Before you Travel

It’s almost time to depart for your tour in New Zealand with Grand Pacific Tours (GPT), we look forward to welcoming you onboard. 

It is very important to read the below information to meet the mandatory requirements before you depart and be informed of the process if you contract COVID-19 on tour.

Get Ready to Travel

It is your responsibility to ensure you understand and follow the airline and government regulations for travel to New Zealand. GPT take no responsibility if travel or entry into New Zealand is denied due to regulations not being met.

You will no longer be required to get a COVID-19 pre-departure test to enter New Zealand. All international travellers arriving into New Zealand will receive from Biosecurity at the airport complimentary Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to voluntarily self-test; travellers are encouraged to test on days 0/1 and 5/6 and report a positive test. 

Based on the removal of the New Zealand government mandates: 

• Travellers arriving into New Zealand, and travelling on a GPT tour, are no longer required to be fully vaccinated. 
• From 20 October 2022, travellers are no longer required to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration prior to departure.
• New Zealand Government regulations still require anyone testing positive to COVID-19 to isolate for 7 days.  

For more extended information visit www.COVID19.govt.nz

YOUR ITINERARY: Any changes to your itinerary since the date of booking will have been communicated via your Travel Agent. If for any reason the component of a tour is not available at the time of touring, a replacement or refund will be provided. Any refund amount is based on GPT’s negotiated pricing and not retail prices.

Staying Healthy on Tour - COVID-19 

TOURING WITH CONFIDENCE GUIDEBOOK

The team at GPT look forward to providing you a New Zealand holiday experience of a lifetime. We encourage you to visit our website and view this guidebook, it is a valuable resource outlining our detailed approach to Health and Safety, so you can travel with us and be assured that your well-being is our number one priority. Please visit www.gptnz.com/health-and-safety

Wearing a Face Mask – Currently all mask-wearing requirements have been removed in New Zealand, except in healthcare settings, including hospitals, aged care facilities and pharmacies. For group travel, face masks are still a way to protect yourself and others from infection. Wearing face masks on a GPT coach is not mandated, it is a personal choice but recommended to reduce the risk of becoming sick.  Please come supplied with face masks or be prepared to top up your supply whilst in New Zealand (own expense).

CONTRACTING COVID-19 WHILST ON TOUR

We hope that each and every one of our travellers remains in good health and you take the guidance of the Crew when it comes to Health and Safety practices. We cannot be ignorant of the risks that still exist. If you do contract COVID-19 whilst on tour, the following process will apply:

• Travel Insurance is the traveller’s responsibility, and a copy of your policy should be taken on tour

• If ‘flu like’ symptoms present, complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for peace of mind (provision and cost is your responsibility). You are responsible for all charges that result from visiting a medical facility

• If you test positive, New Zealand regulations mandate that you will be required to isolate for a period of 7 days. The last day of isolation is either 7 days after your symptoms started or 7 days after you tested positive.  You do not need to wait for an official message to leave self-isolation. Any household contact (someone sharing an accommodation room) should test, but only needs to isolate if the test is positive.

• The GPT Crew or NZ Operations Team will assist with assessing availability at the current hotel to isolate; or if not available another hotel we utilise within our touring program/s. If an alternative style of accommodation is preferred ie. Air B&B, Apartment, then own arrangements need to be made

• The hotel will quote a per room per night rate, with or without meals, and payment for the isolation stay will be the travellers’ responsibility and payment will be direct to the hotel via credit card. Each hotel will have its own COVID-19 isolation Policy and Procedure to follow 

• Post isolation, if the timeframe allows you to catch up with the tour group, GPT will assist with these arrangements, all travel costs incurred will be your own responsibility
  
  If due to illness, or following isolation you decide to leave the tour to return home:-

• An official form must be signed so any forward tour arrangements can be cancelled

• GPT NZ Operations Team will assist with arrangements to return home where required

• As per GPT’s Booking Terms and Conditions, no refund shall be made for any unused portion of any itinerary either whilst in isolation or if leaving the tour early to return home

• GPT can provide your Travel Agent with an Insurance Letter stating the value of any missed touring arrangements. Retain your medical and out of pocket receipts as they may assist with any insurance claims you submit.

The team at Grand Pacific Tours wish you safe travels.