To think a trip to Australia at the end of April could be possible?

[Extrapepperoni]

One of my best friends is getting married at the end of April in Australia. She means the world to me and I really want to be there. DH and I always thought we would do a few weeks' holiday timed around their wedding with DD (4) and see family etc. Now it's a race against the vaccine clock. And even if we get the vaccine, who knows what the regulations will be - at the moment Australia are limiting numbers of entrants and Aussies only, with two week mandatory quarantine and flights are getting cancelled a fair bit I'm told.

AIBU to think I could still be there? And at what point do I make peace with not going? Do I book tickets etc on the hope it might happen or just resign myself (and my friend) to it not happening?

(I know how lucky I am that this is what is on my mind, I don't mean this post to be callous to those dealing with actual adversity.)

Thanks for reading!

I don’t think it’s totally unlikely but I do think it’s moderately unlikely.
I think Australia won’t be letting in unvaccinated people, and it would be unlikely that you would be vaccinated by then (unless you’re in your 70s?).
At the moment we are only letting in Australians and then have to quarantine for 2 weeks. Plus there are 35,000 Australians trying to get back who would take priority.
So, look, if you get vaccinated and we open our borders, it’s not impossible, but it’s a lot of hurdles to get over.

Really really unlikely. Sorry

Sorry, OP - I think Australia is going to be one of the last countries to open up :( . Even if they will let you in (and I am doubtful they would if you weren't vaccinated) you would probably still have to be in quarantine for two weeks which presumably wouldn't be workable unless you made it a long trip/came back straight after the wedding without having been anywhere else. Stupid effing virus.

It’s hard but we’ve had so few cases and deaths here that I can’t see them wanting to jeopardise that, with the vaccine in sight. We’re not even at 1,000 deaths yet and are basically at zero community transmission so they will want to protect that, with the end in sight.
I would love to travel, haven’t seen my parents in a year.

They're barely letting us go across borders to different states let alone letting us travel outside of Australia. Anyone coming into Australia is being quarantined for two weeks. I don't think"normal" travel will be happening in April.

Only time will tell.

I don't think it's impossible but I do think it's very unlikely. I suspect unless you've had the vaccine by then you'd have to self isolate for 2 weeks on arrival, at your own expense.

No, I'm sorry OP I don't think that's realistic. Wish it was, would love to see my Australian friends and their amazing new house but I think it will be a few years.

I am in New Zealand and our boarder is not open to Australia and we are some of the safest countries in the world.
I am so so sorry but I do not think Australia will be open on April. 💐

(Few years for me, I think restrictions lifted towards end 2021 that is)

@LunaTheCat I think NZ is the only country that can come in without quarantine actually. Come on over!

I’m afraid it’s not going to happen OP. I wish it was! But things just aren’t going to be anywhere near normal by then unfortunately. Even people wanting to travel to the wedding from other states may well not be able to. It’s terribly disappointing for you but I think you need to accept it.

I don't think Oz or NZ will be on the cards until late next year sorry

Not Australia, no. I don't think they will risk travellers from the UK for a good while.

I think the chances of you getting there in the first half of next year are slim to none. Sorry.
Even the airlines arent hoping for a return to international travel until July.
And once borders do open, I think there will be a lot of stranded Australians wanting to go home, plus people visiting friends and family. It could be busy and expensive.
I wouldnt be buying plane tickets right now.

Assuming you are in the UK of course! Just realised it doesn't say in your post.

Highly unlikely. End 2021 I heard. Sorry OP

Really unlikely, my cousins and other relatives had to get permission to travel just between states for my grandma's funeral a month ago.

Friends sister lives there. They have been told end of 2021 so next December at the earliest.

Pretty unlikely, Australia aren’t even starting their vaccine program until March so will be way behind us, they’re not going to open up until their vulnerable are vaccinated.

I live here and we actually haven’t been given any dates. Only Qantas have said later in the year but basically as soon as vaccinations are getting regularly rolled out there’s no reason to keep the borders shut. But I think that’s unlikely to be April.

I wouldn't have thought it was possible, but on the upside apart from the ceremony itself, going over for your friends wedding means she will have little time to spend with her Whereas going over 6 months after and she'll be able to share all the details - perhaps even a trip to where the wedding took place - and your friend may enjoy the reminiscing.
Look at it as a blessing in disguise as when you do go, your friend will have quality time to spend with you.

It's hard to say, I suspect we'll get a better idea by mid January on the pace of vaccination. I've booked for France in May but will be going by ferry, not sure about flying

Well you could go but you might need to quarantine. I know a family who are currently in quarantine in NZ. So it's not that there's a point blank no enter to NZ and AUS...you just need to quarantine first.

No chance.
You'll be lucky to be allowed in from Europe, even in 2022.

Why is everyone saying "no chance" there are ppl flying over there at the moment... you just need to quarantine!!!