New Zealand Backpacker Accommodation

>> Backpacking New Zealand - The Land of the Long White Cloud

Australia has an interesting relationship with New Zealand. They are so close to us across the Tasman, and probably even more down under than we are, that it almost feels like the same country, despite the fact they sometimes slip into a foreign language. Though both countries can be pretty fierce on the rugby field, and though we have a go at each other constantly, there is a mateship and a sense of oneness. If you've always wanted to go backpacking, New Zealand is a fantastic place to start and flights are cheap.

NZ is one stunning country to visit, and is extreme sport and adventure heaven from the heliskiing, hang-gliding and skydiving, bungee jumping and canyon swings around the dramatically beautiful Remarkables and Coronet Peak or mountaineering around Mt Cook and the glaciers in the south of the South Island, to jet boating, mountain biking, hiking an extinct volcano or tackling the luge track around Taupo in the centre of the North Island. And if you pass through Christchurch without checking out the sites where chunks of The Lord of the Rings were filmed you'd be the only person ever since the movie trilogy was launched.

Of course, if backpacking in New Zealand means more of a slow ramble to you, immersing yourself in a 40,000-year-old thermal pool around Rotorua or in Maori culture and tragedy in the Whakarewarewa Valley or diving with the dolphins off Kaikoura then kicking back with one of the organised tours (they've got them for every age group) could fit the bill.

But don't get lulled into a false sense of security just because New Zealand feels like 'part of us'. It is still another country, and if you have an accident and need to be flown home we can guarantee you'll feel the financial sting for a long time to come if you don't have good backpacker's insurance.

New Zealand travel is pretty safe but accidents happen anywhere so if you're going backpacking New Zealand for your next holidays make sure you at least have emergency assistance, medical, hospital, dental and expenses - oh - and personal liability in case you knock into anything or anyone.

For our other insurance policies, please visit our travel insurance page.

>> Travel Tips To Note:

• You're better off catching a tour to Milford Sound. The scenery is so magnificent, the road narrow and twisting and the weather unpredictable. If you drive you either miss the scenery or risk missing the road.
• If you're asthmatic avoid the thermal regions in the North Island or at least get medical advice first.
• If the South Island locals say something is a 'wee' way, they mean it's not far. Distance, and direction, can be subjective.
• Find your way across the Foveaux Strait to Stewart Island (take your woollies) it's well worth it. In fact there's not much of New Zealand that isn't worth it.