Ticks aren’t spread evenly across Australia. New CSIRO research shows a handful of coastal regions, from Sydney’s Northern Beaches to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast hinterland, are carrying a far heavier tick burden than the rest of the country. If you live in one of them, your family’s risk of tick bites and tick-related allergies is significantly higher than average. Here’s where the hotspots are, why they exist, and what you can do about it.

What the CSIRO Research Found

In May 2026, CSIRO published new national data on mammalian meat allergy (MMA), a serious allergy to red meat and other mammal products that is triggered by tick bites. Because MMA is so closely linked to bites from the eastern paralysis tick, where it clusters tells us a lot about where people are being bitten most.

The findings were striking:

• The highest rates of MMA in Australia are on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, which CSIRO describes as a well-recognised hotspot.
• Some tick-prone regions now exceed 700 cases per 100,000 people.
• Reported cases nationally have been climbing by around 22% a year since 2020, according to CSIRO’s preliminary analysis.

The Hotspot Regions

CSIRO identified these regions as disproportionately affected compared with other parts of the coast:

• Northern Beaches, Sydney (NSW): the highest rates in the country.
• Sunshine Coast hinterland (QLD)
• Gold Coast hinterland (QLD)
• Northern Rivers (NSW)
• Shoalhaven and the South Coast (NSW)

More broadly, the eastern paralysis tick is found along the east coast from north Queensland, through New South Wales and down to northern Victoria. So even if your area isn’t on the hotspot list, ticks may still be living in your garden.

Why Some Suburbs Have So Many Ticks

The hotspot regions have a lot in common: a warm, humid coastal climate, and homes built right up against bushland, national parks and reserves. That bushland supports bandicoots, possums, wallabies and other native animals that carry ticks, and those animals move freely through suburban backyards.

Northern Beaches Council notes that ticks are common across the area, particularly in bushland, parks and gardens. Once ticks drop off a passing animal into leaf litter, long grass or a shady garden bed, your backyard becomes part of their habitat.

Northern Beaches and Northern Sydney: Ground Zero

For families on the Northern Beaches and the North Shore, the numbers confirm what many locals already know from experience: ticks are a fact of life here. Council advice says ticks are generally most active in the warmer months, between October and January, which means peak season is happening right now.

TickSafe specialises in this hotspot, treating gardens across Northern Sydney and the Northern Beaches every week. We currently service these suburbs:

• Allambie Heights
• Avalon
• Beacon Hill
• Belrose
• Bilgola
• Castle Cove
• Castlecrag
• Collaroy
• Cromer
• Curl Curl
• Dee Why
• Elanora Heights
• Forestville
• Frenchs Forest
• Killara
• Killarney Heights
• Lindfield
• Manly
• Mona Vale
• Mosman
• Narrabeen
• Narraweena
• Newport
• Northbridge
• Pymble
• St Ives
• Terrey Hills
• Turramurra
• Wahroonga
• Warriewood

Don’t see your suburb? Check our service areas or get in touch, because we may still be able to help.

What Living in a Hotspot Means for Your Family

More ticks means more bites, and in Australia, tick bites carry real health risks. Northern Beaches Council lists severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, tick paralysis, mammalian meat allergy and tick-borne infections such as Queensland tick typhus among the possible complications. Council also notes that nymph and adult ticks carry the highest allergy risk.

Pets are at risk too. Paralysis ticks can be fatal to dogs and cats, and pets that roam the garden can carry ticks indoors to the rest of the family. Read more in our guides to Australia’s tick allergy crisis and tick paralysis in pets.

How to Protect Your Home in a Tick Hotspot

Northern Beaches Council recommends a few simple garden habits to make your yard less tick-friendly:

• Keep lawns mowed short.
• Remove weeds and dead vegetation.
• Prune low-growing plants so light and air reach the ground.
• Use gravel mulch rather than wood chip or straw near paths and play areas.

When you’re outdoors, wear light-coloured long sleeves and pants, use a tropical-strength repellent, and check yourself, your kids and your pets carefully afterwards. If you do find a tick, don’t pull it out live. Kill it where it’s attached, as explained in our Freeze It, Don’t Squeeze It guide.

In a true hotspot, though, good garden habits only go so far, because native animals keep bringing new ticks in. A professional tick treatment eliminates active ticks across your property and keeps killing new ones as they hatch, with regular scheduled visits that break the breeding cycle. Our products are water based, biodegradable and very low in toxicity to people and pets. See our safety information for details, and our backyard tick-safe guide for more tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the worst tick areas in Australia?

CSIRO research shows the highest rates of tick-linked mammalian meat allergy are on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast hinterlands, the Northern Rivers, and the Shoalhaven and South Coast are also disproportionately affected.

Are there a lot of ticks on the Northern Beaches?

Yes. Northern Beaches Council says ticks are common across the area, particularly in bushland, parks and gardens, and CSIRO identifies the Northern Beaches as Australia’s leading hotspot for tick-linked meat allergy.

When are ticks most active in Sydney?

Ticks are generally most active in the warmer months, between October and January, although they can be found in gardens at other times of the year too.

Why do some suburbs have more ticks than others?

Hotspot suburbs typically combine a warm, humid coastal climate with homes that back onto bushland. Native animals that carry ticks, such as bandicoots, move between the bush and backyards and drop ticks into gardens.

Does TickSafe service my suburb?

TickSafe treats properties across Northern Sydney and the Northern Beaches, from Manly and Mosman to Avalon, St Ives and Wahroonga. Check our service areas page or call 1300 842 572 to confirm.