Visiting New Zealand in a post Covid world

From late April 2021 Australian citizens have been able travel to New Zealand without going into isolation upon arrival, as long as certain conditions are met. 

As with everything related to international travel this is subject to change, but while the “bubble” is in place Australians can travel to New Zealand and join one of our small group tours.

See the current status “Trans Tasman Bubble” here.

At present citizens and residents of the USA, Canada, the UK and EU cannot travel to New Zealand for a holiday. 

This may also change over time so visit this page on the New Zealand Government Covid-19 website to keep up to date.

This refers to quarantine free travel for citizens and residents of certain countries. If New Zealand has a quarantine free travel arrangement with your country it means you don’t have to go into isolation when you arrive and you can travel freely and join one of our tours.

As of April 2021, New Zealand has a quarantine free travel with Australia, the Cook Islands and Niue. 

See this page on the New Zealand Government Covid-19 website for the latest updates on travel bubbles.

Visit the New Zealand government official Covid-19 website to see the current Covid alert level in New Zealand, it's right at the top of every page on the site.

If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand you should be familiar with our alert levels and be prepared if these levels change while you’re here.

We have a four tier alert system, which moves from the lowest Level 1 (prepare), Level 2 (reduce), Level 3 (restrict) to Level 4 (lockdown). 

See more information about New Zealand’s Covid-19 alert system here.

Under New Zealand government regulations we are able to operate our tours under Levels 1 & 2.

You must make your own decision about whether you undertake travel at this time. Here are a couple of resources that will help you.

The official New Zealand government Covid-19 information website.

Here you will find the current Covid-19 alert level and the most up to date New Zealand government travel advisories and information.

Ultimately whatever we can or can’t do on our small group tours is dictated by the law here in New Zealand and this website is probably the most important single resource for all of us.

You must  consider the government advice from your own country regarding travel to New Zealand. It’s important to know how visiting New Zealand could affect your return home. 

The good news is that Covid-19 in New Zealand has been handled very well and outbreaks have been relatively minor and well contained which makes us one of the safest countries in the world to visit post Covid.

See the below official government travel advisories for New Zealand:

The US Department of State Travel Advisory for New Zealand

The Australian Government Travel Advisory for New Zealand

The United Kingdom Government Travel Advisory for New Zealand

For eligibility and pre-departure information for travellers coming to New Zealand from countries with quarantine free travel see this page of the New Zealand Government Covid-19 website.

There are some important conditions you need to meet and you must complete a pre departure health declaration.

Travellers from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands do not need to have a pre-departure Covid-19 test to visit New Zealand.

Travellers from all other countries are required to have a negative Covid-19 test before the scheduled departure of your first international flight.

See this section on the New Zealand Government Covid-19 website for the latest updates on who needs to be tested before travelling.

If your country has a quarantine free travel arrangement with New Zealand then you do not need a Covid-19 vaccination to visit New Zealand.

This requirement may change over time, refer to this section on the NZ Govt Covid-19 website for the latest.

You will have to follow requirements and regulations when travelling to New Zealand, such as wearing a mask, social distancing and hand hygiene.

Most restrictions will apply during your flights and travel through airports. Once you arrive in New Zealand you will not be subject to the same restrictions.

Please be aware that if you have any symptoms of Covid-19 you may be not be able to travel. 

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions which have similar symptoms to Covid-19 you will need to bring a medical certificate showing this. Make sure you do this as you won’t be able to travel with Covid-19 symptoms.

See this page on the NZ Government Covid-19 website for more information about what to do before you travel.

Here’s some information about what to expect at the airport when you travel.

Once you’re cleared to come, it’s really important that you do a few things:

1. Download the New Zealand Covid Tracer App and enable bluetooth on your phone.
If you’re travelling on one of our tours your guide will check in on behalf of the group to places we visit as part of the itinerary. You should check yourself in to any other venues you visit during the tour.

2. Carry a face mask and wear it if required.
Face coverings are required to travel on all forms of public transport in New Zealand.
Guests on our small group tours are not required to wear face masks as they are private tours.

3. Carry hand sanitizer, practice good hand hygiene and cough into your elbow.

4. Let your MoaTrek Kiwi guide know if you’re not feeling well during your tour. Follow their instructions.

See more information on the NZ Government Covid-19 website about how to keep yourself safe while in New Zealand.

Once you’re here, you’ll find that life in New Zealand is mostly unchanged, with a few exceptions.

At Alert Levels 1 & 2 we are allowed to operate our tours and life in New Zealand continues in a fairly normal way, with a few exceptions.

Your Kiwi Guide will be the person responsible for letting you know what you can and can’t do and is the first person you should contact if you’re not sure of anything.

See more information about regional travel in New Zealand during Covid-19 here.

During the entire period which international travellers have not been coming to New Zealand, we have continued to operate our tours, with New Zealanders exploring their own country as our guests. So our safe tour operating procedures have been honed and practiced many times, unlike companies who have been in hibernation.

See more about our safe tour operating procedures here.

In these uncertain times travellers must be prepared for a change in alert levels when they travel.

See more information on the NZ Government Covid website about how to prepare yourself for this.

You should have travel insurance for your trip to New Zealand. Talk to your insurer to understand if you are covered for any Covid-19 related disruptions or costs.

We have been operating small group tours in New Zealand since 1971 and over the years have dealt with more than a few disruptions to travel.

One of the advantages of travelling with us is that we are right here in New Zealand and can help you with information before you travel and are here to help if anything changes while you’re here.

These are unprecedented times for all of us, but what we have learnt over the past year is that with a few sensible precautions travel can be safely enjoyed.

We look forward to welcoming you to New Zealand soon.

See our Covid-19 booking assurance policy, which means you can change your tour date free of charge if you can’t travel due to border restrictions.