New Zealand travel bubble to allow Australians to fly overseas

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New Zealand will allow Australian travellers to enter the country without mandatory hotel quarantine from April 19th. "Cabinet was presented with advice today that conditions for opening up quarantine-free travel with Australia had been met," New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. Ms Ardern warned people to be prepared to have their travel plans changed at short notice, including landing and going into hotel quarantine. "Those undertaking travel on either side of the ditch will do so under the guidance of flyer beware," she said. "People will need to plan for the possibility of travel being disrupted if there is an outbreak."

When will the New Zealand travel bubble start?

Australians will be allowed to travel across the ditch quarantine-free technically from 11:59pm on Sunday, April 18 New Zealand time, so really from Monday, April 19. An exemption to leave Australia is also not required for those travelling to New Zealand. As for kiwis looking to come to Australia, the one-way bubble that began last October is still in place, with all states and territories except for Western Australia taking part. Like New Zealanders coming to Australia, anyone flying into NZ will go through a "green zone" in airports and will be kept separate from other people flying in from around the world.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed the announcement from his counterpart across the Tasman. "After spending all that time in New Zealand, for the past year, I'm sure that so many will be keen to get on that plane and come across," Mr Morrison said. "It is a win-win outcome for the trans-Tasman travel to be open — both countries benefit from that occurring." 

Where can I travel to? 

The bubble means Australians can fly to anywhere in New Zealand, as long as there are flights operating. It's hoped people will take the opportunity while borders to other countries are shut to travel around NZ and inject some much-needed money into its economy. According to Tourism NZ, in a normal year Australian tourism contributes $NZ2.7 billion ($2.5 billion) to the economy and this year, if everything bubble-wise goes smoothly, they're hoping it'll be around $NZ1 billion.

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New Zealand travel bubble to allow Australians to fly overseas later this month - ABC News