Regional travel returns to NSW: What vaccinated and unvaccinated people can do

November 1 is finally here, and it isn’t just Aussies hoping to get overseas that are benefiting from today.

November 1 is finally here - and while a lot of excitement is centred around the resumption of international travel and the end of hotel quarantine for fully vaccinated Aussies, regional travel is also back.

Regional travel was supposed to restart when NSW hit 80 per cent double dose in mid-October.

However lagging vaccination rates in regional NSW forced Premier Dominic Perrottet to push that date to November 1.

From today, the entire state of NSW will be open for business - with regional NSW welcoming back the thousands of Sydneysiders desperate to escape the city.

Mr Perrottet spoke about the reopening of regional NSW today.

“We pushed back (the reopening) ... two weeks and that was probably an unpopular decision for many Sydneysiders but it was the right decision just to get those vaccination rates a bit higher,” the premier told Sunrise. 

“We are well over 80 per cent now in regional NSW, fully vaccinated and that is a really positive step forward. It wasn‘t that the rates were lacking anywhere in regional NSW, it was more that the race in Sydney was just incredible.

“We are very confident now that it is safe for Sydneysiders and people in regional NSW to come to Sydney and for many people today, it is a great day and many haven’t seen their families, grandparents haven’t seen their grandkids, so I think there is a lot of excitement across our state.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

The return of regional travel comes as NSW recorded 135 new cases of coronavirus and four deaths.

Can I travel anywhere in NSW?

Whether you’re from metropolitan Sydney or regional NSW, travel across the state is now unrestricted.

Holidays, getting away to your holiday home or recreational regional visits are permitted.

Holiday homes and short-term accommodation, such as Airbnbs, are permitted to host up to 20 fully vaccinated people. 

What if I’m not fully vaccinated?

While there are no longer restrictions for travel within NSW, restrictions on holiday homes, short-term accommodation, and leaving your local government area remain for unvaccinated people.

If you are not fully vaccinated you can only use a holiday home or short-term accommodation with people who are from your household.

And, if you’re not fully vaccinated, that holiday or recreation is restricted to the local government area you live in.

Unvaccinated NSW residents will see those restrictions eased on December 1.

What if my coronavirus restrictions at home are different to the place I’m travelling?

You must carry your home restrictions with you, including mask use and density requirements.

Restrictions and rules are currently the same across all of NSW, including vaccination requirements, however these are subject to change, depending on coronavirus cases.

Health officials and the premier have not ruled out enforcing localised lockdowns in the future, to stop potential outbreaks spreading.

You must take whatever restrictions apply to you at home on your holiday. Picture: iStock

Will I be able to go on holidays before Christmas?

As the weather improves and the Christmas holidays rapidly approach, NSW’s most popular regional holiday spots are already booking out months in advance.

Reports are surfacing Byron Bay will be booked out until April next year, as NSW locals race to one of the state’s busiest tourist destinations.

A large chunk of Byron’s accomodation is booked out until Easter and the region is bracing for more than a million tourists before Christmas.

And car sharing platform Car Next Door has experienced a massive spike in bookings.

Booking in NSW for the first week of November shot up 75 per cent compared to the same time last year, with bookings also currently up 18 per cent for the following week.

“We expect to see bookings up high throughout the rest of November, right through to Christmas,” said Car Next Door co-founder and CEO Will Davies.

“Sydneysiders have been locked in the city for months and they are ready to get out and explore further afield.”

“A lot of people are choosing to do road trips which are close to home since interstate borders are still closed.”

Originally published as Regional travel returns to NSW: What vaccinated and unvaccinated people can do