Shipping times and costs from Adelaide, Australia to Wellington, New Zealand

Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
6 - 8 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £2,605 - £2,881
Shipping costs by sea £1,368 - £1,512

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £2,104 - £2,327

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £3,156 - £3,490

Please note: the prices listed here are meant as an estimate only. The best way to get a comprehensive, tailored quote is to fill out our form and be matched with a supplier.

Shipping Container Costs to New Zealand

Wellington is surely one of the world’s most beautiful capital cities. Located at the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, the city is nestled between green hills and turquoise waters. It’s blessed with a stunning harbour, sandy beaches, colourful houses, and red cable cars. There are nearly 419,000 people living there, and you could join them. Here’s what you need to know about shipping your belongings to Wellington.

Sea freight or air freight?

Your two main options are air freight or sea freight.

Air freight offers a quick service; cargo planes can reach Wellington from almost anywhere in the world in just 2-3 days. This is handy if you need to make a last-minute move, but air freight is also very expensive, so it isn’t ideal if you’re moving on a budget.

Sea freight is much more affordable, typically costing around five times less than air freight. Container ships are slow and can take several weeks to reach their destination, but plan your move well in advance and this won’t be a problem.

If you choose sea freight, you will use either a 20ft container or a 40ft container. However, you don’t need to fill the whole container; if the total volume of your cargo is around 15 cubic metres or less, you will share the use of a container with other people in a process known as Less Than Container Load (LCL).

Most of our shipping suppliers provide a full door-to-door service, which means they’ll take your belongings all the way from your old house to your new one.

Major shipping ports

Fortunately, Wellington has its very own container port, so your shipment won’t have to move very far once it reaches Kiwi shores. The Port of Wellington is fairly small, being just the sixth largest container terminal in New Zealand, but it does the job. After your shipment has passed through customs, it will most likely travel by truck to your new home.

Clearing customs in New Zealand

Any customs process can seem a bit daunting, but our experienced shipping companies will guide you through it. You’re required to create an inventory (i.e. a packing list) of all the items you’re bringing into New Zealand, which is helpful to know about before you start loading your container.

The Kiwis run a very strict quarantine system, which means almost all shipments are physically inspected. Risky items include animal products, wooden furniture, garden equipment and vacuum cleaners. See below for an idea of what’s restricted or prohibited by New Zealand customs.

You can bring your household goods and personal belongings into New Zealand duty-free, but you must have owned and used these items prior to your move (and intend to keep using them). Additionally, you must hold a residence visa or a long-term work permit. Check out the official website for New Zealand customs to find out more.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
33 Cubic Meters
5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £2,104 - £2,327

Get a quote for a 20ft container
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  • Boxes
    16 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedrooms
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

40Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
67 Cubic Meters
12.03m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £3,998 - £4,421

Get a quote for a 40ft container
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  • Boxes
    28 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedroom
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x car, 1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

Car shipped by sea freight

Max Dimensions: 5.75m x 2.2m x 2.2m (l x w x h)

Base Price: £651 - £720

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £4,204 - £7,577

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Unusual Restricted Items

Laser Pointers
Hand held high power laser pointers are prohibited without consent.
Radio Jammers
Devices which disrupt or jam cellular or GPS reception are illegal to use in New Zealand.
Golf Clubs
Should be declared and may require quarantine if improperly cleaned.
Weapons
Weapons are prohibited.
Pipes and Smoking Utensils
Hookah pipes, water pipes and smoking utensils are prohibited.
Plants
Some orchids and cycads are restricted.