Originally slated to return once 70 per cent of NSW adults were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, regional travel is now set to return late October on what is expected to be Monday October 25, after NSW reaches 80 per cent full vaccination for its adult population.

Griffith City Council mayor John Dal Broi said that whilst he was happy to see the region leave restrictions, he held concern about residents of cities travelling to Griffith.

"What I am concerned about is once people move from cities to regions that we will have people with positive cases in our community," Councillor Dal Broi said.

"This concerns me greatly.

"That being said however people are free to travel, I would just hope they travel responsibly."

Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said the delay was 'realistic' and included the needs of all NSW residents.

"The last thing we need is for things to open up, including freeing up travel for Sydneysiders, then shut down again," Mrs Ley said.

"There will be a lot of people wanting to hit the road in the coming months and ensuring our region, the state and the nation has the highest vaccination levels possible is the safest way for that to occur."

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Member for Murray Helen Dalton said that she, like many other regional MP's was happy by the delay to the opening of 'floodgates to Sydneysiders'.

"I was concerned that our hospital system won't cope," Mrs Dalton said.

"It's hard for those businesses reliant on visitors but I think it's a sensible decision."

And in a first, Nationals MLC Wes Fang agreed with Mrs Dalton, telling The Area News that said that the pushing back of regional travel recommencing was a 'sensible move' to better protect the regions.

"Rural and regional communities were feeling that they had not had adequate opportunity to be fully vaccinated," Mr Fang said.

"This is a sensible move and will provide reassurance to these communities by providing them extra time to get double jabbed and increase their protection against COVID-19."

In the meantime however whilst Riverina communities are unable to travel to hotspot areas and vice versa, travel between non hotspot areas in regional NSW is currently permitted.

Griffith Regional Airport is still open to arriving and departing flights for the month of October however on a reduced scale, with Rex announcing a continuation of its reduced service offerings up until October 31.

Those who are unvaccinated however will have to wait until December 1 to travel interstate or via a plane. Some airlines however have announced vaccination will be mandatory for all passengers going forward.

More information about what you can and cannot do in regional and rural NSW is available here.

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