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Important Travel Update

1 April, 2021, 09.30am

If you are travelling in the next three days and wish to change your booking please click here.

If you are not travelling within the next three days, please click here to manage your booking. We appreciate your patience. 

For more information on Interstate Travel Restrictions please click here.

It is important to remain up to date around the evolving quarantine and lockdown rules for domestic travel

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When can we travel again?

There have been many proposed timelines by industry and government bodies, however, these timelines should be viewed as a guide only, and will be reliant on the Australian Government opening up the borders for citizens and permanent residents to travel freely.
 
The 'Trans-Tasman travel bubble', which allows travellers from Australia and New Zealand to move freely between the two nations, without the need for quarantining, is effective from Monday 19 April 2021. 
 
At the current time, all other international travel is still off limits, however other travel bubbles may resume later in 2021. For the latest travel advice please visit Smartraveller and the World Health Organisation.
 
For more information on domestic travel restrictions and border openings head here.
 

 

Travel restrictions and rules

Interstate Travel Restrictions

Last updated - 09:30am April 19, 2021. 

If travelling interstate, check the below quarantine and self-isolation government requirements for each individual state in the drop downs below.

Note: Face masks are mandatory in all Australian airports and on domestic flights excluding children 12 and under or those with particular exemptions.

  • South Australia will lift all restrictions for travellers arriving from Byron Bay and Greater Brisbane from 12:01am  Monday April 12. Travellers from these areas will no longer need to get tested on arrival, nor avoid high-risk health sites or large events.
  • South Australia’s border is open to all other states.

     

  • All travellers must complete a Cross Border Travel Registration.

To learn more about the current restrictions, here is the SA Government travel advice

  • The Queensland border is open to all states without a border declaration.

To learn more about the current restrictions, here is the QLD Government travel advice

  • From midnight Sunday 18 April, WA border restrictions eased with Queensland. Anyone travelling from Queensland to WA are now permitted to enter without having to self-quarantine.

  • Borders open to all other states.

  • All travellers must apply for a G2G Pass declaration.

To learn more about the current restrictions, here is the WA Government travel advice

 

  • NSW has moved the Greater Brisbane region to an “affected area”, meaning travellers who have been there in the past 14 days are again able to travel freely anywhere in NSW. Travellers from Greater Brisbane will still need to complete a travellers self-declaration form. 

  • Travellers who have been to any of the exposure sites identified by QLD since March 20 need to remain in quarantine as directed by the QLD government.

  • Borders open to travellers from all other states.

To learn more about the current restrictions, here is the NSW Government travel advice

  • The Northern Territory has revoked the following Queensland areas as hot spots: Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands and Toowoomba. That means travellers into the NT from these areas do not need to go into mandatory supervised quarantine, and anyone who is currently in quarantine from those areas will be able to leave.

  • The Byron Shire in NSW has also been revoked as a hotspot, however anyone arriving into the NT who has been in Byron Bay or Ballina since March 26, the Tweed Shire or Lismore after March 28 must isolate and get tested within 72 hours.    

  • Borders open to all other states without quarantine.
  • Travellers must complete a border entry form.

To learn more about the current restrictions, here is the NT Government travel advice

  • ACT lifted travel restrictions for Greater Brisbane from 1:00pm April 1, and travellers no longer need to fill in a declaration form. 
  • Anyone who attended any QLD or NSW exposure sites may need to stay in quarantine in line with QLD/NSW Health directions.
  • Borders are open to all other states

     

To learn more about the current restrictions, here is the ACT Government travel advice

  • Tasmania has lifted restrictions for anyone arriving to the state from Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Redlands areas. Arrivals will no longer need to quarantine, and anyone already in quarantine can leave, unless they have been to a high risk location. 
  • Restrictions remain in place for anyone who has visited the high risk locations at certain dates and times.

  • Tasmania’s border is open to all other states without quarantine.

  • All travellers must register travel via the Tas e-Travel system.

To learn more about the current restrictions, here is the TAS Government travel advice

  • From Monday April 12, Victoria has downgraded Greater Brisbane, Gladstone and the Byron Bay Shire to Green zones under the state’s traffic light system. Anyone travelling to Victoria from these areas will no longer need to be tested and quarantine on entering.

     

  • Victoria’s borders are open to travellers from all other states.

  • Anyone wishing to enter Victoria must first apply for a travel permit, this includes residents returning home.

To learn more about the current restrictions, here is the VIC Government travel advice

 

International Travel Restrictions

Last updated - 3:30pm April 6, 2020.

  • Australia’s borders are currently closed except for travellers from New Zealand.

  • From 11:59 pm Sunday April 18, New Zealand will be open for two-way quarantine-free travel between Australian and New Zealand, with flights operating in “green zones” at airports. 

  • Travellers from New Zealand have been able to travel quarantine-free into Australia since February 21.

  • All other international travel is currently banned for Australian citizens & permanent residents without an exemption.
  • Temporary visa holders & visitors do not require exemption to leave Australia, but will need one to return.
  • All passengers arriving into Australia are required to pay for their own government-directed quarantine, except for those arriving from New Zealand who are not required to quarantine as part of the ‘Trans Tasman travel bubble’ agreement.

What to expect when travelling

Permits

Entry conditions, forms and quarantine requirements for all states can be found: 
 
If you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident, you cannot leave Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions, unless you have an exemption. You can apply for an exemption online through Home Affairs but you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • your travel is as part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid 
  • your travel is essential for your business/employer
  • you are travelling to receive urgent medical treatment that is not available in Australia
  • you are travelling outside Australia for three months or longer
  • you are travelling on compassionate or humanitarian grounds 
  • your travel is in the national interest.
You must provide evidence to support your claims, and more information on this can be found on the Home Affairs website: click here. 
 
Online application form: click here
 
If you are granted a travel exemption, you will need to take evidence of that exemption decision to the airport.
 

Personal Safety

Contact details and websites of the local state and territory health departments can be found here: click here
 
If you are feeling unwell or displaying any symptoms associated with COVID-19, do not go to the airport. Seek medical advice and talk to your travel agent about deferring your travel plans.
Hygiene recommendations from the Department of Health include:
  • regularly wash your hands with soap and water 
  • covering coughs and sneezes
  • avoid touching your face
  • maintain social distance
  • avoid contact with people who are unwell
Further information can be found here: click here
 
Face masks are mandatory in all Australian airports and on domestic flights excluding children 12 and under or those with particular exemptions.
 
This information is subject to change without notice, we recommend you familiarise  yourself with the relevant airline and government policies at the time of booking and again immediately before travel.
 
Yes, although there are still restrictions on the amount of liquid you can carry on international* flights which is a maximum of 150ml. 
 
*Australia has strict border measures in place. As a result very limited flights are currently available to and from Australia to those with travel exemptions. 
 

Airline & Airport Safety

Australian airlines are committed to safe travel by:
  • Encouraging the use of the COVIDSafe app.
  • Enhanced ‘gate-screening’ processes to identify symptoms of concern displayed by any boarding passenger.
  • Staggering the boarding process.
  • Spacing of passengers where possible.
  • Enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures.
Additionally, some airlines are:
  • Providing onboard PPE kits and encouraging the use of face masks inflight.
  • Reducing cabin service, minimising interactions.
  • Providing onboard sanitation stations and the provision of anti-bacterial wipes for passenger use. 
  • Implementing new procedures to isolate any passenger who becomes sick during the flight.
Airports around the country have implemented new safety measures including:
  • Encouraging the use of the COVIDSafe app
  • Encouraging social distancing where possible, in terminal, kerbside, in car parks and on transfer buses, including installing floor markings and bollards where practical
  • Free sanitation stations at terminal entry points, screening locations, on transfer buses and at boarding gates
  • Increasing cleaning schedules and touch point sanitation with hospital grade disinfectant in terminal, on transfer buses and in car parks
  • Trolley wipe stations installed in car parks and trolley stations
  • Sharing hygiene and social distancing reminders via static and digital signage and PAs in terminals, car parks and buses
  • Encouraging meeters and greeters and non-travellers to not enter the terminals, where practical
  • Providing protective sneeze screens and PPE for front line staff where practical
  • Providing additional hygiene training for staff and contractors.
 
Something to consider when flying is that throughout several of  the country’s airports, many food and retail outlets are also temporarily closed.
 
For information on each airport’s COVID-19 measures visit: 
 

Health advice continues to recommend that healthy people in the community do not need to wear masks, while the rate of community transmission of COVID-19 is low. For instance Brisbane Airport continues to follow the advice of Queensland Health and as such, while staff are welcome to wear face masks and PPE at BNE, this is not currently a mandatory requirement.

The airport security screening process remains the same, however travellers are encouraged to practice social distancing where possible and use the sanitation stations and sanitation wipes made available at each screening point for hands and trays. Travellers are welcome to carry their own hand sanitiser on board however there are still restrictions on the amount of liquid you can carry on international flights which is a maximum of 150ml.

While some domestic airports have chosen to implement temperature checks, there has been no recommendations or directives by health authorities to do so, as temperature checking does not guarantee the absence of someone carrying the virus. While temperature checking will not be mandatory for domestic passengers at all airports, you may notice some temperature check stations around the terminals. These have been implemented by individual organisations, separate to the airport, as part of their COVID Safe plan.

Important Travel Advisory:  When travelling you need to ensure you meet the current COVID-19 travel regulations and advisories for your departure point, destination, and any transit points prior to booking. All information on this page has been sourced from the following government and industry bodies, which you can also visit: IATA COVID-19 Travel Regulations Map, Smart Traveller and Australian Home Affairs.

Travel updates

For all the latest traveller updates and information click here.

Trans-Tasman Bubble Set To Open To Two-Way Quarantine-Free Travel from 11:59pm Sunday April 18
Posted on: 6 April 2021

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced New Zealand will open its borders to Australian travellers without the need to quarantine from 11:59pm Sunday April 18.

Ms Ardern said New Zealand would manage the travel bubble by effectively considering Australia another region, albeit a more complicated one. Outbreaks would see restrictions be reinstated on a state-by-state basis.

Flights between the two countries would operate with green lanes at international borders, to avoid contact with other international arrival/departure passengers.

Greater Brisbane To Enter Three Day Lockdowm From 05:00pm Monday March 29
Posted on: 29 March 2021

Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk has announced that Greater Brisbane will enter a three-day circuit breaker lockdown from 05:00pm March 29 until 04:59pm April 1.

During this time people in Greater Brisbane will only be allowed to leave home for four reasons: shopping for essentials, caregiving for compassionate reasons/medical, essential work, and exercise. Masks must be worn everywhere outside of the home where physical distancing is not possible, including indoors and on public transport.

Schools and childcare centres will only remain open for children of essential workers.

Anyone who has been in the Greater Brisbane area since Saturday March 20, regardless of where they are now, is required to follow those same requirements, that is to stay wherever they are except for those four reasons.

Victoria To Enter Five Day Lockdown from 11:59 pm February 12
Posted on: 12 February 2021

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that the entire state of Victoria will enter a five-day circuit breaker lockdown from 11:59 pm February 12 until 11:59 pm February 17.

During this time Victorians will only be allowed to leave home for four reasons: shopping for essentials, caregiving for compassionate reasons, essential work, and exercise. Private and public gatherings are not permitted, and masks must be worn everywhere outside of the home.

Exercise is limited to two hours per day, and Victorians must stay within 5km of their home other than for permitted work, or essential items if they are not available in that 5km zone. Schools will close but remain available for children of essential workers, places of worship will be closed, weddings not permitted, and funerals limited to 10 people.

Due to this lockdown, it’s also been announced that for the duration of the five days, Victoria will not accept international flights unless they are already en route.

Green Zone Travel Arrangements With New Zealand Suspended For Minimum Of 72 Hours
Posted on: 25 January 2021
The Australian Federal Government announced on Monday January 25 that after New Zealand recorded its first Covid-19 case from community transmission, the green zone between Australia and New Zealand would be suspended for a minimum of 72 hours.
 
Health Minister Greg Hunt announced that all passengers from New Zealand with a safe zone flight scheduled in the next 72 hours should reconsider their need to travel. Any travellers arriving on a safe zone flight from Monday January 25 would need to go into hotel quarantine, or whatever the arrival state implements, for up to 14 days, but for a minimum of 72 hours, and to have a test. 
 
He also advised that anyone who has arrived in Australia on a flight from New Zealand on or since January 14 is asked to isolate and arrange to be tested and to remain in isolation until they receive a negative test result.
Emirates reverses decision to suspend Australian flights
Posted on: 22 January 2021

Flights to Sydney will resume from January 25, to Melbourne from January 26, and to Brisbane from January 28.

The airline said in a statement, "we regret the inconvenience caused to our customers in the period where we had to temporarily suspend our services."

"The pandemic has made international flying incredibly challenging, and the dynamic restrictions and requirements implemented by the different state authorities in Australia had added complexity and burden to our operations," it continued.

The backflip coincides with the Australian Government's new requirement for passengers to have a mandatory negative Covid-19 test before travelling to Australia. The temporary reduction to the cap on international arrivals will remain in place until mid February.

Emirates Suspends East Coast Flights
Posted on: 19 January 2021

The airline made the announcement on Friday evening, confirming its last flight into Brisbane from Dubai would be the next day, while the last flights into Sydney and Melbourne would be on Tuesday January 19.

The airline confirmed it would continue to operate its twice-weekly flights into Perth from Dubai. In a statement to the ABC, the airline said the flight suspensions were due to "operational reasons".

The Federal Government in response said it would redistribute the places, allocated to Emirates under the international flight cap, to other carriers.

The move follows the Government's decision to temporarily reduce the cap on international arrivals due to the risk from the new variant strain of Covid-19.

After Emirates’ statement, the Government announced it would schedule 20 repatriation flights to help stranded Australians from January 31 to March 31. The extra repatriation flights are "over and above" the existing caps on returning international travellers and will be flown to locations that are willing to work above those caps.

Travellers will be taken to the Howard Springs facility in the Northern Territory, as well as to locations in Canberra and Tasmania. For more information on these flights, travellers are advised to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Federal Government Announces Mandatory Facemasks For All Air Travel
Posted on: 8 January 2021

The Federal government announced on January 8, 2021 they will be introducing a new infection prevention and control mandate for domestic and international flights.

All passengers and crew will be required to wear facemasks in international and Australian airports and also while flying, excluding children 12 and under, and those with other accepted exemptions.

Crew will also be required to wear masks and other personal protective equipment and airlines will be required to have appropriate infection prevention and control measures onboard. International air crew will be newly required to undergo Covid-19 testing in Australia every seven days or on arrival as determined by the state governments.

The new measures and compliance arrangements are expected to be rolled out over the course of the following week and will be put in place by the federal and state governments.

International Travel Update - Arrivals Halved, Masks & Testing Mandatory
Posted on: 8 January 2021

The Federal government announced on January 8, 2021 they will be introducing new caps on international arrivals in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, lasting until at least February 15, 2021.

In New South Wales there will be a weekly cap of 1,505, in Queensland there will be a cap of 500, and in Western Australia the cap will be at 512 arrivals.

There will be no change to the number of arrivals into Victoria, as they are already operating at less than 50% of current capacity. There is also no change to arrivals into South Australia, the ACT, the Northern Territory or Tasmania. The new caps will be rolled out in the week following the announcement.

They also announced that wearing masks will be mandatory for passengers and crew on all international flights. The government has advised that passengers should wear masks while in international airports and for the duration of the flight.

Finally travellers from the United Kingdom will be subject to rapid testing before they board flights to Australia. They must return a negative Covid-19 test result prior to departure to Australia. There will be exemptions in extenuating circumstances.

QLD announces 3-day lockdown as Federal Government declares Brisbane hotspot
Posted on: 8 January 2021

Australian states and territories have been quick to reimpose border restrictions on people travelling out of Greater Brisbane in response to the state announcing a 3-day lockdown and the Prime Minister declaring the region a hotspot at a federal level.

Customers travelling in the next 48 hours who wish to manage their booking, please click here to get in touch.

If you are not travelling within the next 48 hours and wish to manage your booking, please click here. Please do not call as we are only able to assist customers departing in the next 48 hours.

Our Travel Updates page here has all of the most up to date information on each state’s border updates for those travelling to, and from Queensland.

It is important to remain up to date around the evolving quarantine and lockdown rules when travelling to and from Queensland, which may have changed as the situation develops.

States impose border restrictions and bans on NSW
Posted on: 21 December 2020

Australian states and territories have been quick to reimpose border restrictions on people travelling out of  New South Wales in response to the state’s growing coronavirus outbreak.

Customers travelling in the next 48 hours who wish to manage their booking, please click here to get in touch. 

If you are not travelling within the next 48 hours and wish to manage your booking, please click here. Please do not call as we are only able to assist customers departing in the next 48 hours.

Our Travel Updates page here has all of the most up to date information on each state’s border updates for those travelling to, and from NSW.

Those who are travelling to NSW are urged to be mindful that upon returning, the quarantine rules may have changed for your home state, as the situation in NSW develops.