New Zealand back on Aussies’ travel agenda from April 12
Jacinda Ardern has brought forward New Zealand’s border reopening by three months and will welcome back Aussie visitors.
Airlines have begun adding capacity on trans-Tasman routes in anticipation of big demand when New Zealand’s border finally reopens to vaccinated Australian visitors from April 12.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had previously indicated her country would not allow Aussies to visit until July and even then with a period of self-isolation.
Announcing her decision to bring forward the reopening on Wednesday, Ms Ardern said she had received health advice it was safe to bring back tourists.
“In short, we’re ready to welcome the world back,” Ms Ardern said.
Arrivals from Australia must be fully vaccinated, and undergo a pre-departure Covid test, as well as two rapid antigen tests on day one, and day five or six in New Zealand.
Fully vaccinated travellers from visa-waiver countries like the UK and US will then be allowed into New Zealand from May 3.
Australia’s Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said the return of quarantine-free travel to New Zealand was an important step that would give people even more confidence to travel.
As one of Australians’ favourite holiday destinations, New Zealand has been virtually off-limits for the last two years, other than a brief on-again, off-again travel bubble for a few months last year.
Air New Zealand immediately added 90 flights over the Easter period with chief executive Greg Foran declaring the announcement was what the country had been waiting for.
“It’s no secret the past two years have been extremely turbulent for people. There’s a real buzz today. New Zealand holds a special place in many people’s hearts, whether they’re a Kiwi or visitor, touching down on New Zealand soil will be a moment to remember,” said Mr Foran.
“Pre-Covid, Australia was the largest tourism market for both our airline and New Zealand. “We know a lot of tourism operators have been missing international visitors so we’re looking forward to playing our role in New Zealand’s recovery.”
Qantas and Jetstar announced plans to operate up to 30 return flights a week on five routes across the Tasman from April 13, up from the two return flights a week currently being operated.
The schedule was still a long way from pre-Covid capacity when both airlines flew more than 170 return services a week across the ditch.
Qantas will fly daily from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to Auckland and Sydney to Christchurch with a mix of its Boeing 737s and wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft
Jetstar will operate three weekly flights from the Gold Coast to Auckland using its Airbus A320 aircraft.
Virgin Australia was also looking forward to relaunching trans-Tasman flights for the first time since March 2020, but not until later in the year.
“Virgin Australia is grateful for the New Zealand Government’s relaxation of international travel restrictions and we are gearing up to recommence our Queenstown services in November in advance of the summer holidays,” said a spokeswoman.
CEO of adventure travel specialists Experience Co, John O’Sullivan, said the earlier than expected New Zealand border reopening was great news for all concerned.
With three skydiving experiences offered by the company in the Queenstown area, Mr O’Sullivan said they were hoping for “a cracker of a season”.
“We’re very happy this is happening and ahead of the New Zealand ski season,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
“This has turned it from being something that was going to be marginal to a cracker of a season.”
He said having New Zealand and Australia open to international visitors at last, would help attract more people from the UK and US looking for “safe countries to visit”.
“The number one driver for outer region travel is ‘the destination safe to travel to?’,” he said.
“With everyone going on in Ukraine, there’ll be some markets that will put off going to Europe until things settle down.”
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