The first Australians evacuated from China's coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan have spoken of their gratitude and relief upon arriving back on the mainland after 14 days in quarantine on Christmas Island, but some remain nervous about returning to their lives.

Key points: Two groups of Australians were evacuated from China

Two groups of Australians were evacuated from China They were isolated on Christmas Island while they were monitored

They were isolated on Christmas Island while they were monitored Three planes have now flown them home to six cities across the country

The 241 people were flown out of Wuhan two weeks ago aboard a specially chartered Qantas flight and were taken to Christmas Island, more than 1,500 kilometres off Western Australia.

With no reported cases among the evacuees, they were flown back to their homes across six cities on Monday, with the first flight touching down in Perth at about 7:40pm (AEDT).

Catherine Chen was separated from her husband for a month after travelling with her two children to Hubei, where the first cases of the virus emerged.

"It was only one month but I feel like [it was a] really long time," she said.

"I'm really glad we will be able to go home now. I feel really lucky."

Catherine Chen said her children, Isla (9) and Aaron (14), were well looked after but happy to be home. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

Ms Chen, who runs a childcare centre in the West Australian town of Geraldton, said leaving China was stressful.

"We didn't know all the airports were shutting down, and we didn't know when we would be able to come back," she said.

"I was a bit worried about the kids, as well."

Geraldton woman Catherine Chen was separated from her husband, Chris Dawson, for a month. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

Kids made friends, fear frosty welcome home

The evacuees were housed inside a highly secure immigration detention centre formerly used to hold asylum seekers.

Ms Chen said her family's experience on Christmas Island was "beautiful".

"It was much better than what I expected, and the people there were just amazing — they make us feel really comfortable," she said.

"We were really happy to be there. And my kids made new friends, they didn't want to come back."

Ten-year-old evacuee Elizabeth Taylor, who also arrived in Perth yesterday, said she spent her time in quarantine playing games and meeting people.

Elizabeth (10), Isabel (8) and Isla (9) were on the first flight from Christmas Island bringing coronavirus evacuees back to mainland Australia. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

"It was actually really good — [I] made some new friends and actually enjoyed the place," she said.

She said the daily routine on the island included twice-daily medical checks.

"So a soldier, a medical soldier would always come through and knock on our door in the morning and afternoon at the same time and then he would use a scanner and take like our temperature," she said.

A number of young families were among the evacuees to disembark in Perth after being quarantined on Christmas Island. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

Elizabeth said it was a strange feeling arriving home in Perth.

"It felt weird being back in this main part of Australia, it feels just different from Christmas Island — a bit more fresher air than usual."

She said was looking forward to "talking to my chickens" but was not excited about going back to school.

Eleven-year-old Yuliya and her mother at Melbourne airport. ( ABC News: Bang Xiao )

Eleven-year-old Yuliya from Melbourne told the ABC that while she was "excited" to be home, she was nervous about her coming reception at school.

She said she was worried about being ostracised after a friend told everyone in her class about her evacuation from Wuhan.

"Then he said everyone is going to ignore me. I am a bit scared about that," Yuliya said.

"I talked to some of my friends about it and they said they wouldn't.

"I already know I am healthy."

Jim, a Melbourne father of two children aged seven and five, who spoke earlier to the ABC and asked his surname not be used, shared similar concerns about returning to normal life.

"My biggest concern is that we will not be welcomed by [the community] when we get back home," he said.

"It is all right for adults, but it will be quite bad for kids if they are discriminated against."

Harley Wu, 4, hugs his dad Wei Wu after returning to Canberra. ( ABC News: Elise Pianegonda )

Wei Wu's wife Annie and four-year-old son Harley were among six people who arrived in Canberra.

All three had been on holiday in China, but Mr Wu returned home to Australia earlier than his wife and son, who stayed with Annie's parents in Wuhan.

Harley's face lit up with joy as he ran to hug his dad at Canberra Airport.

"I think he's been happy. Unfortunately he's addicted to the iPad now," Mr Wu said.

Initial shock of island trumped by kindness

Children were part of the cohort quarantined on Christmas Island. ( Supplied: Department of Home Affairs )

The flight into Sydney touched down shortly before 8:00pm local time.

Gloria Zheng, from Lindfield, said she had been shocked at the decision to evacuate people to Christmas Island, which was "notorious" for detaining asylum seekers.

"We were very upset from the beginning, but later on when we were there we were really well looked after," Ms Zheng said.

"Because nobody knew at the beginning whether there would be any suspicious cases or confirmed cases, I guess they had really great courage to come to Christmas Island to look after us."

She said there were still Australians "stuck in Wuhan who want to come home" and she hoped the Australian and Chinese Governments could arrange further evacuations.

Raffael said his baby daughter Alicia was well cared for on the island. ( ABC News )

Raffael Huang and his wife Kira had been quarantined with their baby Alicia, and were pleased with the support from the Government and the army.

"They provided everything to the baby from diapers and the bathtub and they made fresh food every day, which was really good," Ms Huang said.

"I really appreciate it."

Heidi Sun from Hurstville, Sydney, became emotional while speaking about her time on the island.

"I don't like this experience, but this has happened, I have to take it," she said.

Heidi Sun from Hurstville, Sydney, said it was a relief to be home. ( ABC News )

She thanked the Government and those looking after her on Christmas Island.

"What I feel is that the people treated us very nice, very, very nice.

"When we first arrived on the island they said, 'Welcome home' … make[s] your heart very warm.

She said the health of those under quarantine was being taken "very seriously".

"We were checked every day, our temperature, cough … or sore throat," she said.

"I'm very healthy, I can tell [you]."

Evacuees underwent final medical checks on board the plane returning them to Australia. ( Supplied )

Each evacuee was issued with certificates confirming they had not been infected with coronavirus and were free to re-enter the community and return to normal life.

Strict quarantine conditions saw the evacuees separated into three different compounds in the detention centre and further divided into family groups, with instructions not to come closer than 1.5 metres to other evacuees.

In addition to twice-daily medical checks, evacuees also had to wear masks whenever they were outside their rooms.

More Australian children still in Wuhan

Amy Xia and her two children Benjamin and Louise were reunited with her husband Stanley Yu at Adelaide airport after six weeks. ( ABC News: Natarsha Kallios )

Amy Xia and her children Benjamin and Louise were among 10 people on board a government-chartered flight to Adelaide last night.

Ms Xia was greeted at the airport by her husband Stanley Yu, who embraced his family for the first time in six weeks.

He said he was happy to have them home but was also "feeling guilty".

"My family have the choice to escape but the people of Wuhan don't … my heart is with them … it's a difficult time for them," he said.

Another 36 Australian evacuees, who flew out of Wuhan on an Air Zealand flight and arrived on Christmas Island two days after the first group, are due to fly home on Wednesday.

A second cohort of evacuees, who were flown into Darwin about a week later, were transferred to an unused workers' camp in Howard Springs.

The ABC estimates about 13 Australian children remain trapped in Wuhan, and has seen emails from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) telling families there were "no plans currently for any more Australian Government assisted departure flights".

Liberal MP Gladys Liu, who greeted evacuees at Melbourne airport on Monday night, told the ABC that Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the ministers would consider the matter "very closely to take the best measure".

"At the moment … [getting] people on Diamond Princes back to Australia … that's the next move that we are taking," Ms Liu said.