Do you need travel insurance for New Zealand?
Whether you’re planning on a magical trip to Hobbiton or an action-packed adventure of a lifetime, it’s always important to prepare for the unexpected. If your New Zealand trip is cancelled at the last minute or if your luggage is lost in transit, you could find yourself facing some unexpected and unwelcome costs.
While New Zealand is a safe place to travel, it’s not without risks. Outdoor activities such as snow sports (skiing and snowboarding) and extreme sports (bungee jumping, white water rafting, etc.) can come with a risk of injury. New Zealand is also at high risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis along the coastline.
When it comes to preparing yourself for emergencies, accidents and unforeseen circumstances, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Signing up for a travel insurance policy for New Zealand can help put your mind at ease.
How to find the best travel insurance for New Zealand?
When comparing travel insurance providers, the cheapest policy may not always be the best. It’s important to choose a level of cover that suits your particular situation and what you plan to do on your trip.
When comparing travel insurance with Canstar, you can search for policies that cover you for travel specifically to New Zealand. Canstar's tools can show you the limits that each policy provides for overseas medical and hospital cover, as well as cancellation and lost luggage.
You can further filter your results to show policies that cover for a range of options that may be relevant to your trip to New Zealand. For example, if you plan on doing some snow sports or rock climbing, you may need to add on cover for these or any other activities not included as standard.
If you’re comparing travel insurance, Canstar’s Travel Insurance Awards recognise the providers that offer outstanding value to customers around Australia. Meanwhile, our annual Most Satisfied Customers Award: Travel Insurance recognises the insurer with the most satisfied customers.
Our most recent award winners were:
- 2025 Travel Insurance Award – International: 1Cover, PassportCard, Southern Cross Travel Insurance, Travel Protect, WAS Insurance, World2Cover, and Zoom Travel Insurance
- 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Award: Virgin Australia
How much does travel insurance cost for New Zealand?
At the time of writing, the average cost of travel insurance premiums is $133 for a traveller aged 30, on a 14-day trip to New Zealand (based on a selection of international policies rated in Canstar's 2025 Travel Insurance Star Ratings & Awards, November 2025, calculated October 2026.).
A more comprehensive policy, including cover for skiing and snow sports, will cost more. Prices for policies will vary depending on the provider and level of cover and inclusions that you need, as well as your age. You can compare travel insurance with Canstar to find cover that suits your particular needs and budget.
What does New Zealand travel insurance cover?
Generally, travel insurance policies for New Zealand cover the following:
- Medical or dental emergency: Hospital admission, emergency care and medical evacuation.
- Lost or stolen luggage, passport or other items: Covering the financial cost of replacing luggage, valuables and travel documents.
- Cancelling your trip unexpectedly: Cancellation due to illness, accident, revoked holiday leave or a natural disaster at home or at your intended destination.
- Legal liability: If you break a local law and need a lawyer interpreter.
- Optional extras: Some policies offer a variety of useful extras, such as rental vehicle hire excesses, cover for kennels and catteries for your pets at home, and cover if you suffer a loss of income or a permanent disability while overseas.
- 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.
What doesn’t New Zealand travel insurance cover?
Your travel insurance policy won’t cover everything that happens to you while travelling in New Zealand. There are a number of common exclusions and things that could void your cover, such as:
- Riding without a helmet: Riding a scooter or motorbike can be dangerous and your travel insurance will not cover you if you are found to be riding without a helmet.
- Being under the influence: Claims relating directly to drugs or alcohol, or incidents occurring to travellers under the influence of drugs or alcohol, will likely not be covered.
- Pre-existing conditions: An exclusion may apply if, at the time of purchasing the policy, you were aware of a pre-existing condition and you didn’t inform the insurer. Check the terms and conditions of your policy to find out if your condition is covered, and don’t forget to declare any pre-existing conditions when signing up.
- Unreported and unattended items: You can be covered if your possessions are accidentally stolen or lost, but leaving them unattended will often void your cover. In the event that your possessions are lost or stolen, you need to report the loss within 24 hours to your insurance provider.
Does the Australia and New Zealand reciprocal health care agreement mean I don’t need travel insurance?
Under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, Australians travelling to New Zealand have access to some of the things covered in the public health system, including hospital care, pharmaceuticals and maternity services. Other services, such as visits to a GP or ambulance travel are not included.
Purchasing travel insurance can cover you for any costs this agreement doesn't include, such as evacuation.
Does New Zealand travel insurance cover winter sports?
New Zealand is renowned for its winter sports, like skiing and snowboarding. If you plan on hitting the snowfields on your trip, be aware that many insurance providers do not include snow sports cover as standard on their policies and you will need to purchase it as an optional extra.
It’s also important to read your policy’s product disclosure statement (PDS) to find out if the snow sports you plan to do are actually covered and that you meet the specific requirements. For example, if you plan to go skiing, your policy may require you to stay on-piste: if you are going off-piste, you may need a professional guide in order to be covered.
Does New Zealand travel insurance cover extreme sports?
Extreme sports, including bungee jumping, white water rafting, cave diving, skydiving, jet boating and horseback riding, are popular in New Zealand. However, be warned that many of these activities are typically not covered under a standard travel insurance policy.
It’s a good idea to ask your insurer about specific adventure travel insurance or optional extra coverage if you’re planning to do any of these out-of-the-ordinary activities.
Can you drive on an Australian licence in New Zealand?
Driving yourself around the North and South islands of New Zealand is a popular way of seeing the country. You can drive a car in New Zealand using your Australian driver’s licence. However, before you hop behind the wheel, there are few things to keep in mind.
- New Zealand’s roads can often become dangerous with the addition of ice, snow, fog and high winds. Ask your hire car company for snow tyres in case of ice and snow (particularly if you’re travelling in winter), and whether the car you’ve been allocated has headlights bright enough to cut through fog.
- Riding a motorcycle or scooter in New Zealand may not be covered by your travel insurance as standard – read the policy’s PDS carefully or check with your insurer to confirm this.
- Drinking to excess and driving will void your travel insurance policy.
- From November 1, 2026, you’ll only be able to use your Australian driver’s licence for 12 months while in New Zealand. After that time, you’ll need to either stop driving, or convert your licence to a New Zealand driver’s licence.
It could be a good idea to talk to your insurer about any plans to hire a car or drive while on your New Zealand trip. It may also be possible to take out a separate car insurance policy while overseas, or to negotiate one through the vehicle hire company. As with any insurance product, always read the PDS thoroughly to ensure you have the cover you need.
Can I get coverage for natural disasters?
New Zealand is well known for natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanoes and storms, while the coast is at risk of tsunamis. It’s important that during your visit, you pay attention to any warnings and advice, especially if you’re planning on visiting any of the many popular tourist attractions around New Zealand’s volcanoes and geothermal areas, such as the Taupō region.
While you won’t get specific cover for natural disasters, you’ll want cover for the impacts that a natural disaster may have on your holiday. Look for travel insurance policies with cover for things like unexpected cancellations and medical expenses.
Keep in mind that if there is a travel warning in place on your destination, such as ‘do not travel’ advice on the Smartraveller website, your insurance may not cover you for incidents that occur if you travel against official advice.
