A statement from Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly has confirmed flights between Australia and New Zealand’s South Island will recommence on October 19.
The statement said there have been no locally acquired cases of COVID-19 reported from the South Island and as a result the Australian Government has approved the recommencement of green zone travel from the South Island to Australia from 11:59 pm (AEST) tomorrow, Tuesday, October 19.
All passengers are subject to recommended pre-departure measures including pre-departure PCR testing, evidence of full vaccination and returning a negative PCR test result for COVID-19 within 72 hours of the departure flight time to Australia.
In addition, passengers must not have been in the North Island, where there has been a spread of cases, for any period during the last 14 days.
The change means anyone travelling from the South Island under the new regulations will not have to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in Australia.
The North Island remains a Red Zone. Passengers on flights originating from there until October 31 will still need to go into 14 days of supervised hotel quarantine on arrival in Australia and adhere to the requirements of the state and territory in which they enter.
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
