COVID-19: New Zealand travel bubble safe for NSW residents – for now

With 4 cases of COVID-19 reported in New South Wales over the last few days, everyone is on tenterhooks again.

One case is questionable, and we will probably know more later today. One positive case was recently at the National Gallery in Canberra – classy, but also dangerous.

I have a double or even triple interest in this. I live in Sydney, NSW. I’m currently in Adelaide – so feel safe – and also a little cold and wet. And finally, and most importantly from a travel perspective – I’m scheduled to head over to New Zealand in the next few weeks.

“Really the indications we look for are the response of the Australian-based authorities. We stay in really close contact. If they have enough concern to impose restrictions or to themselves go into a form of lockdown, then we then respond at our border.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as quoted in the SMH

State Advisories

Meanwhile in Victoria, the 25 km travel restriction has been lifted, as has the wearing of masks outdoors. Stay safe.

If you are planning on travelling interstate, then check the appropriate state’s restrictions below. Some states are banning travellers who have been to any of the hot zones in NSW and Victoria has downgraded Sydney siders to the ‘orange’ zone. Rules could change as the NSW situation develops.

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

And if you are booked for New Zealand – then you better check here as well: New Zealand COVID-19 Travel Advice.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

Do not emulate me, who almost forgot to fill in an application for cross border travel to South Australia the other day. Check the links above at least a week out from travel, and file any applications required. Then keep checking until your date of travel, to avoid any ugly surprises.