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Explainer: In just a few weeks, New Zealanders will finally be able to cross the ditch into Australia.
The New Zealand border has been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic since March 19.
But it was confirmed on Friday that the much talked about trans-Tasman bubble finally has a start date: October 16.
Planning to take an Australian vacation? Or are you a Kiwi stuck in Australia yet? Get in touch with your story [email protected]
READ MORE:
* Australia finalizes trans-Tasmania bubble deal, border with New Zealand will open on October 16
* Trans-Tasman trip: Australia hopes to open its borders to New Zealanders in November
* Covid-19: Judith Collins asks if Kiwis are ready for the trans-Tasmanian bubble
* Quarantine and contact tracing: what the trans-Tasmanian bubble would look like
Here’s everything we know so far about the trans-Tasmania bubble:
Starting October 16, some New Zealanders will be able to travel to New South Wales and the Northern Territory. They will not have to be quarantined upon arrival.
Only Kiwis that have not been to a designated Covid-19 hotspot in the last 14 days will be able to travel.
Lawrence Smith / Stuff
The new Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 at Auckland International Airport.
Currently, all of New Zealand is at alert level 1, with the exception of Auckland at alert level two. Auckland, however, has had no new community cases for a week, with the last case reported on Friday, September 25.
Upon return, travelers will be required to complete 14 days of administered isolation in New Zealand and pay the $ 3,100 quarantine fee. The rates would apply to anyone leaving New Zealand after August 11.
For isolation fees, adults are charged a blanket of $ 3,100. Additional adults staying in the same room will be charged $ 950 each, children ages 3-17 pay an extra $ 475. Children under 3 years old are not charged in a shared room.
At this stage, New Zealanders will only be able to visit two states: New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Australians cannot come here. Plans for Australian visitors are believed to be still in the works.
Brook Mitchell / Getty Images
Sydney Opera House.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that this country is not yet ready to have free quarantine travel with Australia.
“They have a very different strategy than ours, so they are making that decision and that is their prerogative, but for now of course we have to keep New Zealanders safe.”
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said that while this was a one-way deal and those returning to New Zealand would need to be quarantined for 14 days, it was “a positive step towards opening a bubble. of Tasmania “.
“Kiwis who want to reconnect with family and friends in the Northern Territory and New South Wales will welcome this news, and we look forward to hearing more about a safe area of Tasmania soon.”
On Friday night, some round-trip airfares between Auckland and Sydney became available on the Air New Zealand, Qantas and Jetstar websites for the month of December.
