Coronavirus Gold Coast: When NZ bubble will open to the Gold Coast

The state’s health Minister has shed some light on whether Gold Coast Kiwis will soon be able to access a trans-Tasman bubble between New Zealand and the Glitter Strip.

KIWIS on the Gold Coast are unlikely to see a trans-Tasman bubble between New Zealand and the Glitter Strip any time soon according to the state’s health Minister.

Health Minister and Deputy Premier Steven Miles said he was aware of a movement to set up a travel partnership between the Gold Coast and New Zealand, but he said the decision would still have to be made by the Federal Government.

“It really would come after we open up to the rest of Australia probably,” Minister Miles said.

“So it is certainly possible, but I would see the next step as NSW then Victoria then New Zealand."

Minister for Health Steven Miles

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“I think just the practicalities of this, it would need to be an agreement between Australia and New Zealand as that is how the international border is governed.

“They will need to decide and I don’t think that will happen before there is free movement in Australia.”

Minister Miles said he does see an agreement with New Zealand as a positive for the Gold Coast, when it is confirmed.

“Any decision is likely to be at a federal level, it would be good for the Gold Coast down the track obviously.

“New Zealand is in almost as good of a spot as Queensland so fingers crossed.”

EARLY TRANS- TASMAN PLANS:

Earlier this year plans to open the Gold Coast to New Zealand seemed like a real possibility.   

In July Jetstar Australia in had even listed flights between the Gold Coast and New Zealand tourism hotspot Queenstown from August 16, 2020.

At the time the airline had listed dozens of flights on its website -  they included multiple return flights from August 1 to August 15 which were removed a day later.  However, flights from the Gold Coast starting from $228 with return fees as low as $253 still remained listed from August 16 for at least two weeks. Some flights in the now removed bunch had already been listed as “sold out”.

A Jetstar Australia spokesman said the company had been doing monthly reviews of services.

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A decision will be made tomorrow if Jetstar will cancel flights to and from New Zealand for the month of August Picture: Brendan Radke.

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When asked about the flight outlook with borders reopening, Queensland Airports CEO Chris Mills said: “We are already seeing an increase in airline capacity to and from Gold Coast Airport since the Premier’s announcement.

“Opening up trans-Tasman travel is an important step in the national tourism recovery plan”.

“The ongoing discussions between the Australian and New Zealand governments about re-starting this market are encouraging,” he told the Bulletin.

“The Gold Coast is one of the most popular destinations for New Zealand travellers and we are looking forward to welcoming Kiwis back to our region, to enjoy all the Gold Coast and Northern NSW has to offer and for long-overdue reunions with family and friends.

“We are in close contact with our airline partners on an ongoing basis about increased capacity and re-establishing routes.”

There were hopes this week airports across Australia would be able to fly to New Zealand as part of a COVID-19 “trans-Tasman bubble”.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday the decision would come down to the Australian Government, though New Zealand would not allow travel to anywhere with community transmission.

But it has since been scrapped due to the outbreak of coronavirus cases in Victoria.

Last year 1.4 million New Zealanders visited Australia, contributing $2.6 billion in to city’s visitor economy in overnight spending.

This group was the Gold Coast’s second highest source market overall and our second top holiday source market, with 212,000 New Zealand visitors coming to the city last year, staying 1.473 million nights.