New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[Mattg]

I wonder what would happen if you contacted Air NZ or a travel agent and asked to be wait listed on the 1 November flight?

No idea. I'm planning to stick to my 5 November flight, anyway.

 

[Berlin]

No idea. I'm planning to stick to my 5 November flight, anyway.

Me too. I have a car to ship, an apartment to empty and my belongings sold or transported out of the country in the days leading up to it. Oh- and a Covid test is booked at departure minus 71 hours.

I've already started my new job in Australia remotely ages ago and my partner now also has a job to go to- we're cutting it all very finely now that we've waited around for months.

 

[justinbrett]

Two seats just popped up

 

[encryptededdy]

Wish I could move to an earlier flight, but this whole connecting from Wellington situation has me tied up. Very curious to see who got all the other seats on that flight though.

 

[henrus]

Wish I could move to an earlier flight, but this whole connecting from Wellington situation has me tied up. Very curious to see who got all the other seats on that flight though.

It's fully booked in business on the first plus same day connections aren't possible so this is the only fare showing (+ add your own accomodation for the night in Auckland).

 

[justinbrett]

It's fully booked in business on the first plus same day connections aren't possible so this is the only fare showing (+ add your own accomodation for the night in Auckland).

View attachment 263211

It could have connections from NZ5

 

[Mattg]

For people in Auckland, where is the best place to get a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test?

I've done a bit of searching online and I'm seeing prices around the $260 mark for a test which the provider won't even guarantee will have the result returned within 72 hours. It looks like you also need to drop off your own swab in Mt Wellington (or pay extra courier fees and potentially not get your test result back in time). Is this standard or do I need to look harder?

 

[Berlin]

For people in Auckland, where is the best place to get a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test?

I've done a bit of searching online and I'm seeing prices around the $260 mark for a test which the provider won't even guarantee will have the result returned within 72 hours. Is this standard or do I need to look harder?

I asked my GP and my partner tried with his GP. Mine has the worst front office dragons so no chance to even get a proper answer. My partner's GP is Chinese and quite used to these requests it seems and does it for $240 but that practice has always been very "creative" in their billing and will put it though as two GP sessions each with our private insurance so we will only be $40 short.

Given you most likely don't have a GP here in Auckland, I would recommend Labtests COVID-19 Pre-departure testing - Labtests who do it for $141. This is the place where as a Kiwi, you usually get sent for your standard government-funded blood tests etc. so it's definitely a source that will be accepted by the authorities. They also don't guarantee the turnaround times but neither do any of the more expensive testing centres and I have several work colleagues and friends who have used them for pre-departure tests and got the results well in time. They also have dozens of locations scattered around Auckland and in my experience, have always been very professional and friendly- not a single botched blood sample in 3 years and I have VERY bad veins due to Chemotherapy in my 20ies. So they'll definitely be able to do a standard Covid nose-tickle test!

 

[Mattg]

I asked my GP and my partner tried with his GP. Mine has the worst front office dragons so no chance to even get a proper answer. My partner's GP is Chinese and quite used to these requests it seems and does it for $240 but that practice has always been very "creative" in their billing and will put it though as two GP sessions each with our private insurance so we will only be $40 short.

Given you most likely don't have a GP here in Auckland, I would recommend Labtests COVID-19 Pre-departure testing - Labtests who do it for $141. This is the place where as a Kiwi, you usually get sent for your standard government-funded blood tests etc. so it's definitely a source that will be accepted by the authorities. They also don't guarantee the turnaround times but neither do any of the more expensive testing centres and I have several work colleagues and friends who have used them for pre-departure tests and got the results well in time. They also have dozens of locations scattered around Auckland and in my experience, have always been very professional and friendly- not a single botched blood sample in 3 years and I have VERY bad veins due to Chemotherapy in my 20ies. So they'll definitely be able to do a standard Covid nose-tickle test!

Thanks. I did have a look at Labtests but it looks like the testing locations are GP practices etc.

Would you not need to make a GP appointment to get the test done, and pay for that appointment in addition to the $141 charged by Labtests?

I unfortunately don't have a GP, private insurance or anything like that in NZ, so would expect to pay full fees for everything.

 

[Berlin]

Thanks. I did have a look at Labtests but it looks like the testing locations are GP practices etc.

Would you not need to make a GP appointment to get the test done, and pay for that appointment in addition to the $141 charged by Labtests?

I unfortunately don't have a GP, private insurance or anything like that in NZ, so would expect to pay full fees for everything.

No- you wouldn't. They are often located inside a GP practice but operate separately and often even have a separate entrance and definitely a separate reception. So no need to pay extra for a doctor consult, I would however call up in advance to ensure they are really prepared for the pre-travel Covid test.

This is my local, conveniently located at Victoria park so close to the city. It doesn't have a GP practice or anything but is a stand alone collection centre and also brand new so surprisingly flashy for a Kiwi blood testing centre. Usually just walk in and pick a number but again, I'd call ahead of time:

Collection Centre - Labtests

 

[encryptededdy]

Recommencing quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Australia

A statement from Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly about the recommencement of flights from New Zealand to Australia.

www.health.gov.au

Looks like you no longer need to be Aus Citizen/PR/NZ Citizen usually resident

 

[Mattg]

Recommencing quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Australia

A statement from Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly about the recommencement of flights from New Zealand to Australia.

www.health.gov.au

Looks like you no longer need to be Aus Citizen/PR/NZ Citizen usually resident

Good to see, although I don't see how this changes anything for people who were booked to fly from NZ to NSW/VIC from next week, other than opening up to non-Australian citizens/PRs currently in New Zealand.

Australians in NZ were already able to travel quarantine-free to NSW/VIC/ACT from next week anyway. I guess this may make it easier for people travelling to other states, although the press release says that other states can still impose their own requirements - as I'm sure WA etc. will do.

 

[sydneyboi]

Surely by the end of January the bubble with Australia will be back on and we won't have to get a covid test leaving NZ to come back into NSW on QF...

 

[Berlin]

Surely by the end of January the bubble with Australia will be back on and we won't have to get a covid test leaving NZ to come back into NSW on QF...

I wouldn't bet on it. As long as the NZ government sticks to that nonsense of "At least 90% double vaxed in all Auckland DHBs", it ain't happening. But they might finally come to senses of course...

 

[Croupier]

For people in Auckland, where is the best place to get a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test?

I've done a bit of searching online and I'm seeing prices around the $260 mark for a test which the provider won't even guarantee will have the result returned within 72 hours. It looks like you also need to drop off your own swab in Mt Wellington (or pay extra courier fees and potentially not get your test result back in time). Is this standard or do I need to look harder?

NZ is ridiculously so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to getting tested for travel. You can not even get a rapid antigen test which many countries accept for entry including NZ.

It is seriously f’upped over there. At least MIQ is so much better than AU hotel quarantine.

Had I had know I would never attempted to get to Australia via NZ from Europe. After my MIQ I flew back to EU as this so called South Island bubble was a complete farce.

I was 2 days in EU when a miracle happened and I scored a flight with EK ZRH-BNE on the 29th for under 2K.

 

[Berlin]

So- I was just checking the NSW government websites and it looks that entering the country will be a bit tougher than hoped: Nosetickle test within 24 hours of arrival, another one a week later and you can't visit your favourite pub (or any hospitality venue for that matter) until that second test came back negative.

Sucks a bit, I must say

 

[Mattg]

So- I was just checking the NSW government websites and it looks that entering the country will be a bit tougher than hoped: Nosetickle test within 24 hours of arrival, another one a week later and you can't visit your favourite pub (or any hospitality venue for that matter) until that second test came back negative.

Sucks a bit, I must say

Yeah, it's not great - but I'll take it. Beats spending another day in Auckland!

 

[encryptededdy]

I'm not sure if this has been posted before, but I think it's new: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/guidelines-fully-vaccinated-arrivals.pdf

FYI the link is here

I do wonder a bit about the process when you arrive and if they've added services at the airport to make it easier. Specifically, can you just get tested when you arrive (instead of trying to find a community testing center within 24 hours of arriving), and if they have to check your vaccine documentation anyway when you arrive, can they just enter that into the AIR/Medicare there and then?

I somehow suspect the answer to both of these is no.

Additionally, it says you shouldn't go to any high-risk settings, such as childcare, aged care, disability care, healthcare, schools, education and correctional facilities. However most likely you will have to see a GP or whatever to get your New Zealand vaccinations recognised in Australia.

I guess we'll find out in 5 days when people in this thread start arriving in Sydney

 

[Berlin]

I do wonder a bit about the process when you arrive and if they've added services at the airport to make it easier. Specifically, can you just get tested when you arrive (instead of trying to find a community testing center within 24 hours of arriving), and if they have to check your vaccine documentation anyway when you arrive, can they just enter that into the AIR/Medicare there and then?

Yea, that would be nice, wouldn't it! I'd even PAY (within reason) for this. But I bet even if, then not in the first couple of weeks.

I somehow suspect the answer to both of these is no.

I'm pretty sure your suspicion is CORRECT.

Additionally, it says you shouldn't go to any high-risk settings, such as childcare, aged care, disability care, healthcare, schools, education and correctional facilities. However most likely you will have to see a GP or whatever to get your New Zealand vaccinations recognised in Australia.

I guess we'll find out in 5 days when people in this thread start arriving in Sydney

Haha, I hadn't noticed THAT one. I wonder how you're supposed to get two Cold tests and register your vaccine without setting foot to a GP practice or pharmac_

 

[Lynda2475]

I wonder how you're supposed to get two Cold tests and register your vaccine without setting foot to a GP practice or pharmac_

For Testing : There are dedicated drive through and walk up testing centres, and where these are co-located at a hospital you can attend without need to enter the main facility so not in breach of the directive.

For registering vaccine: if you have a medicare card you should be able to do this via a tele-health appointment (could be done before arrival).