New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[oznflfan]

I spoke to a lot of New Zealanders while I was over there who said they were not willing to risk travelling to Australia at the moment. And that was before all of this happened. This will make matters even worse for Australia's tourism industry as most Kiwis just won't come.

Removing family, it was always going to be a one way leisure travel Australia to New Zealand.

Flying NT to Sydney to Christchurch for Fathers Day in September to see Classic Fighters Air Show up in Blenheim. Can't fly any of these legs now, but hopefully will....................

 

[kiwitripper64]

From 11.59pm on Sunday night, quarantine-free travel will resume with South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Victoria.

This decision was made “in principle” based on the current Covid-19 situations in those particular states. The travel pause will continue with New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia due to their respective Covid-19 clusters.

Those coming into New Zealand from Australia will now have to get a pre-departure test within 72 hours before their flight, Hipkins confirmed. Partially lifting the pause is an appropriate course of action, particularly when bolstered with a pre-departure test requirement, said Hipkins.

 

[blackcat20]

We need to rejig pans as were booked for Friday at the moment.

 

[milehighclub]

Those coming into New Zealand from Australia will now have to get a pre-departure test within 72 hours before their flight, Hipkins confirmed. Partially lifting the pause is an appropriate course of action, particularly when bolstered with a pre-departure test requirement, said Hipkins.

This would add an extra $600 for a group of 4 to come over, if you can find one nearby that does the $150 test. Some charge less, some charge more but thats about the average amount.

I note one place in Sydney was charging $300 for same day, but the best for Sydney is the one hour turn around at the airport testing site ($150 or $100 if you get there 4 hours before).

 

[Berlin]

I note one place in Sydney was charging $300 for same day, but the best for Sydney is the one hour turn around at the airport testing site ($150 or $100 if you get there 4 hours before).

Do similar facilities exist at other Australian airports? In general, I'd be very interested in experiences and prices at different AU ports. What, for example, about OOL- can you get a test like this anywhere around there or would one have to head up to Brissy for it? Provided QLD is open again at all, that is of course.

 

[RooFlyer]

Those coming into New Zealand from Australia will now have to get a pre-departure test within 72 hours before their flight, Hipkins confirmed. Partially lifting the pause is an appropriate course of action, particularly when bolstered with a pre-departure test requirement, said Hipkins.

Thanks. Was seeing my GP today on another matter and got a referral to a lab that does the asymptomatic testing locally (Govt won't take aysymtomatics as far as I know).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

From 11.59pm on Sunday night, quarantine-free travel will resume with South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Victoria.

This decision was made “in principle” based on the current Covid-19 situations in those particular states. The travel pause will continue with New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia due to their respective Covid-19 clusters.

Those coming into New Zealand from Australia will now have to get a pre-departure test within 72 hours before their flight, Hipkins confirmed. Partially lifting the pause is an appropriate course of action, particularly when bolstered with a pre-departure test requirement, said Hipkins.

The New Zealand government has announced that the travel bubble with Australia will resume with South Australia, ACT, Tasmania and Victoria on July 5.​

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The bubble was paused on the weekend in response to the growing number of cases being reported across Australia.​

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New Zealand had earlier decided to close the travel bubble to New South Wales until July 7.​

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New Zealand's COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins today said travellers from SA, ACT, Tasmania or Victoria, to be eligible to fly, must not have been in NSW since June 22 or Queensland, the NT or WA from June 26.​

 

[henrus]

In general, I'd be very interested in experiences and prices at different AU ports. What, for example, about OOL- can you get a test like this anywhere around there or would one have to head up to Brissy for it?

Generally, it just requires searching the city and then COVID 19 travel testing.

In Queensland I've found a few providers (with most having one/two locations on the Gold Coast):

Sullivan Nicoladies has locations in most major QLD coastal cities, results apparently take ~24 hours, $145 - International travellers | Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology

4Cyte Pathology has locations across QLD (and NSW/VIC) with a 24 hr turn around for $120 - 4Cyte Pathology - Travel

QML offers same day down at Muarrie (hard to get to unless driving) for $300, must attend in the morning - https://consumer.healius.com.au/

Some of these providers only accept people traveling so are separate from the state-run facilites.

 

[Berlin]

Generally, it just requires searching the city and then COVID 19 travel testing.

In Queensland I've found a few providers (with most having one/two locations on the Gold Coast):

Sullivan Nicoladies has locations in most major QLD coastal cities, results apparently take ~24 hours, $145 - International travellers | Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology

4Cyte Pathology has locations across QLD (and NSW/VIC) with a 24 hr turn around for $120 - 4Cyte Pathology - Travel

Thank you so much- very helpful!

 

[Mattg]

I've started a new thread to discuss pre-flight COVID-19 testing in Australia:

Where to get a pre-flight COVID-19 test?

As discussed in the New Zealand travel bubble thread, the NZ government will soon require a pre-flight COVID-19 PCR or RT-PCR test within 72 hours before flying from Australia to New Zealand. Many other countries also mandate COVID-19 tests within a certain amount of time prior to departing...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[NSun]

I agree with the sentiment of everyone that its understandable but the cost will be a turn-off especially for families. I have a relative with 3 kids over there who was going to come over soon and the flights are costly enough. Even if you're a single traveller who may have family, the costs will quickly add up.

I do hope that someday vaccination will suffice, although it seems New Zealand's roll out is purely using Pfizer and it'll be interesting to see if they'll approve more vaccines for arrivals even if they don't use it for their rollout.

 

[blackcat20]

We've ended up pushing our trip back a month, flights were oversold and accommodation hard to come by.

 

[Beano]

After being in the recent Melbourne lock down I was tested by 4Cyte for A$120 and 24 hours turn round, as Henrus said. Showed immigration in NZ the emailed from with no problems. Back in NZ now.
But, if I travel again and need a test to return, I would need to test as soon as I arrived for a 3 day trip. A one day trip is definitly not possible, even if flights were available.

 

[henrus]

But, if I travel again and need a test to return, I would need to test as soon as I arrived for a 3 day trip. A one day trip is definitly not possible, even if flights were available.

There's been a bit of discussion about this. The NZ gov is looking into exemption short term (less than 72 hour return trips from NZ to AU) from testing requirements. Likewise travel from Norfolk Island to Auckland on the Air Chatams service may also be exempt (due to the lack of testing on Norfolk Island).

None of this is confirmed but shows the NZ gov is thinking about alternatives. Some on Flyertalk also suggested being tested in NZ (provided your return is less than 72 hours from that time).

At the end of the day, the testing is a small inconvenience and one that isn't likely to last long term once Australia sorts its problems out.

 

[Beano]

There's been a bit of discussion about this. The NZ gov is looking into exemption short term (less than 72 hour return trips from NZ to AU) from testing requirements. Likewise travel from Norfolk Island to Auckland on the Air Chatams service may also be exempt (due to the lack of testing on Norfolk Island).

None of this is confirmed but shows the NZ gov is thinking about alternatives. Some on Flyertalk also suggested being tested in NZ (provided your return is less than 72 hours from that time).

At the end of the day, the testing is a small inconvenience and one that isn't likely to last long term once Australia sorts its problems out.

Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for that, assuming the company will let me travel. I would probably need to be fully vaccinated but not sure when that will happen. Anyway I setting up visits to Townsville in October, hopefully.

 

[Anna]

Last week I had to cancel Air NZ flights due to the bubble pause. I was told the refund would take 15 business days but it actually took 3 business days, and I suspect 2 of them were due to my bank not Air NZ. It was a fully refundable fare but even so I have been pleasantly surprised by how relatively painless the Air NZ refund process was (unlike the disappointment at missing the event I was travelling for - not the airline's fault).

 

[Mattg]

Quarantine-free travel from WA & NT will resume at 11.59pm on 9 July (so Friday night/Saturday morning).

 

[serfty]

There's been a bit of discussion about this. The NZ gov is looking into exemption short term (less than 72 hour return trips from NZ to AU) from testing requirements. Likewise travel from Norfolk Island to Auckland on the Air Chatams service may also be exempt (due to the lack of testing on Norfolk Island).

The 72 hour exemption is now go and published on tha NZ govt Web site.

 

[RooFlyer]

Quarantine-free travel from WA & NT will resume at 11.59pm on 9 July (so Friday night/Saturday morning).

On the news tonight this is being reported as WA, NT (& Tas ) residents. That is, if I manage to get a flight from BNE to AKL, I will be OK. Is that your understanding?

EDIT: OK, I see the NZ site says "Travel from ...", so residency is not relevant.

 

[serfty]

The 72 hour exemption is now go and published on tha NZ govt Web site.

International travel

Information for air and sea travellers about entering and leaving New Zealand.

covid19.govt.nz

• If you have been in Australia for more than 72 hours, you'll need a negative pre-departure test to enter New Zealand.