How to book a travel appointment:
Book early: Book at least 4 - 6 weeks before travelling (the earlier the better)
Why early?
• Some vaccines need several doses
• Immunity takes time to develop
• Minimises side effects while you are away
• Short notice? Still book — it’s not too late, some protection is better than none.
Complete your pre-travel questionnaire below and a staff member will be in contact once received.
• Travel Questionnaire – Yellow Fever
Before your appointment: Fill out the travel questionnaire
Children: They are not required to attend appointments
Consult time: Appointments vary between 30-60 minutes, depending on your needs and group size
Bring with you: Any additional vaccine records. For children, bring in their Well Child Book
Important: Vaccine advice is only for the person (s) booked
You will be given advice on:
• Food and water safety
• Health hazards
• Altitude Illness
• Insect and animal bites risks
Malaria prevention
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Women's health concerns
• Medical kits
• Travel insurance
• Safety, security, and environmental issues
A vaccine schedule will be recommended based on your destination, health, and risks. You will be given a quote of the recommended vaccines.
You can decide which vaccines you want, based on your budget and protection needs.
Once you have decided on which vaccines you would like, you need to pre-pay at reception.
After payment is received, the vaccines will be ordered.
You will receive a call or text when your vaccines have arrived at the clinic
Book an appointment with the nurse to have the vaccines administered to you
You will be advised on your booster vaccines if any
What are the appointment costs?
See right for costs for your travel appointments
Vaccines are not included in the costs
All prices are subject to change
| Travel Clinic Appointment Costs | |
|---|---|
| One adult only (includes children over 16 years | $140.00 |
| Two adults | $210.00 |
| Each additional adult – up to maximum of four adults | $210.00 + $70.00 |
| Family – two adults + children (children do not have to be at appointment) | $220.00 |
| Family – 1 adult + children (children do not have to be at appointment) | $150.00 |
| Yellow Fever Consults | $75.00 |
Travel Health Advice
Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease and is transmitted to people and pets through bites and scratches from infected mammals
How Rabies Spreads
Rabies is transmitted through:
- Bites, scratches, or licks from infected mammals
- Contact with saliva from infected animals entering broken skin, eyes, nose, or mouth
High-Risk Animals Include:
- Dogs (most common worldwide source)
- Bats
- Monkeys
- Cats
- Other wild or stray animals
Avoid Animal Contact
- Do not pet or feed stray animals
- Supervise children closely
- Avoid caves or areas where bats may be present
- Be aware that some activities, such as cycling, running or cave exploring, might increase your risk of exposure to animals, particularly bats, or being attacked by a dog
- Avoid handling or feeding monkeys, and be careful when carrying shopping bags or eating food near monkeys, as this can trigger an attack
If You Are Bitten or Scratched
- Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
- Apply an antiseptic such as an iodine solution to the wound
- Take note of the type of the type of animal, the time you were bitten, the location of the wound and the severity, i.e. exposure to saliva, a scratch, a bite and if there was any bleeding from the wound
- Seek urgent medical attention, even if you have had the rabies vaccine
- Post-exposure treatment will depend on the type of animal, the category of the injury, your immune status, and if you have had pre-exposure vaccines, and may include:
- Rabies vaccine series
- Rabies immunoglobulin (if not previously vaccinated)
- Tetanus vaccine
Travellers often experience jet lag, a sleep disorder caused by rapid travel across time zones, resulting in a temporary desynchronization between the internal biological clock and the local time.
Before You Travel
- Gradually shift your sleep schedule to match the sleep time of your destination
- Get plenty of rest before your flight• Avoid alcohol and caffeine the day before and during the flight
- Consider booking flights that arrive in the early evening, so you can sleep at a normal local time
During the Flight
- Stay hydrated: Drink water, avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Adjust your watch to your destination time as soon as you board
- Sleep if it’s nighttime at your destination, or stay awake if it’s daytime.
- Time activities (e.g., meals, sleep, light exposure) based on the destination timezone.
After You Arrive
- Expose yourself to daylight: Natural light helps reset your body clock
- Avoid lengthy naps during the day at the destination because this will make it more difficult to sleep at night; short naps may improve alertness
- Eat and sleep at local times
- Stay active and get outside
How to Prevent It - Food & Drink Safety:
- Drink bottled, boiled, or purified water
- Avoid ice, unpasteurised milk, and salads washed in tap water
- Eat food that is:
- Freshly cooked and hot
- Peelable (e.g., bananas, oranges)
Avoid:
- Street food
- Raw or undercooked meat/seafood
- Buffet foods left out for long periods
Hygiene:
- Wash your hands often or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser
- Avoid touching your mouth or face with unwashed hands
If You Get Traveller’s Diarrhoea
Mild Cases (most common)
- Usually resolves within 3–5 days
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids and oral rehydration salts
- Eat small, bland meals, e.g., rice, bananas, toast
Moderate to Severe Cases
- Frequent watery stools, cramps, fever, vomiting, or blood in stool
May require treatment with:
- Antibiotics, e.g., azithromycin
- Antidiarrhoeal medicine, e.g., loperamide – only for short-term use without fever or blood
- Antinausea, e.g., ondansetron, cyclizine
When to seek medical attention
- Seek medical help if you have:
- Diarrhoea lasting more than 3 days
- High fever or chills
- Blood or mucus in stool
- Signs of dehydration (dizziness, low urine output)
- Severe abdominal pain
Essentials to Pack:
- Medications for Common Illnesses
- First Aid Supplies
- Insect and Sun Protection
- Hygiene Supplies
- Prescription medication
Check Your Medication Supply
- Take enough medication for the entire trip, plus extra in case of delays
- Pack all medications in your carry-on bag – checked luggage can be lost or delayed
- Keep medications in original packaging with labels clearly stating your name, name of medication, name of healthcare provider and dosage
Travel Letter
Ask your travel practitioner or pharmacist for a letter explaining your medical conditions and prescriptions. You may require this for:
- Customs or airport security
- Replacing medication overseas
- Showing local healthcare providers
Storing Medication Safely
- Keep medication cool and dry and avoid heat exposure (e.g., in a parked car).
- Some medications may require being kept at a cooler temperature, e.g. insulin. These can be kept in a chilly bin. Insulin should not be placed directly onto ice packs as it may freeze
Check Medication Legality
Some countries restrict or ban certain medications (e.g., codeine, strong painkillers, stimulants like ADHD meds)
Time Zone Changes
For medications taken at specific times (e.g., insulin, contraceptive, anti-epileptics), plan for time zone adjustments:
- Keep doses consistent with your usual schedule or adjust gradually over a few days.
- Consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are unsure
There are many different types of insects that can spread diseases between people or from animals to people, such as mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and fleas.
- Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats especially at sunrise and after sunset
- Use an appropriate insect repellent containing DEET
Apply after sunscreen, as the SPF protection of your sunscreen may reduce the effectiveness of the repellent. Reapply after swimming, washing or excessive sweating (because water and sweats washes them off)
- Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms
- Use a mosquito net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors
- If bitten by a bug, avoid scratching and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce itching.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs. It can happen during long periods of immobility, such as long-haul flights or car/bus travel. A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a part of the DVT clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, which can be life-threatening.
How to Prevent DVT During Travel
- Move your legs frequently – flex and extend ankles and knees every 30–60 minutes
- Stand up and walk around every 1–2 hours (when safe to do so)
- Avoid crossing your legs
- Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water
- Avoid alcohol and sleeping tablets that may increase immobility
- Consider wearing graduated compression stockings. These help to improve blood flow and reduce swelling
Symptoms usually appear 7 days after a mosquito bite and may include:
- Fever, chills, and sweats
- Headache and muscle aches
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- In severe cases: confusion, jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes), or breathing problems
Prevention
Mosquitoes that carry malaria are most active at dusk and night, so protection is key:
- Use insect repellent with DEET, or other recommended ingredients on exposed skin.
- Wear protective clothing: long sleeves, long pants, socks.
- Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets, especially in areas with malaria risk.
- Stay indoors or in screened/air-conditioned areas at night.
- Use screens on windows and doors
- Your healthcare practitioner may prescribe medicines before, during, and after travelling to areas with malaria.
- Always take as prescribed—skipping doses can reduce protection.
- The choice of medicine depends on your destination, health, and allergies.
- Seek urgent medical care if you experience fever:
- After returning from a malaria-risk area
- Even if you took prevention medicine, malaria could still occur.
Contaminated food and water pose an infectious disease risk to travellers due to the numerous pathogens and toxins that can be transmitted.
- In areas where tap water could be unsafe, use only commercially bottled water from an unopened, factory-sealed container or water that has been adequately disinfected for drinking, preparing food and beverages, making ice, cooking, and brushing teeth. Avoid getting tap water in your mouth when showering or bathing.
- Beverages that might not be safe for consumption include iced drinks and fountain drinks or other drinks made with tap water. Because ice might be made from contaminated water, ask that all beverages be served without ice.
- For infants ages <6 months, the safest way to feed is to breastfeed exclusively. Practicing careful hygiene when using a breast pump and washing pump parts using a safe source of water can reduce the risk of getting pathogens into the milk
- When preparing formula from commercial powder, mixing it with a safe source of water following the manufacturer's instructions usually is sufficient. Pack enough formula as global manufacturing standards vary
- Avoid raw or undercooked meat, seafood, and street food
AVOID
- Salads, uncooked vegetables, raw and unpeeled fruits, and unpasteurized fruit juices.
- Raw or undercooked meat, fish, shellfish, eggs.
- Unpasteurized milk and milk products.
USUALLY SAFE
Fruits that can be peeled, which are safest when rinsed with safe water and peeled by the person who eats them; vegetables should be rinsed with safe water before cooking.
- Fully cooked meat and eggs.
- Pasteurized milk and milk products.
International travellers who engage in outdoor activities are often exposed to more ultraviolet (UV) than usual, especially in sunny locations, lower latitudes, or higher elevations, which can cause sunburn, skin damage, and phototoxic medication reactions.
- Choose sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher
- Apply at least 15 minutes before going outside
- Reapply every 2 – 4 hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating excessively
- Wear long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-protective sunglasses
- Apply a lip balm with SPF ≥30
Altitude illness can affect anyone who ascends to high altitudes too quickly, typically above 2,500m (8,200 feet). It’s important to recognise the signs, know how to prevent it, and understand what to do if symptoms occur.
What Causes It?
At high altitudes, oxygen levels are lower. If your body doesn’t have time to adjust (acclimatise), you may develop symptoms of altitude illness. Risk increases with:
- Rapid ascent
- High altitude (especially over 3,000m)
- Intense physical activity
- History of previous altitude illness
Warning Signs to Seek Help
- Worsening symptoms despite rest
- Severe headache not relieved with medication
- Shortness of breath at rest
- Confusion, poor coordination, or persistent vomiting
Prevention Tips
Ascend gradually:
- Spend 2–3 nights at 2,500–3,000 m before going higher
- Do not ascend more than 300–500 m per day once above 3,000 m
- Take rest days every 3–4 days
- Stay hydrated and eat well
- Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills at altitude
- “Climb high, sleep low” – ascend during the day, but return to a lower altitude to sleep if possible
Listen to your body – don’t push through symptoms
Register Your Travel with the New Zealand Embassy
For your safety and security while traveling overseas, it’s highly recommended to register your travel details with the New Zealand Embassy. This service helps the government assist you in the event of an emergency, such as natural disasters, civil unrest, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Why Register Your Travel?
- Emergency Assistance: In case of an emergency (e.g., earthquake, civil unrest), the embassy can assist with evacuation, re-entry to New Zealand, and important updates
- Lost or Stolen Passports: If your passport is lost or stolen, the embassy can provide guidance on replacement
- Updates on Travel Warnings: Receive official travel advisories related to safety and security
- Embassy Support: Provides support in emergencies (e.g., illness, accidents, or
arrests) - Family Contact: Ensures your family can be contacted in case of an emergency
Safe Travel: www.safetravel.govt.nz
Post-Travel Health Advice
Welcome back! After traveling, it's important to monitor your health, especially if you've visited regions where certain illnesses or infections are common. Here's what you need to know to stay healthy after your travels.
Monitor Your Health for Symptoms
While many illnesses take a few days or weeks to show symptoms, it's important to be aware of any unusual health changes. Common symptoms to watch for include:
- Fever or chills
- Fatigue or muscle aches
- Rashes or skin changes
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain)
- Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
- Swelling or pain in your legs (which may indicate a clot, e.g., DVT)
- Headaches or dizziness
When to Seek Medical Advice
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:
- Fever lasting more than 48 hours
- Severe diarrhoea or blood in your stool
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Swelling in your legs or calves
- Unusual rashes, especially after mosquito or tick bites
If you’re concerned about any symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider. Provide them with your travel history, as certain diseases (e.g., malaria, typhoid, dengue) are specific to particular regions.
Please call the clinic for more information or to book an appointment.