Australian tourism operators are hoping to coax Kiwi visitors off their aunty’s couch in Brisbane or Sydney and open their wallets to make the most of the trans-Tasman travel bubble that started on Monday.

With Australians and New Zealanders rushing to enjoy quarantine-free international travel for the first time in more than a year, the tourism industry is pushing to capitalise on the new visitors. Qantas operated 16 return flights on Monday.