New Zealand border closure to NSW bursts people's travel plans

Sir Kerry Burke and Lady Mary Burke (formerly known in the Bega Valley as Mary Davis), were unable to fly home last week as a result of New Zealand shutting their borders to NSW.

"This is the world no point getting upset about it, we're lucky compared to a lot of people because we do have a home here,

"Its not like people stuck in hotels or living with friends and things like that," Mary said.

Mary lives in her home that was once known as the Bilyara Gallery which she owned and ran for 23 years, situated in Jellat Jellat, near Bega.

This is not the first time that COVID has prevented Mary to travel home.

In March 2020 when COVID first broke out she was stranded in New Zealand and unable to travel back to visit her family for 16 months.

"It was hard because I've got two daughters and five grandchildren and they're all here, all my friends are here," Mary said.

"I'm part of a swimming group at Tathra, that's always been an important part of my life so not being able to get back to see my friends and family was hard."

Mary had travelled back to Australia to visit and celebrate her daughter's 50^th birthday, an event she couldn't miss.

"I took a gamble that the bubble would open so I would be able to get back to New Zealand again and it did," she said.

"There was free travel between Australia and New Zealand and Kerry came on the basis that he would be able to to come over to Australia and get back to New Zealand without quarantining."

Sir Kerry, a knighted Parliamentarian from New Zealand, was due to fly out July 8, to attend an annual government executive meeting.

Like many others who have had to cancel their trips, he had to credit the money for another flight, when travel is again possible.

READ ALSO: Explainer: How does the Australia-New Zealand travel bubble work?

Store manager of Bega Flight Centre, Natasha Leuenberger said New Zealand travel used to be one of the biggest destinations booked in Bega pre-COVID.

"New Zealand and the rest of the world is no longer at the top of the list,

"We've had one booking to New Zealand since COVID started and they have had to cancel," Ms Leuenberger said.

"The two big issues that everyone is facing at the moment is 'if we can't go on this holiday, do we rebook and get excited again or do we just leave it open in lala land until we can re-book'."

Domestic travel has also been difficult, something she said had never been an issue before.

The main subject of concern for clients is what the process becomes when flights are cancelled or the trip can't be made due to COVID restrictions or border closures.

Ms Leuenberger said there has been a lot of uncertainty in clients and questions about the refund processes, people fearing they'd lose their money.

"No one would lose their money, it just won't be refunded, it'll be a credit," she said.

Ms Leuenberger said that cancelled transport or accommodation, if COVID related, will usually be stored in credit and can be re-used at a later date.

This has been the case for Sir Kerry and Lady Mary Burke on the Far South Coast, who have had to credit their flights until New Zealand travel is possible again.

The couple will remain in Mary's home in Jellat Jellat, until the borders re-open and they can travel to their second home in New Zealand.

In the meantime Lady Mary will enjoy being back in the area and Sir Kerry said he will use the time to work on his memoirs.

"I'll keep swimming, I swam this morning and Kerry walks along the beach, we'll make the most of being here."

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