New Zealand travel, holiday deals on offer for trans Tasman travel bubble

The trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand has sparked a release of flights and travel deals as new data revealed trending destinations.

Shoba Rao

@shoba_rao

5 min read

April 7, 2021 - 3:39PM

News Corp Australia Network

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The announcement of the trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand has sparked a release of flights and travel deals as new data revealed trending destinations.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urged Australians to take advantage of the bubble, with New Zealand’s ski season on the horizon.

“We are a safe place to bring your family to come and visit,” she said during a press conference.

Air New Zealand immediately announced it was ramping up flights to Australia from the current four a week to more than 20 when the bubble takes effect.

Qantas has announced it will operate up to 122 return flights per week to New Zealand once the two way travel bubble begins.

Qantas and its budget carrier Jetstar will fly all of the 13 routes in New Zealand they operated prior to COVID-19, as well as two new routes, from Auckland to Cairns and the Gold Coast.

New Zealand’s Ski Field known as the Remarkables near Queenstown.

It will also fly year-round between Melbourne and Brisbane to Queenstown, routes which previously only operated during the ski season.

The services will offer more than 52,000 seats each week.

Flexible booking policy with unlimited flight date changes will be extended to their New Zealand flights.

However, Virgin Australia said while the travel bubble was a step in the right direction it would only be offering a limited schedule for flights to the ski resort town of Queenstown over the next five months.

The South Pacific nation is a popular holiday destination and its Covid-crippled tourism industry has been pressing for months to have quarantine-free travel for Australians, who make up about 40 per cent of international visitors.

“It could be up to NZ$1.0 billion and maybe even more that flows into our economy for the rest of this calendar year,” the head of Tourism New Zealand, Rene de Monchy, told Radio New Zealand.

Booking.com’s latest search data revealed trending destinations in New Zealand.

The following top 10 destinations are lesser known but have seen increased domestic searches during the pandemic from last year to this year.

*Russell

*Raglan

*Kaiteriteri

*Glenorchy

*Ohope Beach

*Omarama

*Whakapapa Village

*Takaka

*Punakaiki

*Wairarapa

Beach towns including Russell in the far North and Raglan’s rugged surf on the West Coast were popular alongside Whakapapa Village in the North Island’s Central Plateau region around Mt Ruapehu where tourists go skiing.

Mt Ruapehu near Chateau Tongariro in Tongariro National Park, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand Picture: iStock

Booking.com search data from February also reveals the overall top 20 most searched destinations in New Zealand for 2021 which include:

*Auckland

*Queenstown

*Wellington

*Taupo

*Christchurch

*Rotorua

*Napier

*Dunedin

*Hamilton

*Tauranga

*Hanmer Springs

*Paihia

*Mount Maunganui

*Nelson

*Wanaka

*Palmerston North

*New Plymouth

*Lake Tekapo

*Whitianga

*Kaikoura

Wotif.com also reports its most popular desitnations are:

Most popular New Zealand destinations on Wotif.com**

Queenstown

Wellington

Bay of Islands

Wanaka

Christchurch

Rotorua

Auckland

Canterbury

Taupo

Waikato

As for accommodation interest, the following locations have seen these increases:

Queenstown – accommodation interest up close to 1770%

Wanaka – accommodation interest up over 1560%

Taranaki – accommodation interest up over 1350%

Gisborne – accommodation interest up over 850%

Otago – accommodation interest up over 720%

Auckland – accommodation interest up close to 760%

Christchurch – accommodation interest up close to 690%

Northland – accommodation interest up close to 670%

Coromandel – accommodation interest up over to 660%

Wellington – accommodation interest up over to 515%

See the latest deals on offer now the travel bubble is about to become a reality:

TRAVEL DEALS TO NEW ZEALAND

Flight Centre has deals to Wanaka, Otago, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, the North Island, Bay of Islands. More info here

AAT Kings are offering deals with a saving of up to $600 per couple on selected Guided Holidays. More info here.

GA Adventures has tours for 18-to-Thirty Somethings, Active and Classic. More info here.

Lastminute.com.au also have deals for hotels and flights.

Braemar Lodge & Spa

Romantic Hanmer Springs Spa Retreat with Daily Buffet Breakfast & Dining Credit

2, 3, 4 or 5 nights from A$399

More info: LuxuryEscapes.com

Jet Boat riding at Glenorchy, Queenstown, NZ. Picture: Miles Holden

Wotif’s Mates Rates deals***:

Available for select travel dates from 19 April 2021. Wotif’s Mates Rates are free to join and give travellers access to special deals of between 10% to 50% off on select accommodation.

Swiss-Belsuites Victoria Park Auckland – up to 40% off

Hotel 115 Christchurch – up to 40% off

QT Wellington – up to 35% off

Peppers On The Point – Lake Rotorua – up to 30% off

Ramada Queenstown Central – up to 25% off

QT Queenstown – up to 20% off