Trans-Tasman families are reuniting at New Zealand airports after the biggest border relaxation in a year.
And this time, the borders are staying open.
As of Wednesday, New Zealand is allowing Australian visitors again, for just the second time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first flight to land was QF157 from Melbourne to Auckland just before 1am, followed by NZ176, the red-eye from Perth, just after 6am.
Those stepping off the planes were met by families waving signs and home-made banners to welcome their loved ones.
Bette-May Waine was among those at Auckland airport, waiting to see her Australian son Michael and his Perth-based family.
"Skype is OK but you just want to hold onto them and hug them tight and give them love," she told NZ news outlet Stuff.
"I don't know who's most excited - my granddaughter, myself or my father, who is 96, waiting to see them."
New Zealand has lifted COVID-19 travel restrictions from Australia. Credit: Michael Craig/AP
"It's been the third attempt over 18 months. It was supposed to be in April last year and then Christmas. Then we rescheduled until now," Michael said.
The opening is the first since last year's trans-Tasman bubble, which closed in July 2021 to delay the march of the Delta variant as New Zealand raced to raise vaccination rates.
But the arrival of Omicron has been a game-changer for New Zealand.
With the decision made it can no longer eliminate COVID-19, the doors have been flung open.
'I've always been a sucker for airports'
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was keen to get to an airport to take in the scenes.
"I'm going down there this evening, as much for myself as anything else because I've always been a sucker for airports," she told AAP.
"The opening of the trans-Tasman bubble was amazing.
"But there's something different about this. This has just that feeling of longevity and stickability to it. New Zealand's approach has changed.
"Before, (during the trans-Tasman bubble), Australia and New Zealand were trying to hold on to elimination and keep this travel lane open.
"That's not what's happening this time and so it feels different and it feels significant."
Qantas said all five of its flights to New Zealand on Wednesday are completely full.
It is currently operating 25 return trans-Tasman flights a week, which will triple by next month.
The reopening is great news for beleaguered Kiwi tourism operators, who have made do with largely domestic business for two years.
Ms Ardern told Australians there would be no better way to shake off their pandemic gloom than by taking a holiday.
"Nothing is going to give back that sense of normality again, and a bit of a reprieve from the last few years, than being somewhere else. And so what better place than New Zealand?" she said.
"We're a safe place to visit. We have enough familiarity whilst also offering something really different.
"That's the broad pitch. Come and just enjoy a change of scene."
