Trans-Tasman travel bubble restarts with limitations

The travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia is set to resume – but only to some states

Quarantine-free travel between the two nations will reopen to parts of Australia, as states lockdown around the country in an effort to contain a wave of new COVID-19 outbreaks.

Travel through the trans-Tasman will again be available for residents of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and the ACT from 11.59 pm on July 4. However, passengers will need to provide a negative COVID-19 result before their departure.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s and the Kiwi Government agreed in principle to lift the pause partially, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed.

Another review next week

The government plans to review the travel pause with Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory next week.

All four jurisdictions are undergoing regional lockdowns following a spread of new infections.

New Zealand has reported no new community cases of COVID-19.

The city of Wellington has now dropped to an alert level one.

A Sydney traveler to the city sparked a scare earlier this month after testing positive for the virus. There are currently 30 active COVID-19 cases in New Zealand, with the four new cases recorded in hotel quarantine.