Four young Irish travellers became victims of a robbery in New Zealand last week, reinforcing the need for backpackers to seek
online travel insurance.
According to a report from independent.ie, the four travellers, aged between 18 and 30, were staying in budget accommodation in the town of Dargaville, when masked robbers came to their room and demanded the keys to a van they had rented. The four friends' initial resistance resulted in them being threatened at gunpoint.
The thieves escaped and the burned remains of the stolen vehicle were found some hours after the incident.
New Zealand is hardly renowned as a crime hotspot, and indeed local residents in Dargaville said nothing like that had ever happened before.
The country is a favourite destination among backpackers and has received numerous plaudits from leading travel guides, including one of the budget traveller's favourite, Lonely Planet. The spectacular scenery and the offer of extreme sports in places such as Queenstown prove a major pull.
The incident reinforces the need for backpackers to buy
online travel insurance.
Downunder - the market leaders in online
backpacker travel insurance.