🇳🇿 New Zealand
Closest to home, easiest to plan.
New Zealand is Australia's biggest outbound market and the simplest trip to organise — no visa for Australian citizens, the same power plugs, and a reciprocal health care agreement. The catch most people miss: Australian permanent residents are treated completely differently to Australian citizens.
Your New Zealand trip setup
21 things Australians need to sort. Tick them off as you go.
Entry requirements
Visa-free for Australian citizensUp to Indefinite — Australian citizens are granted a resident visa on arrival View detailsConnectivity
Compare 8 plansFrom $7.50 Compare eSIMsTravel insurance
Compare 5 policysFrom $16.20 Compare insuranceMoney & payments
Compare 5 cards0.43% – 0.65% conversion fee Compare cardsAirport transfer
AKL → AucklandFrom $9 Compare optionsDriving
AU licence OKDrives on the left Compare car hireTravel essentials
No adapter neededTap water: safe to drink View guideThings to do
Compare 5 experiencesFrom $60 Explore activitiesNew Zealand at a glance for Australians
Best time to visit
December – March (summer) and June – September (ski season)
Summer for hiking and road trips, winter for the Queenstown and Ruapehu ski fields.
3h 15m from Sydney (direct)
Health & safety
Smartraveller: Exercise normal safety precautions
Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with New Zealand covering immediately necessary treatment in public hospitals. It does not cover ambulances, medical evacuation, or getting you home — you still need travel insurance.
Emergency: 111
Money
Card and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, including buses and small cafés.
Widely available. Expect NZD $3 – $8 in local ATM fees plus whatever your Australian bank charges.
Tipping: Not expected. There's no tipping culture and no service charge; round up only if you want to.
Language & culture
English
English: Native
Capital: Wellington
Where Australians go in New Zealand
Auckland
Queenstown
Christchurch
Wellington
New Zealand FAQs for Australian travellers
Do Australians need a visa for New Zealand?
No. Australian citizens travelling on an Australian passport don't need a visa or an NZeTA — you're granted a resident visa on arrival. Australian permanent residents who hold another country's passport do need an NZeTA and must pay the NZD $100 International Visitor Levy before travelling.
Do I need an NZeTA as an Australian?
Not if you're an Australian citizen with an Australian passport. Every other traveller from Australia — including Australian permanent residents and dual citizens travelling on a non-Australian passport — needs one.
Does Medicare cover me in New Zealand?
Partly. The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement covers immediately necessary treatment in New Zealand public hospitals. It doesn't cover ambulance callouts, medical evacuation, ongoing care or repatriation, so travel insurance is still worth having.
Do I need a power adapter for New Zealand?
No. New Zealand uses the same Type I plug and 230V supply as Australia, so your chargers work as-is.
Can I drive in New Zealand on my Australian licence?
Yes, for up to 12 months, as long as your licence is current and in English. You don't need an International Driving Permit.
Watching New Zealand?
We'll email you if the visa, arrival card or entry fee rules change for Australian passport holders travelling to New Zealand.