Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Festivals & Events
Big Gay Out
(
www.biggayout.co.nz
) Free festival (food, drink, entertainment) held every
February in Auckland.
Out Takes
(
www.outtakes.org.nz
)
G&L film festival staged in Auckland and Wellington in
May/June.
Gay Ski Week
(
www.gayskiweekqt.com
) Annual Queenstown snow-fest in August/
September.
Health
New Zealand is one of the healthiest countries in the world in which to travel. Diseases
such as malaria and typhoid are unheard of, and the absence of poisonous snakes or oth-
er dangerous animals makes outdoor adventures here less risky than in neighbouring
Australia.
Before You Go
MEDICATIONS
Bring medications in their original, clearly labelled containers. A signed and dated letter
from your physician describing your medical conditions and medications (including gener-
ic names) and any requisite syringes or needles, is also wise.
VACCINATIONS
NZ has no vaccination requirements for any traveller, but the World Health Organ-ization
recommends that all travellers should be covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles,
mumps, rubella, chickenpox and polio, as well as hepatitis B, regardless of their destina-
tion. Ask your doctor for an
International Certificate of Vaccination
(or 'the yellow booklet'),
which will list all the vaccinations you've received.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Health insurance is essential for all travellers. While health care in NZ is of a high stand-
ard and not overly expensive by international standards, considerable costs can be built
up and repatriation can be pricey.
If your current health insurance doesn't cover you for medical expenses incurred over-
seas, consider extra insurance - see
www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-insurance
for more in-
formation. Find out in advance if your insurance plan will make payments directly to pro-
viders or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures.
