Tourists enjoy the welcome of a lifetime
As soon as Victoria natives Nicole Ruehmer, 21, and Chasca Russell, 20, heard about the transtasman bubble opening, they rushed home to book plane tickets.
The pair are in New Zealand on a quarantine-free 10-day holiday following the opening of the borders between Australia and Aotearoa, after the borders were closed for more than a year.
The friends were on one of the first flights to land at Auckland Airport on Monday.
Their arrival was one they would never forget.
“It was really sweet,” Ruehmer said. “There were so many families, such a cool experience. It felt like we were a part of something big.”
The Aussie visitors said the All Seasons Holiday Park in Rotorua gave them an “especially” warm welcome on Tuesday.
Park proprietors Kevin and Tracie Thornborough greeted their first Aussie visitors with a surprise: A small chilly bag filled with souvenirs, a water bottle, hand sanitiser, and a toy kiwi bird.
“They gave us a little goody bag,” Ruehmer said. “They were so excited.”
“It was all Kev’s idea,” Tracie said. “We wanted it to be something they could use and take home with them.
“We didn’t think we’d only be two days into the bubble before we saw an Aussie tourist,” said Kevin.
“We’re really rapt to have someone really quickly.”
The pair haven’t wasted a minute. They squeezed visits to the Redwoods, Mitai Ma¯ori Village, and Mountain Jade into one day.
Yesterday the Aussies planned to climb Mount Maunganui.
Next up were Huka Falls, the Tongariro Crossing, Mount Taranaki and Wellington before turning their sights on the South Island.
Their only regret is they can’t stay longer.