# New Zealand Travel Insurance: What ACC Covers (and What It Doesn't) | Newzealand-Vacation > Do you need travel insurance for New Zealand if ACC covers accidents? What ACC does and doesn't cover for visitors, and why you still need a policy. *Source : https://newzealand-vacation.com/essentials/travel-insurance-acc/* --- Skip to content New Zealand has a unique scheme called ACC that covers accident injuries — even for tourists. It leads many visitors to assume they don’t need travel insurance. That assumption can be an expensive mistake. ## What ACC actually is The **Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)** is a no-fault scheme that covers the cost of treatment for **accidental injuries** that happen on New Zealand soil — and it applies to visitors, not just residents. Sprain your ankle on the Tongariro Crossing or come off a mountain bike, and ACC can cover a substantial part of your treatment. Crucially, ACC gives up something in return: because it covers you, you generally **cannot sue** for personal injury in New Zealand. It’s a trade-off baked into the system. ## The big gaps ACC leaves ACC is accident-only and New Zealand-only. It does **not** cover: - **Illness** — a sudden infection, appendicitis or a flare-up of a condition isn’t an “accident”. - **Medical evacuation and repatriation** — getting you home in an emergency can cost tens of thousands. - **Non-treatment costs** — lost income, a companion staying on, extended accommodation. - **Cancellations, delays and lost baggage** — nothing to do with injury. - **Full treatment costs** — ACC covers a share, not necessarily the entire bill, and follow-up care once you’ve left the country is on you. ## So do you need travel insurance? Yes — here’s why ACC handles the “you broke your leg” part. Travel insurance handles everything around it: the **evacuation**, the **illness**, the **cancelled tour**, the **stolen camera**, and the costs ACC doesn’t fully meet. For an adventure-heavy destination — bungy, skydiving, glacier hikes, alpine tramping — a policy that explicitly covers **adventure activities** is essential; many standard policies exclude them unless you add cover. **Planning tip:** Check that your policy lists the specific activities you'll do. "Adventure sports" definitions vary wildly between insurers, and New Zealand is where you'll actually use them. ## FAQ ### Does ACC cover tourists in New Zealand? Yes — ACC covers accidental injury for visitors, but only injuries (not illness) and only treatment received in New Zealand. ### If ACC covers accidents, why buy travel insurance? Because ACC excludes illness, medical evacuation, repatriation, cancellations and baggage — often the most expensive parts of a claim. ### Do I need special cover for bungy or skydiving? Usually yes. Confirm your policy names adventure activities explicitly, or add the relevant cover before you travel. See our guide to [the NZeTA and entry requirements](https://newzealand-vacation.com/essentials/nzeta-visa-guide/) for the rest of your pre-trip admin. [← More in Essentials](https://newzealand-vacation.com/essentials/) [All articles](https://newzealand-vacation.com/blog/)