Backpackers heading out to New Zealand to take advantage of hiking opportunities are advised to first buy
cheap travel insurance.
Otago Daily Times reports that authorities in the Queenstown region of South Island in New Zealand are having problems with hikers failing to return intention stubs to a local Department of Conservation (Doc) office. Hikers fill in an intention form before heading off on a trip so that authorities know where they are going and when they expect to be back. However, many groups fail to notify the office when they get back, prompting many local searches.
John Roberts, Doc programme manager for community relations, told the paper: "99 per cent of people turn up and are fine. But there's always the chance one per cent are genuinely lost."
Staff can spend up to three hours each day calling local motels and even checking at the airport to make sure that hikers have indeed returned safely from their trips.
Hikers should buy
backpacker travel insurance and always inform someone where they are going and when they expect to be back.
Downunder; experts for
great travel insurance when travelling to the land of the long white cloud.
