Travel Insurance for New Zealand

Travel Insurance for New Zealand
Travel & Safety Tips for New Zealand
Popular New Zealand Travel Destinations
New Zealand Embassy & Consulate Information

Do I Need Travel Insurance for New Zealand?

New Zealand does not require visitors to have travel insurance to enter the country. Though optional, travel insurance is highly recommended for trips to New Zealand, as even the most well-planned trips may be subject to unforeseen events abroad. Depending on the details and benefits of your plan, travel insurance may offer coverage to help protect your trip from the unexpected.

Some common coverage travelers may want to consider for this trip to New Zealand include:

• Medical and dental coverage
• Luggage loss, delays, and damage coverage
• Travel delays
• Trip cancellation coverage

Certain coverages do vary by plan, so be sure to fully review your policy before purchasing.

How Much is Travel Insurance to New Zealand?

The price of New Zealand travel protection varies with each trip, depending on the length of the trip, benefits included, and the age of the travelers, and number of travelers covered by the policy.

In general, the more risk or uncertainty involved with the trip may raise the cost of the plan. For example, shorter stays in New Zealand can usually cost less than a longer trip with the same travelers and type of coverage. Adding more travelers or more benefits can also alter the price of a plan.

Do I Need International Health Insurance to Travel to New Zealand?

Travel medical insurance is recommended for all visitors to New Zealand. These plans are intended to provide support to travelers when sudden illness or injury occur while traveling in another country.

Often, domestic health insurers do not cover some or all medical costs incurred while you are traveling abroad. Before purchasing travel medical insurance for New Zealand, we recommend that travelers contact their domestic health insurance company to get information about what their local plan can cover overseas. Identifying these gaps in your domestic coverage will help you determine which travel medical coverages may be most advantageous for your next trip to New Zealand.

What Does Travel Medical Insurance for New Zealand Cover?

Travel health insurance for New Zealand can be a great asset in emergency health situations, as most travel medical plans are designed to assist with treatment in foreign hospitals for pain or accidental injuries, illnesses, and dental care.

New Zealand travel medical plans also commonly include:

• Emergency Medical Evacuation
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment benefits

These benefits may be purchased in conjunction with travel-related benefits in a comprehensive plan. Comprehensive travel insurance for New Zealand include travel medical coverage as well as other travel-related benefits, such as coverage relating to lost or delayed baggage, cancellations, flight delays, or other disruptions during your trip.

Certain adventure sports and activities like skiing may be considered high-risk, and injuries sustained from such activities are not covered by all New Zealand trip insurance plans. A hazardous sports rider can be added to some travel medical plans to ensure that your covered treatment abroad includes accidents as a result of high-risk sports and activities.

Backpackers in New Zealand may also be protected by travel medical plans. Travel insurance plans for backpackers may be able to offer reimbursements for tickets and meal fees in the case of delays in your scheduled transportation. Some plans can also offer an identity theft protection service in the event of lost or stolen personal items.

What is the Best Travel Insurance for New Zealand Trips?

Each traveler and trip to New Zealand is unique, so there is no single best insurance plan for all travelers. As such, the right travel protection for your next trip to New Zealand can best be found by comparing different plans and coverage selections that relate to your specific needs.

InsureMyTrip’s free travel insurance quote form can help you identify plans that may turn out to be the ideal travel insurance for you and your next New Zealand trip.

Travel Tips & Safety for New Zealand

Money & Currency Exchange

New Zealand’s official currency is the New Zealand dollar (currency code: NZD). The New Zealand dollar is also legal tender in the Cook Islands, Niue, the Ross Dependency, Tokelau, and a British territory, the Pitcairn Islands. When in New Zealand, travelers will almost always see the New Zealand dollar represented by the symbol $. However, NZ$ is occasionally used to distinguish the New Zealand dollar from other dollar-denominated currencies. Most transactions in New Zealand are made by card (Visa and Mastercard being the most common), but it’s generally a good idea to carry some cash during your trip just in case. Banks, some hotels, and Bureau de Change kiosks can change your home currency to the New Zealand dollar. Each New Zealand dollar can be divided into 100 cents. New Zealand dollars are available as coins in values of 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, and $2, while banknotes are available in values of $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Locals may use the phrases “Kiwi” or “Kiwi dollar” to refer to the New Zealand dollar due to the native kiwi bird’s image on the 1-dollar coin.

Transportation

New Zealand provides travelers with plenty of transportation options, including multiple types of rentals plus air, land, and water routes. If you’d prefer to take the wheel yourself, visitors to New Zealand can rent a car, a bicycle or motorcycle, or even a motorhome. Alternatively, visitors can make use of the country’s modern and clean public transportation systems. Buses, particularly the InterCity buses, are typically affordable and convenient for a variety of itineraries. For sightseeing, many travelers opt to experience the stunning landscapes of New Zealand by train. New Zealand’s railways offer three main scenic journeys in the North and South Islands, but also have routes connecting different regions with one another. Auckland and Wellington also provide suburban trains for fast local travel.

To get from one island to another, travelers may choose to take a domestic flight or an Interislander ferry, one of New Zealand’s most iconic and picturesque tourist experiences. The Interislander travels the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands and can even carry your car or motorhome – just drive right on.

Risk & Crime

New Zealand is widely considered a very safe country to visit. Crime rate is low, but pickpockets operate in every country and are known to target tourists, so keep your valuables hidden away and inaccessible to strangers. Keep track of where your phone, wallet, travel documents, and other valuables are at all times. Other than that, travelers should be wary of natural risks like insects and stinging jellyfish, weather events, and volcanoes. Most bugs in New Zealand are harmless, even those that are large and look intimidating. However, insects like the Katipo spider are quite dangerous. As such, for some travelers it may be best to just avoid them all. And don’t touch jellyfish found on the coast.

New Zealand lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire – meaning earthquakes are somewhat common in New Zealand. It’s also recommended to monitor local weather reports before and during your trip for breaking weather news and reports on volcanic activity.

Top 15 Travel Destinations & Tourist Attractions in New Zealand

Local Favorites in Auckland

It may be small, but New Zealand is bursting with incredible sights, sounds, tastes, and experiences for travelers to enjoy. And if you’re wondering what to do in Auckland, we’re here to help. Keep reading for our recommendations of must-see places in New Zealand that locals love.

Try the Hangi

New Zealand is rich in native tradition, so if you’re wondering what to do in Auckland, stop a try a local favorite called Hangi. This dish, a traditional Maori offering typically cooked in earthen ovens, features a combination of meats like lamb or kaimoana, as well as vegetables like yam or pumpkin. When combined, they’re served in baskets on a bed of puka, banana, or cabbage leaves. Have a bite to give your New Zealand trip a deliciously authentic start.

Learn About Maori Culture

Speaking of Maori culture, one of our must-see places in New Zealand is the Auckland Museum, also known as Tāmaki Paenga Hira, its indigenous name. Located in the Auckland Domain Park, the museum boasts a collection that will introduce you to cultural artifacts like the Hotonui, a large Maori meeting house carved in the 1870s, more than 2,000 taonga textiles and tools, and performances that bring these remarkable cultures to life for modern visitors.

Head up Mount Eden

This part of New Zealand has a volcanic past, so if you’re wondering what to do in Auckland for a unique experience in nature, get yourself to Mount Eden. You’ll be able to find it in the inner-city suburb of Mount Eden, and once you get there, an easy hike awaits with a path taking you up the ancient volcano in multiple directions. At the top, you’ll see unparalleled, 360-degree views of Auckland City, the Hauraki Gulf, Rangitoto Island, and more.

Protect Your Auckland Trip with Travel Insurance

When you’re planning your trip, you should be thinking about what to do in Auckland, not about the obstacles that could arise on your trip. That’s why you may want to consider comparing New Zealand travel insurance using a tool like InsureMyTrip.

As the world’s first travel insurance comparison website, we are your unbiased resource providing information on everything from must see places in New Zealand to how to have a great family trip. We also give you the ability to find the best long-term travel insurance or other plans for your needs by building quotes and comparing a range of coverage options from top providers. With help from our dedicated Customer Care team, you can also learn from licensed professionals how the right New Zealand travel insurance may be able to protect you financially the unexpected occur, including delayed flights, lost or damaged luggage, or needs for medical attention occur while you’re away.

U.S. / New Zealand Embassy and Consulate Locations

U.S. Embassy and Consulate in New Zealand, Cook Islands, and Niue

• U.S. Embassy in Wellington
  29 Fitzherbert Terrace
  Thorndon, Wellington 6011 New Zealand
  Phone: 64.4.462.6000
• U.S. Consulate in Auckland
  23 Customs Street East
  Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
  Phone: 64.9.303.2724

New Zealand Embassy and Consulate in USA

• Washington DC – New Zealand Embassy
  37 Observatory Circle NW
  Washington DC 20008 United States
  Phone: 1.202.328.4800
• Los Angeles, California – New Zealand Consulate General
  2425 Olympic Boulevard, Suite 600E
  Santa Monica, CA 90404 United States
  Phone: 1.310.566.6555
• Sacramento, California – New Zealand Honorary Consulate
  44733 North El Macero Drive
  El Macero, CA 95618-1066 United States
  Phone: 1.530.756.8013
• Atlanta, Georgia – New Zealand Honorary Consulate
  513 Seminole Avenue N.E.
  Atlanta, GA 30307 United States
  Phone: 1.404.745.4551
• Honolulu, Hawaii – New Zealand Consulate General
  733 Bishop Street, Suite 2020
  Honolulu, HI 96813 United States
  Phone: 1.808.675.5555
• Boston, Massachusetts – New Zealand Honorary Consulate
  57 North Main Street
  Concord, NH 03302-1318 United States
  Phone: 1.603.225.8228
• New York, New York – New Zealand Consulate General
  295 Madison Ave, 41st Floor
  New York, NY 10017 United States
  Phone: 1.212.832.4038
• Salt Lake City, Utah – New Zealand Honorary Consulate
  1655 Linden Lane
  Bountiful, UT 84010 United States
  Phone: 1.801.292.3184
• Seattle, Washington – New Zealand Honorary Consulate
  PO Box 51059
  Seattle, WA 98115 United States
  Phone: 1.206.527.1896
• Guam – New Zealand Honorary Consulate
  290 Jose Salas Street, Suite A
  Tamuning, Guam 96931
  Phone: 1.671.646.7662
• New York, New York – New Zealand Permanent Mission to the UN
  600 Third Avenue, 14th Floor
  New York, NY 10016 United States
  Phone: 1.212.826.1960