A mother has discovered hundreds of spiders crawling the walls of her daughter's room at their home on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

About 10am yesterday Claudia's daughter called her into her bedroom at Collaroy Plateau after uncovering the clutter, believed to be Huntsmen, behind curtains.

"There were some spiders on the window, and I pulled some curtains back," Claudia told nine.com.au.

She said behind the curtain on one side of the room was about 50 or 60 spiders.

Claudia's daughter then told her mother to look at the other side of the room where a larger clutter had gathered.

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"We just left them there because they are baby huntsman, I actually like huntsman, so I was like, I'm not going to do anything," the makeup artist from Germany said.

"They're just going to walk away… let nature be."

Claudia said her daughter joked she wouldn't sleep in the room again. However, she did sleep in the room, choosing to sleep at the opposite end of her bed.

Claudia said she tries not to panic in situations, however, the family did have a panicked moment when they attempted to leave the window open for the spiders yesterday.

The windy weather blew the spiders back inside, leaving some hanging on their webs. Claudia and her daughter then scrambled to collect them all with little glasses.

Today, the spiders left in the room had gone.

he incredible sight compelled Claudia to film the spiders and post it online. She said the response to her video has been "absolutely insane".

"People were like burn the house down, everyone was freaking out," she said.

Comments to the spider video ranged from the popular suggestion to "burn the house down" and run to phoning exterminators.

While Claudia sees the humour in the suggestion to burn down their house, it's a little too close for comfort.

Her family home burnt down last year with friends setting up a crowdfunding page to help the family financially.

"We lost our house to a fire," she said.

A fire started in the garage of Claudia's previous home. It was a Sunday morning and she describes being woken up by "funny noises".

"I walked half asleep back to the house and flames coming in," she recalled.

"I screamed to the kids to get out, I screamed fire."

"It's been very traumatising, a lot of people were really helpful with accommodation… and furniture."

A rogue chimpanzee escaped its enclosure at Sydney's Toronga Zoo this morning.

The chimp was spotted sitting calmly outside its exhibit just before 6am today.

An emergency response unit was called, however no intervention was necessary as the ape made its own way back to the enclosure within a couple of minutes.

READ MORE: The best animal escape stories

The Zoo remained open today, however Taronga's Chimp troop has been shut temporarily until a full investigation is completed into how the escapee managed to leave the enclosure.

"Taronga has strict safety protocols in place for such an incident. All people on site were immediately directed to enter secure areas until the situation was resolved," Taronga Zoo said in a statement.

"Taronga is pleased to report that all people and animals, including the adventurous chimp, are all safe," Taronga Zoo said in a statement to 9News.

The animal is now being monitored by specialist zoo keepers and vets.

Australia has extended its suspension of the safe travel bubble with New Zealand for a further 72 hours.

The decision was made after another two cases of the South African strain of coronavirus were detected in returned travellers in Auckland.

LIVE UPDATES: Queensland to reopen borders to NSW

"This recommendation has been made to the Australian Government," Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said.

"The government has accepted the advice, and so the travel pause on green zone flights from New Zealand to Australia has been extended for a further 72 hours until 2pm on Sunday, 31 January."

Anyone who has arrived from New Zealand since January 9 is urged to get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

Professor Kidd confirmed a small number of people who were in hotel quarantine at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, where the positive COVID-19 cases were detected, made their way to Australia before the lockdown was implemented.

"A small number of people who were in hotel quarantine in the Pullman Hotel in Auckland at the same time as these other cases have since travelled to Australia on green zone flights before the pause was introduced on Monday afternoon," Professor Kidd said.

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"All these people are being followed up by the health authorities in the state where they landed.

"We know that 12 people who were in quarantine at the Pullman Hotel have arrived in Sydney.

"Three of these people have travelled onto Hong Kong and the authorities there have been advised.

"Two of these people travelled onto Queensland and the authorities there have also been advised."

Professor Kidd said the remainder are being followed up in NSW and are being tested.

"In particular, if you were in hotel quarantine or were a guest or a staff member at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, between 9 January and 14 January, please isolate at your home, arrange to get tested for COVID-19 and follow the advice of the health authorities in your state," he said.

Earlier, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the final call on when to reopen the Trans-Tasman travel bubble was a matter for Australian officials.

"I maintain the same position I always have, which is confidence in our systems," Ms Ardern said this morning.

"I also totally acknowledge it is a decision for the Australians."

READ MORE: Victoria set to ease travel restrictions with New South Wales

New Zealand's Minister for COVID Response Chris Hipkins says no further returned travellers will enter the Pullman Hotel until more is known.

The hotel will reopen to overseas arrivals once the New Zealand Government is confident there is no risk of a further spread of infection.

The facility will undergo a deep clean before it opens again to guests.

Beijing will stage naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea after it denounced the US for sending warships to the region.

The Chinese government gave official notice it would hold military drills in the northern part of the strategic waterway until Saturday, the state-backed Global Times reports.

A notice released by China's Maritime Safety Administration said other vessels are prohibited from entering waters to the west of the Leizhou Peninsula in the South China Sea. It did not give further details of the exercises.

READ MORE: China expands naval base in South China Sea

On Monday, Beijing criticised Washington for sending a naval force headed by the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, which entered the region on Saturday.

"It does no good to regional peace and stability for the United States to frequently send military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea to show off muscles," said Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, and since 2014 has built up tiny reefs and sandbars into man-made artificial islands heavily fortified with missiles, runways and weapons systems – prompting outcry from the other governments.

https://twitter.com/1stMAW_Marines/status/1354387425972240388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

At least six other governments also have overlapping territorial claims in the contested waterway: the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Trade shipments worth trillions of dollars pass through the South China Sea every year.

The US Navy said it would be holding drills and flight operations.

"We all benefit from free and open access to the seas and our operations represent our commitment to maintaining regional security and stability," Captain Eric Anduze, the commanding officer of Theodore Roosevelt, said in a statement.

The naval exercises by China and US come amid rising tensions in the region and just days into the Joe Biden presidency.

READ MORE: New Chinese military drone takes maiden flight

Last week, Beijing declared its coastguard and warships were authorised to fire on foreign vessels in disputed waters and demolish structures built by other countries within the East and South China Seas.

Then atthe weekend, China dispatched military aircraft – including nuclear-capable bombers – on two patrols into Taiwan airspace.

The new Biden Administration has flagged it will follow former president Donald Trump's tough line against China.

"Let me just say that I also believe that President Trump was right in taking a tougher approach to China," Antony Blinken, Mr Biden's choice for Secretary of State, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing last week.

"I disagreed very much with the way that he went about it in a number of areas, but the basic principle was the right one, and I think that's actually helpful to our foreign policy."

– With AP

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the border to New South Wales will reopen on February 1.

Speaking to Today, the premier confirmed the hard border lockout would end on Monday after the December 21 closure, which saw numerous suburbs in Greater Sydney banned.

"The NSW border will reopen on the 1st of February," Ms Palaszczuk said.

LIVE UPDATES: More New Zealand cases of highly infectious virus strain confirmed

"So it's a great time for families to be reunited, but also, too, for people to plan their holidays."

Thousands of residents across Greater Sydney were shut out from entering the sunshine state, after two coronavirus clusters on the Northern Beaches and Berala, in the city's south-west, over Christmas.

Ms Palaszczuk made the decision after receiving advice from Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young.

"I met with tourism operators yesterday," Ms Palaszczuk said, speaking from Cairns this morning.

"They're really feeling at the moment. They had a good Christmas but now kids are back to school, so if anyone's down there in NSW or Victoria and you're thinking about having a holiday, come up to Cairns.

"Everyone is here, ready and willing to welcome you with open arms and a friendly smile."

The announcement comes after NSW recorded no new cases in the community for the 10th straight day.

The positive news has prompted NSW authorities to announce an easing of restrictions across Sydney, from 12.01am tomorrow.

Up to 30 people will be allowed to visit a house, including children, and 50 people can attend an outdoor event such as a picnic, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced.

As many as 300 people can now attend weddings, subject to the four-square-metre rule.

There is no cap on the number of people at hospitality venues or places of worship.

However, this is subject to the four-square-metre rule for at least another fortnight, when its expected the Berala cluster in Sydney's west will be knocked out, Ms Berejiklian said.

READ MORE: NSW Premier blindsided by Queensland border changes, told news while on air

Masks will remain mandatory on public transport, in places of worship and beauty salons and by front of house hospitality staff, but become optional at supermarkets, and other retail and hospitality venues.

"It is mandatory to wear a mask on public transport," Ms Berejiklian said.

"No questions asked. It is mandatory to wear a mask in a place of worship. And it's also mandatory to wear a mask if you're a front-facing hospitality worker."

The premier also flagged that restrictions are likely to be further relaxed in a fortnight so long as there is no or low community transmission of the virus.

The name “Wakatipu” is likely to be updated on signs, buildings and open spaces around the Queenstown area to reflect traditional Māori spelling and pronunciation.In November, Ngai Tahu elder Sir Tipene O’Regan said it was…

The UK today announced people arriving home from 22 "high risk" countries will have to undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine at their own expense — taking a leaf out of Australia's handling of the coronavirus pandemic — as the country tightens border controls to try to curb one of the world's worst COVID-19 outbreaks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the tougher new rules would apply to travellers from "red list countries where we have particular concern about new variants."

Non-UK residents will be refused entry, while British citizens and permanent residents will be picked up straight from the airport and transferred to government-provided accommodation where they will begin their mandatory stay.

READ MORE: UK's coronavirus death toll surpasses 100,000 people

Meals and hotel expenses in what is one of the world's most expensive cities could end up costing travellers close to $3,000 for a 10-day quarantine.

The announcement came a day after the UK yesterday reached the grim milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths — the first country in Europe to do so.

Johnson also said that travellers will be questioned as to their purpose for travel.

"I want to make clear that under the stay-at-home regulations it is illegal to leave home to travel abroad for leisure purposes and we will enforce this at ports and airports by asking people why they are leaving and instructing them to return home if they do not have a valid reason to travel," he said.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel later announced that people wishing to travel out of the UK will have to first make a declaration proving that their journey is essential.

It comes on top of the January 18 announcement that all travellers entering the UK, including British citizens, must present a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Prior to that date, the borders had been open with no test requirements.

The full list of 22 "red list" countries is still to be announced, but will include South Africa, Portugal and South American nations.

The new policy might take weeks to come into effect, as the new accommodations are not yet ready.

"The Department of Health and Social Care is working to establish these facilities as quickly as possible," Johnson said.

The policy was criticised by Nick Thomas-Symonds, a senior lawmaker from the opposition Labour party, who said the announcement was "too little too late" and called for "comprehensive hotel quarantining".

Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), responded to the UK government's latest proposal in a statement.

"We firmly believe testing on departure and arrival for all travellers is the only way to halt the spread of the virus in its tracks, while still allowing negative testing passengers to travel in safety and restore international mobility," she said.

"The government must be transparent about the metric used to label a country as 'high risk," she added. "It is also vital we have a clear exit strategy and more details on its testing on arrival policy."

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