As the world's second-largest country, there's no one Canadian experience - with everything from beaches to glaciers, colonial cuisines to First Nations delicacies, and sleepy rural towns to major metropolises, there is a dream holiday awaiting everyone in Canada. TINZ's Canada travel insurance covers you for cancellations, injuries, family emergencies and more. Scroll on down to learn about this popular travel destination, including visas, getting around, and the must-see spots to make your Canadian adventure unforgettable.
Your health is our number one priority, so our expert emergency assistance team are available 24/7.
If you fall ill or natural disaster strikes and you have to cancel, we've got your back policies have you covered.
Delays can be frustrating (and expensive!). TINZ's Comprehensive policies cover those extra expenses while you wait.
Had to rush home or cancel due to a family emergency in New Zealand? No sweat we’ll cover your lost deposits.
Whether it's a ding or a curious bear, our Comprehensive policies include $6000 in car rental excess cover.
Taking gadgets on your Canadian trip? We'll cover laptops and cameras up to $3000, and all other items up to $1000.
Canada is a big place! If you want to see it all, don't worry - with TINZ, you can be covered for up to 18 months!
Looking to cruise Canada's stunning waterways? At TINZ, cruises are automatically included for free.
Heading to Canada? Our travel experts let you in on the must-know tricks for making the most of your holiday. Keep reading to find out tips on vias, attractions, where to eat, how to get around... and way more!
Unless you have a criminal record (including drink-driving convictions), you won’t require a visa to travel to Canada, but you will require an electronic travel authorisation (eTA), which costs $7CAD and is applied for online. They are linked to your passport, and are valid for five years or until your passport expires – whichever comes first. Make sure you have at least six month’s validity on your passport before travelling.
It really depends what you’re travelling for! May through to mid-June are a beautiful time to visit Canada, with balmy weather and not too many tourists. Or for golden forests, visit during the shoulder season of September to October. Late June to September is the summer peak season, with tourists booking more than six months in advance to ensure availability - be prepared for prices to soar at this time!
The best time to hit the snow is January or March, thanks to the coldest weather and fewer tourists. Beware mid-to-late December and February, with Christmas and school breaks meaning that families are on holiday – and they all seem to end up here!
With such a big country, a list of places to go would continue on forever, but here are some of our favourites!
British Columbia: If you’re a skier, look no further than Whistler and Blackcomb, the largest and perhaps most famous alpine skiing destination in North America. TINZ's Snow Ski Cover add-on covers you for both on-piste skiing and snowboarding, and off-piste with a licensed instructor.
Ontario: Ottawa is home to the world's largest naturally-frozen iceskating rink in the world, the Rideau Canal. From January to late February, 7.8km of canal freeze over, for a magical way to see the city. Hire skates at the downtown or Fifth Avenue entrances, and stop at the stalls along the way serving soups, hot chocolate and Beavertail pastries. While you're in Ottawa, check out Parliament Hill, the home of Canada's national government. Check out its stunning neo-gothic architecture, as well as the changing of the guard every morning at 9:45, or the free light and sound shows that light up the building throughout the Canadian summer. And head out of Ottowa to see Niagra Falls - our experts think it's even more impressive from the Canadian side.
Alberta: Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park, with some 6600 square kilometres of wonderous natural lanscapes, including mountains, lakes, and glaciers.
Quebec: Visting Montreal? Every July, all the biggest names in comedy descend for the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival - arguably the top comedy festival in North America. And while you're there, why not check out the Montreal Botanical Gardens, one of the largest such gardens in the world, featuring themed exhibitions and greenhouses, butterfly breeding houses and more. And families with different interests should visit St Helen's Island, for the Six Flags Theme Park, outdoor art, war history museums, and even an electronic dance festival Piknic Elektronic in summer.
British Columbia: Built in 1889, the 137-metre Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver, lets travellers walk through the picturesque canopy of a forest. If you're afraid of heights, this is an amazing way to get on top of it.
Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.
- Pierre Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister (1980–1984)
With a national cuisine that varies from region to region thanks to strong First Nations, French, and British influence, Canada is a underground hit for foodies looking to some new food experiences.
Poutine is a combination of crispy fries, cheese curds, and thick gravy. Try the classic version, or try a new loaded versions with bacon or onions.
Once a key staple for Canada's indigenous folks, bannock appears in bakeries and cafe's across the country, in either dense baked versions or fried - crisp yon the outside and light and fluffy on the inside.
Butter tarts are undeniably Canadian, just like ketchup-flavoured crisps (which Canadians claim to be the inventors of!).
Like your meats? Enjoy a Montreal smoked sandwich, or try a muskox steak. Found in Canada's Arctic, they have a rich fat marbling and meaty, melt-in-your-mouth flavour.
Have a sweet tooth? Try a nanaimo bar, a mix of chocolate ganache, vanilla custard and crushed cookies - yum! Maple syrup is everywhere in Canada, so for a crazy mix of flavours, try a rasher or two of maple-candied bacon.
Canada is the second-largest country after Russia, so don't assume you'll see it all in one visit. But if you're considering going coast-to-coast, look into domestic flights between cities - they're a comfortable and quick way to get from A to B, and if booked early, they can be very affordable - even cheaper than trains.
VIA Rail operate most of the trains, both intercity and transcontinental. The Toronto to Vancouver trip takes around 83 hours, and you can choose between economy reclining seats, or sleeper carriages.
Ferry networks are extensive in Canada, especially in British Columbia and the Atlanic provinces. If you're just walking on, there is generally available spots all year round, but if you're transporting a vehicle or plan to stay in a sleeper berth, it pays to book ahead early.
Almost every town and city has its own bus system, while a number of major cities have Uber or taxis. Smaller towns might only have one taxi for the whole place!
Canada is huge, so if you're staying for good time, not a long time, it's best to pick one spot and stick to it. Immersing yourself in the diversity of the local area is much more rewarding than spending 60% of your trip on the inside of a bus.
Visiting a National Park? Use airtight containers for storing food, and cook away from where you're setting up your tent. Unless you're interested in waking up next to a bear!
Planning on heading elsewhere on your trip? Whether you're saying 'Hey!' to the USA, or crossing the pond to the UK, TINZ's got you covered.
Travelling often means stepping out of your comfort zone, even in a country as friendly and polite as Canada. Flight delays, medical misadventures, missed connections and lost luggage can put a freeze on your travel plans! Make sure you're covered for a range of travel disasters regardless of destination.
There are no reciprocal healthcare agreements between New Zealand and Canada, so if you fall sick or are injured, you have to pay for everything out of pocket. With travel insurance from TINZ, you have unlimited coverage for any medical misadventure, and access to a 24/7 team of medical experts who can help consult (or translate!) to make your stay in hospital smoother - we'll even fly you home to New Zealand if it's safe for you to travel.
Snow problem! With our Snow Ski add-on cover, you're able to ski or snowboard at any resort (provided it's open!) for on-piste activities, or for off-piste as long as you're with a licensed instructor.
Yes. At TINZ we cater for those who enjoy getting wet. We cover a wide range of waters sports such as surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, kite surfing, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, water skiing & wakeboarding, stand up paddle boarding, jet skiing and more. Please refer to our Sports & Activities Cover for a full list of covered activities. This outlines activities requiring an additional premium and activities automatically covered for free.
We don’t cover outdoor rock climbing, hang-gliding, boating in international waters or any kind of professional or competition sports. For a full list of excluded activities please refer to the Policy Document.
When it comes to alcohol we understand that for some, there’s no better way to kick off a holiday than with a poolside cocktail (or two). However, we would exclude any claims involving drugs/or alcohol. Please note this exclusion is only applicable if it was your intoxication that resulted in the claim. Refer to our Policy Document to see a full list of exclusions.
It depends. We will pay up to $1,000 for standard individual single items and $3,000 for personal computers, video recorders or cameras. If you have an item that exceeds that, you can insure it separately up to $5,000. You are only able to cover an item of jewellery for up to $1,000. For more information on insuring specific items during your travels, please refer to our high value items page.
All of TINZ's travel insurance policies cover kids at no additional cost. Your child is eligible if they are financially dependent, under twenty one (19) years, travelling together with a parent or grandparent for 100% of the holiday, and are named on the Certificate of Insurance.
Do you visit Canada often? Or is it just one of the places you're visting this year? Save time and money by getting a frequent traveller trip to cover you you all year round.
Our annual frequent traveller multi-trip policy covers an unlimited number of trips over a 12 month period. You get the same level of cover as our comprehensive international plan, and can tailor your individual trip duration from 15 days up to 30 days. Please note this policy is only available for customers under the age of 64.
Get cover for the things you love for your holiday to Canada. Whether you’re an adrenalin junkie, a gadget freak or a high-end holiday maker, TINZ has the extra cover you need.
Hiring a car to see Canada's stunning natural landscapes? With TINZ, your rental vehicle excess is automatically covered on all policies (excluding Essentials), up to $6000. So whether it's an accidental fender-bender, or a bear decides to break in, you can park your worries with TINZ.
Heading to Whistler? Snow problem! TINZ covers winter sports from skiing, snowboarding to heli-skiing & cat skiing. Simply select snow ski cover within the quote process.
Are your Canadian travel plans packed with thrills and spills? Without proper cover, your heart-pounding adventure could leave you with a headache.
Are you travelling to Canada with a group? TINZ offers special rates that can save you significant time and money!
Expensive items that you can’t leave behind? Add your tech toys, high-end cameras, or designer handbags to your policy as high value items..
Don’t let a pre-existing medical condition get in the way of your travels. We cover 35 existing medical conditions automatically for free. You can also apply for instant cover for additional conditions via our online assessment tool.
VISAS
BEST TIME TO VISIT
WHERE TO GO
WHAT TO EAT
GETTING AROUND
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