Leaving on a jet plane – at long last
Crossing the Tasman never used to be a big deal – more than 2 million did it each year in life before Covid.
Now it’s the biggest deal going for travel-starved Kiwis or those with family across the ditch. Michelle Hurley is one of them. The Auckland mum-of-two hasn’t seen her own mother, Sydney-based Robyn Hurley, since Christmas 2019 – three months before our borders shut to stop the spread of a virus that has gone on to kill almost 3 million worldwide.
“I’d normally see mum three or four times a year. She comes here once and I’ll go over there.
“Before the borders shut, it really wasn’t a big deal travelling to Australia.”
Quarantine-only travel, which followed the closure of New Zealand’s border to all but citizens and residents, ended that.
Tomorrow, at 11.59pm, the opening of the travel bubble will make it possible for families on different sides of the Tasman to be together.
Hurley’s already booked four tickets to her native country.
More than a year of separation and worry – her mum is 79 and has a number of health issues – will soon be in the past.
Over Queen’s Birthday weekend, plus an extra day, Hurley, her husband Cam and their daughters Honor, 13, and Alice, 10, will be reunited with their muchmissed mother, mother-in-law and grandmother.
She’s especially happy for her mum, who has been particularly isolated by the pandemic
“Our life hasn’t been too bad. But for mum, she hasn’t been able to go to golf and bridge, and she can’t see her friends,” Hurley said.
“Her life’s really shrunk and I know it means a lot to her to see us.
The rest of the family can’t wait either – and that even goes for 13-year-old Honor.
“They’re really excited. Even the teen, who usually goes, ‘Ugh, I just want to stay with my friends’.”