Packing The Essentials When Moving To Australia

If you’ve fallen head over heels for Australia and have decided to make your move permanent, you’ll find that moving your entire life half way around the world is no mean feat. Not only do you need to secure a permanent visa, find somewhere to live and get a job, you also need to think about what you’re going to take from your old home to your new one.

Some things you can afford to (and probably should) leave behind – that jumper your mother-in-law bought for you last Christmas, the plant that’s dying on your office desk, the IKEA bookcase that can so easily be replaced). When it comes to shipping to Australia, you’ll probably find that less is more.

Of course, there will be some things that you don’t want to leave behind, whether for sentimental value or because you just can’t buy them Down Under. And it’s these items that you’ll want to pack with great care so they can come with you to your new home.

Firstly, you need to keep Australian customs in the back of your mind as you pack. Prohibited items include fresh fruits and vegetables, live plants, fireworks, soil, and live animals including pets that need an import permit. Many of these things you don’t need to bring into Australia anyway, as they have them here, but you also need to make sure that anything you do bring into Australia doesn’t contain any of these ingredients. Inspect and clean everything, because if something’s found to be contaminated upon arrival, it may not make it through.

It’s important that you keep a list of everything you pack in each box – one for you and one for the Australian authorities. Labelling the outside of each box will also help to identify what’s in each box – including fragile, heavy and dangerous items. This may be done with a permanent marker or sticky labels. Finally, to make sure fragile items arrive in the same state as when you packed them, wrap them carefully with acceptable packing materials.

For peace of mind, Seven Seas Worldwide can help you get your stuff to Australia safely and securely with its unique MoveCube® service.

For more information, visit www.sevenseasworldwide.com

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