Cruising yachts can now begin to move westward across the South Pacific as countries including New Zealand and the Cook Islands ease entry restrictions for foreign registered vessels.

Published 2 years ago

New Zealand Open for Business

In welcome news for cruising yachts in the South Pacific, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that New Zealand’s international border will reopen to all tourists and visa holders two months earlier than planned on 31 July, 2022. “New Zealand is now fully open for business,” Jacinda Ardern said.

A spokesperson for the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Border Operations confirmed that from 31 July 2022 New Zealand’s maritime border will reopen to currently prohibited foreign flagged vessels. All yachts intending to enter New Zealand will still have to undergo COVID-19 testing and complete the necessary advance notice of arrival forms. NZ Customs Officials also confirmed that while Opua is currently the only open Port of First Arrival, other ports would likely be open in the near future.

Australia’s Maritime Borders Also Open

A spokesperson for the Australian Border Force has confirmed that all Australian sea ports are open to all internationally flagged vessels with foreign nationals aboard (provided individuals meet the relevant entry requirements), despite the information on the ABF’s Let Us Know You Are Coming page. Border clearance requirements for arriving small craft, however, have not yet been finalised or published and continue to be rather confused. OCC representatives in Australia and the Down Under Rally report that at the moment it seems that the ABF decides at the time of receiving advance notification of arrivals which port of entry they want the vessel to arrive at and then directs them to arrive at that port. For example, application to arrive at Bundaberg and being directed to Brisbane. Both organisations are working with the ABF to try and clarify the situation for small craft arrivals.

Pacific Round-Up

French Polynesia – OPEN: Pre-authorization restrictions were lifted on 09 May, 2022, and maritime borders re-opened as normal. All ports of entry are now open.

Cook Islands – OPEN: Maritime borders re-opened on 01 May, 2022, to vaccinated yacht crew. Restrictions in place include Avatiu as the only port of entry and Palmerston and Suwarrow remain off-limits.

Niue – CLOSED: Entry to all yachts are still not permitted with an exception to vessels in emergency and distress.

Tonga – CLOSED: The State of Emergency declared March 2020  has been renewed until 8pm on 6 June, 2022. Tongan borders are closed to all foreign nationals, except if authorisation is granted by the relevant Tongan government authorities. No international yachts will be granted entry into Tonga until further notice. The country is still coping with the aftermath of January’s volcanic eruption and tsunami.

Fiji – OPEN: The extremely succesful Blue Lanes Procedure that has been operating througout the pandemic to permit entry to foreign yachts has now given way to normal clearance procedures, albeit it with a number of hoops to jump through prior to arrival including sending proof of vaccination and pre-booking arrrival testing.

New Caledonia – OPEN: Re-opened in March 2022 with recreational vessels allowed to enter the country subject to normal clearance procedures, no pre-departure testing if vaccinated and arrival testing for all.

Vanuatu – CLOSED: Air borders re-opened to international travelers on 1 July 2022. There is no word yet on maritime borders, but they are expected to open in late July or early August.

New Zealand – CLOSED: Maritime borders will re-open on 31 July, 2022.

Australia – OPEN: All sea ports (as decided by the ABF – see comment at top) are open to all registered vessels, provided all individuals meet entry requirements and a Maritime Travel Declaration is completed.

Related News:

Cook Islands is Open (Cook Islands Travel)

New Zealand to Fully Re-Open from July 2022 (Travel Weekly)

Vanuatu Re-Opens July 1 (Vanuatu Tourism)

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