Elation marked the opening on Monday of a long-anticipated travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand.

The start of quarantine-free travel was a relief for families who have been separated by the coronavirus pandemic as well as to struggling tourist operators.

It marked the first, tentative steps toward what both countries hope will become a gradual reopening to the rest of the world.

The idea of a bubble between Australia and New Zealand had been talked about for months but faced setbacks because of several small virus outbreaks in both countries, which were eventually stamped out.

To mark the occasion, Wellington International Airport painted an enormous welcome sign near its main runway and Air New Zealand ordered some 24,000 bottles of sparkling wine, offering a complimentary glass to adult passengers.

Though most&nbsp;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&nbsp;told reporters in Wellington.

With the borders open, Ardern said&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;Prime Minister Scott Morrison would visit New Zealand in the "not too distant future". Ardern said&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;Foreign Minister Marise Payne would travel to New Zealand on Wednesday.

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&nbsp;Australians visited New Zealand in 2019, the year before the pandemic closed international borders, making up about 40&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of all visitors, spending NZ$2.7 billion ($1.93 billion) in the country, official data showed.

More than half a million New Zealand-born people live in&nbsp;Australia, just over 2 per cent&nbsp;of&nbsp;Australia's population of near 26 million.

Both&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;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&nbsp;has recorded just over 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.

(With input from agencies)

Elation marked the opening on Monday of a long-anticipated travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. The start of quarantine-free travel was a relief for families who have been separated by the coronavirus pandemic as well as to struggling tourist operators.

Elation marked the opening on Monday of a long-anticipated travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. The start of quarantine-free travel was a relief for families who have been separated by the coronavirus pandemic as well as to struggling tourist operators. It marked the first, tentative steps toward what both countries hope will become a gradual reopening to the rest of the world. The idea of a bubble between Australia and New Zealand had been talked about for months but faced setbacks because of several small virus outbreaks in both countries, which were eventually stamped out. To mark the occasion, Wellington International Airport painted an enormous welcome sign near its main runway and Air New Zealand ordered some 24,000 bottles of sparkling wine, offering a complimentary glass to adult passengers. 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. 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 NZ$2.7 billion ($1.93 billion) in the country, official data showed. More than half a million New Zealand-born people live in Australia, just over 2 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 just over 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. (With input from agencies)

COVID-19: Tears of joy as Australia opens travel bubble with New Zealand

New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;and Australia will create a quarantine and COVID-testing free "travel bubble" from April 19, after effectively eradicating the virus by closing borders last year to stop more infections reaching their shores and stringent lockdowns.

Though most Australian states have allowed quarantine-free visits from&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealanders for months,&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;has continued with enforced isolation for arrivals from its neighbour, citing concern about small COVID-19 outbreaks there.

New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday Australians would now have open access, allowing cross-border travel without mandatory COVID-19 testing - one of the first such agreements since the pandemic prompted countries to block foreign arrivals to stop the virus spreading.

"The Trans-Tasman travel bubble represents a start of a&nbsp;new&nbsp;chapter in our COVID response and recovery, one that people have worked so hard at," Ardern told reporters in the&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;capital Wellington.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the agreement "the first of many more steps to come ... as we get back to a more normal position, not only over the course of this year but beyond".

The virus has effectively been eradicated in both countries, with minor outbreaks the result of leakage from quarantined returned travellers. Australia has recorded about 29,400 virus cases and 909 deaths since the pandemic began, while&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;has had just over 2,100 confirmed cases and 26 deaths.

A man from the nearby Pacific nation of Papua&nbsp;New&nbsp;Guinea died in an Australian hospital, the authorities said on Tuesday, but the death was not included in Australian statistics since he was diagnosed in his home country before being airlifted.

About 568,000&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand-born people live in Australia, according to 2018 figures, equivalent to 2.3 per cent&nbsp;of Australia's population and Australia's fourth-largest migrant community.

Australians made up 1.5 million, or 40 per cent, of arrivals to&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;in 2019, the year before the pandemic shut borders, contributing NZ$2.7 billion ($1.9 billion) to its economy, according to&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;figures. Arrivals were forecast to reach 80 per cent of that level by early 2022, Ardern said.

"Tourism operators can now take bookings with confidence and scale up their staffing," said Chris Roberts, CEO of&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;travel industry body Tourism Industry Aotearoa.

'FLYER BEWARE'

Flights to and from some Australian states could still be suspended if there were local outbreaks, Ardern warned. She added that travellers must wear masks on flights and undertake&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;contact tracing, while the travel bubble did not apply to people transiting via Australia from other countries.

The bubble would operate under a "flyer beware" system, with no&nbsp;new&nbsp;support from the&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;government for people stuck in Australia by cancellations at short notice, Ardern said.

Air&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;Ltd and Qantas Airways Ltd said they would ramp up flights between Australia and&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;to more than 70 per cent&nbsp;of pre-pandemic levels, reducing the airlines' cash burn when they are almost wholly reliant on domestic markets for revenue.

The bubble will allow the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition involving five teams from each country to proceed over five weeks from May 14.

The Wellington Phoenix soccer team and&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;Warriors rugby league side, which both participate in predominantly Australian leagues, might also be able to host home matches after more than a year of playing their matches in Australia.

The bubble offered an upbeat development for Morrison who faces criticism domestically after falling short of plans to have one-sixth of the population vaccinated by the end of March. The government has blamed the shipping delays on export curbs by the European Union.

New Zealand and Australia will create a quarantine and COVID-testing free "travel bubble" from April 19, after effectively eradicating the virus by closing borders last year to stop more infections reaching their shores and stringent lockdowns.

New Zealand and Australia will create a quarantine and COVID-testing free "travel bubble" from April 19, after effectively eradicating the virus by closing borders last year to stop more infections reaching their shores and stringent lockdowns. Though most Australian states have allowed quarantine-free visits from New Zealanders for months, New Zealand has continued with enforced isolation for arrivals from its neighbour, citing concern about small COVID-19 outbreaks there. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday Australians would now have open access, allowing cross-border travel without mandatory COVID-19 testing - one of the first such agreements since the pandemic prompted countries to block foreign arrivals to stop the virus spreading. "The Trans-Tasman travel bubble represents a start of a new chapter in our COVID response and recovery, one that people have worked so hard at," Ardern told reporters in the New Zealand capital Wellington. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the agreement "the first of many more steps to come ... as we get back to a more normal position, not only over the course of this year but beyond". The virus has effectively been eradicated in both countries, with minor outbreaks the result of leakage from quarantined returned travellers. Australia has recorded about 29,400 virus cases and 909 deaths since the pandemic began, while New Zealand has had just over 2,100 confirmed cases and 26 deaths. A man from the nearby Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea died in an Australian hospital, the authorities said on Tuesday, but the death was not included in Australian statistics since he was diagnosed in his home country before being airlifted. About 568,000 New Zealand-born people live in Australia, according to 2018 figures, equivalent to 2.3 per cent of Australia's population and Australia's fourth-largest migrant community. Australians made up 1.5 million, or 40 per cent, of arrivals to New Zealand in 2019, the year before the pandemic shut borders, contributing NZ$2.7 billion ($1.9 billion) to its economy, according to New Zealand figures. Arrivals were forecast to reach 80 per cent of that level by early 2022, Ardern said. "Tourism operators can now take bookings with confidence and scale up their staffing," said Chris Roberts, CEO of New Zealand travel industry body Tourism Industry Aotearoa. 'FLYER BEWARE' Flights to and from some Australian states could still be suspended if there were local outbreaks, Ardern warned. She added that travellers must wear masks on flights and undertake New Zealand contact tracing, while the travel bubble did not apply to people transiting via Australia from other countries. The bubble would operate under a "flyer beware" system, with no new support from the New Zealand government for people stuck in Australia by cancellations at short notice, Ardern said. Air New Zealand Ltd and Qantas Airways Ltd said they would ramp up flights between Australia and New Zealand to more than 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, reducing the airlines' cash burn when they are almost wholly reliant on domestic markets for revenue. The bubble will allow the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition involving five teams from each country to proceed over five weeks from May 14. The Wellington Phoenix soccer team and New Zealand Warriors rugby league side, which both participate in predominantly Australian leagues, might also be able to host home matches after more than a year of playing their matches in Australia. The bubble offered an upbeat development for Morrison who faces criticism domestically after falling short of plans to have one-sixth of the population vaccinated by the end of March. The government has blamed the shipping delays on export curbs by the European Union.

Australia-New Zealand 'travel bubble' to begin April 19 in pandemic milestone

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COVID-19: Tears of joy as Australia opens travel bubble with New Zealand

Australia-New Zealand 'travel bubble' to begin April 19 in pandemic milestone