Moving Your Belongings from NZ to Australia

Should I ship my stuff to Australia or buy new, and how much is it actually going to cost?

This is one of the biggest questions I get from people planning their move, and honestly it’s a really good question. Because this is usually one of the most expensive parts of the move, and there’s a lot of conflicting (and vague) information online. So instead of giving you generic estimates, I’ve pulled together real quotes from New Zealanders moving to Australia, thank you to a few lovely visitors who shared their quotes with me, so you can get a much clearer idea of what to expect. If you’d rather skip ahead, here’s what I cover in this guide:

• How Moving Companies Work (NZ to Australia)
• What Does It Actually Cost to Move Your Stuff?
• So… What Should You Expect to Pay?
• What Actually Drives the Cost?
• Can You Organise Shipping Yourself?
• Should You Ship Your Furniture… or Start Fresh?
• My Advice (After Seeing a Lot of Quotes)
• One Important Thing Most People Forget
• Pet Transportation
• Car/Vehicle Shipping
• Ready to Get a Quote?
• Free Quote Form

How Moving Companies Work (NZ to Australia)

If you haven’t done this before, it can feel a bit overwhelming, but it’s actually pretty straightforward. Most people use an international moving company, and the process usually looks like this:

• Your belongings are packed up (either by you or the movers)
• Loaded into a shipping container
• Sent from NZ to Australia by sea
• Cleared through customs and quarantine
• Delivered to your new home

You’ll normally choose between:

• Shared container (groupage) – cheaper, you only pay for the space you use
• Full container – more expensive, but everything is yours and often faster 

What Does It Actually Cost to Move Your Stuff?

This is where things get interesting, because costs can vary a lot depending on how much you’re taking. Here are some real examples to give you a better feel.

Example: Medium Household Move (Shared Container)

One recent quote I received was for a move from Kaiapoi to the Gold Coast.

• Volume: 16 cubic metres
• Total cost: $7,445 NZD
• Included shipping, delivery, and quarantine inspection

That works out to roughly: $465 per cubic metre.

Example: Slightly Larger Move

Another quote came in at:

• 18.5 cubic metres
• $8,178 NZD total
• Transit time: around 10–16 weeks

What I liked about this quote is it clearly showed how the costs were split:

• Packing and loading in NZ
• Shipping costs
• Delivery and customs in Australia

This is a good reminder to always check what’s included, not just the total. Some companies will give you a cheaper price and have a lot of add-ons = budgeting nightmare!

Example: Full Container (Bigger Move)

If you’re moving a full household, you might look at a full container instead. One quote for a sole-use container was:

• Full 20ft container (around 33m³ capacity)
• $10,750 NZD

This included:

• Collection from the home
• Loading and shipping
• Customs clearance
• Delivery with a team on arrival

This is a great option if you want everything moved at once and don’t want to share space. 

So… What Should You Expect to Pay?

Based on these real examples, most people are roughly looking at:

• $7,000 – $9,000 for a typical household move
• $10,000+ for a full container
• Around $400 – $500 per cubic metre

But the biggest factor (by far) is how much you take. 

What Actually Drives the Cost?

From everything I’ve seen, these are the main things that affect your price:

Volume (this is the big one)

Everything is priced by cubic metres. As a rough example:

• 40 moving boxes alone = about 5–6m³

Shared vs Full Container

• Shared = cheaper, but you wait for other shipments
• Full = more control, but higher cost

Where You’re Moving To

• Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney → usually more competitive
• Smaller cities or Perth → often more expensive

Unfortunately, once you’ve decided where you want to live in Australia, this is one of those costs you don’t have a lot of control over. You’re choosing the lifestyle that feels right for you and your family — and sometimes that simply comes with a higher cost.

Packing Choices

One quote I saw mentioned you could save around $675 just by packing your own boxes. However, it’s worth remembering that an international move isn’t the same as moving down the road. Everything needs extra care and quality packing to make sure it arrives safe and sound. You can do it yourself, but make sure you use your linen cupboard (and plenty of bubble wrap) and add extra layers between anything fragile to keep it protected. So there are definitely ways to reduce costs if you’re willing to do a bit more yourself.

Quarantine & Customs

Australia is strict (as you probably already know).

• Quarantine inspections are often mandatory
• Sometimes included, sometimes not

Always double-check this in your quote. In most cases, the moving company will also need to vouch for your shipment. They’re responsible for ensuring your container doesn’t include anything that’s prohibited — such as weapons, drugs, certain animal products, or items contaminated with soil. This protects them from potential fines or penalties, which will be passed onto you, and it’s also why Australia has such strict biosecurity controls. If you’re unsure, it’s worth checking the official list of what you can and can’t bring into Australia via the Australian Border Force.

Secure Storage

This is one of those things people don’t always think about when planning their move — but it comes up more often than you’d expect. And a good moving company will discuss this with you. Even with the best planning, your shipment might arrive before you, or you might not have a place ready yet. In those cases, you’ll need secure storage. It is an extra cost, and like everything else, it depends on how much you’re moving — the more you have, the more space you’ll need, and the more it will cost. Your moving company will typically be able to arrange storage and provide a quote. You can also contact local self-storage facilities in your destination area, but make sure you’re not being charged for unpacking if your belongings aren’t going straight into your new home. 

Can You Organise Shipping Yourself?

I’ve recently been asked whether renting or purchasing your own shipping container, and organising everything yourself, is worth it. It’s a great question. So I reached out to a friend who worked in international shipping for 30 years, and this was his advice: Yes, you can — but there are several things you need to seriously consider. When your container arrives in Australia, it must go to a quarantine-approved (bonded) facility. You’ll need to pay for this service yourself. Australian customs also treat owner-packed containers very differently, which I mentioned above, from professionally packed ones. AQIS (Australian Quarantine) applies much stricter controls to owner-packed containers. When your shipment arrives at the quarantine facility, it will need to be devanned (completely unpacked) for a full inspection. From there, they may:

• Fumigate items
• Require cleaning
• Or even destroy anything that doesn’t meet their standards

All of these costs are at your expense. Once cleared, your belongings then need to be reloaded and transported to your home, and you’ll also be responsible for managing all the required documentation along the way.

So, Is It Worth It?

On paper, organising your own shipping might seem like a way to save money. But when you factor in:

• Quarantine handling fees
• Devanning and reloading costs
• Potential fumigation or cleaning
• Transport from the bonded facility
• Time, paperwork, and risk

The cost difference often ends up being much smaller than people expect — and in some cases, it can even cost more. Not to mention the massive to do list you would take on. Based on his experience, he strongly recommends using a professional moving company. You’re not just paying for transport — you’re paying for:

• Experience
• Compliance with Australian regulations
• And peace of mind that your belongings will arrive without unexpected issues

If you’d rather avoid the stress, you can get five free moving quote below. 

Should You Ship Your Furniture… or Start Fresh?

This is probably the biggest decision people wrestle with. And there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

It usually makes sense to ship if:

• You’ve got a full house worth of stuff
• Your furniture is good quality
• You want to avoid the hassle of replacing everything

It might not be worth it if:

• You’re moving light
• Your furniture is older
• You’re trying to keep costs down

Honestly, a lot of people I talk to end up doing a mix — shipping the important stuff and selling the rest. 

My Advice (After Seeing a Lot of Quotes)

If you’re early in your planning:

• Get 2–3 quotes before deciding anything

And when you compare them:

• Look at cost per cubic metre
• Check what’s included (especially delivery + customs)
• Ask about anything that’s unclear
• Always read the companies reviews!

This will save you a lot of stress later. 

One Important Thing Most People Forget

Your moving company cost is just one part of the bigger picture. You’ll also have:

• Flights
• Rental bond and upfront rent
• Buying a car
• Setting up your new place

I’m currently working on a full breakdown of all of these costs: “Total Cost of Moving to Australia (2026)”. I’ll add the link here once it’s complete — or you can sign up to my newsletter or follow me on social media to get it as soon as it’s published. 

Pet Transportation

You used to be able to arrange the international move of your pet yourself, by purchasing a plane ticket, ensuring they are microchipped, securing a pet passport, and vaccinating them. However, this has not been the case for a while. Now you need to hire an international pet transport company to ensure the process and paperwork are completed correctly and that the animal is well-cared for throughout the process. The amount you pay will depend on the breed of your animal, its size, and its medical needs. Read more in my International Pet Transport post.  

Car/Vehicle Shipping

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.

Find out if it is worth shipping your car

Before deciding to ship your car to Australia, there are two things you should do:

• Get a car shipping quote and find out how much it will cost to ship your car and the taxes involved.
• Research how much it will cost to replace your car in Australia. 

Ready to Get a Quote?

If you’re getting serious about your move, the next step is simple: Get a personalised quote based on your situation. That way you’ll know:

• What it will actually cost you
• How long it will take
• What’s included (and what’s not)

I’ve partnered with accredited moving companies worldwide to help make this process easier for you. Simply select where you’re moving to and from, fill out a quick form, and then sit back while the moving companies come to you. You can compare reliable and trusted international movers, the same ones you would approach directly, saving you both time and money.

Before You Start

You’ll need a list of your inventory to get an accurate quote. I’ve created a printable inventory list you can walk around your house with and add what items you want to take. You can download the Moving to Australia inventory list here.