Tourism hot spots around the country are in preparation mode now there are fixed dates for incoming international visitors.
Five key South Island regions, including the Mackenzie Country, have been given a $49 million kickstart fund to help them prepare.
Air Safaris in Tekapo has started turning their plane engines over again, flying high after news of the border reopening.
"We were absolutely delighted, we've been sort of waiting," Air Safaris operations manager Tim Rayward says.
A smooth flight today, but the last two years have been rather turbulent as customers here were once 95 percent internationals.
"We've averaged 90 percent down over the past two years throughout the business," Rayward says.
Closed borders have hit towns like Tekapo hard, with businesses closing and people leaving town.
"It's been extremely difficult for not only ourselves but of course the whole sector - I guess it's the unknown, and trying to plan has been unbelievably challenging," Tekapo Hot Springs sales and marketing manager Andy Murray says.
So finally having an open date to plan for is creating a splash in what should soon be their busy pools.
"Amazing, absolutely amazing," Murray says.
Businesses here, along with four key other South Island areas, can apply for some of the $49 million dollar kickstart fund to help them prepare for what they hope is an influx of international visitors.
"It's a great move because they'll be companies that will really struggle to scale back up to where they were," Rayward says.
Great news too for one of the hardest-hit areas, the South Westland's Glacier Country.
"It's been devastating the past two years," Franz Josef accommodation owner Logan Skinner says.
"Getting the opportunity to get them back is a huge bonus for those businesses and hopefully they can start making some revenue again," Development West Coast CEO Heath Milne says.
"We're not expecting it to go zero to 100 immediately but it gives us a lot more hope," Owner of Franz Josef Wilderness Tours Dale Burrows says.
"Hopefully Australians are over there thinking 'right, New Zealand is open, what are we going to do?' and making bookings," Fox Glacier Guiding CEO Rob Jewel says.
Because tourism businesses everywhere are ready to sell their stunning back doorsteps.
"New Zealand's incredible. In this region we've got everything, we've got rainforests, mountains, lakes oceans, beaches and whales," Burrow says.
But nothing that'll scare off tourists like COVID did.
