Mid-year school holidays are in full swing, but COVID-19 outbreaks and border restrictions are playing havoc with interstate and overseas travel plans.

Here’s what you need to know.

International travel and the NZ bubble

Overseas travel outside of New Zealand is still off the cards for Australians without a special exemption.

The federal government is yet to give a date for when international borders will open, but the recent federal budget forecast that borders would remain closed until mid-2022.

That makes New Zealand the only overseas destination Australians can travel to, but there has been speculation over future ‘travel bubble’ agreements with countries such as Singapore.

But those hoping to head across the ditch had their plans turned upside down on Saturday, when Jacinda Ardern’s government announced a whole-of-country suspension on quarantine-free travel from Australia due to concerns over the spread of the Delta variant.

Travellers from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT will be welcomed back to NZ from Monday, but will have to receive a negative COVID test before travelling.

Travel from NSW, WA, NT and Queensland will remain banned until their COVID situations improve.

New South Wales

The lockdown of Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, and Wollongong is due to end at midnight on July 9.

While interstate travellers are still allowed to arrive in the state, on Wednesday NSW declared Victoria, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia as COVID-affected areas.

Travellers from those locations will be required to complete a travel declaration before entering NSW.

Victoria

Victoria requires interstate travellers to apply for a permit to enter the state.

Under the state’s permit system, non-Victorians from areas declared COVID ‘red zones’ are banned from entering the state.

In addition to the areas of NSW currently in lockdown, this includes: Alice Springs and greater Darwin, WA’s Perth and Peel regions, south-east Queensland, Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island.

Victorian residents travelling from red zones must obtain a red zone permit to enter and travel directly home, be tested and quarantine for 14 days.

Those entering the state with ‘orange zone’ permits must isolate, get tested within 72 hours, and stay isolated until they receive a negative result.

Queensland

Thirteen local government areas in Queensland are in lockdown until 6pm on Friday.

South Australia

Travellers from the ACT, NSW, NT, Queensland and WA are currently prohibited from entering South Australia, with the exception of those classified as ‘essential travellers’.

Western Australia

WA requires travellers to complete a mandatory G2G PASS registration and declaration before travelling to the state.

WA categorises jurisdictions according to their COVID risk, and subjects travellers to corresponding restrictions.

Source: wa.gov.au

NSW and Queensland are currently categorised as ‘medium risk’.

This means anyone wishing to travel from these states is not permitted to enter without an exemption through G2G PASS.

Tasmania

Travellers from areas classified as ‘high risk’ are not permitted to enter Tasmania.

Travellers to Tasmania must provide contact and travel details before being allowed to enter.

Australian Capital Territory

Non-ACT residents who have been to any of the areas listed are not permitted to travel into the ACT unless they have an approved exemption, which are only granted in ‘exceptional’ circumstances.

Northern Territory