Border rules in place across Australia over Christmas as states ban northern beaches, NSW residents

Christmas will look a little different this year thanks to closed borders and Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak. Here’s where you can travel to without quarantine.

Australians hoping to see family and friends during the Christmas and New year period now face a number of border controls thanks to an outbreak of the coronavirus in NSW.

On Wednesday, NSW issued a new alert for residents in the Central Coast to come forward for coronavirus testing after sewage surveillance program detected traces of the virus.

Details of Christmas restrictions for Sydneysiders were also revealed, which includes a continuing lockdown for certain areas of the northern beaches.

The outbreak in Sydney has seen NSW residents banned from some states or facing 14-day quarantine periods.

Here is what’s going on.

VICTORIA

People who live in or have visited the Greater Sydney area, the Central Coast and the Northern Beaches cannot enter Victoria. This includes residents of Victoria.

If you arrive in the state by air then you will be placed in mandatory hotel quarantine and there will be checkpoints along the Victorian-NSW border to ensure people have a valid permit.

Those coming from regional NSW have to apply for a valid permit to enter Victoria.

Those living along the border don’t need a permit but can use their driver’s licence to travel between the states.

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Vehicles being stopped on the Hume Freeway at the check point on the Victorian side of the border near Wodonga. Picture: Simon Dallinger

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QUEENSLAND

Anyone who has been in areas declared a hotspot including Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong areas, are required to quarantine for 14 days.

Those who aren’t Queensland residents will only be allowed to enter the state for a limited range of essential reasons.

Returning residents must apply for a border declaration pass and can only return by air. They will have to quarantine for 14 days at government arranged accommodation at their own expense.

Queenslanders returning from NSW who have not been in a declared hotspot also have to apply for a border declaration pass but can enter the state using any mode of transportation.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

There are restrictions on those travelling into the state from South Australia and NSW but not on people from other states.

Those from NSW must apply for an exemption through G2G PASS and will also be required to self-quarantine at a suitable premises for 14 days. If they don’t have a suitable quarantine premises they will go to a government-approved facility at their own expense.

They will also be tested for coronavirus within 48 days of arrival and on day 11.

Travellers from South Australia also have to quarantine for 14 days if they arrive before 12am Friday, December 25. However, after this date they don’t need to quarantine but must still register with G2G PASS.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Anyone who has been in the northern beaches area will not be allowed to enter the state and that includes returning SA residents, although they can apply for an exemption that will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Those who have been in a high community-transmission zone including Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong areas, will have to self-quarantine for up to 14 days. They will also have to get coronavirus testing on day 1, 5 and 12.

Travellers are required to complete a cross border travel registration form at least three days before they leave.

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Passengers from a Sydney flight at Adelaide airport are directed for processing after border restrictions came into effect on Monday. Picture: Sam Wundke

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Anyone who has been in Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong areas are being asked not to travel to the ACT but if they do they will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

People must fill out an online declaration form to notify ACT Health of their intention to enter the area and this may take 48 hours to be processed.

Exemptions for the 14-day quarantine period will only be granted in “highly exceptional circumstances” and authorities say it will not be granted even if people have received a negative COVID test.

Those who have only transited through Sydney Airport or have driven through the impacted areas without stopped are not required to quarantine.

TASMANIA

Travellers who have been in high-risk areas or premises including the northern beaches, must apply for an exemption to enter the state as an essential traveller for critical work, health, compassionate or other reasons.

Tasmanians wanting to return home can provide evidence of residency and will be able to do their 14 days of quarantine at a residential address or other suitable premises.

The quarantine fee will be waived for people who travel to Tasmania from newly declared high-risk areas and premises in NSW between December 16 and 23, and are required to quarantine in government-designated accommodation.

Those who have been in a medium-risk area including areas of Greater Sydney in the 14 days before arriving in Tasmania will also be required to quarantine.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

There are strict border controls in place for all arrivals to the Territory, including returning Territorians.

All arrivals must fill in a border entry form seven days before entering the region.

Those who have been to a hot spot including the northern beaches, Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong must also complete 14 days of mandatory supervised quarantine at their own expense.