New Zealand has been the number 1 travel destination for Aussies for the past 10 years and remains a popular choice with people comparing travel insurance on our website. There are a stack of reasons to visit New Zealand, and very few excuses to stay away from such a nearby wonderland.
How long does it take to fly to New Zealand from our eastern capitals? Just a short 3-hour flight and you’re surrounded by visually stunning scenery. There’s a reason they filmed Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and Avatar there.
And don’t worry – there’s plenty to see even if you’re not a fan of hobbits or blue aliens. Glacier trekking, white water rafting, penguins and seals, friendly locals, and a fascinating Maori heritage are just a few great reasons to hop across the Tasman to visit our Kiwi neighbours.
What to do in New Zealand? You can watch travel tips for visiting places such as Milford Sound or Lake Tekapo on YouTube with 100% Pure New Zealand (Tourism New Zealand’s official channel) or Expedia. You can even have a look at sample itineraries from Tourism New Zealand by filtering through the length of stay you want, which island/s you want to visit, and what activities you’re interested in.
For animal lovers, there are many unique native animals found only in New Zealand, such as the iconic Kiwi, Hector’s Dolphins, Whio (the Blue Duck), and the dinosaur-like Tuatara reptile. New Zealand also has more penguin species on their shores than any other country in the world.
For bonus points, unlike Australia, New Zealand has nowhere near as many poisonous snakes or spiders waiting to spoil your trip. That’s the benefit of smaller islands – a smaller ecosystem.
The value of the Australian currency to the New Zealand currency is almost exactly the same at the moment, but it might still be worth comparing on the CANSTAR website. New Zealand is quickly becoming a cashless society, but you will want to make sure that you bring a variety of payment methods including a good travel credit or debit card, a prepaid travel money card designed for New Zealand, and a little bit of cash just in case.
Here are a few quick facts about New Zealand, that other country “Down Under”:
Capital: Wellington, located on the North Island
Land area: 268,000 sq km (about the size of Victoria and Tasmania combined)
Official language(s): English (with an accent, bru)
Population: 4.7 million (Statistics New Zealand, 2016)
Sheep: 29.5 million sheep (Statistics New Zealand, 2015)
Currency: At the time of writing, currency conversion rate means $1 Australian Dollar (AUD) buys $1.07 New Zealand Dollars (NZD
Do I need travel insurance for New Zealand?
Accidents, illness or theft are always something to plan ahead for, even when we’re just visiting our “next-door neighbour”. Don’t let a stressful event ruin your holiday – and your budget. Hopefully you won’t ever need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy, but if you do, the policy will be worth every cent. And most policies for travel to New Zealand don’t cost too many cents, either.
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Some reasons why you might need travel insurance in New Zealand include:
Cancellation costs for flights, accommodation and tours. It’s not just an earthquake that could disrupt your New Zealand travel plans. You might be facing a quick flight home if you are laid low by an unexpected illness before you leave or while you’re travelling – or a family member such an ageing parent having a fall back home could need you to take care of them. Even your employer denying your annual leave application after you’ve already booked your flights can put a spanner in the works. Travel insurance for New Zealand can help reimburse you for any out of pocket expenses as a result of cancellation, such as cancellation fees.
Overseas emergency medical expenses. Although there’s no Medicare in New Zealand, we do have a reciprocal health care agreement with them so you can receive publicly funded emergency medical treatment in New Zealand, if a doctor decides that you immediately require necessary medical treatment. This includes diagnosis and treatment, including pharmaceutical benefits (medications), hospital services, and maternity services – but it doesn’t cover seeing a GP, private specialists, or a trip in an ambulance, or an emergency flight home. This is where travel insurance comes in handy, as its coverage for medical emergencies and medical evacuation and repatriation (going home) can help you to cover those costs.
Cover for theft or lost luggage and personal items. The government’s SmartTraveller website advises travellers to New Zealand to “Exercise normal safety precautions”, so you should take as much care of your belongings as you would if you were back home. Losing your GoPro camera in the first few days of your trip can really ruin the mood if you were planning on capturing an epic white water rafting run later that week.
In the case of a lost wallet, remember to put a temporary lock on your cards if you can or call your bank to ask them to freeze your cards. Looking for another money option that’s prepaid? Don’t forget that we rate travel money cards as well as travel credit and debit cards.
Source: 100% Pure New Zealand (Tourism New Zealand)
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And when it comes to the things you need, luggage can always go missing between the plane and the airport baggage claim, so make sure you have all your essentials in your carry-on – including all your usual medications.
Case Study: Josef’s Medications
Josef and Louise prepared well for their trip to Europe. They took out comprehensive travel insurance, left copies of their documents and their itinerary with their family and took separate copies of their passport details with them. They carried an appropriate supply of PBS prescribed medication for existing medical conditions in their luggage. When leaving the plane, a crew member told them their luggage had been delayed in transit. Josef became worried about missing his medication and his heart started to race.
On arrival at the hotel, Louise noticed the hotel pharmacy was displaying medication with the same label as the medicine Josef was prescribed for his heart condition. As Josef’s health was not improving, Louise purchased the medication without checking its strength, which was half that of Josef’s usual dose. Josef had a heart attack in the evening and was hospitalised. By carrying a supply of medicine in his hand luggage or a copy of his current prescriptions, this situation could have been avoided.
Source: SmartTraveller.gov.au
Driving in New Zealand. Driving yourself around the two islands is a very popular way of seeing the most you can of the country. You can drive a car in New Zealand using your Australian driver’s licence – and thankfully they drive on the left-hand side of the road, just like us. There are a couple of things you need to know before you hop behind the wheel, though.
Source: 100% Pure New Zealand (Tourism New Zealand)
First, New Zealand’s roads can often become dangerous with the addition of ice, snow, fog, and high winds. Aussie visitors tell us the roads are also much narrower and less well-paved than Australian roads – and as you’re driving through the mountains the road is often one lane but it’s not one-way! Think about safety in terms of how you would approach some serious driving in the outback or rainforest regions, and ask the locals in an area for safety tips if the weather starts looking a bit iffy. Ask your hire car company for snow tyres in case of ice and snow and ask them whether the car you’ve been allocated has headlights strong enough to cut through fog.
Second, riding a motorcycle or scooter in New Zealand may not be covered by your travel insurance as standard. Many travel insurance policies will only cover you if you have an Australian motorcycle licence, and they’ll only cover you to ride a motorcycle of 250cc or less. Make sure you check the terms and conditions of motorcycle travel insurance cover very carefully with your provider before you leave.
Third, make sure your Australian driver’s licence isn’t due to expire while you’re travelling. You’d hate to get in hot water with the New Zealand police – and your hire car company – for driving without a valid licence.
Fourth, drinking to excess and driving will void your travel insurance policy. And it will get you in trouble with the Kiwi police just like it would get you in trouble with the police back home.
Travel delays or changed travel plans. Not to keep on about earthquakes, but there are many reasons why your best-laid travel plans could start looking shaky. Travel insurance can cover you for any last-minute and unavoidable changes in your travel plans, such as cancellation fees, emergency accommodation, and emergency transport costs.
Extreme sports. Extreme sports including bungee jumping, white water rafting, cave diving, skydiving, jet boating, horse riding, and snowboarding are abundant throughout New Zealand, and are great value for money if you’re a bit of an adrenaline junkie! But be warned – none of the activities listed are generally covered under a standard policy. It’s worth adding the optional extra coverage to your travel insurance if you’re considering any out of the ordinary activities.
Accidents are common on the ski slopes, and the saying “better safe than sorry” is a cliché for a reason. A good Snow and Ski Cover travel insurance policy should cover:
Emergency evacuation and hospital transfers including helicopter rescue off a mountain if needed.
Cancellation fees for prepaid accommodation and travel expenses if you get snowed in and are stuck up the mountain longer than expected.
Loss or damage of hired or owned ski or snowboard equipment. If your own ski gear is delayed in transit, lost, or stolen for more than 24 hours a policy should cover the cost of hiring ski equipment.
Unused ski passes or prepaid lesson classes if you become too sick to go.
Heli-skiing (skiing after being dropped out of a helicopter) may be covered with some providers if you pay an additional premium.
Our CANSTAR database shows that people who compare travel insurance on our website most often search for cover to:
Ride a motorcycle, scooter, or jet ski (17%)
Snow sports and skiing (16.5%)
Water sports (16%)
Rock climbing (7%)
Oh, and just remember – there’s a big difference between adventure-seeking activities and deliberately putting yourself in risky situations. Your travel insurance provider may not cover you in full or at all if you were drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time of an incident, or if you deliberately chose to ignore safety signs and instructions when participating in an activity.
What does New Zealand Travel Insurance cost?
Travel insurance is definitely a “must-have” travel essential, especially if you are travelling out of the country. Compared to the cost of flights, accommodation, and tours, travel insurance is a very small cost. If you’re on a tight budget you might be tossing up whether it’s worth it, but ask yourself whether you could afford to replace all of your luggage if your bag got lost at baggage claim in New Zealand.
To give you an idea of what premium prices are for NZ travel insurance, we’ve crunched the numbers in our 2016 travel insurance star ratings. The tables below show the minimum, maximum, and average travel insurance premiums you would pay on a 10-day or 21-day trip to New Zealand.
All premiums below are based on the premium data collected for CANSTAR’s 2016 Travel Insurance Star Ratings. Premiums have been rounded to the nearest dollar.
For singles – 10 day premiums and 21 day premiums:
10 day
21 day
Min
$26
$37.50
Average
$71
$102
Max
$217
$294
For couples – 10 day premiums and 21 day premiums:
10 day
21 day
Min
$44
$67.50
Average
$133
$192
Max
$412
$559
For families – 10 day premiums and 21 day premiums:
10 day
21 day
Min
$52
$67.50
Average
$138
$198
Max
$434
$560
For senior singles – 10 day premiums and 21 day premiums:
10 day
21 day
Min
$65
$86
Average
$192
$282
Max
$608
$823
For senior couples – 10 day premiums and 21 day premiums:
10 day
21 day
Min
$110
$157
Average
$339
$507
Max
$1,154
$1,564
What does New Zealand travel insurance cover?
Cheapest is not always best and in the case of travel insurance it’s really important to buy the cover that suits your particular situation. With a typical policy, you will want, at a minimum:
Medical or dental emergency – Hospital admission, emergency care and medical evacuation.
Repatriation – If tragedy strikes while you are away, repatriation covers the cost of flying your body and belongings back home to Australia. Some travel funds also include a separate sum for funeral expenses.
Lost or stolen luggage, passport or other items – Replacing luggage and travel documents is the most common claim for travel insurance.
Cancelling your trip unexpectedly – Cancellation fees if you have to cancel your trip due to illness, accident, holiday leave being revoked, or a natural disaster at home or at your intended destination.
Legal liability – If you break a local law and need a lawyer/interpreter.
Canstar’s research shows you get what you pay for. Policies with a 3- to 5-star rating tend to cover most things, whereas 1- and 2-star policies have various exclusions, even sometimes for accidental death.
The bottom line is to compare travel insurance and check the fine print carefully to make sure you’re covered for the things that matter to you. A policy that falls short will not help your wallet much if you do have to make a claim.
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As an example, here’s what is covered by the 5-star rated outstanding value travel insurance policies for New Zealand, based on our research in July 2016. This cover is based on Comprehensive Travel Insurance for a Couple travelling to New Zealand:
5 Star products for a couple travelling to New Zealand:
Company
Product
24 Hour Helpline
Cancellation Fees and Loss of Deposit
Accidental Death
Overseas Emergency Dental
Repatriation and Evacuation Expenses
Luggage and Personal Effects
Rental Vehicle Excess
Theft of Cash
1300 Insurance
Plan A Comprehensive
Yes
$50,000
Unlimited
$2,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$15,000
$500
Online Travel Insurance
Plan A – Comprehensive
Yes
$50,000
$50,000
$2,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$10,000
$500
Virgin Money
Comprehensive
Yes
$30,000
Unlimited
$2,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$20,000
$500
ZUJI
Comprehensive
Yes
$50,000
Unlimited
$2,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$10,000
$500
Webjet
Comprehensive
Yes
$50,000
Unlimited
$2,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$10,000
$500
World2Cover Travel Insurance
Top Cover
Yes
$50,000
Unlimited
$4,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$30,000
$1,000
Southern Cross Travel Insurance
NZ/Indonesia/South Pacific
Yes
$50,000
$100,000
$1,500
Unlimited
Unlimited
$50,000
$500
Fastcover
Plan E – Standard
Yes
NA
Unlimited
$1,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$10,000
NA
Budget Direct
Essential
Yes
NA
$25,000
$1,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$10,000
$500
InsureandGo
Gold
Yes
$100,000
Unlimited
$1,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$16,000
$1,000
Worldcare
Comprehensive
Yes
$50,000
Unlimited
$1,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$24,000
$250
Budget Direct
Comprehensive
Yes
$40,000
Unlimited
$1,000
Unlimited
Unlimited
$15,000
$800
We endeavour to include the majority of product providers in the market and to compare the product features most relevant to consumers in our ratings. This is not always possible and it may be that not every product in the market is included in the rating, nor every feature compared that is relevant to you.
Risks in New Zealand
According to the government’s Smart Traveller advice, travellers to New Zealand should “Exercise normal safety precautions” with no extraordinary risks likely to affect your trip. Sounds like a relaxing trip, bru!
Are there pickpockets in New Zealand?
SmartTraveller advises that you exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, just like you would in Australia. The crime rate in New Zealand are similar to Australia, and thieves will often target expensive items left in easy reach, such as your mobile phone or wallet left in the glove box or back seat of your hire car or campervan.
Keep all your valuables in a safe place or on your body at all times, and if you lose your passport, report it immediately. To report a lost passport and request a replacement with the New Zealand Australian embassy in Wellington or Auckland, use the phone numbers listed at the end of this article.
Are there natural disasters to worry about in New Zealand?
Yes – travellers should be aware of volcanoes, earthquakes, and extreme weather conditions.
New Zealand experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, but only 150-200 per year are strong enough to be felt. Poor old Christchurch has suffered another disastrous earthquake in February 2016, following up on their devastating 2011 quake. The NZ government’s Get Ready, Get Thru website has some good tips about what to do in an earthquake or other natural disaster (stay indoors away from windows and heavy objects such as bookshelves, and if already outside, stay away from trees and power lines).
New Zealand is full of volcanoes, and a volcanic eruption is possible at any time. Visit the GeoNet website before you visit a volcano, for updated information on risks, and what to do in case of an eruption.
Weather conditions in New Zealand can change suddenly. Find out the current and expected temperatures and other weather conditions on the MetService website. Before you head off hiking (or “tramping” as the Kiwis call it) or any other adventure activities, visit the local Department of Conservation (DOC) visitor centre and ask if there are any risks you should know about.
Another way to keep an eye on changes to local travelling conditions in general is to read the local news online using social media or sources such as (for the North Island) the New Zealand Herald and The Dominion Post, and (for the South Island) The Press and Otago Daily Times.
Risks aside, New Zealand is a breathtaking and beautiful country with a friendly culture. It’s well-worth a look – just make sure you know what to do if something happens.
Do Australians need to get a Visa for New Zealand?
No, you don’t need a Visitor Visa to visit New Zealand if you are an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident and you are only staying in New Zealand for 3 months or less.
When is the best time of year to visit New Zealand?
There is no one best time of year to travel to New Zealand, as each of the four seasons offer their own special magic.
Summer
December, January, February. Daytime temperatures range 20 – 25?C (definitely not as warm as Australia gets). This is the rainiest season.
Autumn
March, April, May. Daytime temperatures range 17 – 21?C.
Winter
June, July, August. Daytime temperatures range 0 – 16?C depending on region. Snow is expected in the mountains throughout winter from June onwards.
Spring
September, October, November. Daytime temperatures range 16 – 19?C. Snow is expected in the mountains throughout this season until late October.
You can see how the climate and temperature range of particular cities and regions varies throughout the year on the Tourism New Zealand website. When you look at maps and compare where New Zealand is alongside Australia, it makes sense that their average seasonal temperatures (depending on the region you visit) are similar to places in the far south of Australia including Tasmania.
New Zealand is a very sunny country, with the Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and the Nelson/Marlborough region receiving the most sunlight hours. Thanks to daylight saving, in summer the New Zealand sun stays high in the sky until up to 9:30pm.
Be warned – with all that sunlight and very little pollution to speak of, the UV rays can cut right through and burn your skin quickly, even on cloudy days. The worst burn times are from 10am to 4pm in September right through to April. Use sunscreen! If you’re not sure which sunscreen to buy, check out the customer satisfaction ratings of sunscreen brands on the Canstar Blue website.
In what might seem like a paradox, New Zealand also receives a high average rainfall throughout the year. If you’re trying to escape the rain, consider a Winter trip – this is their driest season.
How to get help in New Zealand
You should always register your travel plans and your overseas contact details with DFAT before you go. This means DFAT can contact you easily and your loved ones can find out where you were travelling in the case of an emergency.
Don’t forget to phone your travel insurance provider straight away if someone goes wrong that you are covered for – they should have a 24/7 helpline/hotline number you can call from overseas.
How to call the Police in New Zealand
If you’ve been robbed or had something stolen, or someone has assaulted you, you should always call the New Zealand Police first, just like you would in Australia. You can find a police station near you on their website.
Phone: 111
Or call using a mobile phone: +64 4 381 0000
How to call the Ambulance in New Zealand
If you or someone with you has a medical emergency such as a life-threatening injury or illness, call the New Zealand St. John’s Ambulance, just like you would in Australia. You can find a public hospital near you on the Ministry of Health website.
Phone: 111
Or call using a mobile phone: +64 4 381 0000
For non-emergency medical help, call the Healthline on: 0800 611 116.
How to get help from the Australian Embassy in New Zealand
If you lose your passport and need a new one to get home, or you need help to find a lawyer, hospital, or interpreter, or you need other consular services, the Australian Embassy in Wellington or Auckland can help you.
Australian High Commission (Australian Embassy) in Wellington, New Zealand
Address: 72-76 Hobson St, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 473 6411
Fax: +64 4 498 7135
Email: nzinbox@dfat.gov.au
Passport counter opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 12:30pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Australian Consulate General in Auckland, New Zealand
Address: Level 7 PriceWaterHouseCoopers Tower
186-194 Quay Street
Auckland
Phone: +64 9 9218800 (Select option 3 for Passport Enquiries)
Fax: +64 9 9218820 for Passports and Austrade; +64 9 921 8822 for Visas
Passport counter opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 12:30pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm
See the website for the Australian Embassy in New Zealand for more information.
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