Holiday-starved Aussies could be enjoying a Pacific Island paradise sooner than you think - as Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern discuss expanding the trans-Tasman bubble

• Scott Morrison is in New Zealand to hold formal discussions with Jacinda Ardern
• The leaders are set to talk about the Pacific, China, vaccines, and other matters
• Mr Morrison has hinted the travel bubble could be extended to Pacific Islands
• It would mean Aussies could holiday quarantine-free in places like Fiji and Tonga 

The trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand could soon be expanded to include Pacific Islands, Scott Morrison has hinted.

Mr Morrison is in New Zealand to hold talks with its leader Jacinda Ardern, with an extension of the bubble on the cards in exciting news for holiday-starved Aussies.

The extension would mean Australians would be able to visit destinations such as Fiji and Tonga without needing to quarantine on arrival, giving a much-needed boost to tourism in the Pacific.  

'We are supporting our Pacific family and the idea of a bubble that goes beyond New Zealand and Australia is a real possibility,' Mr Morrison said on Monday.

The visit comes after the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble last month, which gave Australians to holiday abroad for the first time since the international borders slammed shut in March last year. 

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told Sunrise on Monday that he was 'excited' more travel destinations could soon be open to Australians. 

'We have the aircraft and we have the people,' he said.

'The more bubbles the better, because we can activate more aircraft, get more people back to work and help the tourism industries in the countries that are very dependent on tourism.'

Queenstown is playing host to the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders Forum, with Ms Ardern choosing the South Island ski town to highlight the best in Kiwi tourism to Australians. 

Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny touched down in New Zealand on Sunday afternoon, before Ms Ardern welcomed them to the country in a powhiri, a traditional Maori ceremony, at the Rees Hotel. 

The New Zealand prime minister and her Australian counterpart then shared the hongi - a sacred Maori greeting where two people touch noses and share breath - before exchanging a kiss on the cheek. 

Formal discussions commenced on Monday, with the leaders set to talk about China, the Pacific, the two countries' pledge to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine to the region, deportations, and more.