COVID-19: Trans-Tasman bubble – pre-departure COVID-19 testing required

If you are travelling from a state this still qualified for the trans-Tasman no quarantine bubble to New Zealand, then you need to check how to qualify again carefully on the NZ government’s Unite Against COVID-19 website.

Background

The Australia/New Zealand travel bubble was originally opened on 19 April, which meant travellers did not need to serve 14 days quarantine at either end of the ‘bubble’. It was deflated on 26 June, as small outbreaks emerged across Australia due to a transport driver testing positive in Sydney, who drove international air crew from the airport to quarantine hotels.

Pre-flight Testing

If you are travelling from the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania or Victoria, then you can take advantage from today of the Trans-Tasman no quarantine bubble, as long as you haven’t been in any ‘hot spot’ in the last 14 days before your flight. However, you will need to have a pre-departure COVID-19 test, even if you have already been vaccinated.

You will need to schedule and shell out AU$150 for a test, as free community testing results don’t qualify. Only certificates issued by private testing pathology labs qualify, and you wont’ get a rebate for those from Medicare.

Here is what you need to do regarding testing before travelling to New Zealand:

• Must not have been in NSW, after 11.59pm (NZ time) on 22 June
• Must not have been in Queensland, Northern Territory or Western Australia since 10.30pm (NZ time) on 26 June
• Complete a pre-departure PCR or RT-PCR test within 72 hours of their departure and return a negative result

Don’t fall over if the pathology lab wants to charge and additional AU$150 for rapid turnaround.

You are best to check the NZ Unite Against COVID-19 website for detailed information including a list of accredited test centres in Australia.