Shipping times and costs from Shenzhen, China to Melbourne, Australia

Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
13 - 18 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £3,487 - £3,853
Shipping costs by sea £1,830 - £2,023

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £2,816 - £3,112

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £4,224 - £4,668

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 Australia

You can’t beat life in Melbourne. In 2017, the city came first for the seventh year running in the Economist’s ‘World’s Most Liveable Cities’ report. The locals clearly have it pretty great over there, with healthcare and education that is truly top notch. Melbourne is known as the “cultural capital” of Australia, and for good reason. The city invented loads of major Aussie pastimes (including Australian Rules Football), and its cutting-edge creative scene is buzzing. Walk through the city centre and the striking street art is impossible to ignore. Melburnians have some wonderful choice when it comes to natural scenery, with the southern beaches and the Yarra Valley only a short drive away. Plus, there’s the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens in the centre of the city. Melbourne also has a world-class café culture, so it’s ideal for people who are serious about coffee. Before you can start your new life in Oz, there are a few practical things you need to know about first.

Different shipping options

How are you going to get all your belongings to Melbourne? You probably have a fair amount of stuff that you’d like to bring with you. All international moves to Australia involve either air freight or sea freight. They each have their benefits; it all depends on time and budget.

Air freight is the speedy option. A plane journey to Australia from anywhere in the world will usually take no longer than 2-3 days, so if you need to get your belongings to Australia quickly, air freight is the one. However, it’s also considerably more expensive.

Sea freight is the cheaper option. Container ships are the first choice when it comes to moving on a budget. You pay much less than you would for air freight, but it also takes longer. If you’ve got the time to spare, we strongly recommend choosing sea freight. The two most common types of container are the 20ft and the 40ft - which one you use depends on your amount of cargo. If you’re only taking a small amount of stuff (less than 15 cubic metres), you can use a groupage shipment (known as Less Than Container Load, or LCL) where you share a container with other people. The majority of our suppliers offer a full door-to-door service, which costs a bit more but it’s much easier than shipping port-to-port.

Major shipping routes

If you’re moving to Melbourne, your container will be sailing to the Port of Melbourne. This is the largest and busiest port in Australia, dealing with over 2.5 million containers every year. It’s been running for nearly 150 years and handles over one third of all Australian trade. Once your container arrives at the port, it will go by truck or train to your new house in Melbourne. You can be sure that your cargo will be in safe and experienced hands.

Melbourne customs

Australian customs are famously a little more strict than other countries, but that shouldn’t worry you. Follow the rules and you’ll be fine. In particular, Australia is very cautious about protecting its ecosystem, so all wooden furniture and garden equipment needs a thorough clean before it travels. You need to create an inventory of all the items you’re bringing into the country, being as detailed as possible. The vast majority of containers are subject to physical inspection, so it’s important that your inventory matches up with what’s inside your container. You are able to import all used household goods duty-free into Australia, as long as they’ve been used for at least 12 months prior to your move and will be used again in your new home. To apply for a duty-free shipment, you need to submit an Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (B534 Form). See below for an idea of restricted/prohibited items at the Australian border. For more information, we recommend you visit the Australian Home Affairs official website.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

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

Price: £2,816 - £3,112

Get a quote for a 20ft container
Get Shipping Container Quotes
  • 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: £5,351 - £5,913

Get a quote for a 40ft container
Get Shipping Container Quotes
  • 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: £872 - £963

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £4,916 - £8,362

Get a quote for a car
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Unusual Restricted Items

Tea & Coffee
Tea, coffee and milk based drinks.
Pet Food
Pet foods.
Wicker
Wicker and cane such as chairs and wicker baskets.
Dried Flowers
Dried flower arrangements & Pot Pourri.
Skins & Furs
Wool and animal hair. Skins on drums.
Pornographic Materials
Illegal Pornography.
Drugs and Narcotics
Psychotropic drugs and narcotics are prohibited.
Tobacco
Any tobacco products.