New Zealand and Australia created a quarantine and COVID-testing free “travel bubble” from today, April 19, after effectively eradicating the virus by closing borders last year to stop more infections reaching their shores and stringent lockdowns. Hundreds of passengers crowded the international departure terminal at Australia's Melbourne Airport early today amid long check-in lines.

Hundreds of passengers from Australia landed in Auckland on Monday following the implementation of a travel bubble under which New Zealand allowed Australian flights into the country for the first time since the borders were shut in March last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first flight took off Monday morning at 7 am (local time) from Sydney airport to Auckland following the opening of the travel bubble which would allow Australians to visit New Zealand without going into quarantine and a permit.

The two sides' borders were shut in March last year after the coronavirus started to spread rapidly around the globe however, New Zealanders were allowed to travel to Australia on ''green zone'' flights and avoid hotel quarantine since October last year.

To fly in the newly created bubble, passengers must have spent the previous 14 days in either Australia or New Zealand and not have returned a positive COVID-19 test within the same period. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison hinted that the idea to open up borders was to happen cautiously and carefully.

"It will be happening cautiously and carefully, working very hard on the medical and health protections in place because I'm not going to put at risk the way that Australians are living today," he said.

Two weeks ago, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had announced the arrangement saying: ''Those undertaking travel on either side of the ditch will do so under the guidance of flyer beware.'' ''People will need to plan for the possibility of travel being disrupted if there is an outbreak,'' she added.

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