 34.2. While it’s a big city, crime is still relatively low, particularly for theft and robbery.
- Brisbane: Fifth safest with a safety index of 63.0 and crime rate of 37.0. Some areas like St Lucia are particularly safe, and it’s a secure city overall.
- Perth: Sixth with a safety index of 58.5. While there are some areas with higher crime, it’s still safer than many global cities.
- Melbourne: Seventh with a safety index of 56.4 and a higher crime rate of 43.6. Despite a rise in crime in 2024, it’s still considered safe for residents and travelers.
- Port Macquarie: It has a moderate crime rate (41.72) and safety index (58.28). It’s mostly safe during the day, though caution is needed at night, especially in some areas.
What These Cities Have in Common
The safest cities in Australia are places where crime is low and efforts are made to improve the quality of life for residents. These cities have common factors like good law enforcement, well-planned areas to live in, strong local communities, and programs that help stop crime before it happens.
Some of the factors that contribute to safety include:
- Low Violent Crime: These cities report fewer violent crimes like assaults and robberies, so people feel safe in their daily lives.
- Community Engagement: These cities focus on programs that bring people together and create a sense of shared responsibility. Neighborhood watch groups and cooperation between the police and residents help prevent crime.
- High Quality of Life: Safe cities offer good services, healthcare, and fun activities. This keeps people happy and involved in positive things.
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Practical Tips to Stay Safe in Australia’s Most Dangerous Cities
Here are practical tips to stay safe in Australia’s more dangerous cities, based on advice from online forums:
- Stay Alert at Night: Be aware of your surroundings, especially after dark.
- Lock Your Car Doors: Lock your car doors while driving, particularly in high-crime areas like Townsville.
- Avoid Isolated Areas: Avoid walking alone in dark, isolated areas or parks. Also, avoid bushland at dusk or dawn due to snakes and kangaroos (yes, they can be aggressive).
- Choose Safe Transport: Use reputable transportation options. In Sydney, take the train from the airport to your hotel or use Uber instead of taxis to avoid potential scams.
- Secure Your Valuables: Don’t leave items visible in your car, and be cautious with belongings in crowded areas.
- Watch for Scams and Pickpockets: Tourist-heavy spots like Circular Quay (Sydney) or Flinders Street Station (Melbourne) can have pickpockets.
- Stay Extra Cautious in High-Crime Areas: In cities like Alice Springs or Townsville with higher crime rates, be extra vigilant and avoid confrontations.
- Use Common Sense: Use common sense and take usual precautions, as you would in any unfamiliar place.
- Stay Connected with eSIM: Keep your phone handy in case of emergencies and for quick access to mobile data. This will help you contact family or emergency services when needed. Using Yoho Mobile eSIM is especially useful in Australia’s most dangerous places where safety could be a concern. Use the code YOHO12 at checkout for a 12% discount!
Even with these precautions, it’s important to remember that Australia is generally safer than many other countries. Most tourists have trouble-free trips as long as they follow basic safety guidelines.
Australian Crime FAQs: What to Know Before You Visit
What is the most dangerous place in Australia
Alice Springs in the Northern Territory is the most dangerous place in Australia, according to recent data. In mid-2024, it was ranked 18th on the list of the world’s most dangerous cities, with a crime index of 72.1. The city has experienced high rates of violent crimes and property offenses.
What’s Australia’s most dangerous region for wildlife?
Northern Australia is the most dangerous place for wildlife. This area is home to dangerous animals like box jellyfish, saltwater crocodiles, and highly venomous snakes such as the inland taipan. From October to May, the waters along the coast are particularly dangerous because of jellyfish.
If you’re planning to visit remote areas in Northern Australia, such as the Northern Territory and Queensland, it’s important to be very careful. These regions have a higher chance of encountering dangerous wildlife like jellyfish, crocodiles, and venomous snakes, so staying alert and prepared is key to staying safe.
Is Alice Springs the stab capital of the world
No, Alice Springs is not the “stab capital of the world.” While it has a high crime rate, particularly with violent crimes, including assaults, the label “stab capital” is an exaggeration. While it has been ranked among the more dangerous cities in the world, it’s not the top city for stabbing incidents.
Why is Darwin the most dangerous city in Australia?
Darwin is often thought of as the most dangerous city in Australia, but it’s not. Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, holds that title. Darwin does have crime, with issues like property theft, assaults, and drug problems. In 2023, there were over 2,000 assaults. However, crime has been dropping in some parts of the city since 2018. So, even though it’s not the safest city, it’s not as bad as some might believe.
Is Tennant Creek dangerous
Tennant Creek is considered the most dangerous town in the Northern Territory due to its high crime rate despite having a small population. In 2022-2023, there were 2,261 crimes reported. The town’s homicide rate was very high in 2017, almost twice that of the United States. The main causes of crime in the area include alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and high levels of sexual assault. Most of the crimes involve members of the local Aboriginal community, which makes the town a significant crime hotspot in Australia.
