After a number of weeks stuck mostly at home — and with the prospect of more to come — many Australians will be wistfully dreaming of their first opportunity to head out for a well-earned holiday.
And while Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made it very clear that any hopes of an overseas adventure should be shelved for “the foreseeable future”, the prospects for regional and interstate travel are more promising.
As each state and territory unveils its individual plans, in line with the Federal Government’s three-step framework announced on Friday, the road back to domestic travel becomes slightly clearer.
There’s still much to be decided, and a number of states are yet to lay out their plans, but here’s all the information we have in each state and territory so far.
Queensland
On Friday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk released Queensland’s roadmap to easing restrictions, a detailed plan to move the state through the three steps outlined by the PM.
Travel within the state was a big part of the strategy, with Ms Palaszczuk saying the plan is for people to “be able to take a drive holiday within their region so that Queenslanders can back Queenslanders” in time for the June school holidays.
Travel restrictions remain fairly tight through stage one, which begins at 11: 59pm next Friday, May 15. During that first phase, people will be allowed to travel up to 150 kilometres within their region — or up to 500km for those who live in the outback — but only for a day trip.
Things will ramp during step two though, which is planned to begin on June 12. At that point, recreational travel is increased to a max of 250km within your region, with