Double-Vaccinated Australians Will Be Able to Holiday in New Zealand From Mid-April
Keen on a trip across the ditch? NZ is reopening its borders to double-vaccinated tourists, without isolation, from next month.
It's happening months earlier than anticipated, but New Zealand is set to reopen its doors to tourists from next month, kicking things off by welcoming back its closest neighbours.
In news sure to trigger a sigh of relief for tourism operators and those keen on a winter break, from 11.59pm NZST / 8.59pm AEST on Tuesday, April 12, Aotearoa will scrap its current international border ban for Australian tourists — meaning double-vaccinated Aussie holidaymakers will be able to travel across the ditch without requiring isolation.
Then from 11.59pm NZST / 8.59pm AEST on Sunday, May 1, double-vaccinated holidaymakers from visa-waiver countries like the US and UK will be able to follow suit.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the move in a press conference on Wednesday, March 16, revealing that she's excited and ready "to welcome the world back".
"In particular, I'm ready to welcome back our trans-Tasman travellers… they'll be able to arrive in time for the Australian school holidays and provide a boost for our winter ski season," she said.
"I'm asking our Australian family and friends to book their tickets."
Tourists will be required to test negative for COVID-19 with a PCR or RAT before leaving Australia for their trip, before providing negative tests on day one and day five of their stay in New Zealand.
The new plan is an expedited version of the New Zealand Government's original border-reopening arrangement announced back in February, when it was proposed tourists from Australia and around the world would probably be able to visit New Zealand by July. However in March, NZ COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said he believed that would be "at the latest".
The change of plans has come amid New Zealand's current Omicron outbreak, which sees the country currently ranking among the highest rates of COVID-19 transmission in the world.
Australian tourists will be able to enter New Zealand without isolating from 11.59pm NZST / 8.59pm AEST on Tuesday, April 12. For more information, head to the New Zealand Government's official COVID-19 website.
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