Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand will start on April 19, creating a travel bubble for the neighbouring nations.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Tuesday that a ‘travel bubble’ between the two neighbouring countries would open from April 19th, allowing quarantine-free travel.
Travellers from New Zealand have been able to enter selected Australian states without quarantining since October but the arrangements did not apply in the other direction.
Ms Ardern said the arrangement – of two countries, both maintaining a full elimination strategy for Covid-19, opening up to international travel – was potentially unique in the world. The plan has been in the works for months now, but was paused repeatedly after outbreaks of Covid-19 on either side of the border.
New Zealand officials have warned that those choosing to make the trip should be cautious and prepared, because another outbreak in either country could mean the border would close.
