Tears as first New Zealanders arrive in Sydney, Australia

Sydney Airport was full of tears and hugs as the first Kiwis were allowed back in Australia after months of separation from family and friends.

Jodie Blair (right) returns from Auckland on an Air New Zealand flight and greets her daughter Caitlyn Hosking (centre) and friend Belinda Hansen. Picture: Brett Costello

There have been heartwarming scenes at Sydney Airport as Australians are reunited with loved ones from New Zealand.

Family and friends were at the airport to greet the first Kiwis to land in the city, more than six months after Australia’s borders were closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the deal between the two nations, New Zealanders will be allowed to travel quarantine-free into NSW and the Northern Territory if they have not been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the previous 14 days.

Today hundreds were due to arrive on board an Air New Zealand flight, which touched down at midday, followed by a Jetstar and Qantas flight later in the day.

There were tears and hugs at the airport with the ABC reporting as many as 90 per cent of those on the Air New Zealand flight, arriving on a one-way ticket.

RELATED: How border rules will change

Jodie Blair returns from Auckland and greets her friend Belinda Hansen. Picture: Brett Costello

Adam Draper greets his girlfriend Stacey Brown on arrival. Picture: Brett Costello

While New Zealanders can now travel to Australia without having to quarantine, Aussies won’t be able to do the same until a later date.

Arrivals are also separated into red and green zones at the airport so those from quarantine-free flights are kept away from travellers subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Sydney Airport’s international terminal has once again become a site of tearful reunions and long embraces on the first day of Australia and New Zealand’s new quarantine-free travel arrangement: https://t.co/jayjJXnRlL pic.twitter.com/vPT8iVGpZR

— The Australian (@australian) October 16, 2020

Jodie Blair (return) returns from Auckland and greets her daughter Caitlyn Hosking (centre) and friend Belinda Hansen. Picture: Brett Costello

The two friends seem overjoyed to see each other again. Picture: Brett Costello

Brooke and Ty Turner arrived in Australia with their children Ocean, 11 months and Taj, 4. Picture: Brett Costello

Jayden Guest greets his girlfriend Taren Kowalski on arrival. Picture: Brett Costello