Ski Travel Insurance: Winter Sports Cover Compared
By the Travel Insurance Comparison NZ editorial team
Many travel policies treat skiing and snowboarding as an optional extra rather than standard cover. Where you ski — on groomed runs, off-piste or in the backcountry — can also change what is covered. Here is what to check, for a ski trip overseas and at home.
Skiing in New Zealand: what ACC does and doesn't do
ACC's no-fault scheme covers everyone, including visitors, who is injured in an accident in New Zealand (ACC: If you're a visitor injured in New Zealand), so a ski injury on a New Zealand field can be covered by ACC. ACC does not cover illness (ACC: Injuries we don't cover), and it does not cover disrupted travel plans or lost deposits (ACC: If you're a New Zealander injured overseas). A domestic travel policy is about those costs — cancelled bookings, lost or damaged gear, and rental vehicle excess — rather than medical treatment. See our domestic travel insurance guide.
Skiing overseas
ACC does not cover treatment costs overseas (ACC: If you're a New Zealander injured overseas), so your travel policy's medical and evacuation cover is what you rely on if you are hurt on the slopes abroad. Mountain rescue and helicopter evacuation can be part of that; check how the policy treats them.
MFAT's SafeTravel advice on adventure tourism warns about avalanches and other mountain hazards, suggests taking a guide for backcountry skiing or snowboarding, and recommends eye protection to prevent snow blindness (SafeTravel (MFAT): Adventure tourism).
What to check in the policy
- Whether snow sports are included or need a winter sports add-on, and whether the add-on must be bought before you leave.
- Off-piste and backcountry rules: some policies cover off-piste only within resort boundaries or with a guide, and some exclude it.
- Excluded activities, such as racing, ski jumping or heli-skiing, unless listed as covered.
- Your own and hired equipment: per-item limits and any exclusion for damage while in use.
- Lift passes, ski school and hire costs if you are injured or the resort closes, if the policy offers these benefits.
- Conditions about closed runs, ignoring warnings, and alcohol.
If you need to claim
- Get a report from the ski patrol or resort medical centre for any injury.
- Report theft of equipment to the police and keep the reference number.
- Contact the insurer's emergency line before arranging evacuation or an early return where you can.
- Keep receipts for lift passes, hire and lessons you could not use.
See also our claims guide.
This page is general information, not financial advice, and does not take your personal circumstances into account. Cover, limits, excesses and exclusions differ between insurers and policies. The policy wording (and any policy schedule or endorsement) is what decides a claim, so read it — or ask the insurer — before you buy.
Sources
Official sources cited on this page, checked 30 September 2026.
Compare travel insurance policies
See how the main New Zealand travel insurers set out their cover, then check the policy wording for the points that matter to your trip.
Compare policies