Travelling to New Zealand in 2022
I have been lucky enough to travel back home three times so far this year, and with each trip it gives me confidence that our pre Covid-19 smooth travel between the two countries is certainly not too far away.
Our first trip back home was in March 2022, and like nothing else, during our 11 years of being a kiwi and living in Australia and travelling back home. With Covid-19 still being very real and travel being back on the radar for only a few countries and passport holders, our trip involved far more planning and more expense than a normal trip across the Tasman.
This trip involved a negative pre departure test no older than 24 hours prior to boarding the plane, which meant a night’s accommodation in Brisbane prior to ensure that our tests were within the 24 hour window. We figured let’s be extra cautious and just book somewhere close by.
We also had to change our Australian vaccine certificates into an International one, this was easily done via the Medicare app, but then we had to send it to a site (I cannot remember what it was now, but it is no longer a requirement) in NZ who then sent them back to us as a NZ vaccine certificate, we needed these to enter pretty much any shop or eatery in NZ, along with having to download the NZ contact tracing app. I did wonder how someone older and on there on would get on doing this, I did have a bit of trouble myself doing this but once I had done a bit of reading via a very helpful Facebook group, I went onto a computer and it uploaded easily without any hassle.
We also had to apply for a travel declaration for arrival into NZ and again back into Australia, also a negative test 24 hours prior to boarding the plane back to Brisbane again. This time it was much easier as our flight was in the afternoon coming back and therefore, we had plenty of time to get it prior to leaving for the airport.
Upon arrival into New Zealand Covid-19 test kits were supplied and these had to be taken and the results reported on day one, day three and day five. Once all the paperwork side of things were organised and paid for, and everything printed off, the day had finally arrived.
At the airport check in, came what can only be described as slightly organised chaos. Keeping in mind this was very early days of the Trans-Tasman bubble once again being opened. Every piece of paperwork was scrutinised by very few staff for a very full plane.
I cannot remember the last time we had to wait over an hour to check in, when we were very near the front of the queue, but we were heading home, but it didn’t seem to matter at the time, when a couple of people had to go and have their tests redone, as they had expired.
What I wasn’t expecting was the emotion of landing back in NZ after such a long time of not being able to. There were claps and cheers all round and plenty of tears both landing and finally meeting family and friends. What was the hardest was watching grandparents finally being able to meet new family members. Not many dry eyes in the arrival lounge, that day!
Our next trip was a couple of months later, and luckily the pre Covid-19 tests had been scrapped, although everything else remained the same. But it seemed a whole less stressful, although coming back to Australia I had not kept my printed vaccine certificate and the copy on my phone did not seem to meet the requirements that a new staff member was requiring, however, this was quickly overcome by the supervisor on duty asking a couple of questions and we were free to head through to customs.
My third trip in August 2022 was the easiest so far and was almost like travelling pre Covid-19, albeit still with a mask on the plane. Not sure I could do a long haul flight with a mask, the three and a half hour trip was plenty long enough for me. The only paperwork this time was just into New Zealand who were still requiring the Travel Declaration, this was not even checked this time but worth having it. The tests are still required in New Zealand on day one, day three and day five and you do get emails asking you for your results and again the tests are still supplied upon arrival.
For all three trips, we were unable to check in via any terminals but by old school lining up and checking in with ground staff team members. It seemed that the entering of New Zealand was still a bit more of an effort than entering Australia, but totally worth it to be able to be flying again.
Travelling between Brisbane and Christchurch is still a bit limited, with not a lot of flights being direct, and the flight prices are higher than I remember them to be, but that is the same for everything at the moment. My hint, is to have a look at flying from the Gold Coast instead of Brisbane, the past two times I have driven the extra hour it takes to get to the airport, just so I can fly direct and the pricing seems to be about half of what I could get at the time if I flew Brisbane to Christchurch.
Hopefully we have all been able to travel domestically a bit more over the past couple of years, and here’s to being able to travel a bit further afield, even if it is just over the ditch as they say. A little bit different but very doable!
I wish you all happy and safe travels and hope as the weeks and months pass, these extra steps will be phased out and we can return to quick and easy flights back and forth between these two wonderful countries.
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