What vaccines do I need for New Zealand?

Required: Yellow Fever (required only if arriving within 6 days of leaving a country with yellow fever transmission risk). Recommended by the CDC: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza.

Is tap water safe to drink in New Zealand?

Tap water is generally safe in New Zealand, though bottled water is advisable in rural areas.

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Oceania

New Zealand Travel Health

Reviewed by Alexander Webber, Chief Epidemiologist · Updated 2026-08

New Zealand is one of the lowest-risk travel destinations in the world for infectious disease, with no endemic vector-borne diseases, no snakes, and no dangerous terrestrial predators. The most practical health concerns are environmental: extreme UV radiation, rapidly changing alpine weather conditions, and leptospirosis risk for travelers with freshwater or farm animal exposure.

Food Safety: Low Risk Tap Water: Safe Malaria Risk Present

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Vaccines for New Zealand

Required for Entry

Yellow Fever (required only if arriving within 6 days of leaving a country with yellow fever transmission risk)

CDC Recommended

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Influenza

Source: CDC Travelers' Health — New Zealand

Malaria Risk

No malaria risk in New Zealand.

Food and Water Safety

Low Risk Tap water: safe

New Zealand has excellent food safety standards. Tap water is safe to drink in all cities and towns. Water from streams and rivers should be treated or filtered before drinking due to Giardia and potential leptospira contamination, particularly in areas with livestock.

Key Health Tips for New Zealand

Apply SPF 50+ sunscreen every two hours; New Zealand's UV index is among the highest in the world due to ozone layer thinning over the Southern Hemisphere.
Never drink untreated water from rivers or streams; filter or boil all backcountry water to prevent Giardia and leptospirosis.
Dress in waterproof layers and carry emergency survival gear for any alpine or Fiordland tramping; weather can change from clear to life-threatening within hours.
Ensure comprehensive travel insurance including search and rescue coverage; helicopter evacuations from backcountry areas are expensive.

Disease Risks in New Zealand

Hepatitis A

Official Resources

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