Australia and New Zealand have worked closely together since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and now Australia is establishing the Safe Travel Zone with New Zealand.

This is the next step for a COVID-safe Australia that will reunite families and friends, offer opportunities for businesses looking for workers, and back the communities that depend on tourism. The Australian Government has undertaken a public health risk assessment of COVID-19 in New Zealand, which indicated that New Zealand posed a low risk of COVID-19 transmission to Australia.

Australia committed to opening up both domestic travel within Australia and travel with New Zealand, as well as other low-risk countries as soon as the health advice says it is safe to do so.
Passengers from New Zealand will be able to travel to Australia, quarantine-free, from 16 October, provided they have not been in an area designated as a COVID-19 hotspot in New Zealand in the preceding 14 days.
The Australian Government is defining a hotspot using a three-day rolling average of three locally acquired cases per day. There are currently no COVID-19 hotspots in New Zealand. The last locally acquired case with an unidentified epidemiological source occurred on 21 August 2020.
The Australian Government declares that any state or territory that imposes travel restrictions consistent with the Australian Government-defined hotspot, will be able to participate in the Safe Travel Zone. Normal visa requirements will apply and travellers returning to New Zealand from Australia will be required to comply with New Zealand’s travel requirements.