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Quarantine-Free Holidays To New Zealand Will Start From April 19

Quarantine-Free Holidays To New Zealand Will Start From April 19

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the news in a press conference today.

Jessica Lynch

Jessica Lynch

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed the trans-Tasman bubble with Australia will officially begin on April 19.

This means Aussies will officially have the green light to travel across the ditch without having to do hotel quarantine within two weeks.

The NZ leader explained that the bubble will operate on a state-by-state basis and the country won't hesitate to shut travel if there is a Covid-19 outbreak that can't be easily traced.

"If a case is found that is quite clearly linked to a border worker in a quarantine facility and is well contained, you'll likely see travel continue in the same way as you could see life continue if that happened here in Australia.

"If, however, a case was found that was not clearly linked to the border, and a state responded by a short lockdown to identify more information, we'd likely pause flights from that state in the same way we would stop travel into and out of a region in New Zealand as if it was were going into a full lockdown.

"And if we saw multiple cases of unknown origin, we would likely suspend flights for a set period of time."

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry tourism chief John Hart predicted the bubble start date would be on April 19, saying it 'was pretty much definite'.

He added that most airlines had been quietly told the date so they could get bookings set up.

They certainly haven't mucked around and there are dozens of return trips between Australia and New Zealand two weeks from now.

Air New Zealand has increased its schedule with 23 return services between Auckland and Sydney on the week of April 19 as opposed to just four return flights this week.

But, people wanting to have their first international holiday in more than a year should be wary.

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said the trans-Tasman bubble will come with a pretty hectic risk.

He said ahead of the official announcement: "What we've seen in Queensland is a really good illustration of the kind of thing we have to deal with.

"It won't delay us making a decision about the date of the bubble but it's a good example of what can happen in the middle of an arrangement like this and one of the reasons it's a flyer beware situation."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: New Zealand, travel, Australia