New Zealand has just announced its border is now open to tourists looking to ski its mountains, tramp its trails and explore its rugged coastlines – a full two months earlier than planned.
Those looking to cruise will need to wait a bit longer, as its maritime borders aren’t opening until 31 July, 2022.
But, luckily, making the mad rush with all the keen New Zealand-bound travellers won’t cost you a fortune.
Here are our four picks to treat yourself to a New Zealand holiday.
The luxury ski holiday in Queenstown: $655
What you’ll get:
- 3 nights’ accommodation at a 5-star hotel in Queenstown
- 2-day ski pass at Cardrona or Treble Cone
- Full breakfast daily
The ultimate New Zealand road trip: $1,509
What you’ll get:
- 7-day Toyota RAV4 hire with basic insurance
- 6 nights’ 4-star accommodation
- 5 cooked breakfasts
- $100 food and beverage voucher
- Milford Sound Cruise
- Lanarch Castle entry with high tea
The sustainable wine and food escape: $995
What you’ll get:
- 3 nights’ accommodation at The Hotel Britomart
- Waiheke Island wine tour with lunch
- Breakfast daily
- Dinner at Kingi restaurant
The see-it-all-in-a-week New Zealand cruise: $1,899
What you’ll get:
- 8 nights aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth
- Departing from Melbourne, visits to Fiordland National Park, Dunedin, Lyttelton (Christchurch) and Wellington before docking in Auckland
- All meals aboard the ship
- A 40% savings on the original price
What to know before you go
Who can travel to New Zealand?
While borders have been open to Australian and New Zealand residents, they’re now going to be wide open to passport holders from non visa-waiver countries including China and India.
You can also travel to New Zealand with a visa-waiver if you hold a passport from countries such as the United Kingdom, the USA, Ireland, Canada and Singapore.
What New Zealand travel restrictions will be in place?
Unless you have an Australian or New Zealand passport, you’ll need an NZeTA to enter the country. It costs NZ$9. You’ll also need to pay for the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), which costs NZ$35. The NZeTA is valid for two years.
You’ll also need to get either a PCR test no more than 48 before your flight to New Zealand or a supervised rapid antigen test (RAT) within 24 hours of departure.
Returning to Australia you won’t need to get a test, but you should take a RAT within 24 hours of arrival.