The newly implemented air travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand, combined with an existing sea border exemption for vessels, means New Zealand is now open to business for cruising yachts and superyachts coming from Australia.
The yachts can visit New Zealand under the sea border exemption, and yacht owners, their families and friends can then join the yacht in New Zealand via the air border.
With the two destinations and the wider South Pacific amongst the safest places to visit globally, the establishment of this new bubble provides a wealth of opportunities for those eager to get back out on the water and exploring.
Cruising craft and superyachts departing Australia can gain entry to New Zealand under an exemption for vessels with NZ$50,000 in service or refit bookings. Â
With the implementation of a new air border agreement, owners’ family and friends who either have an Australian passport or have been allowed into Australia (and have spent an additional 14 days in Australia after isolation) can fly to New Zealand through the Australian/New Zealand trans-Tasman bubble and join their vessel.
“We have been waiting over a year now and are very excited that yachts and their owners, leaving from Australia, can come to New Zealand. It presents the opportunity for cruising and superyachts to enjoy New Zealand’s cruising grounds and superyacht regattas, the New Zealand Millennium Cup and the various regattas planned for 2022 by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron,” says CEO of the NZ Marine Industry Association, Peter Busfield.
“Combining this with superyachts now being able to charter in both New Zealand and Australia, we see Australians and Kiwis able to get their overseas experience in style by chartering a superyacht in either country for a holiday of a lifetime.”
New Zealand is cruising yacht and superyacht-friendly; it has straightforward entry rules, plentiful berths for visiting yachts, and marine service centres nationwide. Internationally recognised for its boatbuilding, spar and sailmaking and engineering services, many visiting yachts have undertaken major refits in New Zealand.Â
With Emirates Team New Zealand’s successful defence of the 36th America’s Cup, the upcoming SailGP series, the New Zealand Millennium Cup superyacht regatta running from 14 to February 17 and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s regattas taking place in January and February 2022, New Zealand is a global focal point as a destination for superyachts. In addition, a world-first superyacht fishing competition will take place from 11th to February 13 2022, in Northland’s Bay of Islands immediately before the 2022 NZ Millennium Cup, the longest-running superyacht regatta in the Southern Hemisphere.
