Photo © Getty Images/Simon Winnall

Travel insurance while camping

Simple and flexible travel insurance to take you camping around the world. Buy at home or while travelling, and claim online from anywhere in the world.

    As featured in:

  • As featured in:

Get ready to discover the globe while camping

Camping is the start of many adventures for New Zealanders chasing wilderness and open skies. Plant yourself among the forests of Slovenia or beneath a star-studded desert sky to experience more of everything on a camping break.

What’s covered for camping?

Travel insurance can help with unexpected costs if a sudden illness or injury lands you in hospital, if you’re left empty handed when the airline loses your baggage (with your camping gear in it!), or if severe weather puts a dent in your travel plans.

World Nomads offers cover (up to the policy limits) for:

  • Overseas emergency medical: the great outdoors can be good for the soul but not if it ends in sickness or injury. Your policy may cover you for your overseas medical expenses, up to the policy limits and when agreed by us. You can submit a claim to recover unexpected medical expenses while camping abroad.
  • Medical evacuation:if your secluded camping spot is far away from medical facilities, our cover may help get you transported to the medical facility best for your care. Subject to approval from the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team. 
  • Baggage protection: had your stuff swiped while camping? Our gear cover may help with replacing belongings that were stolen. Remember to keep copies of your receipts if you need to make a claim.
  • Cancellation protection: if severe weather or a sick or injured travel buddy affects your trip before it’s even begun, and you have no choice but to cancel your trip, there is cover to help with those non-refundable expenses of cancelling your camping trip.
  • Family plans: cover includes two adults and up to eight dependents on the one policy. Plus, plans can be extended while still travelling for up to 12 months from your departure date (terms and conditions apply).

Cover for adventure or sport activities while camping

Both our Standard and Explorer plans offer cover for level 1 sport and adventure activities that include camping and hiking up to 2,000 metres, and activities such as surfing, kayaking and bungy jumping.

For Kiwis looking for more adventurous pursuits you may need to upgrade your cover if you’re planning on camping or hiking up to 6,000 metres or if you’re abseiling or mountain biking. Specify all the activities you are planning on your trip when you get your quote as you can’t add them afterwards. Terms and conditions apply, check your PDS for details or contact us.

Why consider travel insurance for camping?

Camping holidays can serve up some serious surprises. If that hike to catch the sunrise turns into a nasty misstep and you need a doctor urgently, call our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team. They can help direct you to the nearest medical centre or arrange emergency transport to the most appropriate facility.

Traveller Tip: check you have any relevant paperwork as you’ll probably be asked for proof for several things such as entry permits for countries you’ll be visiting, special tourist visas, digital COVID certificates, proof of vaccinations and a negative PCR test, and camping or visitor permits for national parks.

For self-drive camping trips, the Explorer Plan has cover for the rental insurance excess if you’re involved in a car accident. If you’re taking your own sports equipment such as a kayak, the Explorer Plan also offers cover to hire replacement equipment if:

  • It is accidentally damaged by a carrier; or
  • It is delayed or lost by a carrier for more than 12 hours (the waiting period).

Please note sporting equipment that is checked-in is only covered where the carrier requires it be checked-in due to its size or weight.

Camping destinations

Awaken your sense of adventure camping in:

  • Old-growth forests on the coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Sweden.
  • Shiretoko National Park, Japan for hot springs and waterfalls.

What’s not covered?

Sorry – we won’t cover you if you do something reckless (such as camping in an area that is against local authority warnings). Some things we don’t cover include:

  • Any pre-existing medical conditions which are not listed as an automatically covered pre-existing medical condition as per your PDS. Check your policy wording carefully.
  • If you do not use a professional qualified and licensed guide and operator for activities where required.
  • If you don’t follow your doctor’s instructions or what we or the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team advise you to do.
  • Unattended baggage or personal items.
  • The policy excess per person per insured event where applicable (check the Summary of Benefits in your PDS).

Travel Insurance Tip: before you head off into the wilderness, be sure to follow the camping regulations that apply to that region or country. If you unknowingly cross into another country that is not on your certificate of insurance, it could affect your cover.

This is not a full list of what’s covered and what’s not; please check your policy for a full list of terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions that may apply to your specific plan. If you are unsure of your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.

Did you know travel insurance covers...

You can also buy away from home or buy more cover if you extend your trip. Plus, you can claim online anytime, anywhere in the world.

True Claims Stories

  • Never travel without insurance. This was the first time I ever purchased travel insurance and I am so glad I did. A few days into my trip to Spain I twisted my foot heading down to the metro. Thanks to World Nomads I was able to get medical attention in Spain and since, as luck would have it, I had a fracture that required surgery, they got me a flight home the next day. Filing a claim was surprisingly easy and when the claim was finally processed, I was reimbursed for all of my expenses including things like the extra week in the hotel I didn't get to take advantage of.
    L.D.
    U.S. resident in Spain
  • I recently had a serious injury traveling on my own & the team was amazing. Being confused with a brain injury they took care of everything. Claiming was no problem, they were on the phone constantly to see if all was OK. I can't recommend them enough. Absolutely fantastic & l will always travel with World Nomads Insurance. Thanks guys for getting me home safely.
    A.B.
    Australian in Thailand
  • I was bitten by a monkey at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. I went to a nearby clinic and they gave me a rabies shot, antibiotics to take for 4 days, pain medicine, and anti-inflammatory medicine.
    T.R.
    Canadian in Malaysia

24/7 emergency assistance

If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

From New Zealand & Overseas:
+61 2 8263 0470 or
+61 2 8292 1470
(reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)

Within Australia (Free call): 1800 611 210

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalised?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Been made redundant?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Overseas

Take the pain out of medical costs.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transport

We'll get you to hospital in a flash

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medivac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.

  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Luggage lost?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Tech trashed?

Help starts here.

  • Overseas Medical Expenses
  • Emergency dental treatment
  • 24 hour assistance
  • Emergency medical transport & repatriation
  • Cancellation costs
  • Trip interruption costs
  • Compassionate emergency visit home
  • Resumption of trip
  • Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
  • Baggage delay over 12 hours
  • Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
  • Personal liability
This is a general summary for New Zealand residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the policy documents for full details.