Australia-New Zealand 'travel bubble': Families reunite as quarantine-free visits begin

'The bubble marks a significant step in New Zealand's reconnection with the world,' said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

A woman embraces her daughter on her arrival from New Zealand at Sydney International Airport in New South Wales as Australia and New Zealand opened a trans-Tasman Sea quarantine-free travel bubble. AFP

The trans-Tasman bubble between New Zealand and Australia opened on Monday, allowing people to travel between the two countries without the need for quarantine. Getty

Emotional reunions after the first Air New Zealand flight into Wellington, New Zealand, touches down on the first day of the trans-Tasman bubble. EPA

Families and loved ones embrace after the first Air New Zealand flight to land in Wellington in more than a year. The arrangement means that for the first time in about 400 days, passengers can fly across the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. EPA

A member of an Air New Zealand flight crew assists people writing a message on a welcome board at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand. Bloomberg

The start of quarantine-free travel was a relief for families who have been separated by the coronavirus pandemic - and for struggling tourism companies and airlines. AP

Staff welcome the first quarantine-free trans-Tasman flight to Auckland from Sydney in Auckland, New Zealand. Getty

The first quarantine-free trans-Tasman flight from Sydney touches down in Auckland, New Zealand. Getty

Māori singers welcome passengers arriving from Sydney on Air New Zealand Flight 246 in Wellington. Getty Images

In Sydney, Australia, passengers board Air New Zealand Flight 246 bound for Wellington. Getty

In-flight service manager Craig Suckling makes an announcement before disembarking from Air New Zealand Flight 246 in Wellington. Getty

In Sydney, Australia, Alistair Percy takes in the view before boarding Air New Zealand Flight 246 for Wellington. Getty

Passengers check in for New Zealand flights at Sydney International Airport. AFP

A passenger scans a barcode to complete travel declarations for New Zealand flights at Sydney International Airport. AFP

A traveller arrives at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand. Bloomberg

Hundreds of passengers from Australia began arriving in New Zealand airports on Monday after authorities reopened borders, a pandemic milestone that allows quarantine-free travel between the countries for the first time in more than a year.

Though most Australian states have allowed quarantine-free visits from New Zealand residents since late last year, New Zealand had enforced isolation for arrivals from its neighbour, citing concerns about sporadic virus outbreaks there.

"The bubble marks a significant step in New Zealand's reconnection with the world and it is one that we should all take a moment to be very, very proud of," New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters in Wellington.

With the borders open, Ardern said Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison would visit New Zealand in the "not too distant future". Ardern said Australia Foreign Minister Marise Payne would travel to New Zealand on Wednesday.

Television footage showed emotional scenes at the airports with families reuniting and scores of passengers thronging the international departure terminals at Australian airports.

"I haven't been excited, I haven't looked forward to it, I haven't planned anything because I just didn't think it was going to happen," Michelle Rafferty, a passenger on a flight from New Zealand, told Australian media at the Sydney airport.

Passengers flying to the New Zealand capital of Wellington were greeted from the air with a "Welcome Whanau" – the Maori term for extended family – painted in huge white letters near the runway.

At the Auckland airport, a choir was singing Dave Dobbyn's Welcome Home as people hugged and kissed their dear ones.

Qantas will ramp up flights between the countries to about 200 each week, while Air New Zealand said it had quadrupled its flights to 30 on Monday, with its planes flying into New Zealand 97 per cent full.

Travel under 'constant review'

Despite the excitement of open borders, Morrison and Ardern warned travellers to prepare for disruptions to their travel at short notice in the event of Covid-19 outbreaks, and said the risks of quarantine-free travel will be under "constant review".

Both leaders also flagged the possibility of extending quarantine-free travel to other countries in the Pacific region when "it is safe to do so".

About 1.5 million Australians visited New Zealand in 2019, the year before the pandemic closed international borders, making up about 40 per cent of all visitors, spending 2.7 billion New Zealand dollars ($1.93 billion) in the country, official data showed.

More than half a million New Zealand-born people live in Australia, just more than two per cent of Australia's population of near 26 million.

Both Australia and New Zealand had largely closed their borders to non-citizens and permanent residents more than a year ago, helping to keep their Covid-19 numbers relatively low compared with several other developed countries.

Other international arrivals into both countries must go through a two-week hotel quarantine at their own expense.

Australia has recorded more than 29,500 virus cases and 910 deaths since the pandemic began, while New Zealand has had just over 2,200 confirmed cases and 26 deaths.