Work out how many pads or spare pairs of underwear to pack, what to keep in your carry-on and where to find public toilets in Australia.
Weekend away, family holiday or long-haul flight, a little planning goes a long way. Incontinence shouldn't stop you getting out and about. Here's how to pack, sleep, swim and travel with confidence.
Start with your usual routine and plan around the parts of the journey when a change or toilet stop may be difficult.
Never pack all your products in checked luggage. If a bag is lost or delayed, you're stuck.
Skipping drinks to avoid leaks backfires. Concentrated urine can irritate the bladder and trigger urgency, and dehydration plus long hours sitting can lead to constipation.
The rule: keep sipping water. Go easy on coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and alcohol before and during long trips. If your doctor has given you a fluid plan, follow that.
For advice on packing supplies and arranging a seat near a toilet, see Continence Health Australia’s travel guide.
Our team's go-to for hotels, holiday rentals and staying with family. It packs flat and keeps the bedding dry.
For the journey, compare disposable incontinence pants and washable continence products. For a night away, see bed pads and mattress protectors. Choose a trip type below to narrow the list.
Night n Day x DACKSWomen's DACKS HipsterEveryday cotton underwear with built-in absorbency for light leaks.View product
Night n Day x DACKSMen's DACKS TrunkLooks like a regular trunk, with built-in protection for light leaks.View product
Night n DaySmall Waterproof Wet BagYour grab-and-go pouch: a fresh product, wipes and room for used items.View product
MicroshieldMicroshield Hand Wipes (15)Pocket-sized clean hands, anywhere.View product
EgoEgo Aqium Hand Sanitiser 60mLTravel size and cabin-bag friendly.View product
Night n DayFitted Waterproof Bed SheetThin, quiet and light to pack. Fits over the hotel mattress.View product
Night n DayBed Pad with WingsAbsorbent and waterproof, with wings that tuck in to stay put.View product
Night n DayReusable Booster PadsAdd absorbency inside washable pants. Not waterproof on their own.View product
Night n DayKids' Sleepover PantWashable overnight protection for sleepovers and camps.View product
Night n DayLarge Waterproof Wet BagSeals away used washables and wet swimmers until laundry day.View product
Night n DayAdult's Incontinence Swim ShortsContainment swimwear with a waterproof inner catcher.View product
QVQV Face Day Moisturiser SPF30Daily face moisturiser with sun protection.View product
Soft organic cotton underwear that looks and feels like everyday undies, right down to the branded waistband, with built-in absorbency for light bladder leaks. Ideal for sightseeing and travel days. No one would know a thing.
Multiply your usual daily supply by the number of days away, then add enough for possible delays. If you use four pads a day, a seven-day trip plus two spare days comes to 36 pads. Adjust the figures below and print your checklist.
Incontinence swimwear is containment swimwear. Night n Day swim shorts look like regular boardshorts, with a built-in pad and a waterproof inner catcher designed for bladder and bowel leaks. Water can get inside the pant, but the catcher is designed to keep contents in. Waterproof, not water resistant.
Cancer Council Australia's five SunSmart steps. Use all five whenever the UV index is 3 or above.
Slip on clothing that covers as much skin as possible. Look for a high UPF rating, like a long-sleeve rash vest over swimwear.
Slop on SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen 20 minutes before going out. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming or towel drying.
Slap on a broad-brimmed, bucket or legionnaire hat that shades your face, neck and ears. Caps don't cover enough.
Seek shade from trees, umbrellas or shelters. UV still reflects off water and sand, so use shade with the other steps.
Slide on close-fitting, wraparound sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard.
Source: Cancer Council Australia, five SunSmart steps. Check daily UV levels in the free SunSmart Global UV app.
Search a suburb or postcode, or use your location to see nearby public toilets. Tap a pin for details and directions.
Search a place or use your location to load nearby toilets.
Toilet locations from OpenStreetMap contributors. Details can change, so check opening hours on the day. For the most complete Australian listings, including MLAK access, showers and Changing Places, use the official National Public Toilet Map.
The Australian Government's map of public toilets, with opening hours, accessibility, parking, MLAK access and showers. On iPhone and Android.
toiletmap.gov.au →Find public toilets in cities around the world when you're travelling overseas.
Search "Flush Toilet Finder" in your app storeOpens many locked accessible toilets and Changing Places. For people with a disability or medical need. Not every facility uses MLAK, and some keep set hours.
masterlocksmiths.com.au → Toilet access cardFor Crohn's & Colitis Australia members with a formal diagnosis. Show it to ask for urgent toilet access at participating businesses.
crohnsandcolitis.org.au → Airports and eventsLets staff know you may need extra time or support. Available at many Australian airports.
hdsunflower.com →Many men's public toilets still don't have a bin for used pads. BINS4Blokes, a Continence Health Australia campaign, is calling on councils, shopping centres and stadiums to install at least one bin in every male public toilet.
*Continence Health Australia.
Plan ahead. Pack more products than you normally use, keep your travel-day supply plus 24 to 48 hours extra in your carry-on, plan toilet stops along your route, wear easy-off clothes and keep drinking water. A small pouch with a spare product, wipes, spare underwear and a wet bag makes quick changes easier. Build your packing list →
Yes. Pads, pull-ups and washable underwear can go in your carry-on. Creams, gels and sanitiser follow liquid limits on international flights, so pack travel sizes. When travelling overseas, keep continence products and medicines in their original packaging, and ask your airline about extra luggage allowance if you need more space for supplies.
Multiply the products you use each day by the number of days away, then add 24 to 48 hours extra in case of delays. Keep enough for travel day and the delay buffer in your carry-on. Use the packing calculator →
Use the free National Public Toilet Map website or app, which lists public toilets Australia-wide with opening hours and accessibility details. You can also search the toilet map on this page. Check opening hours before you rely on a stop. Open the toilet map →
An MLAK (Master Locksmiths Access Key) opens many locked accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities. It's available to people with a disability or medical need, usually with supporting documentation. Not every facility uses MLAK locks and some keep set hours, so it doesn't guarantee access everywhere. MLAK details →
Yes, with containment swimwear. Night n Day incontinence swim shorts have a built-in pad and waterproof inner catcher designed for bladder and bowel leaks. Water can get inside the pant, but the catcher is designed to keep contents in. Change into swimwear just before you swim and check the pool's swimwear rules. Check how to measure for incontinence swimwear or browse swimwear.
Fit a waterproof sheet over the mattress, lay a hotel towel on top, and add a bed pad with wings tucked in at the sides. If there's a leak, the sheet wipes clean and the towel goes in the wash, so the hotel bedding stays dry. See our team's tip →
No. Cutting back makes urine more concentrated, which can irritate the bladder and add to urgency, and it can contribute to constipation. Keep sipping water and go easy on caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks. If your doctor has given you a fluid plan, follow that.
Seal used products in a disposal bag or wet bag and bin them at the next opportunity. Never flush pads or pull-ups. Men can support BINS4Blokes to get more bins in male toilets.
Start with the products you use comfortably at home. If you take washables, check whether your accommodation has a washing machine and space to dry them, then pack enough clean pairs to last between washes. For a long flight or a stay without laundry facilities, disposables can make changes easier. Keep spare supplies and a disposal bag or wet bag in your carry-on. Build your packing checklist.
Rinse in cold water, store in a wet bag until you can wash them, then hang to dry. Many hotels and caravan parks have laundries. Pack enough so you're not washing every day.
In an emergency in Australia, call 000.
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General information only. It supports, but does not replace, advice from your GP or continence nurse. Third-party apps, maps and services are listed for convenience and are not run by IncontinenceProducts.com.au. Product details are supplied by manufacturers.
