New in Australia now tourists are back: hotels, from socially distanced to sustainable – think shipping containers and eco pods – and Indigenous bush tours

Australia reopened to overseas tourists on February 21 with new attractions, from hotels – eco pods, shipping containers and luxury – to Indigenous bush tours

Qantas, Australia’s national airline, is adding or restarting flights to Singapore, Dallas and elsewhere, but cruise tourists will have to wait until April

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At the Talaroo Hot Springs in Queensland, guests can camp and experience Indigenous culture. It is one of several new accommodation options for visitors to Australia. Photo: Talaroo Hot Springs

Published: 5:15pm, 1 Mar 2022Updated: 1:09pm, 3 Mar 2022

Australia began welcoming its first tourists back on February 21, after two years of lockdowns and closed borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Travellers wanting to enter the country can do so from any country provided they are fully vaccinated and provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours before departure.

International bookings to Australia increased 93 per cent after the country announced its reopening date, according to Travelport data. Travellers are also more likely to stay in Australia for longer, with an average of 32 days in comparison to the pre-pandemic average of 22 days.

So what’s new in Australia? In preparation for the new wave of international travellers, Tourism Australia launched a A$40 million (US$28.8 million) advertising campaign earlier in February. Its theme: “Don’t Go Small. Go Australia.”

The Tawillah Milton Luxury Retreat in New South Wales offers a secluded retreat experience for two. Photo: South Coast Experiences

Qantas, Australia’s national airline, is in the middle of restarting or adding six international routes connecting places such as Sydney to Dallas, in the United States, and Brisbane to Singapore, anticipating a strong comeback in air travel to the country.