Find your nearest open pharmacy
The Healthdirect Service Finder is the federal directory of Australian pharmacies. Search by suburb or postcode for every listed pharmacy, including after-hours options. Always verify current hours before travelling, as opening times change.
After-hours pharmacies by state
New South Wales
7 pharmacies listed · 2 open 24 hours
View NSW after-hours pharmacy guide
Victoria
5 pharmacies listed · 2 open 24 hours
View VIC after-hours pharmacy guide
Queensland
6 pharmacies listed · 1 open 24 hours
View QLD after-hours pharmacy guide
Western Australia
3 pharmacies listed · 1 open 24 hours
View WA after-hours pharmacy guide
South Australia
5 pharmacies listed · 4 open 24 hours
View SA after-hours pharmacy guide
Tasmania
2 pharmacies listed
View TAS after-hours pharmacy guide
Australian Capital Territory
3 pharmacies listed
View ACT after-hours pharmacy guide
Northern Territory
2 pharmacies listed
View NT after-hours pharmacy guide
After-hours pharmacy, telehealth GP, or emergency?
Choosing the right service helps you get sorted faster and keeps emergency departments available for the people who need them most.
Life-threatening emergency
Call 000 or go to the Emergency Department
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, signs of stroke, severe burns, suspected poisoning, serious injury.
Need a script or medication advice
Telehealth GP, then any after-hours pharmacy
A bulk billed NewDoc telehealth consult issues an eScript to your phone in minutes. Any open pharmacy in Australia can scan and dispense it.
Already have a current script
Walk in to your nearest open pharmacy
The state guides below list well-known 24-hour and late-night pharmacies. Always verify current opening hours before travelling.
How after-hours pharmacy access works in Australia
Pharmacy opening hours are set by each pharmacy operator, not by a national or state regulator. A handful of pharmacies in major Australian cities operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year. A larger group operate extended hours, typically until 10pm, 11pm, or midnight, including on weekends and public holidays.
Some states fund dedicated programs to expand after-hours pharmacy access. South Australia, for example, runs the SA Health 24/7 Pharmacies program, which subsidises four community pharmacies to operate around the clock.
For the most current list of pharmacies open near you, the Healthdirect Service Finder is the authoritative federal directory and lists pharmacies along with current opening hours.
When telehealth is the better starting point
Many people who search for an after-hours pharmacy actually need a script first. If you don't already have a current prescription, a telehealth GP can issue one in minutes, sent to your phone as an eScript that any pharmacy in Australia can scan and dispense. Common reasons to start with telehealth:
- Repeat prescriptions that have run out
- A new script for a urinary tract infection or other common acute issue
- Cold and flu medication advice
- Renewal of contraception, asthma, blood pressure, or cholesterol medication
- A medical certificate to cover the time off work or school
A bulk billed NewDoc telehealth consultation connects you with a FRACGP-qualified GP, all of our doctors are Fellows of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, at no out-of-pocket cost for eligible Medicare patients. Scripts, certificates, and referrals are included.
Need a script first? See a GP from home.
Bulk billed telehealth with a FRACGP-qualified GP. Your eScript is sent to your phone, ready for any Australian pharmacy to dispense.
Or call 0481 615 998
Frequently asked questions
What counts as an after-hours pharmacy in Australia?
There are two common definitions. A 24-hour pharmacy is open every hour of every day. An extended-hours or late-night pharmacy is open later than typical pharmacy hours, usually until 10pm, 11pm, or midnight, and on weekends and public holidays. Both are useful when you need a script dispensed outside standard 9-to-5 trading.
Are after-hours pharmacies more expensive?
Pharmacies are private businesses and pricing is set by the operator. After-hours pharmacies are generally not more expensive than other pharmacies for PBS-listed scripts, where the maximum patient co-payment is set by the federal Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Some over-the-counter and non-PBS items may have different pricing.
Can a NewDoc telehealth eScript be dispensed at any pharmacy?
Yes. Australian eScripts are SMS or email tokens containing a QR code. Any pharmacy in Australia, including any after-hours or 24-hour pharmacy, can scan the token to dispense your medication. There is no need to nominate a specific pharmacy when your GP issues the script.
When should I go to an emergency department instead of a pharmacy?
Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department for anything that could be life-threatening, including chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, severe burns, loss of consciousness, signs of stroke, suspected poisoning, or a serious head injury. Pharmacies are not equipped for emergencies.
Is there a national directory of after-hours pharmacies?
The Healthdirect Service Finder, run by Healthdirect Australia, is the most comprehensive national directory and lets you search by suburb or postcode for pharmacies including after-hours options. It is the authoritative source for current opening hours, which change.
Can a telehealth GP issue a script for an after-hours pharmacy?
Yes. A NewDoc telehealth consult is bulk billed for eligible Medicare patients and any prescription is issued as an eScript sent to your phone, usually within minutes of the call ending. You can take the eScript to any open pharmacy, including any after-hours or 24-hour pharmacy, to be dispensed.
Pharmacy listings are sourced from operator store locators, state government programs, and the Healthdirect Service Finder. Hours change, always verify before travelling at healthdirect.gov.au. For medical emergencies call 000.