The trans-Tasman bubble has opened, meaning quarantine-free travel is all go between New Zealand and Australia.

It means those who couldn't afford the $3,000 to pay for MIQ are good to go.

For Queenstown, that means its first international flight in 387 days.

The tourism epicentre has been doing it hard, with the tap of international travellers turned off.

Qantas Flight 121 will arrive from Sydney around 2.30 this afternoon .

Queenstown Airport chief executive Colin Keel told Tim Dower feelings are running high.

"There is a really high level of optimism now around Queenstown and the broader region, and I think today will be quite an emotional day for everybody here."

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