Moving to Australia from New Zealand?
Get all information you need to make a successful and stress-free move across the ditch.
Moving is one of the most stressful things we do. Moving to Australia wants to make your move easier. Here, you will find tips and advice on moving your personal effects to Australia from New Zealand that will help remove a lot of the stress from this process.
This is one of the most popular posts on my website. It includes our Moving to Australia Checklist (Pre Move Planner), which helps you organize and plan your move. Read more here.
In this post you will find information on:
Editor’s Note: I have moved to Australia twice. The first time I was young and didn’t have anything worth taking with me. Second hand bed, I brought another. However, the second time I was older and had a household of personal effects.
I did a cost comparison of how much it would cost to take everything with us and how much it would cost to replace everything. For us, it worked out a lot cheaper to take our possessions with us. It saved us money and more importantly time. I didn’t want to have to sell everything before I left (a lot of time on Trade Me) and then have to buy everything in a city was not familiar with (I do like to shop around and not pay more than I have to).
I recommend getting multiple quotes from moving companies and going with the company that is both competitively priced and has good reviews. You are able to get up to five free moving quotes from trusted moving companies in the form below.
A lot of people don’t realise how much preparation goes into international shipping. It’s more than packing your belongings up, loading them onto a truck and moving them down the road, like a domestic move.
Working with a trusted international moving company that understands what it takes for your goods to make it to Australia in one piece is important.
Relocating your personal effects from New Zealand to Australia will probably be your largest cost, and it is important to weigh up the pros and cons and minimise the cost where possible. It takes a lot of time and energy to replace/buy everything you will need when you arrive in Australia, and there are always special things that you will want to take with you.
So, how much will it cost to ship your household items from New Zealand to Australia? There are a lot of factors that get taken into consideration when calculating the costs:
The most cost-effective way to ship your household goods to Australia is via sea freight. This involves the mover sending a container to your home to load your personal effects into. Once filled, they will pick up the container with a truck and transport it to port, where it will be loaded on a ship and sent overseas.
International moving companies are generally full-service and will arrange for your container to be unloaded and brought to its destination with all the proper documentation needed.
Your options depend on the amount of stuff you’re taking…
This option allows you to use an entire container to ship your belongings. Because you are renting a private shipping container just for your use, this option carries a higher price. It involves loading your personal effects into a shipping container dedicated exclusively to your personal and household effects.
One of the main benefits of sole-use container shipping is that you can book the sailing dates with the shipping company that suits your schedule. You don’t have to fit in with anyone else.
A groupage service is a great option if you’re shipping a smaller volume of effects to a popular destination like Australia. Groupage involves consolidating your shipment with other shipments of personal effects and shipping them together in a container.
This is a very popular option because it’s much more economical for smaller shipments. You’re only paying a portion of the sea freight costs, i.e., the amount of space your shipment occupies in the container. That is if you don’t have a full container worth of belongings.
You can’t simply throw your belongings in a box as you might do if you were moving down the street. Packing your household goods for an international move requires a number of extra steps that you may not even think about, not to mention international-quality packaging material (thicker and more robust).
You don’t want to unpack broken cups and vases or have scratched televisions and tables. Your items need to be professionally wrapped and packed by a specialist international moving company to make it through their long, bumpy journey.
But this is not the only reason international shipping companies have their packing team pack your goods…
When you are moving overseas, most companies will insist on packing your goods because they need to go through customs in Australia. In most cases, the company needs to vouch for your shipment. They have to guarantee that your container doesn’t contain anything that is considered illegal, e.g., weapons, drugs, animal products, etc. They want to make sure that they avoid any possible fines or punishments that come with transporting illegal goods.
List of items you can and can’t bring in – Australian Border Force.
I have recently been asked if renting or purchasing your own shipping container and organising the shipping yourself is worth it. Great question! So I contacted a friend who worked in international shipping for 30 years, and this is his advice…
Yes, you can, but there are several issues to consider seriously:
AQIS (quarantine Australia) treats owner-packed containers with way more caution than professionally packed containers with personal effects. When it gets to the guarantee facility, it must be devanned (emptied) for a full inspection. They may then choose to fumigate, clean, or destroy any items that are not up to standard. This will all be at your cost. Your goods will then need to be loaded into a container or truck to be delivered to your residence, not to mention all the documentation you need to complete.
Therefore he highly recommends that you use the services of a professional moving company.
No matter who packs or unpacks your belongings, every move involves risks. A few of your things may be lost or damaged, so we recommend you purchase insurance to cover these potential losses.
Most moving companies offer a range of insurance options. You can insure your shipment against all foreseeable issues at very reasonable rates.
The type of insurance you purchase will depend on your specific needs, e.g. marine transit insurance for shipping by sea. Make sure you check what the policy actually covers. The higher the value of your shipment, the more you will pay in insurance.
Everyone does not think about storage when shipping their household belongings to Australia. But you will sometimes need it no matter how well you’ve planned your move. Your shipment might arrive before you, or you might not have found a home yet.
Secure storage is an extra cost. The more items you have, the more space you’ll need and the more you’ll have to pay.
When moving goods to Australia, it is important to know that the Australian Customs Service must clear your goods for entry. Most international moving companies undertake this formality on your behalf as part of their service.
You will be required to provide a copy of your passport and complete an ‘Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (B534)‘. The moving company will submit these documents to Customs together with your inventory of goods being shipped.
As a general rule, you are able to import your used personal effects and household goods into Australia without having to pay customs duty and tax. As long as:
You can also import inherited goods without paying duty and tax, provided you can show proof that the goods have been willed or given to you as part of the estate of a person who passed away.
If you include alcohol or tobacco products in your shipment, you will have to pay import duty and tax on them. There are also very tight controls around prohibited and restricted goods. Please be aware that some goods are prohibited, while others may require special permits for importation.
Shipping your belongings to Australia takes approximately 6 weeks, but many factors must be taken into account. These include the availability of space on board the ship, the loading and unloading time, customs, and possible quarantine delays that can delay your shipment in Australia.
Shipments generally take 5 to 8 weeks to arrive in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane and a little longer to arrive in Perth.
However, Covid has created a global shipping crisis. Therefore, it’s important to discuss this with your chosen international mover to determine the current delay for the port your goods are travelling to and what additional costs this creates.
There is currently a shipping and supply chain crisis directly affecting every facet of international commerce; its impact far-reaching enough to touch the lives of consumers and businesses everywhere in the world.
Simple solutions are not available in our interconnected global economy. While significant industry efforts are underway to highlight the issues and draw attention to them, the plight of the international moving industry and its customers will barely register as a blip on the radars of government regulators.
Read more here in my Global Shipping Crisis Caused by COVID-19 post.
Only take the items that are most important to you. If you can live without one, you can save yourself the expense of getting it moved.
Try to reduce storage time. Follow the rules to avoid paying additional duty and tax.
If you are looking to ship household goods on a tight deadline, this can increase the cost, especially if the mover needs to make a special trip just for your move. When there are no strict deadlines, the shipping cost may be cheaper due to the shipping company’s ability to combine several clients’ shipments into one.
You have two options for taking your pet to Australia with you. You can arrange the move yourself by purchasing a plane ticket, ensuring they are microchipped, securing a pet passport, and vaccinating them. The amount you pay will depend on the breed of your animal, its size, and its medical needs. Or you can have a specialist international pet transport company take care of everything for you.
Read more in my International Pet Transport post.
Moving your car to Australia is not as easy as moving your bed. Very specific documentation (import permit) is required to ship your car to Australia. Without it, your car will not be allowed entry and will be stuck at the port. There are also other considerations you need to know about, like length of ownership and tax payable issues. It’s not always worth taking your car with you expense-wise.
Import permits are mandatory for all road vehicles imported to Australia. Different import permits are available for different types of cars. Unfortunately, not all cars can be imported to Australia.
Autohub offers a door-to-door worldwide vehicle shipping service that you can trust: https://www.autohub.co/import-car-nz-to-australia-shipping/.
Before deciding to ship your car to Australia, there are two things you should do:
We have partnered with accredited moving companies worldwide to assist you with your international move. Select where you are moving to and from, fill out the quick form, sit back, and let the moving companies do the rest. Compare reliable and trusted international moving companies to save time and money.
The below posts might interest you:
If you’ve read the above content and the answer to your question isn’t there, please write a comment below and I’ll research the answer for you.
If you need advice on moving to Australia from New Zealand, I’ve created a helpful little questionnaire to point you in the right direction. It takes less than 30 seconds, so give it a go!
Hi… I’m JJ Smith.
I’m the creator and editor of Moving to Australia and have been for 15 years! I know everything there is to know about New Zealanders moving their families and life to Australia. Either from first hand experiences and research or through the questions from visitors to this website… and I’m here to help!
I love helping people via Moving to Australia.
Providing the answers to questions we all ask when deciding whether to make the move from New Zealand to Australia. Even giving individual specific advice where needed.
I have learned a lot over the last 15 years from personal experience and through interacting with visitors. This is my job, making sure the information here is comprehensive and up to date.
If you would like to help me, you can use one of my referral partners.
© 2008 - 2023 Copyright Cybersmith Ltd. All content is copyright.
Design by ThemeShift.
Lynford
April 7, 2025 at 2:42 pmHi JJ,
We are New Zealand citizens and moved to AU at the end of January 2024.
We spent the year travelling AU and have just bought a home here.
As our furniture will arrive from NZ outside of the allowable 12mth period, we have been told that GST as well as import duty will be payable on the value of our personal goods/furniture.
We were not aware of the 12 month rule.
Do you perhaps have details of someone that we could contact to assist us with an appeal/concession in this regard?
Thank you and kind regards,
Lynford
JJ Smith
April 8, 2025 at 4:51 pmHi Lynford,
Thank you for your comment.
I had not heard of this before, but I have just spoken to a fiend who used to be in the moving industry and they have heard of the 12 month rule, but couldn’t give me any further information.
So I’ve done some research and this is what I’ve found…
To move your personal effects to New Zealand after being out of the country for 12 months, you’ll need to declare them to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and provide documentation, including a packing list and shipping documents, to potentially avoid duty and GST.
To move your personal effects to Australia after being out of the country for 12 months, you’ll need to declare them to the Australian Border Force (ABF).
– Declaration Requirement: When bringing personal effects into Australia, you are required to complete and lodge an Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (B534 Form) with the Australian Border Force.
– B534 Form (https://www.abf.gov.au/form-listing/forms/B534e.pdf): This form is a legal declaration to both the Department of Home Affairs and Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Agriculture).
– Duty and Tax Exemption: To qualify for duty and tax-free concessions, the items must be your personal property that you’ve owned and used overseas for at least 12 months.
– Purpose of Declaration: The declaration ensures that the Australian government can assess whether your personal effects meet the criteria for duty and tax-free entry, and to facilitate any necessary customs and quarantine procedures.
– Contact Information: For more information, you can visit the Australian Border Force website.
– Important Note: Any goods owned by you for less than 12 months must be declared.
So none of the above mention anything about having to pay GST and import duty after leaving NZ for over 12 months, e.g. the 12 months rule, it only states that you must have owned the good for 12 months.
Therefore I suggest you contact either another moving company or the Australian Border Force directly: https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/moving-to-australia/upe.
Good luck and please let me know how you get on.
Lynford
April 9, 2025 at 8:32 amThanks for the info JJ!
I’ll let you know how it works out.
Kind regards
Lynford
Monika Hawkins
March 6, 2025 at 11:41 amHi there, am I to old to move to Australia at the age of 61. I am looking at the possibility of moving with 2 dogs.
JJ Smith
March 10, 2025 at 10:38 amHi Monika,
Thank you for your comment.
As New Zealand citizen, you can move to Australia at any age. There is no max age.
We are covered by the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement that allows New Zealand and Australian citizens to visit, study, live and work in either country for as long or little as they want.
Here are some posts I recommend you read:
– Moving to Australia Process, general information on moving to Australia – https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/moving-to-australia-process/.
– International Pet Transport, outlines the process of moving your dogs to Australia and links to our pet partner so you can get a quote – https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/international-pet-transport/.
– Australian Age Pension, which you will be eligible for at 67 – https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/australian-age-pension/.
I hope the above helps.
Denise Hubble
July 13, 2024 at 2:00 pmHi,
Your website is very informative and interesting. I am moving to Queensland next year and will be shipping my husband’s ashes with my personal belongings. Do I need any specific paperwork to do this?
Thanks,
Denise
JJ Smith
July 24, 2024 at 12:09 pmHi Denise,
Thanks for your comment and compliment. Sorry for the delay, I’ve been on holiday with my family.
No, there are no requirements from the Australian Border Force for taking ashes into Australia. Here’s some info from the Border Force website (https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/importing/how-to-import/types-of-imports/importing-human-remains-ashes).
There are no requirements for importing human ashes into Australia. There are requirements however, in relation to the container used to hold the ashes. It should be free from contaminants such as soil, and containers made from wood must be declared to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on arrival.
If you plan to carry ashes with you, it is advisable to contact the airline or shipping line prior to travelling. Those organisations may have requirements to be met when human ashes are carried by a passenger or included in luggage. However, I have read you are able to take them as carry-on, with the same above requirements to the container being used to hold the ashes.
If human ashes are imported:
– as, or with, unaccompanied personal effects (UPEs), they will be cleared as your UPEs (moving company)
– as cargo (with a bill of lading or airway bill as required), the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will facilitate clearance without any written declaration being required
– by post or mail; please check with Australia Post for any requirements.
Therefore, I recommend you advise your moving company of the fact you are taking your husband’s ashes, but you shouldn’t have any problems.
Hope the above helps.
Mary Smith
March 3, 2024 at 10:55 amKia ora,
What’s your shipping advice for someone moving from Wellington to Melbourne in July with personal effects (heaps of clothes, shoes, etc) a couch, queen bed (slat bed so can be taken apart) & mattress, as well as a few kitchen items?
JJ Smith
March 4, 2024 at 12:36 pmHi Mary,
I recommend clearing out as much as possible and then completing the form on my moving page, to get up to five free moving quotes: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/moving-company-to-australia/#FreeMovingQuotes.
Then you will know how much it is going to cost you to take your personal effects with you.
Hope the above helps.
Good luck with your move.
Maia
September 19, 2023 at 12:39 pmHey JJ,
Great advice !
I’m planning to move over to Australia in November, but I still have car payments to follow through, will I be able to pay off my car payments while in Australia?
JJ Smith
September 19, 2023 at 1:09 pmHi Maia,
Thank you for your comment and compliment.
If you keep up the loan payments then you shouldn’t have a problem.
However, I do recommend that you check with your loan manager, especially if you are selling the car before you leave.
Also, make sure that you use an online foreign exchange provider like XE to save on bank fees and to get a better exchange rate when you transfer money between Australia and NZ: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/foreign-exchange-money-transfer/.
Hope the above helps.
Marilyn deadman
September 19, 2023 at 8:26 amCan you recommend several.good removalists to move household goods from nz to tasmania also companies that can transfer pets thank you
JJ Smith
September 19, 2023 at 12:28 pmHi Marilyn,
If you complete the form at the bottom of the moving company page you will receive up to five free quotes from trusted international moving companies.
Regarding moving your pet, if you advise where you are moving from I can recommend you a company.
Thanks
Mere
July 14, 2022 at 2:24 amKia Ora
I’m only taking personal belongings (clothes, shoes,etc) which is a lot as I’m moving from NZ to Sydney and living with my partner.
I’m prepared to pay excess baggage unless yih hv better options.
Am I not able to keep open a bank account here in NZ at all?
JJ Smith
July 15, 2022 at 12:06 pmKia Ora Mere,
Thanks for your comment.
Excess baggage is a good option if you are only taking clothes etc. However, it would be best if you organised the extra baggage when you book your flights rather than when you arrive at the airport, as it’s cheaper.
Yes, you are able to keep your bank account open. Most kiwis do.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Carolina Gartner
April 18, 2022 at 4:59 amHello,
You used to recommend Ausmove as a moving company Do you still recommend them? I see that they have some not very good reviews. I filled in the form above to request up to 5 quotes form and have been contacted by Allied Movers but no one else. Is there anyone else you recommend? Thank you
JJ Smith
May 5, 2022 at 4:10 amHi Carolina,
Thank you for your comment.
How much are you planning on taking to Australia with you? This might have impacted who offered you a quote.
There is no one else I would recommend at this stage sorry.
Good luck with your move.
Thanks
Mr Welsh
August 6, 2018 at 12:58 amI am planning to move to Sydney New South Wales Australia. What do I need to do to prepare?
I am moving a 2 bedroom home from Highland Park to Sydney.
Thanks
JJ Smith
August 6, 2018 at 1:04 amHi,
I recommend you use the above form to get up to five free no obligation quotes you to move your personal effects.
Can you please give me more information regarding your move so I can help? Is it just you moving, do you already have accommodation lined up? Have you already got a job?
Here’s some info on Sydney: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/destinations/moving-to-sydney-nsw. It’s an expensive city to live in but has a very high quality of life. It has good public transport so you won’t need to worry about buying a car immediately, but it will help you maximize Sydney’s beautiful surroundings.
I recommend living close to where you will be working. Here’s some info on real estate in Australia, both renting and buying.
Please let me know if there anything else I can help with.
Thanks