We analyzed 13 travel insurance companies for trips to Australia and New Zealand based on cost and coverage quality. Claims handling and financial stability were also evaluated. World Nomads ranks first with a 93 overall score. World Nomads' flat-rate pricing and adventure sports coverage make it the right pick for both destinations.
Best Travel Insurance for Australia and New Zealand (2026)
Travel insurance for Australia and New Zealand costs $43 to $248 for week-long trips. Both destinations charge non-residents full price for medical care, with no public health coverage for U.S. visitors.
Find the best travel insurance for your Australia or New Zealand trip below.
Updated: July 7, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
World Nomads leads our rankings with flat-rate pricing at $81 for all trip costs. World Nomads includes adventure sports coverage: skiing, diving and bungee jumping.
Medical evacuation from remote areas like the Australian Outback or New Zealand's South Island costs $50,000 to $100,000. Choose plans with $250,000+ evacuation coverage.
Buy insurance within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit to unlock pre-existing condition waivers and cancel for any reason options on select plans.
Best Travel Insurance Companies for Australia and New Zealand
1 | World Nomads | 93 | Overall value and adventure coverage |
2 | Generali | 92 | Comprehensive medical coverage |
3 | Allianz | 91 | Claims service experience |
4 | IMG | 91 | High trip cost coverage |
5 | Travel Guard | 91 | Trip cancellation protection |
World Nomads
Best Overall for Australia and New Zealand
Overall Score: 93 out of 100
World Nomads leads with a 98 affordability score and 86 coverage score. The Standard plan costs $81 for trips with $2,500 to $10,000 in trip costs, with flat-rate pricing that benefits travelers with expensive bookings. Coverage includes $100,000 emergency medical and $300,000 evacuation limits.
Why World Nomads excels:
- Flat-rate pricing: $81 Standard, $135 Explorer, $248 Epic (all trip costs)
- Adventure sports included (skiing, diving, bungee jumping)
- $100,000+ medical coverage, $300,000 to $500,000 evacuation limits
- Mobile app with 24/7 emergency assistance
- Popular with backpackers traveling Australia's East Coast and adventure seekers in New Zealand's South Island
The Explorer plan ($135) adds $150,000 medical coverage and trip cancellation up to trip cost.
Generali Global Assistance
Best for Comprehensive Medical Coverage
Overall Score: 92 out of 100
Generali achieves an 88 coverage score with the strongest emergency medical limits. The Standard plan costs $73 for $2,500 trips and includes $100,000 medical coverage plus $250,000 evacuation limits. Generali maintains a perfect A+ AM Best rating.
Generali's key strengths:
- $100,000 to $250,000 medical coverage across plans
- $250,000 to $500,000 evacuation limits for remote areas
- Trip interruption at 150% of trip cost
- A+ financial stability rating (100 stability score)
- Strong presence in Sydney and Auckland with direct billing relationships at major hospitals
The Preferred plan ($86) offers $150,000 medical limits, while Premium ($107) provides $250,000 medical coverage and cancel for any reason options.
Allianz
Best for Claims Service Experience
Overall Score: 91 out of 100
Allianz achieves a perfect 100 claims and service score. The mobile app (rated 4.7+) allows claims filing, status tracking and 24/7 assistance access. The Basic plan starts at $98 for $2,500 trips.
What sets Allianz apart:
- Perfect 100 service score for fast claims
- Mobile app with digital claims tracking
- 24/7 phone support for travel assistance
- A+ financial strength rating
The Prime plan ($136) adds $100,000 medical coverage. The Premier plan ($184) includes cancel for any reason coverage (75% reimbursement) when purchased within 14 days.
IMG
Best for High Trip Cost Coverage
Overall Score: 91 out of 100
IMG leads in coverage score (95) with 150% trip interruption limits and $1 million medical coverage on premium plans. The Choice plan costs $78 for $2,500 trips, scaling to $281 for $10,000 trips, the most competitive rate for high-value travel.
IMG's competitive advantages:
- 150% trip interruption limits, highest in our analysis
- $1 million medical coverage on LX plan
- $500,000 to $1 million evacuation coverage
- Four plan tiers for different budgets
- SE plan covers ski equipment for Queenstown trips and diving gear for Great Barrier Reef expeditions
The LX plan ($171) includes concierge services, highest coverage limits and 24/7 medical consultation.
Travel Guard
Best for Trip Cancellation Protection
Overall Score: 91 out of 100
Travel Guard achieves a 98 claims and service score with 100% trip cancellation coverage on all plans. Preferred and Deluxe plans offer cancel for any reason options. The Essential plan costs $103 for $2,500 trips.
Travel Guard delivers:
- 100% trip cancellation coverage on all plans
- Cancel for any reason option (75% reimbursement) on Preferred and Deluxe
- $1,000+ trip delay coverage
- $50,000 to $250,000 medical coverage
The Preferred plan ($189) adds rental car damage coverage and $100,000 medical limits. The Deluxe plan ($229) includes cancel for any reason when purchased within 21 days.
Travel Insurance Costs for Australia and New Zealand
Travel insurance for Australia and New Zealand costs $43 to $248 for week-long trips with $2,500 in prepaid costs for 30-year-old travelers. Both destinations show identical pricing since insurers assess similar risk levels.
Modern healthcare systems in both countries keep costs predictable, but remote regions require strong evacuation coverage. The 14 to 20-hour flight duration from the U.S. increases medical risk compared to shorter trips.
Tin Leg | Basic | $43 | $61 | $97 |
Nationwide | Essential | $59 | $213 | $502 |
Travelex | Essential | $62 | $202 | $481 |
World Trips | Escape | $67 | $149 | $314 |
BHTP | ExactCare Value | $69 | $151 | $316 |
Generali | Standard | $73 | $140 | $274 |
AXA | Silver | $74 | $132 | $248 |
IMG | Lite | $76 | $162 | $333 |
IMG | Choice | $78 | $146 | $281 |
Travelex | Advantage | $80 | $237 | $552 |
Seven Corners | Basic | $81 | $188 | $402 |
Travel Insured | Essential | $81 | $143 | $268 |
World Nomads | Standard | $81 | $81 | $81 |
Allianz | Basic | $98 | $204 | $417 |
Prices shown are for one 30-year-old traveler on a 7-day trip departing October 1. Pricing applies to both Australia and New Zealand. Prices include taxes and fees.
Premiums increase with age and trip duration. A 65-year-old pays $100 to $143 for basic coverage on the same trip, which is 70% more than a 30-year-old. Two travelers pay $118 to $171 for basic plans. Extending trips from 7 to 14 days increases costs by 20% to 30%.
Travel insurance costs 4% to 8% of your total trip cost ($43 to $248 for week-long trips with $2,500 in prepaid expenses) and protects against medical costs reaching thousands per day and evacuation expenses exceeding $100,000.
What to Look for in Australia and New Zealand Travel Insurance
U.S. visitors in Australia and New Zealand pay full price for medical care in both countries, with no public health coverage. Long-haul flights and remote regions create specific coverage requirements.
Emergency Medical | $100,000+ | Hospital stays cost $2,000 per day. ER visits start at $500. Neither country covers visitors under public healthcare. |
Emergency Evacuation | $250,000+ | Medical evacuation from Outback or South Island costs $50,000 to $100,000. Air ambulance from Sydney runs $15,000 to $30,000. |
Trip Cancellation | Match trip cost | Flights cost $1,200 to $2,500. Hotels book months ahead with strict policies. |
Trip Interruption | 150% of trip cost | Covers return flights if you cut trips short. Last-minute flights home cost $2,000 to $4,000. |
Adventure Sports | Included or rider | New Zealand draws visitors for skiing, bungee jumping, hiking. Australia offers diving, surfing, outback tours. Basic plans exclude these. |
Pre-Existing Conditions | Waiver available | Purchase pre-existing condition waivers within 14 to 21 days of initial deposit. Long-haul flights increase medical risk. |
Evacuation costs can reach $150,000 for complex rescues from remote areas like Tasmania, the Outback or Fiordland. World Nomads and IMG include adventure sports in base plans, while other providers require upgraded coverage for skiing, diving, bungee jumping and skydiving.
Do You Need Travel Insurance for Australia or New Zealand?
Travel insurance isn't required for entry to Australia or New Zealand, but the cost of medical care without coverage can exceed $100,000 in either country.
- Travel during peak season (December to February)
- Visit remote areas like the Australian Outback or New Zealand's South Island and Fiordland
- Plan activities such as skiing, scuba diving or bungee jumping
- Book high-cost tours with strict cancellation terms
- Have pre-existing medical conditions
- Bring valuable gear like cameras or diving equipment
- Book non-refundable travel costing $3,000 or more
- Stay in major cities with nearby hospitals
- Book fully refundable flights and accommodations
- Have excellent health with no pre-existing conditions
- Avoid adventure activities
- Take short trips (three to four days) with little prepaid cost
- Rely on strong credit card travel benefits
- Can cover $2,000 to $5,000 in emergency expenses
How to Choose Travel Insurance for Australia and New Zealand
- 1
Calculate your total trip cost.
Add all prepaid, non-refundable expenses. Buy trip cancellation coverage matching this amount.
- 2
Check policy exclusions for adventure sports.
World Nomads and IMG include adventure sports in standard coverage, while other providers require upgraded plans.
- 3
Choose plans with at least $100,000 medical coverage and $250,000 evacuation coverage.
Review whether plans pay providers directly or require upfront payment.
- 4
Compare coverage limits, exclusions and premiums from at least three providers.
Then check premium differences. Premiums across the 13 providers analyzed vary by 400%.
- 5
Purchase early.
Unlock cancel for any reason options, pre-existing condition waivers and time-sensitive benefits. Buy insurance within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit if you have pre-existing conditions to unlock coverage waivers.
World Nomads Standard at $81 is the right starting point for both destinations. Flat-rate pricing covers unlimited trip cost and adventure sports are included. Travelers prioritizing high medical limits should choose Generali Preferred at $86 for $150,000 in medical coverage and $500,000 evacuation. Travelers heading to remote areas like the Outback or South Island should choose IMG LX at $171 for $1,000,000 in evacuation coverage.
Travel Insurance for Australia and New Zealand: FAQ
Travel insurance isn't required to enter either country. U.S. travelers should buy coverage for trips longer than five days or when booking non-refundable accommodations. Skip it only if you have full credit card travel benefits and can afford $5,000+ in emergency costs.
Standard policies exclude adventure sports like bungee jumping, skydiving and skiing. Review your policy's covered activities list before booking excursions. Only select providers include these in base plans, while standard plans require upgraded coverage or separate riders.
Purchase at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage. Australia's Medicare doesn't cover visitors, and private hospitals require upfront payment or credit card guarantee. Choose $250,000+ evacuation coverage if visiting areas more than two hours from major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland or Wellington.
Yes, but buying within 14 to 21 days of your initial deposit provides the most benefits. Early purchase unlocks pre-existing condition waivers and cancel for any reason options. You can buy basic protection closer to departure, but lose access to certain features.
How We Chose the Best Travel Insurance for Australia and New Zealand
We collected quotes from 13 travel insurance companies for Australia and New Zealand trips across multiple traveler profiles and trip scenarios. Our analysis included 30-year-old and 65-year-old travelers, single travelers and couples, trips lasting 7 and 14 days, and trip costs ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
Scoring breakdown:
- Cost (40%): Lower premiums ranked higher
- Coverage (30%): Evaluated trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical, evacuation, baggage loss and trip delay limits
- Claims and service (25%): Assessed 24/7 availability, digital tools, mobile apps and claims processing speed
- Financial stability (5%): Reviewed AM Best ratings
Each company's overall score represents the average of all its plan scores. We analyzed 42 individual plans to determine the best providers for Australia and New Zealand travelers.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.