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The Australian Government has approved the recommencement of green zone travel from the South Island of New Zealand from 11:59 pm (AEST) on Tuesday 19 October 2021, subject to the following recommended pre-departure measures:

• a pre-departure PCR test (within 72 hours of the departure flight time to Australia)
• evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19 for those eligible, consistent with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation definition of fully vaccinated, and with a Therapeutic Goods Administration approved or recognised vaccine
• all persons travelling to Australia from New Zealand and all green zone travellers are to declare prior to travel to Australia that they have:
  • returned a negative PCR test result for COVID-19 within 72 hours of the departure flight time to Australia
  • have not been in the North Island of New Zealand for any period during the last 14 days.

At this time, green zone travel to Australia is not extended for persons that have been in the North Island of New Zealand and/or a New Zealand Ministry of Health COVID-19 Contact Tracing Location of Interest for any period of time in the past 14 days.
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Australians who have been stuck on New Zealand’s South Island will be able to return home without having to undergo hotel quarantine from early next week as the Australia’s vaccination rate nears 70 per cent fully immunised.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said both NSW and Victoria had agreed to allow travellers from the South Island to enter without quarantining from midnight on Tuesday. “We hope to allow anyone who’s been in the South Island of New Zealand, whether they’re Australians, New Zealanders or other nationalities as long as they’ve been there for 14 days, to come in quarantine free,” he said on Sunday morning.
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