Yacht bubble to start
Superyachts in New Zealand waters are no longer required to quarantine upon entering New South Wales.
17 March 2021
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Superyachts that are currently located in New Zealand and have been for over two weeks can now enter New South Wales without quarantining for 14 days.
Vessel occupants who have been in New Zealand will be able to step off as soon as they receive a negative COVID-19 test result following their arrival into New South Wales.
The decision comes as a result of the low number of COVID-19 cases and little community transmission in both Australia and New Zealand.
Recent months have seen the establishment of a one-way bubble for New Zealanders entering Australia, with Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales offering exemptions for New Zealand travellers.
“The last two vessels to apply to enter Australia from New Zealand have been approved to do so without quarantine requirements upon arrival in Sydney,” said David Good, CEO of Superyacht Australia.
“Each vessel injects millions of dollars of economic contribution through the extensive use of contractors and tradesmen whenever they are in a port or marina.”
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“Australian shipyards are some of the best in the world, so it will be great to see these yachts making use of our skilled marine trades and shipyards, which will keep these vessels in the region for longer.”
With the Tokyo Olympics currently scheduled in a few months, Good believes it is likely that many of these vessels will remain in the Pacific for at least the remainder of 2021.
“Hopefully, the next staging of the America’s Cup will again be held in Auckland with a compressed turnaround to encourage even more into the Pacific,” he concluded.
A staggering 160 superyachts were expected to attend the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland before the COVID-19 pandemic reduced that number to around 20. Although heavily reduced, the economic spend of this fleet is still estimated to reach the tens of millions.
Currently, New South Wales is the only state allowing vessel occupants from New Zealand waters to enter without quarantining. There are currently no active interstate bans across Australia.
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A quick flick of wind
