New Zealand health & safety

New Zealand vaccinations

No vaccinations are required to enter New Zealand.  Once in the country you’ll find the tap water safe to drink, so no need for the bottled stuff.

Safety & security

Below are a few hints and tips to ensure you have a hassle-free holiday in New Zealand:

New Zealand is one of the safest travel destinations in the world, however you should always observe the same precautions with your personal safety and belongings as you would in any other country or at home.

• If possible, go places with someone you know and trust.
• Be aware of your surroundings when walking and sightseeing.
• Late at night, stay in places that are well lit and with other people.  Don’t take short cuts through parks or alleyways.  Take a taxi or get a ride with someone you know.
• While still relatively safe in New Zealand, it’s recommend that you don’t hitchhike.  Lock your accommodation (including campervans) and secure windows at night.
  

Safety in the outdoors

No doubt you’ll be experiencing New Zealand’s great outdoors – check out these tips to help you stay safe:

• Sign in/sign out. Leave a detailed trip plan with the Department of Conservation or a friend including a ‘panic’ date, the more details they have about your intentions, the quicker you’ll be rescued if something goes wrong.
• Don’t underestimate the weather; check the forecast before heading off.
• Take advice from people who know the area you're planning to tramp or climb.
• Rivers can be killers. If it's running too strong to walk through, wait until the levels drop. Be conservative.
• Going with others is better than going alone.
• Consider using a personal locator beacon, especially if you’re travelling alone.
• If lost - seek shelter and stay where you are. Use a torch/camera flash to attract attention at night. Try and position something highly coloured and visible from the air to help a helicopter search during the day.
  
  

New Zealand travel insurance

Don’t leave home without it!  Accidents happen – and they can happen in the strangest places at the strangest times, like during a skiing trip in the South Island or after a night out in Auckland at 3 am.  Travel insurance can cover you for all sorts of mishaps during your travel, and even before you leave.  Did you know up to 25% of all insurance claims are due to cancellation of travel?


*The Small Print
We’ve tried to make this destination guide as accurate as possible but please double check the essentials like visas, health and safety, airport information etc with the relevant authorities before you travel.  STA Travel takes no responsibility for loss, injury or inconvenience caused as a result of this guide.  All prices listed are in the currency of the destination, unless otherwise stated.