With so many Kiwis making the move from NZ to Australia – and for good reason – it’s clear the appeal is strong. But even though it’s just across the ditch, relocating is still a big step, and the logistics can quickly pile up. That’s where Transworld comes in. From shipping your household goods to Australia to making sure your container arrives safely, we’re here to make your move as seamless and stress-free as possible. Ready to get started? Let us handle the heavy lifting – and everything else along the way!
International shipping from NZ to Australia doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, replacing all your personal items can often cost far more than simply shipping them. We get it – some things aren’t just “stuff.” They carry memories, and for many of us, they’re irreplaceable.
At Transworld International Removals, we specialise in carefully shipping your household goods to Australia – whether you're moving to Sydney, relocating to Perth, or anywhere in between. Every item is treated with the utmost care, expertly wrapped in our specialised international materials, and securely stowed for its journey.
Our all-inclusive, door-to-door service covers everything you need: professional packing, export documentation, insurance, customs and quarantine clearances, and unpacking – we’ll even remove the packing materials for you. Need a bit more? From storage and airfreight to vehicle shipping and pet transport, we’ve got every detail covered.
Let our friendly team take the stress out of your move. We’re here to make sure your relocation is as smooth and seamless as possible.
There are several options when it comes to shipping your personal belongings to Australia. When weighing up these options, consider the following:
How much do you want to take? / What's your budget? / How fast do you want your goods to arrive?
For those with a large household or a substantial amount of belongings to relocate to Australia, our Full Container Load (FCL) service offers the ideal solution. With FCL, your belongings are packed into a dedicated container that is shipped directly to your new home. This option is perfect for those who want the peace of mind that comes with knowing their items are handled individually and securely. Sole-container shipping to Australia is also more efficient as your container doesn’t need to be shared or consolidated with other shipments.
If you’re looking for a more cost-effective option when shipping household goods to Australia, our Groupage Shipping service might be the perfect fit. This method involves sharing container space with other customers’ shipments, allowing you to pay only for the space you need. Groupage is an excellent choice for smaller moves or for those looking to save on shipping costs without compromising on service quality. Transworld offers regular Groupage services to Australia, ensuring your belongings are shipped promptly and efficiently.
For those with urgent shipping needs or small shipments, our Air Freight service provides a speedy solution. Air Freight is ideal for time-sensitive items, ensuring they arrive at your new Aussie address swiftly. With coverage across major Australian cities, our Air Freight service guarantees that your essential belongings are where you need them when you need them.
Transworld is an NZ-owned & operated moving company, we’ve been in business for over 30 years and helped thousands of families move their personal and household effects overseas. We know that moving to a new country can be daunting and stressful, so our team works closely with you from start to finish. We will guide you every step of the way so there’s nothing left unattended as you make this big transition! Get a free moving quote online now, and if you have questions or concerns about this process - you can get in touch with a member of our team.
If you're a New Zealand citizen, you can generally move to Australia to live and work there indefinitely. You don't need to apply for a visa, and provided you meet the good character requirements, you will be granted a Special Category Visa automatically on arrival. This visa allows you to stay and work in Australia indefinitely. As an NZ citizen you can also study and enrol in Medicare, Australia's public health care system.
Permanent residents of New Zealand will need to obtain a visa in order to live and work in Australia.
There are a number of different temporary and permanent visa options, depending on your situation. Information on these can be found on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
Approximate door to door transit times, including packing and unpacking, are as follows:
Transportation can be arranged for your pet to travel from New Zealand to Australia. Cats and dogs do not require an import permit however, import conditions apply. The animal must be accompanied by a health certificate signed by a veterinarian approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries. The owner must also sign a Statutory Declaration for each pet confirming that they meet the criteria, including: must be microchipped, be over two months of age, resident for a minimum 90 days in New Zealand prior to shipping and not more than 40 days pregnant at time of travel.
If a dog has been imported into New Zealand from any country other than Australia, blood tests are required for Leishmania Infantum & Ehrlichia Canis. These can take up to 2 weeks to process. An additional treatment is required for dogs originating from South Africa.
Shipping Personal Effects to Australia
Personal and household effects may be imported into Australia free of Customs Duty and GST (Goods Services Tax), provided they have been owned and used for a period of at least twelve months prior to their departure for Australia and the owner of the goods is eligible to live in Australia.
Shipping Motor Vehicles to Australia
Private motor vehicles and motor bikes can be imported into Australia but there are several requirements and regulations to comply with. In general, all vehicles are subject to duty and/or GST. This is calculated by the Australian Customs Service on the value of the vehicle and with some high value luxury vehicles there is also an additional Luxury Car Tax.
Australia's unique environment and important agricultural industries are free from many pests and diseases found in other parts of the world. The movement of personal effects is one way these could be introduced. When preparing for your removal you need to ensure that all garden tools, outdoor furniture, lawn mowers, bicycles, sporting equipment, shoes and boots are free of soil and seed contaminants. Your vacuum cleaner should be thoroughly cleaned, the bag emptied and disposed of.
A Quarantine examination is mandatory on all shipments of personal effects and motor vehicles arriving in Australia. This is undertaken by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS). The examination needs to be carried out at a quarantine approved depot and our nominated destination agent will facilitate this examination at their quarantine approved furniture warehouse. An additional cost will be charged for quarantine examinations and further treatment if required. Treatment may include steam cleaning for the removal of soil contamination, fumigation of timber items to destroy insect pests, heat treatment to devitalise plant material or seizure and destruction of prohibited items.
All firearms are subject to the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 and require an import approval prior to the goods arriving in Australia.
The importer will need to apply to the Police Firearms or Weapons Registry in the State or Territory of where the importer will reside by obtaining an Importation of Firearms – Police Confirmation and Certification Form. This form must be presented to the Australian Border Force on arrival of the firearms into Australia.
Customs will seize the items and hand them over to State Police for a ballistics inspection. The firearms can only be retrieved when passed by inspection and the import approval has been sighted by Police. Ornamental and decommissioned antique guns will be treated as though they are working firearms until they have been inspected by Customs officials.
The importation of other types of weapons, including flick knives, daggers, swordsticks, knuckle dusters, replica guns, BB guns and unsafe firearms is prohibited.
