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New Zealand has long been a popular holiday destination for Australians, owing to its proximity across the ditch and its catalogue of tourism hot-spots. In fact, each year (prior to the pandemic), there were about 1.6 million Aussies travelling to New Zealand, whether for the snow or summer scenery, or to simply visit friends or family who live there.
Until recently, NZ was the most popular overseas destination for Aussies. In 2024, however, that title went to Indonesia, with 1.37 million flying to Bali and surrounds in the past year, while 1.26 million headed to New Zealand. When heading across the Tasman, 43% of Australians went for a holiday and 38% to visit friends or relatives.
And while travel costs are front of mind for many, there is one thing you should never skimp on when it comes to holidays: travel insurance. It may be tempting to forego travel insurance when heading to a place as peaceful and laid-back as New Zealand, or if you’re simply paying family a visit, but as our guide outlines, it’s still vital.
Related: Our pick of the best comprehensive travel insurance providers
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New Zealand Travel Insurance
To take out a travel insurance policy for New Zealand, you may be able to select one that covers solely New Zealand specifically, one that covers Oceania, or a worldwide policy (that often excludes the US and Mexico due to healthcare costs).
There are also different types of policies when travelling to New Zealand, which will depend on the duration of your trip and whether you are visiting additional destinations.
These include:
- Single trip: for a one-off trip in the space of 12 months.
- Annual multi-trip: for more than one trip in the space of 12 months.
- Long-stay/backpacker: for an extended stay of 60 or 90 days or 12 or 18 months, and occasionally 24 months, depending on the provider.
Additionally, an annual multi-trip policy can work out more cost-effective than purchasing multiple single trip policies, but not always, so it can help to compare both types of policy.
Remember to check if a policy will only cover trips to New Zealand and Australia or worldwide destinations excluding the US and surrounding countries.
Do I Need Travel Insurance For New Zealand?
While travel insurance for New Zealand isn’t compulsory, it’s highly recommended. Good travel insurance will cover expenses should the policyholder need to cancel their trip due to an emergency, such as illness or bereavement. It will also pay out for damaged, lost or stolen baggage, as well as other items.
The total amount of baggage cover should reflect the value of all the belongings the policyholders are taking with them. There’s also usually a single item limit which dictates how much the policyholder can claim per item.
Another key component of travel insurance is medical cover. According to Services Australia, the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) we have with New Zealand may cover some of your medical costs in the New Zealand public health system. However, certain emergencies may not be covered, especially if you are taking part in activities which are excluded from your insurance policy.
The New Zealand site also explains that while Australians are eligible for medical treatment in New Zealand, this does not preclude the need for insurance. For example, visitors may also be left at a loss if they need repatriation to Australia, however, travel insurance for New Zealand can cover this.
“As neither reciprocal agreement provides full coverage, travellers should hold comprehensive travel insurance, including health insurance,” the site notes.
What Does Travel Insurance For New Zealand Cover?
In addition to coverage for medical and lost luggage, most policies for New Zealand cover travel delay and missed departures.
For those planning to take advantage of the country’s vast number of adventure sports and activities, it is worth checking which are covered by a policy. As New Zealand is a popular snow destination, you will need to ensure that your policy covers snow sports if you wish to take part in these activities.
Often a policy covers around a hundred low-risk sports as standard. These include cricket, football and rugby. However, cover for bungee jumping (also popular in New Zealand) scuba diving and kite surfing among other higher risk activities, are likely to require an extra premium payment–just as snow activities would. In many cases, this is bundled as an ‘activity pack’ when selecting your cover.
In any case, insurers usually only accept claims where the appropriate safety gear was worn, such as a helmet or harness. For activities such as scuba diving, policyholders will likely need to dive with a qualified instructor and follow official guidelines for any claims to be accepted.
What Does Travel Insurance Exclude?
Specific limitations and exclusions on cover differ between policies, but there are some common exclusions to bear in mind.
Most insurers will not accept ‘disinclination to travel’ (simply not wanting to travel) as a valid reason for a claim.
As stated previously, claims are often void if you have not followed the appropriate safety guidance and official guidelines for activities you participate in, even if the activities are covered.
Also, any claims arising from intoxication from drink or drugs, or disorderly behaviour, are likely to be rejected.
Best Travel Insurance For New Zealand
The best travel insurance for New Zealand will depend on your needs, such as whether you are taking part in snow sports or other adventure activities.
An easy way to compare travel insurance policies is to use an online comparison tool, or read through our pick of the leading travel insurance policies for Australians. Note that these are not location specific, so you will have to consider whether or not they include the extras you will require for your trip.
Related: Our Pick Of The Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance Providers In Australia
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Air New Zealand offer travel insurance?
Yes, Air New Zealand offers travel insurance if your travel commences in Australia. There are certain inclusions and exclusions—as with any policy—but Air New Zealand does state that it covers for Covid-19. To read more about its policy, you can go online at the Air New Zealand website and read their terms and conditions.
Do Australian citizens need travel insurance in New Zealand?
Australian citizens are not required to have travel insurance in order to enter New Zealand. However, it is encouraged in order to ensure adequate medical coverage, liability protection, and cover for lost luggage and gadgets.
Will Australian health insurance cover me in New Zealand?
According to Services Australia, the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) we have with New Zealand may cover some of your medical costs in the New Zealand public health system. However, it is still recommended that you purchase travel insurance so that you are protected for major medical events, in the case of sporting injuries or repatriation, as well as lost luggage and cancellation cover.
How do I get cover for snow sports in New Zealand?
To ensure you are covered for snow sports in New Zealand, you need to choose a travel insurance provider that includes snow cover within its base policy or as an optional add-on. It is most common for snow sports to be sold as an add-on, as the high-risk activity makes it more expensive than a policy would otherwise be.
To find policies that offer snow sports, you can read our pick of the best comprehensive travel insurance providers in Australia and then obtain quotes from on their respective websites.
When to buy travel insurance for NZ?
It is recommended that you buy travel insurance for New Zealand as soon as you have booked your flight. This will enable you to claim if you are forced to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen event.
How much does travel insurance to New Zealand cost?
It can vary greatly, as each provider will differ in what they offer as standard within each tier of coverage,
But as a guide, we ran quotes with three leading providers: Travel Insurance Direct (TID); Cover-More and InsureandGo for a 30-year-old travelling to New Zealand for one week in September, In each case, we added a snow sports pack. Here’s what we found:
- Travel Insurance Direct (TID): $138.04 for comprehensive; $108.42 for basic cover with snow sport and $2,000 cancellation cover.
- Cover More: $146 for comprehensive; $104 for basic cover with snow sport cover selected and $2,000 cancellation cover.
- InsureandGo: $139.46 for comprehensive cover; $59.12 for basic cover (with snow sport selected) but no option to include cancellation cover at this tier.
