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Travel insurance for New Zealand (NZ)
Travel insurance for New Zealand (NZ)
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Laura Crowden
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettEasily compare Travel Insurance
Save time and effort by comparing a range of travel insurance policies with iSelect
Do Australians need travel insurance for New Zealand?
Long story short
Travel insurance can help cover costs for your Kiwi trip
Starting from $49 for a standard policy, travel insurance can help cover the costs of any unexpected setbacks.1Indicative pricing based on a 30-year-old solo traveller with no extra coverage needed. Comparison conducted via the iSelect website, April 2026
Reciprocal Healthcare Agreements can help, but won’t cover everything
Aussies get access to New Zealand’s public hospitals, but you won’t be covered for GP visits or ambulance rides.
New Zealand’s weather conditions can change quickly
Blizzards, tsunamis, earthquakes and even volcanic activity can happen in Aotearoa, so it’s important to be prepared.
Do Australians need travel insurance for New Zealand?
While Australians aren’t required to have travel insurance to enter New Zealand, comprehensive travel insurance cover is still highly recommended by Smartraveller. Thanks to Australia’s Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with New Zealand, Australians get access to public hospital care in NZ if something goes wrong (assuming you are an Australian Medicare cardholder). But this doesn’t mean everything will be covered. Travel insurance will help cover the cost of GP visits and ambulance rides, while also protecting you from unexpected events like losing your luggage or dealing with travel delays.
Travel insurance is an especially smart move if your NZ travel plans involve more than strolling through parks and watching the local sheep population. If you’ve got snow-capped mountain hikes, skiing, jet boating, bungee jumping or glacier exploration all waiting to be ticked off your Aotearoa itinerary, then having travel insurance can help you enjoy those adrenaline-filled adventures with confidence.
Which activities in New Zealand might I want coverage for?
New Zealand is a hub for adventure, so having travel insurance to help cover you for things like kayaking, bungee jumping, skiing, and hiking could mean less stress if something goes wrong. Some of these activities could be covered in a standard policy, while others might need extra adventure or snow sports cover.
Here are a few popular activities and how travel insurance could help you in a pinch.
Kayak through the serene Milford Sound
Kayaking is one of the best ways to take in Aotearoa’s crystal clear waters and majestic mountain ranges. Just make sure to always use a life jacket and check your travel insurance policy covers kayaking with a professional tour operator as well as cancellations in case your kayaking trip gets called off from bad weather. That way you can fully immerse yourself in one of the best kayaking spots, Milford Sound, where you can cruise around waterfalls, towering rainforest cliffs and maybe even catch some dolphins in the fiord.
Jump, leap or jet around Queenstown
New Zealand is one of the best spots for international thrill-seekers, with all the action happening in Queenstown. Here you can jump off NZ’s highest bungee, go on a jet board trip (reaching 100km/h in 2.5 seconds), go white-water rafting, skydiving and more. But you’ll need to make sure you are covered for these activities on your travel insurance, so check your policy to see if your planned activities are included. You might need to buy add-on adventure sports as an optional extra if you intend to leap from the clouds.
Hit the slopes in NZ’s longest ski runs
From June to October, New Zealand transforms into the Southern Hemisphere’s winter wonderland, just as impressive as in Canada or Japan. If you plan on hitting the slopes in Whakapapa or heading down to Cardrona’s snow field and snowboarding up and down the mountain all week, make sure you’re covered. You’ll most likely need to add additional coverage for winter sports to help protect you from any additional expenses from injuries on the slopes through to cancellations and missing expensive snow gear.
Admire NZ’s scenery from world-class hiking tracks
As one of New Zealand’s most popular pastimes, there’s a good chance a hike or two might be on the cards for your trip. But there’s always a risk of turning an ankle on the Tongariro Crossing or the Hooker Valley Track. Travel insurance with medical emergency cover helps you enjoy those mountain-top moments with peace of mind. If you’ve got some really challenging hikes planned make sure to check that it’s included within your cover. Hiking over certain elevations may need extra coverage to be included.
‘Even though we went in the middle of July, there was so much to do on the South Island. One highlight I’d definitely recommend is a glow worm tour in Charleston on the West Coast. We got to hike through caves, see so many glow worms and float down fast-moving rivers. It was indescribable!
If you’re there in winter, you should also take a helicopter ride up to Franz Josef Glacier. We got to walk across untouched snow on the top of a huge snow-capped mountain range all by ourselves (just make sure to take some sunnies).’
Rachel Gregg
Digital Writer, iSelect
What does travel insurance for New Zealand typically cover?
Travel insurance policies for New Zealand typically covers medical costs, cancellation fees and sometimes rental vehicle excess, with exclusions usually applying to undeclared pre-existing conditions and ignoring travel warnings. Here are a few features that typically are and aren’t covered under most travel insurance policies.
Typically covered
Medical costs: Coverage for additional medical treatment, like GP visits which are outside of the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
Personal liability: If you injure someone or damage property.
Cancellation fees and lost deposits: For an unexpected reason, like an injured companion
Rental vehicle excess: To cover the excess if you damage your rental car
Typically not covered
Adventure sports: Claiming on high-risk activities that aren’t included in your level of cover
Ignoring local laws: Like riding a motorbike without a helmet
Ignoring travel warnings: If Smartraveller issues a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning for your destination, you may not be covered for trip losses or cancellations
Incidents resulting from intoxication: If something happens while you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Pre-existing conditions: Medical expenses relating to pre-existing medical conditions not declared to your insurer.
How much does travel insurance for New Zealand typically cost?
As of April 2026, standard cover for a week-long New Zealand holiday can start at about $49 for one person.2Indicative pricing based on a 30-year-old solo traveller with no extra coverage needed. Comparison conducted via the iSelect website, April 2026 Compared with standard travel insurance for long-haul destinations like Thailand or North America, cover for Aotearoa can be a bit kinder on your budget. But keep in mind your actual cost will depend on your age and if you have pre-existing medical conditions. And remember, if you need extra cover, like snow or adventure sports, this can bump up your premium more than the cost of your standard policy.
What are some travel tips for New Zealand?
Tips to think about when travelling to New Zealand include knowing the local laws and what type of identification to carry, understanding NZ’s transport options and picking out the right season for your itinerary plans so you can be prepared and plan in case of any severe weather events
Consider your timing
The best time to visit the land of the long white cloud depends on what your plans are. Summer is usually the peak season for swimming and road trips. Autumn is also popular with the temperature being a little crisper but filled with bright golden leaves. Winter is perfect for snow sports or travellers who want to explore New Zealand’s glaciers at their best time of year. Spring is also a popular time to explore both islands (if you want to see the lupin flowers at Lake Tekapo, this is the time to go).
Transport
Rental cars are popular, but New Zealand’s got lots of transport options. Booking a bus can be easier for popular tourist spots like Milford Sound. There are also frequent domestic flights to the North and South islands, trains and water taxis/ferries to help you get around. If you’re travelling in winter, make sure to keep snow chains handy and stay informed about road closures. Sometimes, mountain roads can be closed suddenly until cleared.
Local laws
Just like when you’re holidaying interstate, you need to make sure you follow the local laws in New Zealand. This includes not carrying any illegal substances and not driving under the influence. And if you’re heading to the pub, make sure to bring your passport, since your Aussie driver’s licence may not get you past the bouncer in NZ.
Severe weather events
New Zealand sits on the Ring of Fire, so that means earthquakes and volcanic activity aren’t uncommon. There’s usually nothing to stress about, though, just make sure you know what to do if it starts to rumble. If there’s a natural disaster, make sure to follow local advice and evacuate to safety if needed.
Frequently asked questions
What companies offer travel insurance for New Zealand?
Many Australian travel insurers offer policies for trips to New Zealand. iSelect partners with several of these providers but the exact ones available to you will depend on your trip needs and eligibility.
Some brands that iSelect can help you compare include:
- Fast Cover
- Huddle Insurance
- Insure4less
- InsureandGo
- ReadySet Travel Insurance
- Southern Cross Travel Insurance
- Tick Travel Insurance
- Travel Insurance Saver
- Travel Insuranz
- Travel Protect
- WAS Insurance
- World2Cover
- Zoom Travel Insurance
Other travel insurers in the market include:
- 1Cover
- Allianz
- Blue Insurance
- Budget Direct
- Bupa Travel Insurance
- Cover-More
- Everyday Travel Insurance
- Medibank
- Nib
- RACV Travel Insurance
- Travel Insurance Direct
Note: iSelect does not compare all travel insurance brands in the market, or all products offered by our partners in your area.
What travel insurance do I need for New Zealand?
Many Australians travelling to New Zealand opt for a comprehensive international travel insurance policy, which is recommended by Smartraveller. Comprehensive policies include coverage for medical expenses not covered by the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, cancellations, travel delays, lost luggage and some coverage for certain adventure activities like bungee jumping or cycling, which could likely pop up on your plans.
What type of travel insurance policy you’ll need for your trip to New Zealand depends on how you plan to travel and what activities you have in mind. If you plan on doing a gap year backpacking around New Zealand, enjoying the 500+ free freedom camping spots out there, you might only have the budget for a basic medical-only policy.
However, if your idea of a great time is snowboarding in Wanaka or jumping off a bridge (bungy jumping) in Taupō, a comprehensive policy with additional adventure or snow sports cover might be more appropriate since these activities might not be included in a standard policy.
For travellers who visit regularly, whether that’s for a stint in the wilderness or for work, annual multi-trip insurance could make sense for your wallet. It depends on how often you travel. A multi-trip policy could be cheaper than purchasing travel insurance for every journey within 12 months. You’ll just need to check if there are any limits on the duration of each trip (e.g. 30 or 60 days).
Does travel insurance for New Zealand cover COVID-19?
Some travel insurance policies include COVID-19 cover, but the exact benefits can differ by each insurer. Some policies will offer cancellation coverage if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 before or during your trip, while others include additional expenses to help cover isolation costs.
If you get COVID-19 and need to visit the hospital, New Zealand’s Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia will likely cover these costs. However, travel insurance will generally be needed to cover additional expenses, such as trip cancellation fees and medical evacuations.
Roam New Zealand freely with travel insurance
Whether you’re flying across glaciers or chasing all the Lord of the Rings filming locations, travel insurance can help you explore every inch of the North and South Islands without worry. Compare travel insurance from a range of brands today to look for a great policy for your New Zealand adventure.
Easily compare Travel insurance quotes
Save time and effort by comparing a range of travel insurance policies with iSelect
iSelect does not compare all travel insurers or policies in the market. Travel insurance is only available through our website and not all policies are available at all times or in all areas. Not all policies available from our partners are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements and customer circumstances not all policies compared by iSelect will be available to all customers. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers.
iSelect General Pty Limited ABN 90 131 798 126, AFS Licence Number: 334115. Any advice provided by iSelect is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You need to consider the appropriateness of any information or general advice iSelect gives you, having regard to your personal situation, before acting on iSelect’s advice or purchasing any policy. You should consider iSelect’s Financial Services Guide which provides information about our services and your rights as a client of iSelect. iSelect receives commission for each policy sold.