Beach safety tips

Before you grab your togs and head for the sand, take a look at our tips to ensure you have a safe beach holiday.

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As summer rolls around, there's nothing quite like soaking up the sun on New Zealand's beautiful beaches. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway to our country's coastline or travelling on a winter's escape to our neighbours in the Pacific and Australia, holidaying by the beach offers endless opportunities for relaxation and adventure.

But before you grab your togs and head for the sand, take a look at our tips to help make your holiday not only fun, but safe too.

Know the risks

From the rugged West Coast to the bays of the Coromandel, New Zealand beaches are as diverse as they are stunning. But each beach has its own quirks and risks. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Check the conditions

Before you dive in, take a moment to assess the beach conditions. Look out for rips, big waves, and any warnings from lifeguards. Check out the Safeswim website for up-to-date information on our NZ beaches. Simply click on the red and yellow flag on the map at a beach newar you to find out lifeguard patrol times, weather conditions, and any hazards or warnings that may be in place.

What's lurking underneath?

Jellyfish stings may throw a curveball into your beach day plans, but armed with a bit of know-how, you can handle them like a pro.

In cases of a severe reaction, call 111 for an ambulance. While anaphylaxis from jellyfish stings in rare, any symptoms should be taken seriously.¹

If you've been zapped and it's just a sting, here are some beach-ready first aid tips^1:

1. Flush the sting area with sea water.
2. If that didn't remove the tentacles, pop on some gloves and use a dry towel to remove them.
3. Immerse the stung area in tap water as hot as the person can cope without causing burns, for around 15 minutes.
4. Take pain relief.

Jellyfish come in all shapes and sizes, so knowing who is who can help you prepare for potential stings. Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand gives a great run down on jellyfish who frequent our shores.

Overseas dangers can include shark warnings and sharp coral underfoot. Play it safe and do your research before heading away.

Swim between the flags

If lifeguards are on duty, swim between the flags. These are placed in the safest part of the beach to swim in and are patrolled by surf lifeguards who are keeping an eye on you, your family and your friends while you enjoy the water. You'll find similar flags further afield across Australian beaches.

Be SunSmart

Our Kiwi sun can be harsh and skin cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand.²Be SunSmart and slip on UV protected clothing and find some shade, slop on that sunscreen, slip on a hat, and wrap on a pair of sunglasses to avoid the risk of sunburn. As you get into more tropical areas, this will also help protect you getting heatstroke or sunstroke, even though their sun isn't as strong as ours.

Boat safety

If you're heading out on our New Zealand waters, double check you have all the essentials for a safe journey.

Life jackets are a key piece of equipment to wear whenever you're on a boat, and it's important you have one that fits correctly and is safe. You can learn more on what lifejacket to wear in different situations from Boaties Best Mate.

Communication is key when you're out on the water. From letting someone on shore know when you are heading out to when you plan to return, to ensuring you have the right radio on board to keep in touch with Coastguard and Maritime, it can all be invaluable in an emergency.

Check out Coastguard's guide here to trip reporting and calling for help.

Have you got your Coastguard membership? Even the most experienced boatie can experience trouble, but Coastguard can be there to get you home safely. Even better, if you have boat insurance with Tower, you can get $30 off an annual individual Coastguard membership.*

*Ts and Cs apply. Not available in conjunction with any other Coastguard offer.

Find out more here on the organisation from one of Coastguard's Hawkes Bay volunteers, Alex McAndrew.

The importance of travel insurance

Even the best laid plans can go awry, and that's where travel insurance comes in.

Medical cover

Whether it's a stubbed toe or something more serious, travel insurance can cover your medical expense. This can include hospital stays and emergency evacuations, so your focus can be on getting better and not worrying about the costs.

Tower's Domestic Travel insurance Comprehensive plan provides medical cover for up to $2,500, when not covered by the public system, ACC, or your private medical insurance.

If you're travelling internationally, your overseas medical expenses receive unlimited cover when you purchase a Comprehensive or Frequent Flyer policy, or you're covered up to $250,000 under our International Travel insurance Essentials plan.

Exploring the beautiful Great Barrier Reef or Fiji's underwater world might be high up on your list, but make sure you check your policy wording. Some policies might cover you for snorkeling but won't cover you if something goes wrong while you're diving with air tanks, unless you have an internationally-recognised diving qualification.

Also, with the likes of COVID-19 still lurking, our Tower travel insurance Domestic and International plans offer selected cover for medical expenses, cancellation, and travel disruption caused by epidemic and pandemic diseases.**

Find out more on what is covered here.

Trip protection

Life happens and sometimes plans change. If you need to cancel that beachside holiday, some travel insurance policies will reimburse you for non-refundable expenses if your trip is cancelled or cut short due to unexpected events.

Lost or stolen items

Don't let a stolen surfboard or misplaced camera ruin your holiday. Travel insurance can reimburse you for lost or stolen belongings, so you can replace them easily.

Policy terms, excesses, limits, sub-limits, and exclusions apply.***

Take a look at Tower's Domestic travel insurance and Internation travel insurance benefits to find out more on the cover options offered and their limits.

Don't skip your shots

If you're planning to travel overseas to more exotic beaches, do your research and check which vaccinations you'll need before you travel. Depending on your destination, your healthcare provider might recommend vaccinations to protect you against diseases like yellow fever, rabies, cholera, hepatitis A, and typhoid. You also need to ensure you give yourself plenty of time to get these shots, so also check with your GP what the preferred time frame is.

New Zealand can be the ultimate playground for beach lovers on a sunny day, and using these tips can help you have a safe and fun holiday. Get a quick travel insurance quote online here, or give us a call on 0800 606 688, grab your jandals and sunscreen, and get ready for some beach bliss!

Booked and ready to go? Get a quick travel insurance quote online here or give us a call to chat about your options. You can reach us on 0800 606 688.

**The policy still has a general exclusion for epidemics and pandemics and does not cover disinclination to travel due to fear or change of mind. Cover is not provided if you have commenced your journey against the New Zealand Government's advice not to travel. There is no cover for lockdowns, changes in government alert levels, quarantine or mandatory isolation when crossing or returning over boarders, that applies to a population or part of a population. Please read the policy wording on the Domestic or International travel insurance pages for full details.

***This is a summary only. For all of these benefits, please read the policy wording and cover documents to understand the terms, conditions, excesses, limits, sub-limits, and exclusions. Cover is subject to the current underwriting criteria.