Like many other travellers across the country, grey nomads Christopher Smith and partner Christine Robertson have had their travel plans thrown into chaos by ever-changing travelling restrictions.
The couple who have been enjoying a fantastic trip up into northern Queensland are now fretting about how they can get back to their Tasmanian home.
Mr Smith, 75, told the Mercury newspaper that, since the emergence of the Delta strain, everything had gone ‘pear-shaped’. He said the stress over lockdowns and ‘confusing’ quarantine rules has been difficult to deal with.
The pair feared travelling through high-risk level one area NSW would force them to pay some $3800 for hotel quarantine once they reached Devonport. They have also considered detouring via unaffected zones in the Northern Territory and South Australia, adding an extra 4000 kilometres to their trip.
“You’re constantly thinking ‘what do I do, how can I get myself out’,” Mr Smith said. “This hit us like a ton of bricks.”
Mr Smith told the Mercury he had heard conflicting anecdotes from friends in similar situations, with one couple heading straight to hotel quarantine after arriving on the Spirit of Tasmania, and another couple allowed to quarantine from home.
“We want to quarantine at home, that’s no problem,” Mr Smith said. “We just keep our fingers crossed when we get to Victoria we can pass through.”
The Mercury reports that the Tasmania Government website says people transiting from a low or medium-risk area through NSW to Tasmania – ‘even if only stopping for fuel’ – will be subject to the same quarantine requirements as those who have spent time in NSW.
“Anyone who has spent time in a high risk (Level 1) area in the 14 days before arriving in Tasmania – including returning Tasmanians – will not be permitted to enter Tasmania unless approved as an Essential Traveller,” the website reads.
“Arrivals on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry will quarantine at a government-designated hotel in Devonport.
“Travellers must provide evidence of having undertaken a Covid-19 test and received a negative result in the 72 hours before they are due to arrive in Tasmania.”
Our trip just got a whole lot longer. After spending May/June in Darwin we planned to enter Queensland through Mt Isa and head south to Geelong and my mum for Christmas. While in Qld NSW became a very red zone so we are heading back through Mt Isa and Alice Springs with all our fingers and toes crossed that we reach South Australia without viral intervention. We won’t go to Geelong unless there is an emergency. Where to from there is anybody’s guess.
We are, currently, farm managing in S.A. The moment the owners get back, we are needed by a friend with cancer, in Queensland. What should be 1900 kilometres turns into 4700 kilometres as we have to go north, past Alice Springs, to the Barkly Highway, into Mt Isa then over to the south east of Queensland.
Sincerely, I doubt that there is a special dispensation for me to travel through Burke, over the border into Queensland for these reasons. Without being able to go to NSW into Broken Hill etc, that’s our only alternative.
Unfortunately, what happens if we make it to the Queensland border with N.T. only to find Pally-chook decided to cut out N.T. the night before?
Have you thought about the Plenty hwy ?
RE: Greg’s comments 30th Aug 2021. Firstly, have not heard the term “Pally – chook”, till your post. Smacks of the terms used in the Joh B-P era. As a Q’lander, who admires our premier for her stance, must say the recent admission of football & cricket teams, families & staff is somewhat on the nose. Best wishes in your efforts.
If you made the decision to travel, you have to take the consequences that may eventuate along the way. Whether that be local travel or overseas, it is not anyone’s fault but your own if you get stranded. It seems everyone believes they have exceptional circumstances and deserve special treatment. That’s why we are in this mess.
Long term pain from short term gain = BAD DECISION.
Should have stayed home.
Empathy yes. Sorry no.
Robert
I’m sorry you feel this way as when they left everything was fine
Totally agree with you Robert. We live in Tasmania and made the decision not to travel interstate. Instead we did a 2 month trip around Tasmania and thoroughly enjoyed places we had and had not seen despite living in the state.
We are in the opposite dilemma.
Qld TV adverts were full of “visit Tasmania in winter”, so we did.
Now we can’t get home to QLD.
I just want to go on a picnic with my wife in country NSW, which has had no covid whatsoever in the last 2 years, but we are locked down, so stuff them we are going to do it, as we just had our 40th, at home, instead of at a resort that we booked and paid for 12 months ago up in QLD , that we gave 2 months notice to cancel. but they wont refund the money, 2 grand down the toilet, so hence the day picnic some time very b….y soon, out in the sticks.
I agree with Robert. This Pandamic has been with us for a long time now. These are very unpredictable times.
Its no good complaining if you have made decisions that did not work out.
Life is not as it used to be…!
Plenty Highway….
plenty rough road…!
Anyone who thought the worst was behind us a few months ago really didn’t understand the reality behind this virus. With low vaccination rates and people returning from overseas hot spots on a regular basis, it was only a matter of time till the virus escaped quarantine again and spread back through the community. The current examples of interstate transmission via truckies shows how easily this can spread.
If you take the gamble to travel, be prepared to get locked down, locked out or forced into quarantine. When you gamble you sometimes lose. That means having the extra funds plus the extra time for these possibilities. As Pat said, things are very unpredictable.
As for Ric, no covid in rural NSW hey. We must watch different tv channels to you. 2 grand loss already, possibly another multi grand loss for breaking lockdown restrictions. Very expensive celebration indeed.
Some people just don’t get it.
They bring agricultural workers in from overseas; they bring in footy players and there families; surely they should be letting Aussies trapped interstate to get back to their homes. We have been vaccinated for months and tested regularly negative staying at covid free NSW border town but still little hope of getting back to WA before Easter. Meanwhile our business going down the tubes and water, electric and rate bills keep coming in with no assistance from any local, state or federal goverment. Life is a bit more complicated than those simplistic keyboard warriors saying ‘I told you so’.
Travellers need to be aware that the UK is now in the midst of the next variant (MU Variant) =147,000 infections in a week with 1300 deaths …..it will travel too! (BBC News UK).Sadly Life has changed and not going back to Before-covid-normal any time soon. If you travel be prepared to not be able to return.
I was really looking forward to my winter escape to sunny Qld but first an engine fault & then a medical issue stopped me. I’m now thinking it was a sign from the gods because my trips are carefully planned & budgeted & I don’t have unlimited funds to be stuck somewhere for months on end. So in that way I guess I’m lucky & living in SA I can freely travel anywhere within the state although as an ex coach/bus driver I’ve been pretty much everywhere in SA multiple times. Even though I’m double vaxxed I’m staying put for awhile as things are still so unpredictable & unfortunately I think it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
WA. gov not to open borders till May.
just travel and see WA. here.
Eastern states like a real mess at moment,heart goes out to you.
See what 2022 brings